Psalm 136 – Mercy Endures
Few things in this life last. However, God’s steadfast love and mercy endure forever as we hear proclaimed in Psalm 136 – mercy endures.
Psalm 136
Psalm 136 is a psalm of thanksgiving to God for his enduring mercy. The phrase, “For his mercy endures forever,” is repeated in every verse – a beautiful antiphon sung in response to the wonders of our God. ”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.” Psalm 136 Commentary: God’s Never-Ending Mercy
The psalm begins with the phrase, “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” (NKJV) What more is there to say? This preaches a sermon by itself! God is good. “He is good beyond all others; indeed, he alone is good in the highest sense; he is the source of good, the good of all good, the sustainer of good, the perfecter of good, and the rewarder of good. For this he deserves the constant gratitude of his people.” (Spurgeon) Psalm 136 Commentary: God’s Never-Ending Mercy
God’s mercy flows from this goodness. What greater reason to give thanks?
Reasons to Give Thanks
The psalmist gives thanks based on God’s nature using the three main names for God. “The opening stanzas refer to the One to Whom reference is made throughout, by the three great names by which He as known: Jehovah, the title of grace (Psalm 136:1); Elohim, the name of might (Psalm 136:2); and Adonai, the title of sovereignty (Psalm 136:3).” (Morgan) Psalm 136 Commentary: God’s Never-Ending Mercy
“Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever.
Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever.” (2-3)
The psalmist goes on to mention all the wonders God has fashioned in creation in verses 4-9.
“To Him who alone does great wonders, For His mercy endures forever;
To Him who by wisdom made the heavens, For His mercy endures forever;
To Him who laid out the earth above the waters, For His mercy endures forever;
To Him who made great lights, For His mercy endures forever—
The sun to rule by day, For His mercy endures forever;
The moon and stars to rule by night, For His mercy endures forever.” (4-9)
Salvation History
The psalmist then gives a recount of the salvation history of the Hebrew nation in verses 10-22, similar to the account found in Psalm 135:3-12.
The Exodus experience and years wandering in the desert:
“To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn, For His mercy endures forever;
And brought out Israel from among them, For His mercy endures forever;
With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, For His mercy endures forever;
To Him who divided the Red Sea in two, For His mercy endures forever;
And made Israel pass through the midst of it, For His mercy endures forever;
But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, For His mercy endures forever;
To Him who led His people through the wilderness, For His mercy endures forever.” (10-16)
Followed by the conquest of the promised land:
“To Him who struck down great kings, For His mercy endures forever;
And slew famous kings, For His mercy endures forever—
Sihon king of the Amorites, For His mercy endures forever;
And Og king of Bashan, For His mercy endures forever—
And gave their land as a heritage, For His mercy endures forever;
A heritage to Israel His servant, For His mercy endures forever.” (17-22)
In verses 23-25 God is praised for how he remembered the Hebrew people, rescued them from their enemies and fed them.
“Who remembered us in our lowly state, For His mercy endures forever;
And rescued us from our enemies, For His mercy endures forever;
Who gives food to all flesh, For His mercy endures forever.” (23-25)
The psalm ends with a final phrase of thanksgiving and praise of God whose mercy endures forever.
“Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever.” (26)
Mercy
Mercy, according to Webster, is “compassion, leniency, or restraint (as in imposing punishment) shown especially to an offender or to one subject to the power of another.” In the Bible, mercy “refers to the compassionate treatment of those in distress, especially when it is within one’s power to punish or harm … and is closely related to the Hebrew word “chesed” and the Greek word “eleos,” both of which convey a sense of loving-kindness, steadfast love, and compassion. Topical Bible: Mercy
Some texts translate mercy as steadfast love or loving kindness. It is an attribute of God and key to the relationship between God and God’s people.
“In the Old Testament, mercy is a fundamental attribute of God, often associated with His covenantal love for Israel. God’s mercy is depicted as enduring and abundant, as seen in Exodus 34:6, where God proclaims Himself as “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and truth.” Topical Bible: Mercy
“Mercy is also a key aspect of the relationship between God and His people. In Micah 6:8, the prophet summarizes what God requires of His people: “to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” This highlights the expectation that God’s people should reflect His merciful nature in their interactions with others. Topical Bible: Mercy
Psalm 136 – Mercy Endures
A key lesson we learn from Psalm 136 – mercy endures, is that nothing will end God’s mercy. Not the past, present, or future, not the storms of life, not even death itself. We, in turn are called to be merciful to others.
“Christians are called to be agents of mercy in a world often characterized by judgment and retribution. This involves forgiving others, helping those in need, and advocating for justice tempered with compassion. The practice of mercy is a tangible expression of faith and a reflection of God’s own merciful nature.” Topical Bible: Mercy’
As God has done unto us, so we are to do to others.
God’s steadfast love and mercy endure forever – a message that bears repeating. How do you reflect this mercy?
(For another take on this psalm, see Psalm 136: God’s Crazy Love and Mercy! Biblical Economics 101 – Patricia M Robertson)
This post is part of a series of blog posts on the Psalms. Sign up to follow this blog and receive a free copy of Still Dancing, the second book in my Dancing through Life Series. click here to sign up
(Please note – in order to help ensure you receive email with link to new book, please add my email, patricia@patriciamrobertson.com to your contact list. Some servers are quick to send newsletters to spam or other boxes.)
Leave a Reply