Psalm 136:1-9; key verse v26—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.”[2]
The phrase “the
God of heaven” (v.26) is a Persian title for God found frequently in Ezra,
Nehemiah and Daniel. The Psalm is a liturgy of praise to the Lord as Creator
and as Israel’s Redeemer. Its theme and many of its verses parallel much of
Psalm 135. Most likely a Levitical song the leader led the recital which the
choir or worshipers responded with the refrain. The Psalm recounts God’s mighty
acts as the psalmist devotes six verse to God’s creation acts (Vv.1-3) six to His
deliverance of Israel out of Egypt (Vv.10-15) one to the desert journey (v. 16)
and six to the conquest (Vv.17-22) The four concluding verses return to the
same basic themes in reverse order; God’s action in history on behalf of His
people (Vv.23-24), God’s action in the creation order (v.25) and a closing call
to praise (v.26).
Collect for Psalm 136; God of everlasting love, through your Word you made all things in heaven and on earth; you have open to us the path from death o 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.[3] 20 July 2021—
[1] Luther’s Seal copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[3] Collect for Psalm 136, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. IV, The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, © 1996 Delhi, NY
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