136:1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: for his {a} mercy [endureth] for ever.
(a) By this repetition he shows that the least of God’s benefits bind us to thanksgiving: but chiefly his mercy, which is principally declared towards his Church.
136:6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his {b} mercy [endureth] for ever.
(b) This was a common kind of thanksgiving, which the whole people used, when they had received any benefit from God, as in 2 Chronicles 7:6; 2 Chronicles 20:21, meaning that God was not only merciful to their fathers, but also continued the same to their posterity.
Bibliographical Information Beza, Theodore. "Commentary on Psalms 136". "The 1599 Geneva Study Bible". https://beta.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/gsb/psalms-136.html. 1599-1645.
Verse 1
136:1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: for his {a} mercy [endureth] for ever.
(a) By this repetition he shows that the least of God’s benefits bind us to thanksgiving: but chiefly his mercy, which is principally declared towards his Church.
Verse 6
136:6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his {b} mercy [endureth] for ever.
(b) This was a common kind of thanksgiving, which the whole people used, when they had received any benefit from God, as in 2 Chronicles 7:6; 2 Chronicles 20:21, meaning that God was not only merciful to their fathers, but also continued the same to their posterity.
Verse 11
136:11 And {c} brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
(c) God’s merciful providence toward man appears in all his creatures, but chiefly in that he delivered his Church from the clutches of their enemies.
Verse 12
136:12 With a strong hand, and with a {d} stretched out arm: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
(d) In doing such a work as was never done before, nor that any other could do.
Verse 16
136:16 To him which led his people through the {e} wilderness: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
(e) Where for the space of forty years he showed infinite and most strange wonders.
Verse 18
136:18 And slew {f} famous kings: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
(f) Declaring by it that no power or authority was so dear to him as the love of his Church.
Verse 23
136:23 Who remembered us in our {g} low estate: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
(g) In our greatest affliction and slavery when we looked for nothing less than to have had any help.
Verse 25
136:25 Who giveth food to all {h} flesh: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
(h) Seeing that God provides even for the beasts much more has he care over his.
Verse 26
136:26 {i} O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
(i) Seeing that all ages have had most plain testimonies of God’s benefits.