Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 136
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Psalms 136
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Psalms 136
"Oh give thanks unto the God of gods; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever. Oh give thanks unto the Lord of lords; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:" — Psalms 136:2-3 (ASV)
God of gods ... Lord of Lords— From Deuteronomy 10:17.
"To him who alone doeth great wonders; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:" — Psalms 136:4 (ASV)
"To him that by understanding made the heavens; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:" — Psalms 136:5 (ASV)
By wisdom. — From Psalms 104:24, Proverbs 3:19, or Jeremiah 10:12.
"To him that spread forth the earth above the waters; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:" — Psalms 136:6 (ASV)
While this section in many points recalls the account of creation in Genesis, it employs terms from other parts of Scripture.
Stretched out: A word and idea peculiar to Isaiah and this psalm (Isaiah 42:5; Isaiah 44:24); properly to beat out with the feet, then to overlay with a plate of metal (Isaiah 40:12). The earth is regarded as a flat plate that has been beaten out and spread on the face of the waters, whereas in Genesis it is pictured as emerging out of the waters.
"To him that made great lights; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:" — Psalms 136:7 (ASV)
Lights. —An unusual word, meaning light itself, and not luminaries. But possibly the poet wished in one phrase to combine Genesis 1:3; Genesis 1:14–15.
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