John Calvin Commentary Psalms 136:1

"Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever." — Psalms 136:1 (ASV)

For his mercy, etc. The insertion of this clause again and again in so many short and abrupt sentences may seem like a vain repetition. However, verses repeated by way of a chorus are both allowed and admired in secular poets, and why should we object to the repetition in this instance, for which the best reasons can be shown?

People may not deny that divine goodness is the source and fountain of all their blessings, but the graciousness of His bounty is far from being fully and sincerely recognized, even though the greatest stress is laid upon it in Scripture.

Paul, in speaking of it (Romans 3:23), emphatically calls it by the general term, the glory of God, intimating that while God should be praised for all His works, it is His mercy principally that we should glorify.

It is evident from what we read in sacred history that it was customary for the Levites, according to the regulation laid down by David for conducting the praises of God, to sing in response, for his mercy endureth for ever. This practice was followed by Solomon in the dedication of the Temple (2 Chronicles 7:3, 6) and by Jehoshaphat in that solemn triumphal song mentioned in 2 Chronicles 20:21, of the same book.

Before proceeding to recite God’s works, the Psalmist declares His supreme Deity and dominion. This comparative language does not imply that there is anything approaching Deity besides Him; rather, people have a disposition, whenever they see any part of His glory displayed, to conceive of a God separate from Him. They thus impiously divide the Godhead into parts and even proceed so far as to fashion gods of wood and stone.

There is a depraved tendency in all to take delight in a multiplicity of gods. For this reason, apparently, the Psalmist uses the plural number, not only in the word אלהים , Elohim, but in the word אדונים , Adonim, so that it reads literally, praise you the Lords of Lords: he would intimate that the fullest perfection of all dominion is to be found in the one God.