Psalm 136
Notes
Transcript
Introduction (A directive to Praise YHWH for His Goodness & never ending steadfast love) (Cause & effect)
Introduction (A directive to Praise YHWH for His Goodness & never ending steadfast love) (Cause & effect)
Psalm 36 is an historical Psalm comparable to Psalm 78, 105, 106, 135.
Because it’s more descriptive of God’s provisions and a survey of what He has done… it’s more of a Psalm or hymn of Praise rather than a Psalm of Thanksgiving. But as we all know… thanksgiving leads to praise. The two of undoubtedly linked. Thanksgiving… gratitude being linked to PRAISE is so often how we might fight sin and hold fast to doing the will of God in our lives.
You can tell that this hymn was written with the understanding to have an individual singer who would lead this liturgical song of praise and then you would have a Congregational response with this being the most elaborate responsive Psalm in all the OT.
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
That is verse 1 of Psalm 136.
It’s a line that is so memorable for us who have been in church for a while, the line from this memorable Hymn has been placed in many songs over the years…
I can remember singing
“GIVE THANKS TO YHWH”:
The most well known, more personal name of God that demonstrates his covenantal love toward His people.
Revealed to Moses at the burning bush.
Means To be, I AM.
it shows that the Lord’s character is unchangeable
He cannot learn any new information or become more holy.
None of God’s perfections can be subtracted or added to. He can never be anything other than what He is today
We are given here a directive to “Give thanks”, to PRAISE GOD
“FOR HE IS GOOD”
Exalting Jesus in Psalms 101–150 He Is Good (136:1)
Allen Ross writes,
This word embraces
“FOR HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOREVER”
FOR: BECAUSE… God is Good BECAUSE His steadfast love endures forever.
Exalting Jesus in Psalms 101–150 Be Thankful to the Lord! His Faithful Love Endures Forever! (Psalm 136)
CSB: “His f
ATTRIBUTE OF HIS FAITHFUL LOVE
We all have been shown examples of faithful love within our lives over the years…
Loving mother or father showing over a period of time their unwavering love for us.
The love of siblings, friends or even grandparents through their sacrifices that they made for their children and grandchildren all to make sure that after they are gone, their family has better lives.
Papa coming here from California. Hitchhiking to Abilene first. Getting a job. Then hitchhiking back to California to get my nana and mom and then driving their only car back to Abilene.
This faithful love that we see thought from parents, grandparents, or other family or friends though… even when they are rather consistent… they still don’t even get close to measuring up to the faithful love of our Heavenly Father and the actions that He has shown to His people throughout the generations.
The reality of the faithful love of those of our loves ones… is that that faithful love is limited, it’s imperfect, it’s incomplete.
No matter how hard we ourselves try to exemplify our own faithful love to those WE LOVE, we try to impart a love on our children that they will feel and know their whole lives… we know and understand without hesitancy that it’s an imperfect love.
WE ARE UNABLE TO SUPPLY OUR LOVED ONES WITH A FULLY FAITHFUL LOVE THAT’S UNENDING.
But the writer of this Psalm sets out to remind the people of Israel of the reality that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob IS IN FACT a HEAVENLY FATHER who is able to supply this faithful love that is UNENDING AND ENDURES FOREVER.
God’s Love… is perpetual.
never ending, unchanging… it’s a reality that is in and of itself continuously occuring.
Psalms 73–150 1. Call to Praise (136:1–3)
Miller notes, “To give thanks because God’s steadfast love endures forever is to render
There is a causation that leads to our PRAISE.
Our God is not a God that just created and that has sat IDOLLY by watching his creation make their way through turmoil…
our God is one who has done acts throughout HISTORY ACCORDING TO HIS REDEMPTIVE PLAN WHICH CAUSES THE WORSHIP OF THOSE WHO KNOW HIM. (BECAUSE GLORY IS DUE HIS NAME)
The things He has done for His people isn’t the specific reason we praise Him… but it’s what these specific interventions show OF WHO HE IS… These things CAUSE OUR PRAISE BECAUSE HIS PEOPLE WITNESS HIS GOODNESS AND GREATNESS.
The Psalmist sets out over the 26 verses to make this case to be without doubt.
