\\INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 136\\

This psalm was very probably composed by David, and given to the
Levites to sing every day, \\#1Ch 16:41\\. Solomon his son followed his
example, and made use of them in singing at the dedication of the
temple, \\#2Ch 7:3,6\\; as Jehoshaphat seems to have done when he went out
to war against his enemies, \\#2Ch 20:21\\. The subject of it is much the
same with the preceding psalm; its composition is very singular; the
half of every verse: in it is, "for his mercy endureth for ever"; this
is the burden of the song; and the design of it is to show, that all
blessings of every kind flow from the grace, goodness, and mercy of
God, which is constant and perpetual; and to impress a sense of it upon
the minds of men: the inscription of the Syriac version is,

``it is said of Moses and Israel praising the Lord for those
who were delivered; and concerning the deliverance of souls
out of hell from Pharaoh, the devil, by Christ our Saviour,
the Redeemer of them.''

R. Obadiah says it is an exhortation to the children of God in the days
of the Messiah to praise the Lord.