13 To him which divided H1504 the Red H5488 sea H3220 into parts: H1506 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769
14 And made Israel H3478 to pass through H5674 the midst H8432 of it: for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769
15 But overthrew H5287 Pharaoh H6547 and his host H2428 in the Red H5488 sea: H3220 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769
16 To him which led H3212 his people H5971 through the wilderness: H4057 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769
17 To him which smote H5221 great H1419 kings: H4428 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769
18 And slew H2026 famous H117 kings: H4428 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 136
Commentary on Psalms 136 Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalm 136
The scope of this psalm is the same with that of the foregoing psalm, but there is something very singular in the composition of it; for the latter half of each verse is the same, repeated throughout the psalm, "for his mercy endureth for ever,' and yet no vain repetition. It is allowed that such burdens, or "keepings,' as we call them, add very much to the beauty of a song, and help to make it moving and affecting; nor can any verse contain more weighty matter, or more worthy to be thus repeated, than this, that God's mercy endureth for ever; and the repetition of it here twenty-six times intimates,
Psa 136:1-9
The duty we are here again and again called to is to give thanks, to offer the sacrifice of praise continually, not the fruits of our ground or cattle, but the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name, Heb. 13:15. We are never so earnestly called upon to pray and repent as to give thanks; for it is the will of God that we should abound most in the most pleasant exercises of religion, in that which is the work of heaven. Now here observe,
Psa 136:10-22
The great things God for Israel, when he first formed them into a people, and set up his kingdom among them, are here mentioned, as often elsewhere in the psalms, as instances both of the power of God and of the particular kindness he had for Israel. See Ps. 135:8, etc.
Psa 136:23-26
God's everlasting mercy is here celebrated,