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Commentary on Psalms 136 verses 1–9
The duty we are here again and again called to is to give thanks, to offer the sacrifice of praise continually, not the fruits of our ground or cattle, but the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name, Heb 13:15. We are never so earnestly called upon to pray and repent as to give thanks; for it is the will of God that we should abound most in the most pleasant exercises of religion, in that which is the work of heaven. Now here observe, 1. Whom we must give thanks to - to him that we receive all good from, to the Lord, Jehovah, Israel's God (Psa 136:1), the God of gods, the God whom angels adore, from whom magistrates derive their power, and by whom all pretended deities are and shall be conquered (Psa 136:2), to the Lord of lords, the Sovereign of all sovereigns, the stay and supporter of all supports; Psa 136:3. In all our adorations we must have an eye to God's excellency as transcendent, and to his power and dominion as incontestably and uncontrollably supreme. 2. What we must give thanks for, not as the Pharisee that made all his thanksgivings terminate in his own praise (God, I thank thee, that I am so and so), but directing them all to God's glory. (1.) We must give thanks to God for his goodness and mercy (Psa 136:1): Give thanks to the Lord, not only because he does good, but because he is good (all the streams must be traced up to the fountain), not only because he is merciful to us, but because his mercy endures for ever, and will be drawn out to those that shall come after us. We must give thanks to God, not only for that mercy which is now handed out to us here on earth, but for that which shall endure for ever in the glories and joys of heaven. (2.) We must give God thanks for the instances of his power and wisdom. In general (Psa 136:4), he along does great wonders. The contrivance is wonderful, the design being laid by infinite wisdom; the performance is wonderful, being put in execution by infinite power. He alone does marvellous things; none besides can do such things, and he does them without the assistance or advice of any other. More particularly, [1.] He made the heavens, and stretched them out, and in them we not only see his wisdom and power, but we taste his mercy in their benign influences; as long as the heavens endure the mercy of God endures in them, Psa 136:5. [2.] He raised the earth out of the waters when he caused the dry land to appear, that it might be fit to be a habitation for man, and therein also his mercy to man still endures (Psa 136:6); for the earth hath he given to the children of men, and all its products. [3.] Having made both heaven and earth, he settled a correspondence between them, notwithstanding their distance, by making the sun, moon, and stars, which he placed in the firmament of heaven, to shed their light and influences upon this earth, Psa 136:7-9. These are called the great lights because they appear so to us, for otherwise astronomers could tell us that the moon is less than many of the stars, but, being nearer to the earth, it seems much greater. They are said to rule, not only because they govern the seasons of the year, but because they are useful to the world, and benefactors are the best rulers, Luk 22:25. But the empire is divided, one rules by day, the other by night (at least, the stars), and yet all are subject to God's direction and disposal. Those rulers, therefore, which the Gentiles idolized, are the world's servants and God's subjects. Sun, stand thou still, and thou moon.
"Give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures for ever" [Psalm 136:1]. This Psalm contains the praise of God, and all its verses finish in the same way. Wherefore although many things are related here in praise of God, yet His mercy is most commended; for without this plain commendation, he, whom the Holy Spirit used to utter this Psalm, would have no verse be ended. Although after the judgment, by which at the end of the world the quick and the dead must be judged, the just being sent into life eternal, the unjust into everlasting fire, [Matthew 25:46] there will not afterwards be those, whom God will have mercy on, yet rightly may His future mercy be understood to be for ever, which He bestows on His saints and faithful ones, not because they will be miserable for ever, and therefore will need His mercy for ever, but because that very blessedness, which He mercifully bestows on the miserable, that they cease to be miserable, and begin to be happy, will have no end, and therefore "His mercy is for ever." For that we shall be just from being unjust, whole from being unsound, alive from being dead, immortal from being mortal, happy from being wretched, is of His mercy. But this that we shall be, will be for ever, and therefore "His mercy is for ever." Wherefore, "give thanks to the Lord;" that is, praise the Lord by giving thanks, "for He is good:" nor is it any temporal good you will gain from this confession, for, "His mercy endures for ever;" that is, the benefit which He bestows mercifully upon you, is for ever.