Chapter 136

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 Gods 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.

136:11 And ^c brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:

(c) Gods merciful providence toward man appears in all his creatures, but chiefly in that he delivered his Church from the clutches of their enemies.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Gods benefits.