And as He does so… we get to see a tour of God’s faithful love through the early years of Israels history.
In Psalm 136, we are given a directive to praise YHWH for His goodness & never-ending steadfast love which is caused by who He is, His created wonders, His acts in throughout history, and His loving kindness to remember those in their low estate.
Cause #1: (V. 2,3) Who He is: God of gods & Lord of Lords
Cause #1: (V. 2,3) Who He is: God of gods & Lord of Lords
2 Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;
A theology of God, should always begin with who God is…
The Psalmist began this is verse one with tellings us of God’s YHWH’s GOODNESS… and now the Psalmist continues this thought of telling us who God is with two more of HIs names…
Names are important!
This is something that in somewhat has been lost within society. But so often in history, and especially what we see in biblical history is that names are important!
There is BIG significance in the names that God gives to HIs people…
Abram - Abraham = “Father of multitudes”
Sarai - Sarah
Jacob to Israel =God prevails / He struggles with God
Simon - Peter = Rock
All of these names signifying something.
This is the same with the names that God gives Himself through His Word.
ELOHIM: GOD of gods
Carries with it the thought of the power and majesty of God… which is to be feared (verbs can include “to be strong” or “to dread”
Elohim is the plural form of the name El or Eloha… sometimes, Elohim can refer to a plurality of gods… but in reference to the God of Israel, its not referring to there being multiple gods rather, it’s ONE TRUE GOD. As when a monarch for example would use the plural to speak in their official authoritative capacity.>>>> In the case of the God of Israel… drawing attention to the ROYAL AND MAJESTIC nature.
Also with the use of the plural form as a divine name is an expression of His exclusive royal majesty… there is NO OTHER GOD except for Him.
35 To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides him.
Sometimes an author will use one divine name over another… when this is done it often communicates God’s royal majesty over all creation and nations.
ADONE: LORD of lords
Lord / Master
Indicating God’s absolute power and authority.
God is above all, He trumps ALL OTHER AUTHORITY HERE ON THIS EARTH…
He is the supreme ruler.
He is the owner of everything here on earth.
SO… what does this mean??
This means that YHWH is above all other supposed deities of the nations in HIs power and majesty.
No other god can compare to WHO HE IS… they do not speak, they do not see, they do not hear, they do not create… none of these false gods deserve the worship that belongs to the God of gods and the Lord of lords alone.
And not only are we reminded of WHO HE IS… but we are also reminded that in the midst of this power and majesty… He shares an everlasting covenantal love toward HIs people.
FOR HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOREVER
Cause #2: (v. 4-9) His Great Wonders of Creation.
Cause #2: (v. 4-9) His Great Wonders of Creation.
4 to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever; 5 to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever; 6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever; 7 to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever; 8 the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever; 9 the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever;
We see here that the directive to PRAISE YHWH begins by reminding those who are singing this hym of WHO GOD IS (God of gods, Lord of lords),
And now the directive of praise is given another cause in the WONDERS OF CREATION.
VERSE 4 to him who alone does great wonders
“great wonders”: to be too difficult, unusual, miraculous acts that evoke awe in people.
Our great God did wonders that we are told in Psalm 136 that is different than any other gods, (the ones who do not speak, do not hear, do not breath…Psalm 135)
Psalms 73–150 A. The Lord’s Acts in Creation (136:4–9)
Mays notes, “It is a liturgical and confessional term for the recognition and claim that certain events are so marvelous and extraordinary as to transcend the normal and the usual. Wonders are special happenings enacted by the divine power and purpose.”
And the Psalmist begins with the WONDERS OF CREATION.
VERSE 5 Echoes Prov. 3:19-20 by understanding made the heavens
VERSE 6 spread out the earth above the waters,
VERSE 7-9 him who made the great lights, / the sun to rule over the day / the moon and stars to rule over the night
19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; 20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.
The world did not come into existence by chance. You can see throughout creation that there was intelligent design, there is intentionality, there is order given.
CHOAS doesn’t come under order without somebody with intelligence bringing that chaos into order.
You don’t have to go very far to find this out…
You know what… just come over to our house one day… let’s plan for this to be a night right after we have had ice cream… a little over stimulation… and come see how there has to be chaos brought under order by intentionality in whom somebody who can think with some sort of intelligence.
