Psalm 136
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
His love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
4 to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
5 who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
7 who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
8 the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.
His love endures forever.
5 who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
7 who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
8 the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.
11 and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.
12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.
His love endures forever.
11 and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.
12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.
13 to him who divided the Red Sea asunder
His love endures forever.
14 and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.
His love endures forever.
14 and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness;
His love endures forever.
His love endures forever.
17 to him who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.
18 and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.
21 and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.
22 an inheritance to his servant Israel.
His love endures forever.
His love endures forever.
18 and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.
21 and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.
22 an inheritance to his servant Israel.
His love endures forever.
23 He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
24 and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
25 He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.
His love endures forever.
24 and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
25 He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever
His love endures forever
or...
Psalm 136
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
4 to him who alone does great wonders,
5 who by his understanding made the heavens,
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,
7 who made the great lights—
8 the sun to govern the day,
9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
5 who by his understanding made the heavens,
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,
7 who made the great lights—
8 the sun to govern the day,
9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
11 and brought Israel out from among them
12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
11 and brought Israel out from among them
12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
13 to him who divided the Red Sea asunder
14 and brought Israel through the midst of it,
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
14 and brought Israel through the midst of it,
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness;
17 to him who struck down great kings,
18 and killed mighty kings—
19 Sihon king of the Amorites
20 and Og king of Bashan—
21 and gave their land as an inheritance,
22 an inheritance to his servant Israel.
18 and killed mighty kings—
19 Sihon king of the Amorites
20 and Og king of Bashan—
21 and gave their land as an inheritance,
22 an inheritance to his servant Israel.
23 He remembered us in our low estate
24 and freed us from our enemies.
25 He gives food to every creature.
24 and freed us from our enemies.
25 He gives food to every creature.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever
As I look at this Psalm, some observations immediately jump out at me without digging deeply into it. First of all, I see the importance of not just head knowledge but heart knowledge. To know all about God is one thing but to let it sink into your heart, personalize it, meditate on it and then let it move you to praise and adoration is another. You can see the difference in several types of people. A lot of "religious" people know all about God but have no joy. They come to church in silence, watch other people speak and worship, and return next week and do the same. The magnitude of how God has found them in their low estate and paid their debt and brought them to life has never really sunk in causing a thankful and grateful heart. Another place we see this is probably us as kids. I, personally, was drug to church, VBS, Bible Clubs, Sunday School, made to memorize verses, and like the 12 year old Jesus in the temple astounding teachers with his knowledge - well, I wasn't there but you get the drift. It still took a "touch" by the Holy Spirit to turn this head knowledge into heart knowledge where I finally realized that I wasn't a good person and realized how much God loved me and paid for me, which led me to love for Him and worshipping Him with a thankful and grateful heart.
The next thing I see is that praise, worship, adoration isn't a one time thing as illustrated in my second rendering of the passage, but is a minute by minute reflection of God's goodness to us and a life lived in constant thankfulness to Him. As Paul says in Thessalonians, "Pray without Ceasing. Rejoice evermore." , that is the picture here or "In everything give thanks for this is the will of God concerning you." My kids once said to my wife in a bit of a disparaging way, "You see Jesus in everything" and yet, I believe this is what the Psalmist is getting at.
Next I see the layout of this Psalm as a corporate responsive reading or maybe a chant where the leader sings the verse and the congregation sings the chorus, sort of a "Tastes great" "Less filling" back and forth. At any rate, it says that praising God is good and acceptable and expected and necessary when you are alone, but it is also meant to be done with other believers. If you think about any great spiritual advance or milestone moment in your life, was it while you were alone or was it in the midst of other believers? Chances are it was at a retreat, a camp, a mission trip, a service - you see God moves us in the presence of other people worshipping Him.
Lastly, this is the Psalm you use when someone says, "This new Praise and worship music just repeats the chorus over and over. Give me the hymns!" I would say, "Psalm 136. Take it up with David! (or whoever).
As I look at this Psalm, some observations immediately jump out at me without digging deeply into it. First of all, I see the importance of not just head knowledge but heart knowledge. To know all about God is one thing but to let it sink into your heart, personalize it, meditate on it and then let it move you to praise and adoration is another. You can see the difference in several types of people. A lot of "religious" people know all about God but have no joy. They come to church in silence, watch other people speak and worship, and return next week and do the same. The magnitude of how God has found them in their low estate and paid their debt and brought them to life has never really sunk in causing a thankful and grateful heart. Another place we see this is probably us as kids. I, personally, was drug to church, VBS, Bible Clubs, Sunday School, made to memorize verses, and like the 12 year old Jesus in the temple astounding teachers with his knowledge - well, I wasn't there but you get the drift. It still took a "touch" by the Holy Spirit to turn this head knowledge into heart knowledge where I finally realized that I wasn't a good person and realized how much God loved me and paid for me, which led me to love for Him and worshipping Him with a thankful and grateful heart.
The next thing I see is that praise, worship, adoration isn't a one time thing as illustrated in my second rendering of the passage, but is a minute by minute reflection of God's goodness to us and a life lived in constant thankfulness to Him. As Paul says in Thessalonians, "Pray without Ceasing. Rejoice evermore." , that is the picture here or "In everything give thanks for this is the will of God concerning you." My kids once said to my wife in a bit of a disparaging way, "You see Jesus in everything" and yet, I believe this is what the Psalmist is getting at.
Next I see the layout of this Psalm as a corporate responsive reading or maybe a chant where the leader sings the verse and the congregation sings the chorus, sort of a "Tastes great" "Less filling" back and forth. At any rate, it says that praising God is good and acceptable and expected and necessary when you are alone, but it is also meant to be done with other believers. If you think about any great spiritual advance or milestone moment in your life, was it while you were alone or was it in the midst of other believers? Chances are it was at a retreat, a camp, a mission trip, a service - you see God moves us in the presence of other people worshipping Him.
Lastly, this is the Psalm you use when someone says, "This new Praise and worship music just repeats the chorus over and over. Give me the hymns!" I would say, "Psalm 136. Take it up with David! (or whoever).
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