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 136:1 serves as the foundational declaration for a unique and powerful liturgical psalm, often referred to as the "Great Hallel." It issues a direct, communal imperative to give thanks to the LORD, grounding this call in two immutable and interconnected attributes of God: His inherent goodness and His steadfast, enduring mercy. This opening verse sets the stage for the psalm's distinctive responsorial structure, where each subsequent declaration of God's mighty acts is met with the unwavering affirmation that "his mercy endureth for ever," establishing a profound theological anchor for the entire composition.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 136:1 masterfully employs several literary devices to achieve its profound impact. The most prominent is Refrain, where the phrase "for his mercy endureth for ever" is introduced in this opening verse and then repeated verbatim at the end of every subsequent verse throughout the psalm. This creates a powerful, meditative rhythm, reinforcing the central theological truth and embedding it deeply into the memory of the worshipers. The verse also begins with an Imperative ("O give thanks"), a direct command that functions as an Apostrophe, addressing the congregation directly and compelling them to participate in worship. Furthermore, there is a subtle Parallelism in the two "for" clauses ("for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever"), where God's goodness and His enduring mercy are presented as complementary and equally foundational reasons for thanksgiving. The cumulative effect of these devices is to build a robust, unwavering declaration of God's character, inviting the community into a corporate act of grateful praise.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 136:1 lays the theological cornerstone for understanding God's character as both inherently good and eternally merciful. This dual emphasis reveals a God whose benevolence is not capricious but rooted in His unchanging nature, and whose steadfast love (hesed) is the bedrock of His covenant relationship with humanity. It is a profound declaration that God's active, loyal love is not temporary or conditional, but endures perpetually, providing an unwavering foundation for hope and trust. This truth undergirds all of God's redemptive acts throughout history, from creation to the ultimate salvation, assuring believers of His consistent faithfulness across generations and inviting them into a perpetual posture of gratitude.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 136:1 calls us to cultivate a heart of continuous thanksgiving, not merely for what God does, but for who He inherently is: good and eternally merciful. In a world characterized by change, uncertainty, and often, hardship, this verse provides an unshakeable anchor. Recognizing that God's goodness is His immutable nature and that His steadfast love endureth forever transforms our perspective. It empowers us to trust Him even when circumstances are challenging, knowing that His character remains constant. This enduring truth should inspire confidence, cultivate deep gratitude, and motivate us to live lives that reflect His goodness and mercy to others. It invites us to join the ancient chorus of praise, acknowledging that our very existence, our hope, and all true blessings flow from His unending hesed.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of the repeated refrain "for his mercy endureth for ever" in Psalm 136?
Answer: The repeated refrain "for his mercy endureth for ever" (Hebrew: ki l'olam chasdo) is the theological and structural anchor of Psalm 136. Its repetition 26 times, corresponding to each declaration of God's acts, serves multiple critical purposes. Theologically, it emphasizes the unchanging, eternal, and boundless nature of God's hesed (loyal love, steadfast kindness, covenant faithfulness). It assures the worshiper that every act of God, whether in creation, deliverance, or provision, is motivated and sustained by this unwavering mercy. Structurally, it creates a powerful responsorial liturgy, likely intended for communal worship, where the congregation would affirm this core truth in response to a leader's proclamation. This repetition aids memorization, reinforces faith, and builds a cumulative sense of awe and gratitude for God's perpetual faithfulness, reminding believers that God's character is consistent and His love never fails, as affirmed in Lamentations 3:22-23.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 136:1, with its twin declarations of God's goodness and His enduring mercy, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the perfect embodiment of God's inherent goodness, revealing the Father's character fully and without blemish (John 14:9). More significantly, the "mercy that endureth for ever" (hesed) is perfectly manifested in Christ's redemptive mission. The cross is the supreme demonstration of God's steadfast love, where, "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Through His sacrifice, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus established a new covenant, a covenant of grace and mercy that is eternal and unbreakable (Hebrews 8:6). In Christ, God's hesed is not merely a historical fact but a living reality, extended to all who believe, offering forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal life (John 3:16). Thus, the ancient call to give thanks for God's enduring mercy is now a call to give thanks for the Lamb of God, who perfectly revealed and eternally secured that mercy for all humanity.