Psalm 136 – The Lord’s
never ending mercy
The Psalm for this week falls under the Thanksgiving
theme as the refrain reminds us, "For His mercy endures forever."
Such is the testimony of faith. What is it that we have witnessed in our life?
Has it not been the tender mercies of God? As you read this Psalm, think of the
many blessings that God has given to you and then respond with David for His
mercy endures forever.
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.”[2]
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