The structure of this psalm is different from all the other psalms, as each sentence ends with the words, ‘His love endures forever’. These words are found throughout the Old Testament: 1 Chronicles 16:7 / 1 Chronicles 16:34 / 1 Chronicles 16:41 / 2 Chronicles 5:13 / 2 Chronicles 7:3 / 2 Chronicles 7:6 / 2 Chronicles 20:21 / Jeremiah 33:10-11 / Ezra 3:11.
The psalmist focuses on God’s great love, and many commentators believe that the first line of each sentence would be read out loud by the priests, and the rest of the congregation would say the last words of the verse.
Although the headings aren’t inspired by God, they are important because they give us some understanding of the Psalm, and they help us to see why it was written. The headings usually tell us four things.
1. Who wrote them, probably wrote them, or possibly wrote them.
2. Information about the historical background to the Psalm. Why was it written?
3. They tell us of the tune the Psalm was written to.
4. How it was used.
Although the NIV offers no heading, the KJV tells us that this psalm was used to encourage God’s people to give thanks for God’s mercies.
The psalmist begins by declaring that everyone should give thanks to the LORD because of the goodness of God, Psalm 136:1 / 1 John 4:8 / 1 John 4:16. The congregation would then respond with the words, His love endures forever, Psalm 136:1.
These words are repeated throughout this psalm, twenty-six times, 1 Chronicles 16:37-41. The psalmist is telling us that God’s love never ends; it continually goes on.
The psalmist gives us another reason why we should give thanks to God, and that is, that He is the God of gods and He is Lord of lords, Psalm 136:2-3. In other words, He is greater than any other god, He is greater than any other lord, Deuteronomy 10:17.
He is the true God, and God is the Master of those who are lords among men over their servants. Jesus assumed this position when He ascended to the right hand of God, 1 Timothy 6:15, and Jesus will maintain His position of King of kings and Lord of lords until He comes again, 1 Corinthians 15:26-28 / Revelation 19:16.
The psalmist tells us that only the One who miraculously created all things has the power to do great wonders, Psalm 136:4, that is, the miraculous. God’s great wonders are seen in creation when he created the heavens and the earth, Psalm 136:5 / Genesis 1:1-2, and they speak of his never-ending love towards His people, Psalm 136:5 / Proverbs 3:19 / Proverbs 8:24-31.
The psalmist now speaks about God’s great wonders as seen in the first four days of creation. They speak of how God spread out the earth above the waters, Psalm 136:6 / Genesis 1:1-19 / Psalm 24:2 / Acts 14:17. This great wonder also declares God’s enduring love for His people, Psalm 136:6.
God’s great love is also seen in the great lights, Psalm 136:7, He created in creation, Genesis 1:14. These include the sun, Psalm 136:8 / Genesis 1:16, the moon and stars, Psalm 136:9 / Genesis 1:16. All of creation tells us that God’s love really does go on, it never ends, Psalm 136:7-9.
The psalmist now turns their attention to Egypt. It was God who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, Psalm 136:10, and it was God who brought them out of Egypt, Psalm 136:11 / Exodus 12:29 / Psalm 135:8-9.
But He brought them out of Egypt with a mighty and outstretched hand, Psalm 136:12, that is, He delivered them in a powerful way, Exodus 6:6 / Deuteronomy 4:34 / Deuteronomy 5:15 / Deuteronomy 7:19 / Deuteronomy 26:8 / Jeremiah 32:21, which again is a demonstration of God’s enduring love, Psalm 136:10-12.
God not only delivered them out of Egypt, but when Pharaoh and his army chased them, Pharaoh and his army drowned in the Red Sea, Psalm 136:15 / Exodus 14:21-22 / Exodus 14:29 / Isaiah 33:9, which again is a demonstration of God’s enduring love, Psalm 136:15.
It was God who led His people through the wilderness, Psalm 136:16 / Deuteronomy 29:5, and cared for their needs by providing food, Exodus 16:12-15, and water, Exodus 15:25, which again is a demonstration of God’s enduring love, Psalm 136:16.
God’s enduring love is seen when He struck down great kings and killed mighty kings, Psalm 136:17-18 / Deuteronomy 3:11-13 / Amos 2:9. These kings were Sihon, king of the Amorites, Psalm 136:19 / Numbers 21:23-24, and Og, king of Bashan, Psalm 136:20 / Numbers 21:33-35. As a result of defeating these kings, Israel was given their land as an inheritance, Psalm 136:21-22 / Psalm 135:10-12.
The psalmist tells us that God remembered Israel in their low estate, Psalm 136:23. In other words, the psalmist has now moved on from what God has done in the past and is looking at the present.
God’s enduring love is seen in the fact that He still remembers Israel in their current condition and freed them from their enemies, Psalm 136:24. God’s enduring love is seen in how He provides food not just for mankind, Psalm 104:27-28 / Psalm 115:16, but for every creature, Psalm 136:25 / Genesis 9:8-17.
The psalmist ends by encouraging Israel to give thanks to the God of heaven, Psalm 136:26, the God who exists in a heavenly realm, 2 Chronicles 36:23 / Ezra 1:2 / Ezra 5:11-12 / Daniel 2:18 / Daniel 2:44 / Daniel 5:23, the God whose love endures forever, Psalm 136:26.
Over and over again, the psalmist reminds us of how God’s enduring love has been clearly demonstrated not only in creation but also by the way He protected and cared for the needs of His people.
When we turn our attention to those beautiful descriptions of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, we note that Paul reminds us that love not only bears all things, Galatians 6:2, but love also endures all things.
It’s the love of God which helps us endure all the difficulties we face in life, 1 Peter 2:20-21 / Romans 5:5. It’s God’s enduring love for us which motivates us to share that love with others, Hebrews 12:7-11.