Psalm 136

We folks in the Black church have a way of greeting each other.

"God is good!"

"All the time."

Or as this Psalmist would say: For He is good, for His mercy endures forever.

What a great call-back song this would be! I wonder how this psalm was sung in the temples in Israel way back in the day. I try to imagine it. The cantor singing each new phrase, and the congregation of the Lord chiming in with: For He is good, For His mercy endures forever.

The refrain praising God's mercy would resound through the temple or through the fields. It feels as if it would be a joyful and fun song to sing, a song of triumph. Well, I don't know of any rendition of this song, let alone any rendition of it that is joyful and fun and triumphant. But one day, when I'm in glory I'll hear the song the way the original writers sang it. And maybe I'll hear the angelic version of it. Who knows?

The Lord alone does wonders!

The Lord created the Heavens and the Earth

The Lord protects and guards His people

The Lord destroys His enemies.

The Lord provides food for all His creatures.

What a wonderful Lord He is!

Psalm 136

 ¹O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

 ²O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.

 ³O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

 ⁴To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.

 ⁵To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.

 ⁶To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.

 ⁷To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:

 ⁸The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:

 ⁹The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

 ¹⁰To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:

 ¹¹And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:

 ¹²With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.

 ¹³To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:

 ¹⁴And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:

 ¹⁵But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.

 ¹⁶To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.

 ¹⁷To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

 ¹⁸And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

 ¹⁹Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:

 ²⁰And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:

 ²¹And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:

 ²²Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.

 ²³Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:

 ²⁴And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.

 ²⁵Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.

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