God’s everlasting kindness – Psalm 136 is made up of twenty six verses. Each line reminds us that God’s lovingkindness is everlasting. The popular ESV puts it this way: his steadfast love endures forever.
Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the author of the Psalm drives home the clear message of God’s steadfast love. We are assured in the truth that God is immutable – His attributes never change. Note that the context of Psalm 36 is God’s goodness to Israel. We shouldn’t forget this fact.
See also Psalm 100.
Psalm 136 (NASB 1977)
Thanks for the Lord’s Goodness to Israel
Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Give thanks to the God of gods, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
To Him who alone does great wonders, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
To Him who made the heavens with skill, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
To Him who spread out the earth above the waters, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
To Him who made the great lights, For His lovingkindness is everlasting:
The sun to rule by day, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
The moon and stars to rule by night, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
To Him who smote the Egyptians in their first-born, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
And brought Israel out from their midst, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
With a strong hand and an outstretched arm, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
To Him who divided the Red Sea asunder, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
And made Israel pass through the midst of it, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
But He overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
To Him who led His people through the wilderness, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
To Him who smote great kings, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
And slew mighty kings, For His lovingkindness is everlasting:
Sihon, king of the Amorites, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
And Og, king of Bashan, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
And gave their land as a heritage, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
Even a heritage to Israel His servant, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Who remembered us in our low estate, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
And has rescued us from our adversaries, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
Who gives food to all flesh, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Give thanks to the God of heaven, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
John Milton Psalm 136
Not forgetting Israel (which will one day be redeemed by God), there is an application to all who are in Christ,
He hath, with a piteous eye,
Look’d upon our misery;
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
Let us then, with gladsome mind,
Praise the Lord, for He is kind;
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
Maranatha!
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