Psalms 136

Psalms 136:3

Creeping - This word is common to all creatures that move without feet.

Psalms 136:4

Leviathan - The whale. Therein - Who being of such a vast strength and absolute dominion in the sea, tumbles in it with great security, and sports himself with other creatures.

Psalms 136:7

Hidest - Withdrawest the care of thy providence.

Psalms 136:8

Spirit - That quickening power of God, by which he produces life in the creatures from time to time. For he speaks not here of the first creation, but of the continued production of living creatures. Created - Other living creatures are produced; the word created being taken in its largest sense for the production of things by second causes. Renewest - And thus by thy wise and wonderful providence thou preservest the succession of living creatures.

Psalms 136:9

Rejoice - Thus God advances the glory of his wisdom and power and goodness, in upholding the works of his hands from generation to generation, and he takes pleasure in the preservation of his works, as also in his reflection upon these works of his providence.

Psalms 136:10

He looketh - This is a farther illustration of God’s powerful providence: as when he affords his favour to creatures, they live and thrive, so on the contrary, one angry look or touch of his upon the hills or earth, makes them tremble and smoke, as Sinai did when God appeared in it.

Psalms 136:13

Praise ye the Lord - Heb. Hallelujah. This is the first time that this word occurs. And it comes in here on occasion of the destruction of the wicked. And the last time it occurs, Revelation 19:1,3,4,6, it is on a like occasion, the destruction of Babylon.

Psalms 136:15

Praise ye the Lord - Heb. Hallelujah. This is the first time that this word occurs. And it comes in here on occasion of the destruction of the wicked. And the last time it occurs, Revelation 19:1,3,4,6, it is on a like occasion, the destruction of Babylon.

Psalms 136:16

Praise ye the Lord - Heb. Hallelujah. This is the first time that this word occurs. And it comes in here on occasion of the destruction of the wicked. And the last time it occurs, Revelation 19:1,3,4,6, it is on a like occasion, the destruction of Babylon.

Psalms 136:17

Glory - Glory in the God whom you serve, as the only true God.

Psalms 136:18

Seek - The Lord in his strength, in his sanctuary, or before the ark, which is called God’s strength. Face - His gracious presence.

Psalms 136:19

Judgments - The punishments which he brought upon Egypt by his mere word.

Psalms 136:20

Of Jacob - The only branch of Abraham’s seed to whom the following blessings belong.

Psalms 136:21

Judgments - God executes his judgments upon all nations and people.

Psalms 136:22

Remembered - So as to perform it. The word - The promise. Commanded - Established. Thousand generations - To all generations.

Psalms 136:23

Oath - Wherewith he ratified the covenant with Isaac, Genesis 26:3.

Psalms 136:24

A law - That it might be as firm and irrevocable as a law.

Psalms 136:25

Lot - The portion assigned to you by lot.