This is why Psalm 19:1
1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Psalms 73–150 A. The Lord’s Acts in Creation (136:4–9)
The verb rqʿ (“spread”),
And so if we can imagine the fine artistry of a metal worker carefully hammering out a piece of metal to mold it to how he wants it… carefully, thoughtfully… we have this understand then of God purposefully spreading out the waters to the exact WIDTH and DEPTH. .
Praise the Lord who made the sun, moon and stars! (Gen. 1:16-18)
This is the God who created everything that we see when we walk outside…
The wood you humans built these so called gods… Yeah I made that.
The metal, the gold, the bronze that you stretched out to make these idols for you and your family… I made the minerals of which those are made by stretching out the sea and the land to where I want them to be.
THESE OBJECTS THAT YOU WORSHIP… I CREATED!
THESE CELESTIAL BODIES… I DESIGNED AND I GOVERN…. says the Lord.
This very creation… is the very beginning of my relationship with you my people, to bring the hearts of my people to myself.
this creation shows God’s love for His people,
the wonders of this world reveals His steadfastness of His grace upon us.
FOR HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOREVER
Cause #3: (v. 10-22) ACTS IN HISTORY
Cause #3: (v. 10-22) ACTS IN HISTORY
THE DIRECTIVE TO PRAISE YHWH CONTINUES WITH CAUSE #3 IN THE PSALMIST REFERRING TO THE EALRY HISTORY OF ISRAEL’S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IN THE TIME OF THE EXODUS.
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever; 11 and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever; 12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever; 13 to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever; 14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever; 15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever; 16 to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever; 17 to him who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; 18 and killed mighty kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; 19 Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever; 20 and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever; 21 and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever; 22 a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures forever.
GOD’S MIGHTY WONDERS CONTINUES IN THAT THE LORD SHOWED HIS FAITHFUL LOVE TO HIS PEOPLE IN BRINGING JUDGMENT AGAINST LITTLE g gods, BY BRINGING JUDGEMENT UPON ISRAEL’S ENEMIES AND DOING WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE TO LIBERATE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR OPPRESSOR IN EGYPT.
VERSE 10: (expanded parallel of Psalm 135:8-12.)
struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
Verse. 11-12: brought Israel out from among them/ 2 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm
Verse. 13-15 to him who divided the Red Sea in two/and made Israel pass through the midst of it/but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, (EX. 14-15)
Verse 16. TO him who led his people through the wilderness
Verse 17-20 (Identical to Psalm 135:10-11. )
to him who struck down great kings
and killed mighty kings
Sihon, king of the Amorites
and Og, king of Bashan
Human history is viewed as the outworking of divine providence, as the Lord directs even the affairs of nations according to His plan.
(as difficult as it is to fathom this) In the negative perspective here we see that God must strike down the first born in Egypt. Even in this… God demonstrates his faithful love through striking down the first born, by striking down their gods, by striking down the fighting men of Egypt within the Red Sea.
We then see this positive perspective on how God demonstrates His faithful love through by bringing HIs people out of Egypt, by striking down kings and kingdoms, and placing within the hands of His people their promised land.
This in and of itself is the foundation on which the people of Israel were given faith in the God of Wonders!
8 And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, with signs and wonders.
This is by HIS HAND.
This is BY HIS POWER.
Coming out of Egypt, the Israelites had ZERO experience fighting in wars.
When the Lord fought on their behalf, “no human power was a match for Him as He provided total victory for his obedient people.”
Defeated the kings of the Amorites
Did the same to Sihon and Og what He did to Pharaoh in Egypt.
Saying in before the Battle against Og,
34 But the Lord said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people, and his land. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.” 35 So they defeated him and his sons and all his people, until he had no survivor left. And they possessed his land.
AN ACT OF THE LORD ON THEIR BEHALF. By His mighty hand and not their own.
Verse. 21-22: (These verse are identical to Psalm 135:12. )
and gave their land as a heritage
a heritage to Israel his servant
Logistically, historically, humanely speaking…
Israel should not have survived, leaving Egypt, (Outnumbered and out gunned, no experience)
they should not have survived the Red Sea (impossible)
they should not have survived passing through the wilderness (desert, scorpions, fiery serpents, no water)
they should not have survive and were outnumbered often in their fighting against the Canaanites and the Amorites.
