The Book of Psalms Paraphrased, Book 5 · Psalm 136
PSALM CXXXVI.
ARGUMENT.
This Pſalm, like the former, is a commemoration of the goodneſs of God, expreſſed in his wonderfull works: particularly thoſe He had done for that Nation. And, it is likely, was compoſed to be ſung upon the great Feſtivals; as every day I ſuppoſe they ſung the foregoing: which is of the ſame ſtrain with this, and contains much of the ſame matter: onelyonly here, at every half Verſe, one half of the Quire anſwers to the other in theſe words; For his mercy endureth for ever. A form of acknowledgment preſcribed by David to be uſed continually in the Divine Service, 1 Chron. XVI. 41: and accordingly followed by Solomon, 2. Chron. VII. 3, 6. when he dedicated the Temple; and by Jehoſhaphat, when by the incouragement of a Prophet he went out to incounter a vaſt Army with ſmall Forces, 2 Chron. XX. 21. and here is repeated ſix and twenty times, to make them the more ſenſible that they owed all they had to the mere bounty of God; and to excite them to depend intirely upon it; and reſt aſſured it would never fail them if they did piouſly and moſt heartily acknowledge it. Such repetitions we uſe now in our earneſt Prayers, when we ſay; Lord have mercy upon us, &c. which are no more vain then theſe. I have variouſly expreſſed the ſenſe of this repeated acknowledgment, according as the other part of the ſeveral verſes ſeemed to direct me.
1. O Give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
1. OFfer your thankfull Hymns unto the Lord of all; who is as good as He is great: and will continue his kindneſs (which hath been exceeding abundant towards us) unto all ſucceeding generations.
2. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2. He is the Sovereign of all the heavenly Hoſts; and therefore praiſe Him, and give thanks unto Him: for He can imploy them all for your help and protection (as He hath in former times) and you need not doubt of his kindneſs, which continues unto all Ages.
3. O give thanks unto the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
3. All the Kings and Princes of the Earth are his Subjects; upon which account alſo, give Him praiſe and thanks: For his kindneſs endures throughout all Ages, to defend you, as He hath done hitherto, from their tyrannical violence.
4. To him who alone doth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
4. He it is, and He alone whoſe Works are ſo great that they ſurpriſe all thoſe who ſeriouſly conſider them, with wonder and aſtoniſhment; and therefore give Him praiſe and thanks: For his kindneſs will never fail, ſtill to imploy his infinite Power for the good of thoſe, who are truly gratefull to Him.
5. To him that by wiſdome made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
5. Look upon the Heavens, and behold, with admiration and praiſe, the ſplendour and the order wherein his wiſdome hath contrived and ſetled them: For his kindneſs is as large, and as firm and durable as they.
6. To him that ſtretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
6. And then look down to the Earth, and thankfully praiſe Him; who brought it out of the waters, and preſerves it, in its juſt extent, from being again overflowed by them: for his kindneſs is no leſs immoveable, and by length of time can never be impaired.
7. To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever.
7. Witneſs thoſe great Lights, which never go out; but always call upon us to praiſe, and give thanks to Him: who made them to illuminate the world; and to be the emblems of his kindneſs; which ſends its benign influences continually upon us, unto all generations.
8. The Sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever.
8. By day the Sun exerts his power to quicken all inferiour Beings; and excites us to praiſe Him, and be thankfull to Him: whoſe kindneſs thereby, perpetually adminiſters to us all neceſſary things; and will do ſo, to the end of the world.
9. The Moon and Stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
9. And by night the Moon, or the Stars ſupply its place; and let us ſee how much we are bound to praiſe and thank Him: whoſe kindneſs is ſo conſtant, that, in the worſt condition, it will never quite forſake us.
10. To him that ſmote Egypt in their firſt-born: for his mercy endureth for ever.
10. We muſt needs ſay ſo, and think our ſelves ingaged above all others, to give Him thanks; if we call to mind that memorable night (XII. Exod. 29.) when He puniſhed the Egyptians with the loſs of all their firſt-born: For his kindneſs ſtill continues, for ever to relieve thoſe that are injured; and to puniſh their inſolent Oppreſſours.
11. And brought out Iſrael from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever.
11. Let us not forget how after that ſtroke, He brought our Forefathers out of the cruel Bondage, wherein they had long held them (XII. Exod. 41, 42.) but thankfully acknowledg that wonderfull deliverance: For it is an argument why we ſhould never diſtruſt his kindneſs, in the ſoreſt ſtraits that can befall us.
