Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. 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; 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; 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. 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. 26 Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Sing Together

Does God seem to mind that not all of us are great singers? Why not let the “better” voices do it and let the rest remain silent? The better question to ask is, “Why is singing to God such an important part of the Christian life?” We can answer that by looking at how God created us. He created humanity with the free will and ability to vocalize our feelings and responses. It is a natural part of the human experience, even if we think we are not great singers. Worship is good for the human soul. We were created to bring Him glory. Singing is also a way to retell the stories and experiences of life. Psalm 136 retells the salvation story of God and calls all people to respond by saying, “His steadfast love endures forever.”

Psalms 73–150: An Introduction and Commentary (Psalm 136. His Love Has No End)

In Jewish tradition this psalm is often known as the Great Hallel (‘the Great Psalm of Praise

A Unique Structure and Unique Word

The basic structure is a phrase about God followed by a repeated phrase concerning God’s steadfast love. The psalm begins with a call to give thanks and praise God, followed by an overview of God’s actions toward the covenant people of Israel. The psalm highlights the following themes: Creation, Salvation, and Inheritance.

The psalm contains the phrase, “for his steadfast love endures forever” twenty-six times. The ESV Bible uses “steadfast love” for the Hebrew word “chesed” in this Psalm. It is often used to refer to God’s love, an unfailing kind of love, kindness, or goodness related to faithfulness to his covenant. In other words, this is God’s unique covenant love.

A covenant may seem foreign to our modern minds. We may associate covenants with contracts or agreements, but that is not the whole concept. A covenant contains the following concepts: a sacred bond and agreement between two parties, made official by swearing an oath and including blessings and curses for obedience and failure.

God’s steadfast love is His covenant responsibility, and He has kept it faithfully. The writer states this fact and supports it with stories of God’s unceasing commitment throughout history.

The opening section focuses on God’s goodness and greatness above all. There may be so-called “gods”, but they are fictional or false spirits. They do not hold any sovereignty. Only God does. For this fact, the psalm calls us to “give thanks”. This is more than just saying “thank you”; it includes the idea of acknowledging or confessing this fact.

God Creates

Verses 4-9 depict the “great wonders” of God. The original Hebrew term is often used to describe God’s actions in the events of the Exodus, but here they also describe God’s sovereignty in creation. All things owe their origin story to God. God alone is eternal and has no origin, for he is I AM. The psalm writer retells the creation narrative of “the heavens and the earth”. God does this with “understanding”, a term that describes cleverness or skill.

When we consider the origins of the universe, most people, with some exceptions, acknowledge that there was a time when things did not exist as they do. The source for things to move from chaos to order had to occur at some point. This eventually occurred over millions of years and possibly started by an earlier accumulation of non-personal forces and elements. But the Biblical explanation is this. An eternal, wise, and all-powerful being brought forth order and life out of His own will. The universe was created to support life and be a reflection of God’s glory. People bear the image of God by their existence. And because we have a Creator, we also have a purpose for life. The great purpose is to know the Creator and bring Him glory. This is a far better explanation of why things work in creation, and it gives us our purpose.

God Saves

The next section, verses 10-16 describe the events of the Exodus. As stated earlier, this psalm would have been used by generations after the Exodus, yet they could sing it as their song, for they were God’s covenant people. This sections names two forces that opposed the freedom of ancient Israel: King Pharaoh of Egypt/his army, and natural forces. Pharoah enslaved the people and made them his work force. Life was bitter, painful, and many wondered if the God of their forefathers had forsaken them or was lesser than the gods of Egypt. The reality is that God was fully aware of the situation and had a plan to redeem them. Pharoah attempted to control them through death and punishment, but God acted with a strong hand and outstretched arm. Pharoah, his army, and his gods were not match for the God of Israel. And when it came to the barrier of the Red Sea and the harshness of the wilderness, God proved that He could part the waters and provide water in the desert.

