Psalms Chapter 136

0
October 14, 2025

Bible Challenge & Quiz

Read a New Bible & Commentary. Take the Quiz.
F.O.G Jr. selected first to celebrate launch. Learn more.

God’s Love Never Ends! 💝

Thank You, Yahweh, because You are so good! Your love for us never, ever ends. Thank You, God of all gods—You are the greatest! Your love for us never, ever ends. Thank You, Lord over everything in heaven and earth! Your love for us never, ever ends.

🌍 God Made Everything!

Only You can do amazing miraclesᵃ that no one else can do. Your love for us never, ever ends. You were so smart when You made the sky and all the stars above us. Your love for us never, ever ends. You spread out the land so we’d have a place to live, right over the deep waters. Your love for us never, ever ends. You made the giant sun and moon and all the twinkling stars. Your love for us never, ever ends. You made the bright sun to shine during the day so we can see and play. Your love for us never, ever ends. You made the gentle moon and sparkling stars to watch over us at night. Your love for us never, ever ends.

🦅 God Rescued His People from Egypt!

You rescued Your people Israel from the mean king of Egyptᵇ who made them slaves. Your love for us never, ever ends. You showed Your mighty power and strong arm to set them free. Your love for us never, ever ends. You split the Red Seaᶜ right down the middle—the water stood up like walls on both sides! Your love for us never, ever ends. You led Your people Israel safely through on dry ground. Your love for us never, ever ends. But when Pharaoh and his army tried to follow them, the water came crashing down on them. Your love for us never, ever ends.

🏜️ God Led Them Through the Desert!

You guided Your people through the hot, sandy desert for 40 years. Your love for us never, ever ends. You protected them from powerful kings who tried to hurt them. Your love for us never, ever ends. You defeated King Sihon and King Ogᵈ who wanted to stop Your people. Your love for us never, ever ends. You gave Your people Israel a beautiful new land to call home, just like You promised! Your love for us never, ever ends.

💙 God Never Forgets Us!

Even when we feel sad or small, You remember us and care about us. Your love for us never, ever ends. You rescue us from anyone who tries to hurt us. Your love for us never, ever ends. You give food to every person, every animal, every bird, and every creature You made. Your love for us never, ever ends. Thank You, God of heaven, for loving us so much! Your love for us never, ever, EVER ends!

👣 Footnotes:

  • Miracles: Amazing things that only God can do—like creating the whole world, parting seas, and taking care of us every single day!
  • King of Egypt: This was Pharaoh, a mean ruler who made God’s people work as slaves for many years until God set them free.
  • Red Sea: A huge body of water that God miraculously split apart so His people could walk through safely and escape from Egypt.
  • King Sihon and King Og: Two powerful kings who ruled lands that Israel had to pass through. They tried to attack God’s people, but God protected Israel and gave them victory.
  • 1
    This chapter is currently being worked on.
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26

Footnotes:

  • 1
    This chapter is currently being worked on.
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26

Footnotes:

  • 1
    O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
  • 2
    O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
  • 3
    O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
  • 4
    To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
  • 5
    To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
  • 6
    To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
  • 7
    To him that made great lights: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
  • 8
    The sun to rule by day: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
  • 9
    The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
  • 10
    To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
  • 11
    And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
  • 12
    With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
  • 13
    To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
  • 14
    And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
  • 15
    But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
  • 16
    To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
  • 17
    To him which smote great kings: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
  • 18
    And slew famous kings: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
  • 19
    Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
  • 20
    And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
  • 21
    And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
  • 22
    [Even] an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
  • 23
    Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
  • 24
    And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
  • 25
    Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
  • 26
    O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
  • 1
    Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His loving devotion endures forever.
  • 2
    Give thanks to the God of gods. His loving devotion endures forever.
  • 3
    Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His loving devotion endures forever.
  • 4
    He alone does great wonders. His loving devotion endures forever.
  • 5
    By His insight He made the heavens. His loving devotion endures forever.
  • 6
    He spread out the earth upon the waters. His loving devotion endures forever.
  • 7
    He made the great lights—His loving devotion endures forever.
  • 8
    the sun to rule the day, His loving devotion endures forever.
  • 9
    the moon and stars to govern the night. His loving devotion endures forever.
  • 10
    He struck down the firstborn of Egypt His loving devotion endures forever.
  • 11
    and brought Israel out from among them His loving devotion endures forever.
  • 12
    with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. His loving devotion endures forever.
  • 13
    He divided the Red Sea in two His loving devotion endures forever.
  • 14
    and led Israel through the midst, His loving devotion endures forever.
  • 15
    but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea. His loving devotion endures forever.
  • 16
    He led His people through the wilderness. His loving devotion endures forever.
  • 17
    He struck down great kings His loving devotion endures forever.
  • 18
    and slaughtered mighty kings—His loving devotion endures forever.
  • 19
    Sihon king of the Amorites His loving devotion endures forever.
  • 20
    and Og king of Bashan—His loving devotion endures forever.
  • 21
    and He gave their land as an inheritance, His loving devotion endures forever.
  • 22
    a heritage to His servant Israel. His loving devotion endures forever.
  • 23
    He remembered us in our low estate His loving devotion endures forever.
  • 24
    and freed us from our enemies. His loving devotion endures forever.
  • 25
    He gives food to every creature. His loving devotion endures forever.
  • 26
    Give thanks to the God of heaven! His loving devotion endures forever.

Psalms Chapter 136 Commentary

When God’s Love Gets Repetitive (And Why That’s Beautiful)

What’s Psalm 136 about?

This is Israel’s most repetitive song – and that’s exactly the point. Twenty-six times the psalmist declares “His love endures forever,” creating a rhythmic celebration of God’s unchanging faithfulness that was meant to be sung by the entire community together.

The Full Context

Psalm 136 sits right in the heart of what scholars call the “Egyptian Hallel” – a collection of praise psalms (Psalms 113-118) that were sung during Israel’s major festivals, especially Passover. But Psalm 136 stands apart as what’s called the “Great Hallel,” likely sung as a grand finale to these celebrations. Picture thousands of pilgrims gathered in Jerusalem, voices rising together in this call-and-response anthem that could be heard echoing off the temple walls.

The psalm was designed for antiphonal worship – one group would sing the first half of each verse, and the entire congregation would thunder back with “ki l’olam chasdo” (His love endures forever). This wasn’t just a song; it was a theological statement wrapped in community worship. The repetition wasn’t monotonous – it was intentional, drilling deep into the hearts and minds of God’s people the one truth that anchors everything else: God’s covenant love never runs out, never gives up, never lets go.

What the Ancient Words Tell Us

The Hebrew word that drives this entire psalm is chasdo – often translated as “love,” “mercy,” or “steadfast love.” But those English words barely scratch the surface. Chesed is covenant love – the kind of loyal, committed, never-give-up love that binds people together through thick and thin. It’s not just affection; it’s faithfulness with muscle behind it.

Grammar Geeks

The phrase ki l’olam chasdo literally means “for forever His covenant-love.” The Hebrew l’olam doesn’t just mean “a really long time” – it points to eternity itself, to a love that transcends time and circumstance. Every single verse ends with this thunderous declaration of God’s eternal, unshakeable commitment.

When you see this word chesed, think of a marriage covenant where both parties swear “till death do us part” – except God’s version is “till never do us part.” It’s the love that keeps showing up even when the other person doesn’t deserve it, can’t earn it, and sometimes doesn’t even want it.

The psalm’s structure is brilliant. It moves from God as Creator (verses 4-9), to God as Deliverer (verses 10-16), to God as Conqueror (verses 17-22), and finally to God as Provider (verses 23-26). Each section hammers home the same truth: in creation, in deliverance, in conquest, in daily provision – God’s love endures forever.