12. With a ſtrong hand, and with a ſtretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
12. His Power, let us remember, is irreſiſtible, which firſt by leſſer, then by greater ſigns and wonders delivered us out of their hands (VI. Exod. 5, 6. VII, VIII, &c.) to praiſe and magnify Him, whoſe kindneſs is ſtupendiouſly great, and will never ceaſe to ſuccour thoſe who depend upon Him.
13. To him which divided the red Sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever.
13. Let us therefore give thanks to him; who when our Forefathers utterly deſpaired of ſafety (XIV. Exod. 10, 11.) commanded the red Sea to retire, and leave a broad way for them to paſs, (v. 21.) which plainly proves that his kindneſs is inexhauſted, and alway ready to help us in the moſt dreadfull dangers.
14. And made Iſrael to paſs thorough the midſt of it: for his mercy endureth for ever.
14. For he led them ſafely through the very midſt of the Sea (which roſe up like a wall on either hand of them, XIV. Exod. 22.) and will by his kindneſs eternally ſecure all thoſe, that piouſly confide in Him.
15. But overthrew Pharaoh and his hoſt in the red Sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.
15. But throw thoſe that oppoſe Him, headlong into deſtruction, as He did Pharaoh and his Hoſt, in the very ſame place, where Iſrael was preſerved; (XIV. Exod. 27, &c.) For his kindneſs loves to compleat his favours, and perfect what He hath begun for his people.
16. To him which led his people through the wilderneſs: for his mercy endureth for ever.
16. And accordingly, when He had thus delivered them, He led his people by the direction of a glorious Cloud, through an untrodden Deſert; and there (with our thankfull praiſes let it be remembred) made a miraculous proviſion for them, (Exod. XVI.) For his endleſs kindneſs, whereſoever they went, ſtill with new Benefits purſued them.
17. To him which ſmote great Kings: for his mercy endureth for ever.
17. When potent Kings oppoſed their paſſage to the promiſed Land, He utterly diſcomfited them (to his praiſe be it thankfully acknowledged) For his kindneſs was not ſtopt by difficulties, but ever overcame them.
18. And ſlew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever.
18. Though they were Kings famous for their proweſs; yet, ſuch was his for ever to be praiſed kindneſs towards us, He gave us as eaſy and as abſolute a victory over them; as He had done before over Pharaoh and his Hoſt.
19. Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever.
19. Over Sihon, King of that fierce Nation of the Amorites, who were thought invincible, (II. Amos 9.) For his kindneſs was mightier then they, and gave us this as an earneſt of future conqueſts over our Enemies.
20. And Og the king of Baſhan: for his mercy endureth for ever.
20. Over that huge Tyrant Og the King of Baſhan, (III. Deut. 11.) For his kindneſs added that, as a new pledge of what He intended to doe for us, when we came into Canaan.
21. And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever.
21. And gave both their Countries to be held of Him, as a perpetual inheritance: For his kindneſs doth not decay (nor loves to revoke his Favours) but continues to the lateſt Poſterity.
22. Even an heritage unto Iſrael his ſervant: for his mercy endureth for ever.
22. An Inheritance they were, which he ſetled upon us the Children of Iſrael, as long as we continue his faithfull Servants: For his kindneſs hath no end; but delights to perpetuate his Mercies to thoſe, who are worthy of them.
23. Who remembred us in our low eſtate: for his mercy endureth for ever.
23. Nay, when for our Sins we were ſeverely afflicted, and in danger to be thrown out of this good Land into which at laſt He brought us; (Judg. II, III, IV, &c.) He was pleaſed graciouſly to relieve us: For his kindneſs pardoned our ingratitude, and was as forward as ever, to beſtow freſh Benefits upon us.
24. And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.
24. And reſcued us, many a time, when we cryed unto Him, from the power of thoſe that tyrannized over us: For his kindneſs was not ſpent, by the frequent deliverances it had given us; but ſtill granted new matter for our thankſgivings to Him.
25. Who giveth food to all fleſh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
25. Whoſe Bounty is not confined to us alone, but ſupplies the wants of all mankind; yea, of all living Creatures: For his kindneſs hath no bounds; nor will ever ceaſe to make a plentifull proviſion for them.
26. O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.
26. O raiſe your hearts to give Him thanks with the higheſt praiſes; whoſe power extends it ſelf beyond this Earth, even unto the higheſt Heavens: For his kindneſs is ſo unwearied; that we may hope from thence to be ever receiving, more and more of his Bleſſings.