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Psalm 136 | King James Audio Bible
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Psalm 136 is a mosaic of praise, history, and theology. The psalm invites the community of believers to remember, recite and relive manifold demonstrations of God’s mercy. Each of the psalm’s 26 verses ends with the refrain, ‘for his mercy endureth for ever.’ This structure not only provides rhythm but also deeply ingrains the core truth of God’s steadfast love. From creation to historical events, from personal deliverance to provision for all life, the psalm celebrates the enduring and comprehensive nature of God’s mercy.
The psalm begins with a call to thanksgiving: ‘O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good.’ This invocation serves as an entry point into a litany of God’s acts, reminding the faithful of the reasons for their gratitude. The initial verses set the tone, focusing on God’s supremacy, ‘O give thanks unto the God of gods’ and ‘O give thanks to the Lord of lords.’ This recognition of God’s ultimate authority forms the foundation for the subsequent recounting of His deeds.
In following verses, the psalm celebrates God’s creative power: ‘To him who alone doeth great wonders’ and ‘To him that by wisdom made the heavens.’ These verses of the psalm draw attention to God as Creator of all, emphasizing God’s unparalleled ability to shape and command the universe. Mention of celestial bodies, ‘The sun to rule by day’ and ‘The moon and stars to rule by night,’ serves to magnify the grandeur of God’s creation, highlighting God’s mastery over both day and night.
The psalm recounts God’s acts in history, particularly God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt: ‘To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn’ and ‘And brought out Israel from among them.’ These verses recall defining moments of the Exodus, marking God’s intervention as both powerful and decisive. The psalm continues to recount the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea: ‘To him which divided the Red sea into parts,’ and the subsequent destruction of Pharaoh’s forces: ‘But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea.’ These events are commemorated as pivotal demonstrations of God’s mercy and power in delivering His people.
Through the Exodus narrative, the psalm expresses and relives God’s guidance through the wilderness: ‘To him which led his people through the wilderness.’ This expresses God’s constant presence and provision, even in times of uncertainty and hardship.
The psalm further acknowledges God’s might in conquests: ‘To him which smote great kings’ and ‘And slew famous kings.’ The specific mention of Sihon and Og, ‘Sihon king of the Amorites’ and ‘And Og the king of Bashan,’ not only recounts victories but also the provision of a homeland for Israel: ‘And gave their land for an heritage.’ This passage celebrates God’s role as a warrior and provider for His people.
From the national to the personal, the psalm recalls God’s faithfulness in times of distress: ‘Who remembered us in our low estate.’ This verse highlights God’s attentiveness and care even in moments of vulnerability and weakness.
The psalm concludes by returning to the motif of God as sustainer: ‘Who giveth food to all flesh.’ This verse encompasses God’s provision for all creation, asserting God’s role as provider of sustenance.
The final verse, ‘O give thanks unto the God of heaven,’ serves as a bookend, mirroring the opening verse and reinforcing the psalm’s call to gratitude.
Psalm 136 | King James Audio Bible
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:
With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:
And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:
But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:
And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:
And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:
And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever
Psalm 136 | King James Audio Bible
- God’s Enduring Mercy: Every verse concludes with ‘for his mercy endureth for ever,’ emphasizing the perpetual and steadfast nature of God’s mercy, a central theme that unifies the psalm.
- Divine Supremacy And Power: The psalm opens with a recognition of God as the supreme deity, ‘O give thanks unto the God of gods,’ underscoring God’s omnipotence and authority over all creation.
- Creation And Cosmic Order: References to God’s acts of creation, such as ‘To him that by wisdom made the heavens,’ highlight God’s role as the creator and sustainer of the universe, including celestial bodies like the sun, moon, and stars.
- Historical Acts Of Deliverance: The psalm recounts pivotal events including the Exodus, ‘To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn,’ and the crossing of the Red Sea, celebrating God’s intervention and salvation of Israel.
- Guidance And Provision: Verses including, ‘To him which led his people through the wilderness,’ acknowledge God’s continuous guidance and provision, not just in monumental events but also in everyday sustenance.
- Victory Over Enemies: The psalm recalls God’s might in defeating enemies, ‘To him which smote great kings,’ and God’s role as a divine warrior who secures victory and land for His people.
- God’s Faithfulness In Distress: The verse, ‘Who remembered us in our low estate,’ reflects God’s attentiveness and compassion, even in times of vulnerability and distress.
- Universal Care And Sustenance: The psalm concludes with a broader view of God’s mercy, noting His role as the sustainer of all life, ‘Who giveth food to all flesh,’ indicating God’s providence extends to all creation.
