To him that made great lights: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
To him that made {H6213} great {H1419} lights {H216}: for his mercy {H2617} endureth for ever {H5769}:
to him who made the great lights, for his grace continues forever;
He made the great lights— His loving devotion endures forever.
To him that made great lights; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever:
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.
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Genesis 1:14
¶ And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: -
Genesis 1:19
And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. -
Psalms 104:19
¶ He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. -
Deuteronomy 4:19
And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, [even] all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven. -
Psalms 74:16
The day [is] thine, the night also [is] thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun. -
Psalms 74:17
Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.
Psalm 136:7 is part of a unique liturgical psalm known for its responsorial refrain, "for his mercy endureth for ever." This verse specifically highlights God's power and wisdom displayed in the creation of the celestial bodies, linking His foundational acts of creation directly to His unwavering, eternal mercy.
Context
Psalm 136 is often referred to as "The Great Hallel" or "The Thanksgiving Psalm." Its distinctive feature is the repeated refrain, "for his mercy endureth for ever," which follows each declaration of God's mighty acts. This structure likely facilitated congregational worship, allowing the community to affirm God's enduring faithfulness. Verses 4-9 of this psalm focus on God's incredible power in creation, moving from the general act of making the heavens and earth to the specific creation of the sun, moon, and stars, emphasizing that even the vastness of the cosmos is a testament to His steadfast love and provision for humanity.
Key Themes
Divine Creation and Sovereignty
The phrase "great lights" (Hebrew: me'orot gedolim) refers primarily to the sun and moon, which God created to govern the day and night, as detailed in the creation account in Genesis 1:16. Unlike pagan cultures that worshipped these celestial bodies, this psalm firmly declares them as creations of the one true God. This emphasizes God's absolute sovereignty and immense power over the entire universe, from its grandest structures to its smallest details.
God's Enduring Mercy (Hesed)
The core message of Psalm 136 is the eternal nature of God's mercy. The Hebrew word translated as "mercy" is chesed (or hesed), a rich theological term signifying God's loyal, unfailing love, covenant fidelity, and steadfast lovingkindness. It's a love that is not only compassionate but also actively committed and faithful. By linking God's act of creating the "great lights" to His enduring hesed, the psalmist conveys that God's very act of bringing order, light, and sustenance into existence is an expression of His profound and everlasting love for His creation and His people.
Linguistic Insights
The term "great lights" directly echoes the language of Genesis 1:14-18, where God sets these luminaries "to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years." This connection underscores the psalmist's deep understanding and reverence for the Genesis creation narrative. The repeated refrain, "for his mercy endureth for ever," uses the Hebrew word chesed (often transliterated as hesed) for "mercy." This term denotes more than just pity; it encompasses God's covenant love, faithfulness, and steadfast lovingkindness, emphasizing the reliable and unchanging nature of His character.
Related Scriptures
Practical Application
This verse encourages us to look at the sun, moon, and stars not just as natural phenomena but as constant, tangible reminders of an all-powerful, all-wise, and eternally merciful God. It invites us to a posture of worship and gratitude, recognizing that the very systems that sustain life on Earth are upheld by God's enduring love. For believers, this offers immense comfort: if God's mercy was evident in the creation of the vast universe and continues to sustain it, then His mercy is certainly sufficient and unwavering for our personal lives, even amidst challenges. We can trust in His steadfast love because it is as constant and reliable as the rising and setting of the sun.