Psalms 136:26

Psa 136:26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.

Ver. 26. O give thanks unto the God of heaven] His mercy in providing heaven for his people is more than all the rest.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

26. (Psa 136:26) Give thanks unto the God of heaven, for unto eternity (is) his mercy. The God of heaven is a new description as to form, but substantially equivalent to that in Psa 7:7; Psa 11:4; Psa 14:2; Psa 33:13-14.

Joseph Addison Alexander, The Psalms Translated and Explained (1850) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

136:26 The phrase God of heaven is an exilic and postexilic designation for the Lord; it is found in Ezra (Ezra 1:2; 5:11, 12; 6:9, 10; 7:12; etc.), Nehemiah (Neh 1:5; 2:4, 20; etc.), and Daniel (Dan 2:18, 19, 37, 44).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Seeing that all ages have had most plain testimonies of God’s benefits.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(26) God of heaven.—See Neh_1:4; Neh_2:4. This title, though implied in Psa_11:4 and similar passages, was not used before the exile. Away from Zion and the visible token of the Divine presence, the hearts of the faithful began more and more to dream of their God as

“One that His mansion hath on high

Above the reach of mortal eye.”

At the end the Vulgate repeats Psa_136:3. (See Prayer Book.)

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

26. the God of heaven] A late title, occurring here only in the Psalter. It is found in Ezr_1:2, &c.; Neh_1:4; Neh_2:4; 2Ch_36:23; Jon_1:9; Dan_2:18, &c. Cp. Rev_11:13; Rev_16:11.

The P.B.V. adds “O give thanks unto the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.” This repetition of Psa_136:3 is taken from the Gallican Psalter, but is not found in any extant MS of the LXX.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

O give thanks unto the God of heaven,.... the Maker of it, in which the glory of his wisdom and power is displayed; the possessor of it, where he dwells, has his throne, and keeps his court; from whence all blessings, temporal and spiritual, come and where he has prepared glory and happiness for his people hereafter, a house eternal in the heavens, an inheritance reserved there, a better and a more enduring substance;

for his mercy endureth for ever; for though the above character is expressive of his sovereignty and dominion, yet he exercises it in a way of grace and mercy to the sons of men; and therefore they have reason to give thanks unto him and praise him for his kindness and favours shown to them on earth.

Next: Psalms Chapter 137

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

O give thanks unto the God of heaven - The God who reigns in heaven; whose home is heaven.

For his mercy ... - In view of all this - of all that he does in heaven and on earth - let praise be ascribed to him. To know the measure of the praise due to him; to see how great is his “mercy,” it would be necessary to know all that he does in heaven and on earth. That will not be known here. It will constitute the theme of contemplation and praise forever and ever. Enough, however, is known here to show the propriety of repeating again, again, and again, as in this psalm, the language, “For his mercy endureth forever;” “For his mercy endureth forever;” “For his mercy endureth forever.”

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Ver. 26. O give thanks unto the God of heaven. The title is full of honour. The Lord is God in the highest realms, and among celestial beings. His throne is set in glory, above all, out of reach of foes, in the place of universal oversight. He who feeds ravens and sparrows is yet the glorious God of the highest realms. Angels count it their glory to proclaim his glory in every heavenly street. See herein the greatness of his nature, the depth of his condescension, and the range of his love. Mark the one sole cause of his bounty

For his mercy endureth for ever. He hath done all things from this motive; and because his mercy never ceases, he will continue to multiply deeds of love world without end. Let us with all our powers of heart and tongue give thanks unto the holy name of Jehovah for ever and ever.

"Change and decay in all around I see,

O thou who changest not, abide with me."

Ver. 26. The God of heaven. The phrase "God of heaven" is not found in the earlier Scriptures. We meet it nowhere else in the Psalms; but we meet it in 2Ch 36:23 Ezr 1:2 5: 11-12 6:9 7:12, 23 Ne 1:4 2:4 Da 2:18-19, 44 Jon 1:9. It is twice found in the Apocalypse, Re 11:13 16:11. It is a sublime and appropriate designation of the true God, expressive of his glorious elevation above the passions and perturbations of earth. To him all flesh should give thanks, for all receive his mercy in many forms and ways. His favours come down on generation after generation, and to his willing, obedient people they shall flow on during eternal ages. William Swan Plumer.

Ver. 26. My brethren, God's mercies are from everlasting; and it is a treasure that can never be spent, never exhausted, unto eternity. In Isa 64:5, we read, "In thy mercy is continuance." If God will but continue to be merciful to me, will a poor soul say, I have enough. Why, saith he, "in his mercies is continuance, and we shall be saved." Hath God pardoned thee hitherto? but hast thou sinned again? Can he stretch his goodness and mercy a little further? Why, he will stretch them out unto eternity, unto everlasting; and if one everlasting be not enough, there are twenty-six everlastings in this one Psalm. In Isa 54:8, "In a little wrath I hid my face from thee, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee." Thomas Goodwin.

Ver. 26. O give thanks unto the God of heaven. His mercy in providing heaven for his people is more than all the rest. John Trapp.

Ver. 26. Consider,

1. How he rules in heaven.

2. How he rules earth from heaven.

3. How mercy is the eternal element of that rule, and therefore he is the eternal object of praise.

Charles H. Spurgeon's The Treasury of David (1869–1885) — public domain. Psalms only. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Oh give thanks unto the God of heaven, "The God of heaven" is a favorite designation of God in the Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel. (Ezr_1:2 Ezr_5:11, 12 6:9, 10 7:12, 21 Neh_1:4, 5 2:4, 20 Dan_2:18, Dan_2:19, Dan_2:37, Dan_2:44) It was a phrase known to the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and the Persians. For his mercy endureth forever.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Gives thanks to the God of heaven Who prepares therein food for every creature. The expression, “for His kindness is eternal,” appears twenty-six times in this psalm, corresponding to the twenty-six generations that the world was without Torah and existed through the kindness of the Holy One, blessed be He.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.