BUT NEVER THE LESS… God’s Strength is SHOWN through the their weaknesses.
HIS FAITHFUL, STEADFAST LOVE SHOWS OUT.
Israel receives the gift of the land of Caanan as a DIVINE GIFT.
Not by their own conquest…
but because the Great God of Wonders created this land and it’s His land, His prerogative to give it to whom he pleases.
FOR HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOREVER
Cause #4: (V. 23-25) Remembering those in their Low state
Cause #4: (V. 23-25) Remembering those in their Low state
23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever; 24 and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever; 25 he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.
It seems as thought commentators are not quite sure what exactly this is referring to…
perhaps from their recent history during their exile in their humbled position,
Allen Ross suggest that it could be simply a general reference covering from their time of the settlement in the land until the restoration from exile….
Either way…
The Psalmist mentions the reality of God’s steadfast, enduring love in the midst of Him being the God of gods, The Lord of Lords, the powerful wonders creator, the mighty warrior…
in the midst of these realities of who God is… He is still a personal God who remembers His people in their lowly state and remembers the promises that He has personally made to them.
Even in the case of Israel’s punishment from exile, God in His loving kindness does not stand by idly, but rather He intervenes and He personally delivers them.
And while delivering His people, He is also sure to provide everything that they need… but ALSO… GLORY BE TO GOD because even to all creatures, ALL HUMANS… as God spoke to Abraham in Gen. 12:3 that Abrahams seed was to be a part of a mutch larger plan in blessing the whole world.
FOR HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOREVER
Conclusion (V. 26)
Conclusion (V. 26)
6 Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.
V. 26
Psalms 73–150 3. Renewed Call for Praise (136:26)
Thus, Yahweh the God in covenantal relationship with Israel is the God over all creation. He is not just another tribal deity, as the ANE nations worshiped, but
The never ending Psalm…
Did God cease to do work worthy of praise, because of His steadfast love after this Psalm was written? Of course not!
Think of His love to Israel poured out over the course of history in the stories of
Ruth
Samuel
David
Elijah
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Daniel
Haggai
BECAUSE HIS FAITHFUL LOVE ENDURES FOREVER.
At the opening of the NT we then see this continuation of the thought of this Psalm as we read about The Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us (John 1:14)
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
We know that Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
To dwell with the lowly,
not to be served but to serve.
He performed miracles and healings,
He raised people from the dead.
He lived a perfect life.
We know what Paul tells the Corinthians
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
We know from scripture that this culminates in in God’s Son, Jesus Christ giving of himself on the cross of Calvary to redeem His people from their sin.
He purchased our redemption through His sacrifice, He rose from the dead defeating sin & death, and ascended to heaven to prepare us an eternal dwelling.
BECAUSE HIS FAITHFUL LOVE ENDURES FOREVER.
He then poured out His Holy Spirit, the helper, our downpayment. He inspired the Apostles to write the NT to encourage the body of Christ around the world for years and years to come.
BECAUSE HIS FAITHFUL LOVE ENDURES FOREVER.
He continues to do mighty wonders through His Holy Spirit and through His Word,
He continues to liberate and conquer
He continues to remember the lowly by the Gospel of His Son Jesus Christ saving wretched sinners like you and me.
BECAUSE HIS FAITHFUL LOVE ENDURES FOREVER.
Psalm 136 IS THE NEVER ENDING PSALM.
THE LESSON WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS PSALM… is that there is never a wrong time to praise God FOR WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE HAS DONE BECAUSE OF HIS STEADFAST LOVE.
God’s love is always present
It always endures,
no matter what.
Whatever moment we find ourselves in… whatever difficult time in our life, or whether we are experiencing at the time a moment of provision or protection… we can at all times lean on the truth of this Psalm.HIS FAITHFUL LOVE ENDURES FOREVER.
REMEMBER OUR POSTURE: THANKFULNESS AND PRAISE
18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
REMEMBER HIS POSITION.
He is the God of gods,
the Lord of Lords,
the GOD OF HEAVEN.
CREATOR of HEAVEN AND EARTH.
“There is not a square inch in in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: MINE!”
