This is indeed one of the chief songs of praise which we find even in the Scriptures, and it is not surprising that such a poet as John Milton should have written that version of it that we often sing, «Let us with a gladsome mind, Praise the Lord, for he is kind: For his mercies shall endure, Ever faithful, ever sure.»
Psalms 136:1-19. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Here, you see, we have three titles of God, first as Jehovah, secondly as the Elohim, thirdly as the Adonai or Lord. By whatever name God is known, he is worthy of our highest praise. Whether it be the name referring to his self-existence, or the name relating to his covenant engagements, or the name applying specially to his rule and governorship, in any and every capacity, let us praise him.
Notice that each of these three verses begins «O give thanks.» We are to praise the Lord for his greatness, and to give him thanks for his goodness. Our praise shall consist largely of the element of gratitude as we think of all that he has done for us. Although I lay no stress upon the fact of these verses being three, and upon the names of God being three, yet it is very remarkable that, throughout the Old Testament, even when there is no distinct allusion to the doctrine of the Trinity, yet still the threefold praise is constantly being repeated, as if this sublime truth lay latent, but yet was not unknown to those godly ones who dived deep into the mystery of the triune unity of God. Let us, who have this truth so clearly revealed to us, give thanks unto the Triune Jehovah with all the powers of our threefold nature, body, soul, and appetite.
Psalms 136:4-19. To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
The making of the heavens is a great marvel of wisdom; and inasmuch as that wondrous work sprang from the unaided wisdom of God, it is a subject for which we should unceasingly praise him. When men invent some notable piece of machinery, they are generally long in bringing it to perfection, and they usually borrow various ideas from those who have preceded them; but it was not so with God. By his own perfect wisdom, he struck out the arch of heaven, and made all that it covers.
Psalms 136:6. To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Once in the history of the globe, the earth and the waters were mingled together; but, at God's bidding, the earth rose to its assigned position, and the deeps received the sea, and they have kept their places ever since, except when God caused the flood to cover the whole earth.
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.
What should we have been without light? Could any poor unhappy creatures ever have lived in a dark world? Let us praise God for the light; let us bless him for the sun, that great mercy, but let us not forget the lesser mercies, the moon and the stars which he also made. It is well, when we are praising God, to dwell upon all his bounties; for, sometimes, mercies which appear small from one point of view become all the greater from another point of view. Stars seem little to us, but what vast orbs they really are! Let us praise the great Creator for every kind of light that he has made, and let us especially praise him for all spiritual light, and even for his ministers, who are stars in his right hand. They are but little twinkling lights compared with the great Sun of righteousness; but, still, «he made the stars also.» Therefore, let him have due praise for it, «for his mercy endureth for ever.» So far, we have been reminded of the wonders wrought by the great Creator. Now we are called upon to give thanks to the Lord for his deliverance of his ancient, people out of Egypt.
Psalms 136:10-14. To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever: And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever: With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever. 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:
It was a great miracle by which the Red Sea was divided. I suppose it was somewhere about eight or nine miles in breadth at the place where the Israelites crossed it; yet the sea rolled back, and stood in a heap on either side, and left a clear passage for the people through the very heart of the sea. God's mercy made a way for his people through the sea, and a path for them through the mighty waters; but it was no less a mercy to make them go through the sea. They had not been accustomed to any kind of traveling, and certainly not to such traveling as that, through the heart of the sea; but the Lord inspired them with confidence, so that they went down into the very depths without fear, and came up again on the other side. But God's mercy is always consistent with his justice, so there was very different treatment for the Egyptians.
Psalms 136:15-16. But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him which led his people through the wilderness- for his mercy endureth for ever.
In this Psalm, you have three leadings. There is, in verse 11, leading out: «Brought out Israel» In verse 16, there is leading through: «led his people through the wilderness;» and in the 21 st verse, we shall find that there is leading into: «and gave their land for an heritage.» So God leads us out from the region of sin, he leads us through the wilderness of this life's trial, and he leads us into the rest which remaineth for his people. «To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy Endureth for ever.» You are today, dear friends, experiencing that kind of leading. Long ago, some of you were led out of the realm of sin, now you are passing through this great and terrible wilderness wherein there would be thirst and hunger were it not for the heavenly water and manna, and we might fear the fiery serpents were it not for him who was lifted up upon the cross as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness. Yet the Lord will safely lead you through the wilderness, and give you the land of promise.
Psalms 136:17. To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
His mercy and his vengeance are quite compatible; the one has not done away with the other.
Psalms 136:18-20. And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever: and Og the king of Bashan for his mercy endureth for ever.'
Here are four verses where we think that one might have sufficed. Ah, brethren, we often use only one verse when we ought to use four! Scripture sets us a better example; it frequently repeats its references to some one thing because, in that one thing, there are included many mercies. It would be well if the diligence in describing details which we use with regard to our troubles could be exercised upon descriptions of our mercies; for, then, we should imitate the psalmist's style, and say, «O give thanks to him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: and slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever: and Og the king of Bashan.»
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. Here we have the same thought put into two verses, to show us how to dwell, with lengthened notes and repeated Hallelujahs, upon the goodness and mercy of God.
Notice how many of these verses begin with «And,» as if every mercy had been linked to another which went before it, and would be linked to another which would come after it. I like to see these «Ands.» They remind us that there is more to follow. After all that we have received from God, there is yet more to come; God has not come to the end of his mercies.
Psalms 136:23-24. Who remembered us in our low estate, for his mercy endureth for ever: and hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Redemption, what a grand note that is! What voice can ever reach its fullness and its loftiness! Let us praise the name of the Lord as we remember the price and the power with which he «hath redeemed us from our enemies.»
Psalms 136:25. Who giveth food to all flesh:
There is food for you, then, poor hungry one; there is food for you, child of God. He, «who giveth food to all flesh,» can certainly give food to all spirits.
Psalms 136:25-26. For his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.