Psalm
136:23-26, antiphon Psalm
136:1 - Psalm 136 seems to be an
expansion of Psalm 135, about God’s mighty works of Creation and in His
dealings with Israel, arranged for antiphonal singing. The phrase “His mercy
endures forever” occurs in every verse. It is called a “Hallel” Psalm, was sung
at the opening of the Passover, and was a favorite Temple Song (see 1
Chronicles 16:41; 2 Chronicles 7:3; 20:21; Ezra 3:11) The description of God’s
great works in creation (Vv.4-9) and in history (Vv.10-24) alternate with the
people’s refrain to God’s unchanging timeless love.
Psalm 136 –
The LORD’S never ending mercy
Psalm 136 is a special psalm with each one of its 26
verses repeating the sentence, His mercy endures forever. Psalm 118 repeated
that affirmation five times. Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, the phrase has
somewhat of a liturgical sense to it, as if the assembled people of Israel said
or sung this in response to the direction of the Levites leading singing and
worship. Ezra 3:11 indicates that this encouragement was part of a responsive
singing among God’s people: And they sang responsively, praising and giving
thanks to the LORD: “For He is good, For
His mercy endures forever toward Israel.”
The sentence is used several other times in the Old
Testament, each time in the context of some kind of public praise or
declaration. His mercy endures forever is found:
In David’s psalm of praise recorded in 1 Chronicles
16:7 (16:34).
In the assignments of the priests in David’s day (1
Chronicles 16:41).
In Israel’s praise at the dedication of Solomon’s
temple (2 Chronicles 5:13, 7:3, 7:6).
In the record of the LORD’s victory over the Ammonites
as they praised (2 Chronicles 20:21).
In the future praise by Israel after the destruction
suffered in the Babylonian conquest (Jeremiah 33:10-11).
In the dedication of Ezra’s temple (Ezra 3:11).
We picture a great multitude of the people of God
gathered in the temple courts. A priest or Levite would call out a reason to
give God thanks, and His people would respond with, “For His mercy endures forever.”
“In Jewish
tradition Psalm 136 has been called the Great Hallel (or Great Psalm of
Praise). It does not use the words hallelu jah, but it is called the Great
Hallel for the way it rehearses God’s goodness in regard to his people and
encourages them to praise him for his merciful and steadfast love.” (James
Montgomery Boice) [2]
Jesus Is Our Good Samaritan
The
Law commands that “you shall love the Lord your God” with all your
heart, soul, mind and strength (Luke 10:27), and that you shall “love your
neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). Love fulfills the Law because love
does no harm to the neighbor. Christ Jesus is the Good Samaritan, who with
divine compassion saves you from all evil. He takes your sin and death upon
Himself and bears these in His body to the cross. He binds up your wounds with
the healing balm of His Gospel, and He brings you into His Church, where He
takes care of you at His own expense (Luke 10:34–35). By such mercy, He proves “to
be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers” (Luke 10:36).
Therefore, “you go, and do likewise” (Luke 10:37). By “your faith in
Christ Jesus” and “because of the hope laid up for you in heaven” (Colossians
1:4–5), you have the same love for others as the Lord Jesus has for you.[3]
Collect for Psalm 136:
God of everlasting love, through your
Word you made all things in heaven and on earth; you have opened to us the path
from death to life. Listen to the song of the universe, the hymn of
resurrection, sung by your Church, and give us your blessing; through Jesus
Christ our Lord.[4]
Collect for Monday of the Week of Pentecost 5: Father in heaven, the light of Jesus has scattered the darkness of hatred and sin. Called to that light we ask for your guidance. From our lives in your truth, our hearts in your love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen[5]
[1]
The Good Samaritan copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[3]
Lectionary Summary, LCMS Commission on Worship
[4]
Collect for Psalm 136, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church,
Vol. II © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
[5]
ibid
No comments:
Post a Comment