For His Lovingkindness is Everlasting - Psalm 136

We will continue in our monthly series from the Psalms. This Psalm is unique in style as it repeats the same phrase in the second line of each couplet. The chorus draws from ; , and perhaps might have been the response of the people to the first line spoken by the priest (similar to high churches). It divides easily into three sections – God of nature, God of salvation, and God of all.

Psalm 106:1 ESV

Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 118:1–4 ESV

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”

I) God of nature – 1-9

Give thanks is the opening line of the first three, it means to recognize or acknowledge the work of God

God is good – – as Moses tells us concerning God’s work each day in creation, and the summary of it all

Genesis 1:31 ESV

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

God of gods, Lord of lords – – this phrase is found more often in later Hebrew literature, and emphasizes God’s universal sovereignty

Days of creation – – means more then the facts of creation, or even the power of God in making something from nothing, and life from death – ; , – it presupposes a wisdom above all others

II) God of salvation – 10-22

God’s deliverance of His people from Egyptian bondage – – which reflects how He delivers us from the bondage of sin –

Psalm 135:8–9 ESV

He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of beast; who in your midst, O Egypt, sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants;

1 Corinthians 6:11 ESV

And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

God’s protection and guidance to bring His people into the Promised Land – – which reflects how He brings us to His eternal home –

Psalm 135:10–12 ESV

who struck down many nations and killed mighty kings, Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan, and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to his people Israel.

John 14:1–4 ESV

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”

Although these events are drawn from the early period of Israel’s history, it does not require an early date of composition

III) God of all - 23-26

This section summarizes the previous points – God remembered His people in difficult times

God rescued them from their enemies (and His)

God provided their needs (better than they could themselves)

So give thanks to the God of all

Concl: It is a simple Psalm, but designed to remind us of how dependent we are upon God, and how faithful He is to provide what we need.