Psalm 136

1. Alleluia.

136:0 This is Psalm 136 (Vul 135) in the whole book, the 36^th in the third part. After inviting people in the previous Psalm to praise God for the divine works and favors to the world in general and especially to the people of God, here he invites them to praise God, repeating the same benefits, but adding to each of them the reason for such a gift, namely, the eternal mercy of God. Thus, as Augustine observes in the Gloss, each verse terminates with "His love is eternal". Since this Psalm is only slightly different from the preceding, it has the same title, "Hallelu-Yah", which means "Praise God".

Psalm singing is very pleasing to God, especially this Psalm which repeats the mercy of God. This is shown, as the Gloss says, by the fact that when the Israelites began to praise God and say, "for he is good, his love is eternal", the Temple was filled with the cloud of the glory of Yahweh (2 Chron 5:13). The same with the spiritual temple, the human heart -1 Cor 3:17 God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. When we sing Psalms, we are filled with glory. Divine things are revealed to such a heart. -Ps 50:23 He who offers the sacrifice of praise will be feasted by me. When Elisha heard the sound of the lyre, he knew future things, as if filled with the glory of God. And when Isaiah heard the singing of "Holy, holy, holy Yahweh of Sabaoth", he immediately added, "His glory fills the whole earth".

Praise the Lord,
Give thanks to Yahweh,

136:1 The Psalm is divided into two parts: (1) He urges people to praise God, (2) He gives the reason for praising, namely, the excellence of God's mercy: "for he is good". The idea is: I urged you to praise God, and I still say, Give thanks to the Lord with praise, which the Lord loves to hear, coming from your mouth and deeds. -Tob 13:6 and exalt the King of the ages with your deeds. But first confess you sins to the Lord, for without this thanking him is of no value. -Sir 15:9 Praise is unseemly on the lips of a sinner. It is understood that one confesses sins that one detests; then the Lord forgives them. -Prov 28:13 One who confesses sins and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Then follows praise, as Joshua said to Achan (Josh 7:19) My son, give glory to Yahweh God of Israel and make confession to him. Tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me. -Is 43:26 Set forth your case (Vul: confess your sins), so that you may be proved right.

for he is good:
for he is good;

136:2.1 Here he gives the reason for praising, which is God's goodness, or rather the excellence of his goodness. So he takes up (1) God's goodness, (2) the excellence of God's goodness: "his love is eternal". The idea is: You should praise him, for he is good essentially and in himself -Mat 19:17 There is one who is good, God. -Mark 10:18 No one is good but God alone. -Lam 3:25 Yahweh is good to those who hope in him. That is because he is smoothly calm -Wisdom 15:1 But you, our God, are kind and true, patient, and ruling all things in mercy. And he comforts those in trouble -Nahum 1:7 Yahweh is good, a stronghold in a day of trouble; he protects those who take refuge in him.

for his mercy endureth for ever.
his love is eternal.

136:2.2.1 Here is the excellence of God's goodness, under three headings: (1) the duration of his goodness and mercy, (2) its intensity over all other love: "Praise", (3) the magnitude and number of his works: "who alone does great wonders". The idea is: Praise the Lord, for he is good, and also his love is eternal, that is, his goodness is not temporal and transitory, like your own. -Hosea 6:4 Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early- but it is eternal, that is, it lasts through the present age and the future one. -Sir 40:17 Kindness is like a garden of blessings, and almsgiving endures forever. -Sir 17:24 How great the mercy of Yahweh, his forgiveness of those who return to him! -Ps 103:4 who will crown you with kindness and mercy. Or the whole phrase can refer to the future, speaking of the reward for praise, with the idea: Praise well, because that will not be in vain, nor for a temporal good, but for an eternal one, for his love is eternal, that is, will give eternal goods. For now God's love seems only to drip down, but then it will come in full flood. -Ps 31:22 Praise to Yahweh, for he has shown me wondrous kindness from his fortified city.

2. Praise ye the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. 3. Praise ye the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Give thanks to the God of gods; his love is eternal. Give thanks to the Lord of lords; his love is eternal.

136:2.2.2 Here the excellence of God's goodness is shown from its intensity: (1) in comparison with all who have excellent knowledge, (2) in comparison with all who have excellent power: "Praise the Lord". The idea is: His goodness is eternal; so he should be praised. But also praise the God of gods, who is the stronger and the ruler. God calls men who have been instructed in divine wisdom, whether they are good or evil. -John 10:35 Scripture calls them gods, to whom the word of God came.

Note that five things are called gods: (1) idols -Ps 96:5 You shall not revile God (Vul: gods), nor curse your people's leader. (2) those instructed by God in the divine law -Ps 82:6 I had thought, "You are gods, all of you sons of the Most High. (3) those endowed with the power of miracles -Ex 7:1 See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, that is, I set you up that you may do whatever you wish against Pharaoh. From all these, the present passage can be understood. [Only three are given.]

