Psalm 136

“Thank you.” Those two words often roll off our tongues. When we stop to consider some kindness done to us, we often offer our thanks.

We find a number of instances of “thank-yous” being sung in the biblical book of Psalms.

(There are Community Thanksgivings in Psalms 66; 67; 124; 129. Individual Thanksgivings are found in Psalms 6; 13; 22; 28; 30; 31; 41; 54; 55; 56; 61; 63; 64; 69; 71; 86; 94; 102; 120; 130)

One of my favorite expressions of thanks to God is found in the marvelously repetitious and exhaustive Psalm 136:

Psalm 136

¹ O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
² O give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
³ O give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

⁴ who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
⁵ who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
⁶ who spread out the earth on the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
⁷ who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
⁸ the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
⁹ the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

¹⁰ who struck Egypt through their firstborn,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
¹¹ and brought Israel out from among them,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
¹² with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
¹³ who divided the Red Sea^[a] in two,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
¹⁴ and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
¹⁵ but overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,^[b]
for his steadfast love endures forever;
¹⁶ who led his people through the wilderness,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
¹⁷ who struck down great kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
¹⁸ and killed famous kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
¹⁹ Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
²⁰ and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
²¹ and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
²² a heritage to his servant Israel,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

²³ It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
²⁴ and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
²⁵ who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

²⁶ O give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

Can we think about all that God has done for us? Are there reasons for which we give thanks?

Prayer

God, Your steadfast love does indeed endure forever. Thank You for each loving act You have done for me. Amen.

~ Steve Negley