Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Ps 136.1 and following. Indeed, all of God’s ways toward His creature have one and the same motive: His goodness which is forever. It first appears in the “great wonders” accomplished in favor of man even before his existence, when God composed the environment favorable to his life and sustenance (verses 4 to 9). This is how a mother, before the birth of her child, prepares with tenderness the setting in which the baby will be welcomed and all the objects that will be necessary for him. From verse 10 we can see God’s love shining in the work of redemption. It is illustrated by the exit from Egypt and the entry of Israel into Canaan. “In our low state, He has remembered us” can sing all grateful redeemed people (verse 23).
The phrase “his goodness is forever” is surprising at the end of verses 10, 15, 17-20. But let us not forget that even the punishment of the wicked is linked to the purposes of God’s love for his own, as well as to the blessing of the future world. This is also explained in the terrible verses 8 and 9 of Psalm 137:7-9. Men speak of the “good God” with the greatest lightness. May they reflect on the significance of this adjective, confirmed by such brilliant testimonies… and then respond to such love! The general character of this psalm is still the same. It is an appendix, without new title, of Psalm 134 – an observation already made for Ps. 135. It gives rise to particularly happy thoughts. He tells us, repeating them incessantly, the joy and the hymn that are prepared for eternity. The Jews say that he is prepared for the days of the Messiah, meaning the days of the kingdom. And so it is. It is a national anthem of the millennium, which, in the enumeration of everything it recalls, provokes the gratitude of the nation.
In contrast to Psalm 135, however, we notice that this Psalm 136 presents goodness, while the previous one spoke of glory. The creation of the heavens and the daily course of the stars, the divine ways towards Egypt, towards the Amorites, towards Basan, towards the Canaanites, everything declared the name of God and his glory, produced praise (135); here the same things are celebrated as publishing his goodness, and producing thanksgiving (136). And so it is. The same ways and works of Jehovah make known both his name and his goodness, his glory at the same time as his grace. In such a clear and sure way, they manifest his greatness and bring blessing to his people. So they are the theme of praise and recognition of his saints. Their mouths first open for praise (135); and then for thanksgiving (136). Indeed, it is first in the name of God and His glory, reflected in His works, that they look, and then at the blessings and benefits that these works bring them. His name remains forever (135:13), as does his goodness (136).
It is quite certain that God has bound together His praise and our blessing in all the counsels and works He has formed and carried out. And such a thing is worthy of Him. At creation, in the Garden of Eden, he provided for his own glory and the happiness of his creature. When he established Israel in Canaan, so was it; the sanctuary erected in the midst of the land and the people was the witness of the uninterrupted service required both for God and for the congregation: the same altar responding to his rights as Lord of the temple, and to their needs as sinners, day after day. Similarly, at the birth of the Lord Jesus, the word of the angels was this: “Glory to God in the most high places; and on earth, peace.” And according to the same invariable grace and wisdom, that in the end the holy city will descend from heaven, it will bring with it “the glory of God” and at the same time “the tree of life”: through it honor will be restored to God, and health and happiness brought to the creature. So, from beginning to end, in all the scenes and dispensations of divine activity, we see these two things associated, as these two psalms celebrate them in turn.
In the end, he speaks of God’s paternal providence as extending not only to all mankind, but to every living creature, suggesting that we have no reason to be surprised that he supports the character of a kind and far-sighted father for his own people, when he deigns to care for the cattle, the donkeys of the fields, of the crow and the sparrow. Men are much better than animals, and there is a great difference between some men and others, but not in merit, for as far as the privilege of divine adoption is concerned, the psalmist considers it as a reasoning from the smallest to the largest.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
Celebrate the Savior of Israel:
- Thanksgiving, orderly
Ps 50:14 Offer for sacrifice to God thanksgiving, and fulfill your vows to the Most High. Ps 92:2 It is beautiful to praise the Lord, and to celebrate your name, O Most High! Eph 5:20 continually give thanks for all things to God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Tim 4:4 For all that God has created is good, and nothing should be rejected, provided that it is taken with thanksgiving,
- Elevation of God
Ps 21:14 Rise up, Lord, with your strength! We want to sing, celebrate your power. Ps 47:10 The princes of the peoples gather to the people of the God of Abraham; For to God are the shields of the earth: He is sovereignly elevated. Ps 99:5 Exalt the Lord, our God, and bow down before his stepping stone! He is holy! Ps 118:28 You are my God, and I will praise you; My god! I will exalt you. Isaiah 12:4 And you will say on that day: Praise the Lord, invoke his name, publish his works among the people, Remember the greatness of his name! Isaiah 25:1 O Lord! you are my God; I will exalt you, I will celebrate your name, for you have done wonderful things; Your plans conceived in advance have been faithfully fulfilled. Isaiah 33:5 The Lord is lifted up, for he dwells above; He fills Zion with righteousness and righteousness.
- Wisdom of God
Ps 104:24 How many of your works are, O Lord! You did them all wisely. The earth is filled with your possessions. Dn 2:21 It is he who changes times and circumstances, who overthrows and establishes kings, who gives wisdom to the wise and science to those who have intelligence. Rom 11:33 O depth of God’s wealth, wisdom, and science! How unfathomable his judgments are, and his ways incomprehensible! For 1 Cor 1:25 For God’s foolishness is wiser than men, and God’s weakness is stronger than men.
- Divine condescension
Ps 113:6 He lowers his gaze on heaven and on earth. Ps 136:23 The One who remembered us when we were humiliated, for his mercy lasts forever! Ps 138:6 The Lord is lifted up: He sees the humble, and He recognizes from afar the proud. Isaiah 57:15 For thus speaks the Most High, Whose abode is eternal and whose name is holy: I dwell in high places and in holiness; But I am with the contrite and humiliated man, In order to revive the humiliated minds, In order to revive the contrite hearts. Mt 9:11 The Pharisees saw this, and they said to his disciples: Why does your master eat with publicans and people of bad life? Jn 13:4 got up from the table, took off his clothes, and took a cloth, from which he surrounded himself. Jn 20:20 And when he said that, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were joyful in seeing the Lord.
From all the above, we note that the refrain of this hymn of joy was called the Jewish choir: “For his goodness dwells forever,” because Jerusalem heard it in the days of Solomon (2 Ch 5:13), for these were, in type, the days of glory. It had been heard before, when David brought the ark back to its place (1 Ch 16:34), and later sounded, when the captives returning to their land laid the foundations for the second temple (Ezra 3:11). Such scenes, indeed, were also a foretaste of the kingdom, and of the joy of the nation. And this psalm, this national choir, is sung here as the captives complete their journey and find themselves in the holy city. It will be sung with even greater joy, when Israel learns “the hymns of Zion” in the days of the kingdom. Ps. 136 can be seen as the response to the solemn invitation of the previous Psalm. What characterizes him is the formula, already often noticed, which expresses the immutable goodness of Jehovah for Israel in spite of everything: “His goodness remains forever!” The Psalm celebrates God as Creator, God of the gods and Lord of the lords, Liberator of the children of Israel whom He had led through the wilderness; He who had exterminated by his power great and powerful kings, had given the inheritance of the country to his people; The One who, finally remembering his own in their state of extreme debasement, had delivered them, the One who provided food to every living creature, he, the God of heaven. In a sense, this Psalm closes the historical Psalms. Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow “the faithful celebrate the power and goodness of God.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.