136:1 O
give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: for his a
mercy [endureth] for ever.
(a) By this repetition he shows that the least of
God's benefits bind us to thanksgiving: but chiefly his mercy, which is
principally declared towards his Church.
136:6
To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his b
mercy [endureth] for ever.
(b) This was a common kind of thanksgiving, which
the whole people used, when they had received any benefit from God, as in (2 Chronicles
7:6,20:21), meaning that God was not only merciful to their fathers, but
also continued the same to their posterity.
136:11
And c brought out Israel from among
them: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
(c) God's merciful providence toward man
appears in all his creatures, but chiefly in that he delivered his Church from
the clutches of their enemies.
136:12 With a strong hand, and with a d
stretched out arm: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
(d) In doing such a work as was never done
before, nor that any other could do.
136:16
To him which led his people through the e
wilderness: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
(e) Where for the space of forty years he showed
infinite and most strange wonders.
136:18 And slew f
famous kings: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
(f) Declaring by it that no power or authority
was so dear to him as the love of his Church.
136:23
Who remembered us in our g low estate:
for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
(g) In our greatest affliction and slavery when
we looked for nothing less than to have had any help.
136:25 Who giveth food to
all h flesh: for his mercy [endureth]
for ever.
(h) Seeing that God provides even for the beasts
much more has he care over his.
136:26i O
give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
(i) Seeing that all ages have had most plain
testimonies of God's benefits.
Psalm 136 Bible Commentary
The Geneva Study Bible
(a) By this repetition he shows that the least of God's benefits bind us to thanksgiving: but chiefly his mercy, which is principally declared towards his Church.
136:6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his b mercy [endureth] for ever.
(b) This was a common kind of thanksgiving, which the whole people used, when they had received any benefit from God, as in (2 Chronicles 7:6,20:21), meaning that God was not only merciful to their fathers, but also continued the same to their posterity.
136:11 And c brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
(c) God's merciful providence toward man appears in all his creatures, but chiefly in that he delivered his Church from the clutches of their enemies.
136:12 With a strong hand, and with a d stretched out arm: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
(d) In doing such a work as was never done before, nor that any other could do.
136:16 To him which led his people through the e wilderness: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
(e) Where for the space of forty years he showed infinite and most strange wonders.
136:18 And slew f famous kings: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
(f) Declaring by it that no power or authority was so dear to him as the love of his Church.
136:23 Who remembered us in our g low estate: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
(g) In our greatest affliction and slavery when we looked for nothing less than to have had any help.
136:25 Who giveth food to all h flesh: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
(h) Seeing that God provides even for the beasts much more has he care over his.
136:26 i O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
(i) Seeing that all ages have had most plain testimonies of God's benefits.