Psalms 136:17

To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: TO HIM WHICH SMOTE GREAT KINGS ... SIHON ... AND OG - (.) The Psalmist signifies these kings because the MERCY of the Lord is here his theme. The gift of the kingdoms of Sihon and Og to Israel was the fruit of pure liberality and mercy, without any promise; whereas the gift of the Canaanite land was the fruit of His truth and faithfulness to His promises (Muis)....

10-22 The great things God did for Israel, when he brought them out of Egypt, were mercies which endured long to them; and our redemption by Christ, which was typified thereby, endures for ever. It is good to enter into the history of God's favours, and in each to observe, and own, that his mercy endureth for ever. He put them in possession of a good land; it was a figure of the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ....

TO HIM WHICH SMOTE GREAT KINGS - On this passage see the notes at Psalms 135:10. There is little difference in the two places, except that here the statement is divided by the refrain, “For his mercy endureth forever.” The idea in the whole passage, in view of the divine interposition in slaying the mighty kings, and in giving their land for a possession to the Hebrew people, is, that it was a proof of mercy and benevolence. It is benevolence to mankind and to the church of God - it is in the interests of humanity, of domestic peace, and of the charities of life, to remove wicked people from the world. This mercy may be manifested further, not merely in removing the wicked, but in transferring their possessions to those who will make a better use of them. Thus the possessions of these mighty kings, Sihon and Og, were transferred to the people of God, and l

EXPOSITION A PSALM with a familiar refrain (comp. Psalms 118:1, Psa 118:29; 2 Chronicles 5:13; Ezra 3:11) at the end of each line. In the main Psalms 134:1; follows the line of Psalms 135:1, calling upon Israel to praise God, and basing the call upon his glorious manifestations of himself in nature (Psalms 135:5) and history (veto. 10-24), repeating in the latter case the very same facts. Metrically, the psalm is arranged,

TO HIM WHICH SMOTE GREAT KINGS,.... Either the thirty one kings in the land of Canaan; or those who are after particularly mentioned; which seems best, since the kings of Canaan were petty kings, when these were greater ones; FOR HIS MERCY [ENDURETH] FOR EVER; the smiting of those kings were in mercy to Israel; both to preserve them from falling into their hands, and that they might possess their countries, as is later declared....

When the chorus was taken up by the whole of the people, accompanied by a blast of trumpets, this must have been a magnificent hymn of praise. Psalms 136:1. _O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever._ The Psalm begins with the august name, the incommunicable title of the one living and true God, Jah, Jehovah. For this name the Jews had a high respect, which degenerated into superstition, for they would not write it in their Bibles, and put another word instead, in which our translators have imitated them, not to the improvement of the version. Surely, if it is «Jehovah» in the original, we should have it «Jehovah» here. The name is a very wonderful one,» Je-ho-vah.» No man knows exactly how it should be pronounced; it is said to consist of a succession of breathings, therefore is it written, «Let every thing that hath breath pra

Psalms 136 His Mercy Endureth Forever This is a historical Psalm of praise, as His grateful people Israel think of all He has done. Twenty-six times we read “His mercy endureth forever.” The Psalm begins with a threefold call to give thanks unto the Lord, the God of gods, and the Lord of lords; the triune God is thus adored. And after this the brief sentences which rehearse His mighty deeds of the past as Creator and as the God of Israel, are followed by the praise of His mercy. This Psalm was undoubtedly used in the Temple worship. The Jews in their ritual call it “the great Hallel.” It will probably be used in the future, when in the new temple Israel will sing the praises of His Name....

CXXXVI. A LONG HYMN OF PRAISE FOR YAHWEH'S POWER AND HIS CARE OF HIS PEOPLE FROM EGYPT TILL THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN. Psalms 136:1 based on Genesis 1. Yahweh the Maker of all. Psalms 136:6. For the waters below the earth, see on Psalms 24:2. PSALMS 136:10. Yahweh's vengeance on Pharaoh and the kings who opposed Israel's entrance into the promised land. His mercy to Israel in later days. PSALMS 136:23. Gratitude for recent deliverance....

Jehovah the Giver of the promised land. Cp. Psalms 135:10 ff....

PSALMS 136 DESCRIPTIVE TITLE A Second Call to Temple-Worship, with Responses Inserted. ANALYSIS Stanza I., Psalms 136:1-3, A Threefold Call for Thanks, based on the three leading Divine Names. Stanza II., Psalms 136:4-6, the Call Continued, based on the General Wonders of Heaven and Earth. Stanza III., Psalms 136:7-9, On the Ruling Lights of the Heavens. Stanza IV., Psalms 136:10-12, On the Exodus from Egypt. Stanza V.,...