When the chorus was taken up by the whole of the people, accompanied by a blast of trumpets, this must have been a magnificent hymn of praise.
Psalms 136:1. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
The Psalm begins with the august name, the incommunicable title of the one living and true God, Jah, Jehovah. For this name the Jews had a high respect, which degenerated into superstition, for they would not write it in their Bibles, and put another word instead, in which our translators have imitated them, not to the improvement of the version. Surely, if it is «Jehovah» in the original, we should have it «Jehovah» here. The name is a very wonderful one,» Je-ho-vah.» No man knows exactly how it should be pronounced; it is said to consist of a succession of breathings, therefore is it written, «Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord,» whose name is a breathing, and in whom dwells the life of all who breathe. Let us take care that we never trifle with the name of God. I think that the common use of the word «Hallelujah,» or, «Praise ye the Lord,» is simply profane. Surely, this is not a word to be dragged in the mire; it should be pronounced with solemn awe and sacred joy.
Psalms 136:2. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
If there be any other god, if there can be imagined to be any, our God is, infinitely above them all. The gods of the heathen are idols, but our God made the heavens. If there be any reverence due to magistrates, of whom we read in Psalms 82:1 , «I have said, Ye are gods,» yet are they nothing at all compared with Jehovah, «the God of gods.»
Psalms 136:3. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Whatever there be of authority, or lordship, or kingship of any kind, in the world, it is all in subjection to him who is «the Lord of lords.» I think I hear the trumpets sounding it out, and all the people joining in chorus, «O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.» It is ever the same strain, the enduring mercy of God, that bore the strain of Israel's sin, and Israel's need, and Israel's wandering.
Psalms 136:4. To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Nobody does wonders that can be compared with Jehovah's wonders. Nobody helps him in the doing of his wonders; he asks no aid from any of his creatures.
Psalms 136:5. To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Every time you lift up your eyes to that one great arch which spans all mankind, praise the name of the great Builder who made that one enormous span, unbuttressed and unpropped. What a work it was! And it was made by mercy as well as by wisdom. If we go into the scientific account of the atmosphere, of the firmament, and of the stellar heavens, we see that the hand of mercy was at the back of wisdom in the making of it all: «for his mercy endureth for ever.»
Psalms 136:6. To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
We ought to praise him for the making of every country, especially, I think, we who dwell on these favored islands, because he has placed our lot in an island.
«He bade the waters round thee flow;
Not bars of brass could guard thee so.»
We might have been beneath the tyrant's foot, if it had not been for «the silver streak» that gives us liberty. The whole earth, wherever men dwell, will afford some peculiar reason for their praise to Jehovah.
Psalms 136:7-19. To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever: the sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever: the moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Why three verses about one thing? Because we are not wont to dwell upon God's goodness as we should. We are therefore bidden, first, to remember light in general, and then the sun, the moon, the stars, each one in particular; and each time we do so, we may say, «His mercy endureth for ever.» We are not left in the daytime without the sun; and, when the day is over, the darkness of the night is cheered either by the moon or by the stars, which show us that, not only day unto day, but night unto night, be thinks upon us, «for his mercy endureth for ever.» Praise him, praise him, whether it be high noon or midnight, when the day is renewed or when the curtains of your rest are drawn, still praise him, «for his mercy endureth for ever.»
Psalms 136:10. To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
It is not a common mercy of which we have to sing, but a peculiar theme for thanksgiving, he «smote Egypt in their firstborn.»
Psalms 136:11. And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Sing of his goodness to his chosen, even though it involved a terrible stroke upon his proud adversary. There are some who cannot praise God's left band, but we can; not only the right hand that helps his people out, but the left hand that smites the Egyptians. We praise him still with unabated joy in him. What he doeth, must be right; and in his vengeance there is justice, and justice is mercy to mankind.
Psalms 136:12. With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
In all God's acts there is some peculiarity which commands especial attention. «He» brought out Israel,» praise him for that. He did it «with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm,» therefore again praise him. The ring is precious, but the brilliance in the ring is that to which in this verse you are bidden to look, namely, Jehovah's strong hand, and stretched out arm.
Psalms 136:13-14. To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever: and made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:
And when you, too, come to the Red Sea on your way to the heavenly Canaan, when your path is blocked, God will divide it for you; and as he gently leads you through the very deeps, he will have you sing, «His mercy endureth for ever.» No floods can drown his love, nor divide you from it.
«Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?» Jehovah will split seas in two to make a passage for his people, «for his mercy endureth for ever.»
Jeremiah 3:5. Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest.
Thou hast gone as far in sin as thou couldst go; only lack of power has prevented thee from being even worse than thou art. Yet this is the kind of people to whom God speaks in mercy, inviting them to return unto him.
Jeremiah 3:6. The LORD said also unto me in the days, of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.
Building temples to false gods on every mountain and in every grove.
Jeremiah 3:7. And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.
That made Judah's sin even worse than that of Israel; she saw this great iniquity in another, and yet went and committed it herself.
Jeremiah 3:8-9. And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.
Bowing down before idols made of wood or stone.
Jeremiah 3:10-12. And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD. And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah. Go and proclaim these words toward the north,
What must these words be? Must they not be, «You have treated me so ill that I will never have anything to do with you again; even common decency requires that I should put you away from all hope for ever»? No; listen to these words, and be astounded:
Psalms 136:21-22. And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever: even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.
He gave them those countries which were beyond the land of promise, because these foes tried to stop their way. He did not limit Palestine; but, on the contrary, he stretched the ordained bounds of it, and enclosed the land of the Amorites and Bashan within the territory he gave to his people. Now comes a soft sweet verse; I think I hear the harps leading the singing:
Psalms 136:23. Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Can you not sing this tonight? Some of you, who were very poor, very sad, despairing, abhorred of men, slandered, persecuted, very low, perhaps some here, who once were in the slums of this city, now can sing, «Who remembered us in our low estate.» Spiritually, our estate was low enough; it had ebbed out, till we had no comfort nor hope left; but the Lord remembered us. That is a blessed prayer, «Lord, remember me.» That prayer has been answered for many here; aye, even before we prayed it. He remembered us in our low estate, «for his mercy endureth for ever.» Dear heart, are you in a very low estate tonight? Do you feel as if you were at death's dark door, and at hell's dread brink, by reason of the greatness and blackness of your sin? «His mercy endureth for ever.» Catch at that rope. Drowning men clutch at straws; but this is no straw. Do cling to it; it will bear your weight. It has been a means of salvation to myriads before you. Trust God's mercy in Christ, and you are saved, «for his mercy endureth for ever.» «Who remembered us» what next?
Psalms 136:24. And hath redeemed us --
This song is climbing up; it begins to ascend the heavenly ladder; it has already reached redemption.
Psalms 136:24-25. From our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever. Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
God is the great Feeder of the world. What a commissariat is that of the universe! One cannot think of the wants of the five millions in London without shuddering lest, some day, there should not be food enough for them; but there always is. I will not trace it to the mere fact that trade and commerce supply us. No, there is an over-ruling power at the back of it all, depend upon it. All the world seems eager to supply our markets, and to make the loaf for the labourer; but it is God who has planned it all. Let us praise him «who giveth food to all flesh.» As for spiritual meat, he will give us that; I trust we shall all have a portion of meat in due season tonight. If any shall be hungry at the end of the service, it shall be surely from want of willingness to be fed rather than lack of suitability in the Word of God to sustain the spirit, and bless the soul.
Psalms 136:26. O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.