Psalms
Chapter 136
Hymn To Eternal Mercy
Alleluia!
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his kindness endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods, his kindness endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords, his kindness endures forever.
He alone does great marvels, his kindness endures forever.
In wisdom he made the heavens, his kindness endures forever.
He set the earth upon the waters, his kindness endures forever.
He made the great lights, his kindness endures forever,
the sun to rule over the day, his kindness endures forever,
the moon and stars to rule the night, his kindness endures forever.
He slew the firstborn of Egypt, his kindness endures forever,
and brought Israel out, his kindness endures forever,
with strong hand and outstretched arm, his kindness endures forever.
He split the Sea of Reeds, his kindness endures forever,
and made Israel pass through it, his kindness endures forever,
drowning Pharaoh and his army, his kindness endures forever,
and led his people through the desert, his kindness endures forever.
He struck down great kings, his kindness endures forever,
and killed mighty kings, his kindness endures forever,
Sihon, king of the Amorites, his kindness endures forever,
and Og, king of Bashan, his kindness endures forever.
He gave their land as an inheritance, his kindness endures forever,
a heritage to Israel his servant, his kindness endures forever.
He remembered us in our humiliation, his kindness endures forever,
and freed us from our oppressors, his kindness endures forever,
he who gives food to all creatures, his kindness endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven, his kindness endures forever!
Commentaries
136
A ‘Te Deum’ to the master of creation, who delivers the people he has chosen. Egypt felt his power, Sihon of the Transjordanian mountains, and Og of the farther north. By their defeat, God made Israel’s name feared in Canaan (Jos 2:10), the land that became her ‘inheritance.’ However, military conquest was only an early step in God’s plan for the rest of his world. We, who have seen this plan unfold, are less moved by the psalmist’s lesser joy. ‘Inheritance of the land,’ a classic expression of Israel’s ideal, was a hope gradually refined and spiritualized by national hardship; taken into our Lord’s hands, it was blessed and transformed forever. ‘The meek shall possess the land,’ not the warlike; the Kingdom is not of this world. Nor is conquest: Pharaoh, Og, and Sihon are foes within us, for our true war is against the rulers of this darkness. Our armor is the clothing of the Spirit (Eph 6:12ff). Thank God for his victorious grace and for ‘the inheritance that does not spoil, which is kept in heaven for you’ (1 P 1:4). This psalm must be gradually completed with fresh proofs of divine love.
The psalmist encourages us to thank the Lord, who is good; his kindness lasts forever. Like him, St. Paul encourages us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 to ‘Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks to God at every moment. This is the will of God, your vocation as Christians.’ Indeed, Christians especially should thank God for Jesus Christ, who has shown us the way to eternal salvation.