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Office Of Readings | Friday, Lent Week 1 | From The Mirror Of Love By Saint Aelred, Abbot ‘Christ, the model of brotherly love.’ Who Was Saint Aelred Of Rievaulx? Saint Aelred of Rievaulx presents the highest expression of Christian love: the love of one’s enemies. His reflection is deeply rooted in the Gospel, particularly in Christ’s own example on the cross, where Jesus prays, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” For Aelred, this moment encapsulates the essence of divine love—self-giving, patient, and without retaliation. Aelred was a 12th-century Cistercian monk and abbot of Rievaulx Abbey, known for his writings on Christian friendship and love. His spirituality was deeply influenced by Saint Augustine, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, and the monastic tradition, particularly in its focus on the imitation of Christ. This reading is a reflection of Aelred’s broader theological vision, where love is not merely an emotion but a profound act of spiritual transformation, a means of becoming Christ-like. Aelred emphasizes Christ’s willingness to endure humiliation and suffering without anger or resistance. Jesus allows himself to be spat upon, blindfolded, scourged, and crowned with thorns—acts of extreme cruelty—yet Christ responds with silence and peace. He is mocked and crucified, yet he prays for his persecutors. Jesus offers not only forgiveness but also an excuse for the actions of those who tormented him: “they do not know what they are doing.” This extraordinary response defies human instinct, which seeks justice and retribution. Aelred sees in Christ’s attitude the perfect model for the Christian life—one that transforms suffering into love. Aelred’s words echo the call of Isaiah, where the Suffering Servant is “like a lamb led to the slaughter, silent before his shearers.” Aelred invites the reader not just to admire Christ’s patience, but to embody it in their own struggles. Aelred’s theology of love is drawn from both Augustinian and Cistercian thought. Like Augustine, Aelred sees love as the ultimate path to God, and like Bernard of Clairvaux, he understands love as an active response to divine grace. Aelred extends this concept to love for one’s enemies, arguing that true love must be universal because if love excludes enemies, it remains incomplete. Forgiveness is not weakness but strength, overcoming hatred by transforming the heart. The fire of divine love must not grow cold, for resentment and injury should never diminish the Christian’s ability to love. This idea resonates with Saint Paul’s exhortation to bless persecutors and overcome evil with good. Aelred presents this not as an idealistic aspiration but as an essential mark of Christian holiness. Aelred’s words challenge believers to examine their own attitudes toward forgiveness and reconciliation. Many individuals struggle with resentment, past wounds, and a sense of justice, yet Aelred reminds Christians that true spiritual freedom comes not from revenge but from the ability to love as Christ loved. His teaching is especially relevant in a world marked by division, hostility, and conflict. To live this teaching requires a conscious decision to forgive, even when forgiveness feels undeserved, a focus on Christ’s example, keeping one’s spiritual eyes on Jesus’ patience and gentleness, and a heart open to grace, allowing God to soften any areas hardened by pain. For Aelred, Christian perfection is found in imitating Christ’s love on the cross. To love one’s enemies is to participate in the very life of God, for as the Apostle John declares, “God is love.” This reading encapsulates Aelred’s monastic and theological vision, in which love is not merely a virtue but the summation of Christian perfection. Love, when extended even to one’s enemies, makes a person like Christ. Love is the path to holiness, the fire that purifies the soul, and the mark of a true disciple. In this reflection, Aelred does not offer abstract philosophy but a deeply practical and demanding call to live as Christ lived. From The Mirror Of Love By Saint Aelred, Abbot The perfection of brotherly love lies in the love of one’s enemies. We can find no greater inspiration for this than grateful remembrance of the wonderful patience of Christ. He who is more fair than all the sons of men offered his fair face to be spat upon by sinful men; he allowed those eyes that rule the universe to be blindfolded by wicked men; he bared his back to the scourges; he submitted that head which strikes terror in principalities and powers to the sharpness of the thorns; he gave himself up to be mocked and reviled, and at the end endured the cross, the nails, the lance, the gall, the vinegar, remaining always gentle, meek and full of peace. In short, he was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb before the shearers he kept silent, and did not open his mouth. Who could listen to that wonderful prayer, so full of warmth, of love, of unshakeable serenity – Father, forgive them – and hesitate to embrace his enemies with overflowing love? Father, he says, forgive them. Is any gentleness, any love, lacking in this prayer? Yet he put into it something more. It was not enough to pray for them: he wanted also to make excuses for them. Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. They are great sinners, yes, but they have little judgement; therefore, Father, forgive them. They are nailing me to the cross, but they do not know who it is that they are nailing to the cross: if they had known, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory; therefore, Father, forgive them. They think it is a lawbreaker, an impostor claiming to be God, a seducer of the people. I have hidden my face from them, and they do not recognise my glory; therefore, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. If someone wishes to love himself he must not allow himself to be corrupted by indulging his sinful nature. If he wishes to resist the promptings of his sinful nature he must enlarge the whole horizon of his love to contemplate […]