The book of Exodus. This book name is from the Greek term meaning “departure” or “exit”. But the Hebrew title is taken from the first words of the book, “these are the names...” The book begins by listing the family tribe names and descendants that came to Egypt. The book ends by telling us of God’s glory in the Tabernacle (the ancient mobile place for worshipping God). The story begins with people that are enslaved and wonder where God is but ends with God’s presence and power in the midst of His people. This is God’s glorious story of saving His people and being with them.

How are Christians to connect with the Exodus story? The Bible states that our sin and rejection of God keep us in slavery to sin and death. In Christ, we experience a fresh exodus from our slavery. Consider what Paul says in Romans 6:17-23

Romans 6:17–23 ESV

17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It may be unpopular and even offensive to some to talk about one’s sin. Our culture constantly attempts to alter the description and limits of what God has determined to be sin. Some may want some of the moral benefits of Christianity but not that which is unpopular. May we never be ashamed to uphold the biblical concept of sin, because when we erode it, we will eventually eliminate our need for God to save us. He will be Creator but not the deliverer. May also be humble so that we do not forget that we WERE slaves to sin, and now we ARE servants to our Savior.

God Fulfills His Promises

The third section, verses 17-22, list some of the first enemies that Israel met as they were to enter the Promised land. These were some of the first kings that threatened Israel with war. After 40 years of living in the desert under God’s provisions, Israel would meet enemies similar to Egypt, but God would also defeat those enemies and fulfill His promise for a land. God’s redemptive story would continue for the next generation and beyond.

When we read the book of Joshua, we encounter the challenges of settling in the promised land. The great challenge of Joshua would be tested. Joshua 24:14-15

Joshua 24:14–15 ESV

14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

The rest of the Old Testament reminds us that the covenant people did not always keep their covenant faithfulness. And here is where the “chesed” of God becomes most distinct. One might think that when a covenant person fails in their covenant responsibility, the covenant is voided. In some situations, that is the case. For example, Israel proved unfaithful, but God remained faithful throughout history. This is part of the reason that the psalm writer calls us to declare that the steadfast love ENDURES FOREVER. When the people sinned, God sent punishment and discipline so that they would “see” the results of their rejection and disobedience. And when they repented, God responded with mercy and called them back to covenant faithfulness. Paul would summarize this thought in the following words to Timothy to remain focused on Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:13

2 Timothy 2:13 ESV

13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

Sharing in the Songs

This psalm may seem to be only for those in covenant Israel, but as believers in Jesus Christ, we too, through Christ, can insert ourselves in the salvation story of God’s “chesed”. In Jesus, all who believe will experience the covenantal faithfulness of the One True God, YHWY. The New Covenant in Jesus Christ fulfilled the covenant hopes of the Old Testament. Because of that, we have the privilege of looking at Psalm 136 and seeing that Christ gives a heightened meaning. When we look at Jesus, we see the God whose steadfast love endures forever. The early church recognized this in their worship of Jesus as God and King. They also recognized that each believer carried the responsibility to join in the song and to stir up other believers with the truth of scripture. Look how Paul encourages Christians to get their worship and sing in tune with God’s truth. Colossians 3:16

Colossians 3:16 ESV

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

When you gather with believers, it is always appropriate to include moments of singing that reflect an attitude of worship and praise. So let us not be afraid to sing the songs of God. And let us be careful that our songs are Christ-centered and not self-centered.

Sharing in the Redemption Story of God

When we think of our Christian faith, we ought to consider the ways God’s salvation history is still active in us today. The stories of God’s faithfulness are true and effective in encouraging us to trust in God. So may we remain faithful in trusting in God, even when trusting Him is unpopular and perceived as illogical by our culture.

Illustration of boy and red sea

And when we think of God’s history, we recognize that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s salvation story. In Christ, Creation, Redemption, and Inheritance are repeated in glorious ways. Consider the following verses.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Titus 3:3-7

1 Peter 3:1-5

2 Corinthians 5:17–21 ESV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Titus 3:3–7 ESV

3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

1 Peter 1:3–5 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

These three actions of God remain active today. Our response remains as well. Will we sing the song and give thanks? Will we acknowledge and confess the fact that we need God to save us, and He has provided it through Jesus? Will we share this song with each other and with those who have yet to believe? May we do so with great joy because HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOREVER!.

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