Psalms - His Love Endures Forever

“His Love Endures Forever”

Text: Psalm 136

Thesis: To examine God’s loving nature and to call upon all to praise Him for it.

Introduction:

(1)   “In Jewish tradition this psalm is often known as the Great Hallel” (Kidner 2:457).

- Hallel means “praise.”

(2)   Author & Date: Unknown, possibly David (cf. 1 Chron. 16:41, David gave certain Levites a song similar to this one to sing; cf. 2 Chron. 7:3, 6, a song similar to this one was sung in Solomon’s temple; cf. 2 Chron. 20:21, a song similar to this one was sung as Jehoshaphat was preparing for war).

(3)   “The focus is on the Lord’s continuous involvement in redemptive history, beginning with the Exodus and the Conquest. However, the Lord’s majesty and ‘love’ are not to be limited to his people, as they extend to all of his creation by virtue of his being the Creator (vv. 4-9, 25)” (VanGemeren 823).

Discussion:

I.                   First, the psalmist calls upon everyone to praise God (vv. 1-3).

A.    The psalmist emphasizes that God is: 1) Good; 2) God of gods;                    and 3) Lord of lords.

B.     At the end of each verse, the psalmist adds: “His love endures forever.”

1.      ‘Love’ (Heb. hesed) refers to “the Covenant love of God with which he had bound himself to his people” (Knight 2:309).

2.      Most likely, this was an antiphonal psalm and the repetition is there for purposes of emphasis.

II.                Second, the psalmist enumerates examples of God’s steadfast love (vv. 4-25).

A.    The first example given is the creation (vv. 4-9).

B.     The second example given is the Exodus (vv. 10-15).

C.     The third example given is the Conquest (vv. 16-23).

D.    The fourth example given is God’ continual redemption (vv. 23-24).

E.     The fifth example given is God’s constant provisions (v. 25).

III.             Third, the psalmist again calls upon everyone to praise God (v. 26).

Conclusion:

(1)   We serve an awesome God!

(2)   Therefore, let us praise Him all the days of our lives.