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Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
          His love endures for ever.^[1]this seems to be a responsive song, where one person reads the first line and another (or others) read the refrain: His love endures forever. In a sense, the story is constantly interrupted by the … Continue reading
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
          His love endures for ever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
          His love endures for ever.
4 to him who alone does great wonders,
          His love endures for ever.
5 who by his understanding made the heavens,
          His love endures for ever.
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,
          His love endures for ever.
7 who made the great lights—
          His love endures for ever.
8 the sun to govern the day,
          His love endures for ever.
9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
          His love endures for ever.
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
          His love endures for ever.
11 and brought Israel out from among them
          His love endures for ever.
12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
          His love endures for ever.
13 to him who divided the Red Sea asunder
          His love endures for ever.
14 and brought Israel through the midst of it,
          His love endures for ever.
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
          His love endures for ever.
16 to him who led his people through the desert,
          His love endures for ever.
17 who struck down great kings,
          His love endures for ever.
18 and killed mighty kings—
          His love endures for ever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites
          His love endures for ever.
20 and Og king of Bashan—
          His love endures for ever.
21 and gave their land as an inheritance,
          His love endures for ever.
22 an inheritance to his servant Israel;
          His love endures for ever.
23 to the One who remembered us in our low estate
          His love endures for ever.
24 and freed us from our enemies,
          His love endures for ever.
25 and who gives food to every creature.
          His love endures for ever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.
          His love endures for ever.  

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Psalm 136 –God’s love lasts how long?

(Verses 1-4) There are 26 verses in this psalm. Each one carries the same last five words: ‘His love endures for ever’. The same phrase comes another 15 times in the Bible, all in the Old Testament. Do not believe anyone saying the Old Testament is full of judgment and the New Testament is full of love. They are both full of God’s love and judgment, reflecting His nature. Various Bible versions translate the NIV word ‘love’ as: ‘mercy’ (AV, NKJV),^[2]These initials are shorthand for various translations of the Bible. AV: The Authorised or King James Version; NKJV: The New King James Version; ESV: The English Standard Version; NASB: The New … Continue reading ‘steadfast love’ (ESV), and ‘loving-kindness’ (NASB).  No single British word is deep or wide enough to convey the full nature and depth of God’s love. It is a merciful, kind, steadfast and everlasting love that God has for sinners. That alone explains why ‘God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son—to die on the cross as our substitute to be punished for our sins—that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.’  (John 3:16). We read who God is: ‘good’, Sovereign over all other ‘gods’ and ‘lords’, and the Almighty who ‘alone does great wonders.’

(Verses 5-9) The first mention of His ‘great wonders’ is that He is Creator. He created the ‘heavens’, the ‘earth’, the ‘sun’ and the ‘moon and stars.’ No-one else can ever do, repeat or destroy that!

(Verses 10-15) He is the Deliverer, as He proves to His people Israel when He takes them out of the might of Egypt. He overcomes the Egyptians. He mightily liberates Israel, divides the Red Sea, and destroys Pharaoh and his enemy forces. He is our Saviour and mighty Deliverer today, too.

(Verse 16) He leads Israel through the ‘desert’, keeping, and feeding them. He does that for us in our spiritual deserts.

(Verse 17-22) He powerfully acts to keep His promises, defeats ‘mighty kings’ and gives His people Canaan’s Promised land. He keeps His promises to us, still, and always will. Trust in our faithful God now!

(Verse 23) He remembers our lowliness as guilty and weak sinners yet loves us still.

(Verses 24-26) He favours, frees, and feeds His lowly, sinful, and undeserving people. It was true for Israel. It is true now for every sinner who repents and trusts in the Lord Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour.