His Faithful Love Endures Forever
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We must praise God, I. As great and good in himself (v. 1–3). II. As the Creator of the world (v. 5–9). III. As Israel’s God and Saviour (v. 10–22). IV. As our Redeemer (v. 23, 24). V. As the great benefactor of the whole creation, and God over all, blessed for evermore (v. 25, 26).
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Psalm 135:15–21)
2 Chr. 20:21, 22
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever; the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever; the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever; and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever; with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever; and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever; but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; and killed mighty kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever; and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever; and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever; a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures forever. It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever; and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever; he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
I have been thinking about this Psalm for a while lately, and decided to do a sermon on it. It is really fitting that we are now in the holiday season, and that this is Thanksgiving week.
Giving thanks to God for who He is and what He has done is something that we too often neglect to do.
God has given us so much to be thankful for, and when we look back at His faithfulness in the past, or when we look at what He is doing for us now, or when we look at what He has promised to do for us in the future, we cannot help but praise Him.
Chesed
Chesed
This Psalm repeats the line “His steadfast Love endures forever” 26 times, after each verse.
The word חֶ֫סֶד is translated to English as “love” or “mercy” or “lovingkindness” or “steadfast love” or “loyal love”
All of these capture a sense of this word, but the word is really rich in Hebrew. It has a meaning of love, generosity, and commitment. It is often associated with God’s commitment to His people because of His covenant with them.
The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 3 (Additional Note on Psalm 36)
it appears that to a large degree what the NT writers described as agape, “love” (see on Matt. 5:43), the OT writers called chesed.
This Love is everlasting. The phrase could literally be translated “His love to eternity”
This phrase is repeated 26 times, once for every verse in Psalm 136
This phrase also appears throughout the Old Testament when people are worshipping. It is the first line of Psalm 118
This phrase was probably said or sung in a “call and response” between the Israelites and the priests during worship.
It is the phrase, along with other praise that Jehoshaphat’s army sang in battle in 2 Chronicles 20
Psalm 136 helps us to understand what Chesed is.
It starts by declaring who God is.
It then describes God as our Creator.
Then it shows God as our Deliverer.
Then it shows us God as our Guide and Provider
Then it shows us that God is our Strength
God is our Sustainer
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;
The psalmist starts by praising God for who He is. He is good, and He is greater than all other manmade gods, all of which are worthless, silent and cannot help people. He is the greatest authority, above any other being.
to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever;
The Psalmist then turns to what God has done.
All this is evidence that God’s Steadfast Love is eternal
to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever; the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever; the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever;
The first great act God did was create. God is worthy of our praise because He is our Creator
This act is not only a testament to His great power, but to His Love
He created by “understanding” or “wisdom”: God knew what was “good” for His creatures. He created a world that was “very good” for humans and all other life.
He knew it was best for us to have a sun, moon, and stars, and these, along with the rest of God’s creation are all reminders of His Love.
to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever; and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever; with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever; and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever; but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever;
Not only did God create people, but He also has delivered His people.
When the people He had made a covenant with were in bondage, He delivered them from slavery because of His steadfast Love, proving that He was more powerful than their oppressors and other gods.
If you are in bondage today, you can call on God, and He will deliver you from slavery because of His “steadfast love”
to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever;
God showed His steadfast love to His people when He led His people in the wilderness. He guided them constantly with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He was with them and gave them direction, shade, light, food, water, and protection. He did all this even while they murmured and complained, and were not faithful to Him and went after other gods. Through all of this, He remained faithful because His steadfast love endures forever.
to him who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; and killed mighty kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever; and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever;
Sihon and Og were kings of the Canaanites that dwelt in the promised land. Sihon would not let the Israelites pass through his land in Numbers 21, but attacked the Israelites instead. God gave the Israelites victory over them because of His steadfast love.
If the enemy attacks you, you can call on God and He will deliver you because of His steadfast love.
and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever; a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures forever.
God gave the Israelites a good land, flowing with milk and honey. He was their Father who provided for them, and gave them and inheritance like He promised, because of His steadfast love.
God is our Father, and we have an inheritance, a promised land, that God will give us. We can be certain of this because He has proven that His steadfast Love endures forever.
It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever; and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever;
The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 3 (23. Low Estate)
Israel was brought unto a low estate of bondage and slavery in Egypt, but the Lord did not forget them in their distress. To all who have fallen low in sorrow, in sickness, or in sin, how comforting it is to know that the Lord does not forget, but sends help and deliverance
he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.
God is the Provider for all His creation, animals included. He is constantly giving them food to eat because of His steadfast love.
Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.
We ought to praise God for what He has done for us, we can see that He is faithful and that “His steadfast love endures forever”
Do call and response with congregation. “For His steadfast love endures forever”