What Would the Original Audience Have Heard?

When ancient Israelites sang this psalm, they weren’t just reciting theology – they were remembering their story. Each verse would have triggered vivid memories passed down through generations.

Did You Know?

Archaeological evidence suggests that responsorial psalms like this one were accompanied by musical instruments and choreographed movements. The “His love endures forever” refrain would have been sung by massive crowds, creating a thunderous declaration that could be heard throughout Jerusalem during festival times.

Verses 10-16 would have taken them back to their defining moment – the Exodus from Egypt. Every Jewish family knew these stories by heart. They could picture Moses stretching out his hand over the Red Sea, the walls of water standing up like glass, Pharaoh’s chariots swallowed by the waves. “His love endures forever” – even when we were slaves with no hope of freedom.

The conquest narratives in verses 17-22 reminded them that God didn’t just deliver them from Egypt – He delivered them to something. The land they were standing on, the cities they called home, the fields that produced their grain – all of it was evidence of God’s enduring love in action.

But here’s what would have really hit home for the original audience: this psalm was often sung during times of crisis. When enemies threatened, when harvests failed, when it felt like God had forgotten His promises – that’s when they needed to hear twenty-six times that His love endures forever.

Wrestling with the Text

Here’s where things get interesting – and a bit uncomfortable for modern readers. Verses 17-22 celebrate God’s military victories with the same “His love endures forever” refrain that we hear about creation and provision. The psalmist sings about God striking down kings and destroying armies, then immediately declares God’s eternal love.

Wait, That’s Strange…

How do we reconcile a God of love with these celebration of military conquest? The Hebrew mindset understood that sometimes love requires protective action. A parent’s love for their child might require forcefully removing a threat. God’s love for Israel meant removing those who would destroy His covenant people.

This isn’t about God delighting in violence – it’s about God’s covenant love being protective, not passive. The same chesed that creates and provides also defends and conquers when necessary. Ancient Israel understood that God’s love wasn’t sentimental – it was committed, even when commitment required difficult action.

The repetition itself raises questions too. Why say the same thing twenty-six times? In our culture of constant novelty, we might find this tedious. But the ancient mind understood something we’ve lost: truth isn’t just information to be downloaded once. Truth is reality to be absorbed, integrated, and lived. The repetition wasn’t for God’s benefit – it was for theirs.

How This Changes Everything

This psalm reveals something profound about the nature of worship and the human heart. We’re forgetful creatures living in a world that constantly tells us we’re on our own. We need to hear repeatedly that we’re not.

The genius of Psalm 136 is that it takes us on a journey through all of human experience – creation, deliverance, conquest, provision – and anchors each moment in the same unchanging reality: God’s love endures forever. When you’re amazed by a sunset, when you’re rescued from disaster, when you’re facing opposition, when you’re wondering where your next meal will come from – the same love is operating in all of it.

“Sometimes the most profound truth is also the simplest one – but simple doesn’t mean easy to believe when life gets complicated.”

The call-and-response structure teaches us something vital about faith community. This wasn’t meant to be sung alone in your car. It was designed for voices joined together, for the weak to be carried by the strong, for doubt to be overwhelmed by collective declaration. When your voice falters on “His love endures forever,” the person next to you keeps singing.

And here’s perhaps the most revolutionary aspect: this psalm democratizes theology. You don’t need a seminary degree to participate. You don’t need to understand the finer points of covenant theology. You just need to know one phrase: “His love endures forever.” The sophisticated theology is embedded in the simple response.

Key Takeaway

The most important truth about God is also the most repeated one – His love endures forever. And sometimes our hearts need to hear the same beautiful truth twenty-six times before we actually believe it.

Further Reading

Internal Links:

External Scholarly Resources:

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Entries
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Coffee mug svgrepo com


Coffee mug svgrepo com
Have a Coffee with Jesus
Read the New F.O.G Bibles
Get Challenges Quicker
0
Add/remove bookmark to personalize your Bible study.