Secondly, there are those who have excellent power. Praise the Lord of lords, who is their maker by his most excellent goodness. - Deut 10:17 For Yahweh your God is God of gods and Lord of lords. -Rev 19:16 King of kings and Lord of lords. -1 Cor 12:5 One Lord, who has power in all and over all. -Mat 28:18 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

4. Who alone doth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To the only worker of wonders; his love is eternal.

136:2.2.3.1 Here he shows the excellence of God's goodness in (1) the greatness of his works, (2) their diversity: "who made the heavens". The idea is: Praise him, because he alone does great wonders -Job 5:9 He does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number. -Deut 10:21 He is your praise; he is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things.

But how can it be said that he alone does them, when magicians are said to have worked many wonders, and also many holy angels and men? The Gloss answers that he is said to do them alone, because whatever the others do they do through him. -Sir 43:29 Awesome is the Lord and very great, and marvelous is his power. -Rev 15:3 Great and amazing are your deeds, Lord God the Almighty.

5. Who made the heavens in understanding: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To the intelligent maker of the heavens; his love is eternal.

136:2.2.3.2.1.1 After showing the excellence of God's goodness from the greatness of his works, here he shows it from their diversity, talking of (1) those done by God alone, (2) those done by him through a minister: "who struck Egypt". God does by himself three genera of works: (1) creation, (2) distinction: "who established", (3) adornment: "who made the great lights". The idea is: Praise him, for he alone works wonders, and also made the heavens in understanding, that is, he made some heavens invisible to us, even though they are bodily. Such are the empyrean and crystalline heavens, which are made between the heavens made over the firmament. -Job 35:5 Look at the heavens and see; observe the clouds, which are higher than you, that is, higher than your intellect. Or: He made the heavens in his own intellect, not in that of someone else instructing him. -Jer 10:12 who established the world by his wisdom, not by someone else's instruction. -Is 44:24 who alone stretched out the heavens. The heavens are the clergy who are made in order to understand. -Prov 14:35 A servant who deals wisely has the king's favor. Then he can govern his subjects. -Prov 1:5 The discerning will acquire the art of guidance. Besides, they should do what they teach - Luke 12:47 That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating.

6. Who established the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who spread the earth over the waters; his love is eternal.

136:2.2.3.2.1.2 Here is the work of distinction, where he says that the earth is built over and under the water. The idea is: Praise the Lord, who established the earth over the waters. According to the Gloss, this is a way of speaking for next to the water. But if we look carefully, the earth was founded over the waters, because water vapor penetrates its intimate parts, so as to solidify and stabilize it. -Is 44:24 who by myself spread out the earth. -Jer 10:12 It is he who made the earth by his power. -Job 38:4 Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.

If the heavens can stand for the clergy, the earth can stand for good prelates, (1) because of their stability and constancy -Qoheleth 1:4 A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. (2) for their support of others -Job 9:13 Under him those how carry the world bow (Vul). - Rom 15:1 We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak. (3) for administering to others - Peter was told (John 21:17) Feed my sheep. Therefore they are called shepherds. (4) for being dried from every vapor of sin -Gen 1:10 God called the dry land earth. (5) for their supreme humility, which should be in them, as it is in the earth -Sir 3:18 The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself. (6) for holding those who fall, for they can say (Mat 11:28) Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens. (7) for being surrounded with troubles and bitterness. -Job 17:2 My eye, that is, my prelate, dwells on their provocation. This land should be above the waters of doctrine, that it may always study in it, above the waters of concupiscence that it may repress it, above the waters of temporal things, that it may distribute them to others, and have the waters of troubles always under its feet, so that it in no way may succumb.

7. Who made the great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who made the great lights; his love is eternal.

136:2.2.3.2.1.3.1 Here is the work of adornment, which is mainly the lights of heaven. So there is (1) their condition in adorning the universe, (2) their benefits and distinction: "the sun". The idea is: Praise him for making the preceding things, and also for making the great lights -Gen 1:14 Let there be lights in the dome of the sky. -Sir 43:9 a glittering array in the heights of the Lord. The great lights are the preachers and the doctors -Phil 2:15 in which you shine like stars in the world. -Mat 5:14 You are the light of the world. These are not to be put under the bushel of cupidity or carnal desire -Mat 5:15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket. -Gregory: To put under a bushel is to hide the grace of preaching under temporal advantage, which none of the elect would do.

8. The sun to rule the day: for his mercy endureth for ever. 9. The moon and the stars to rule the night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
The sun as ruler of the day; his love is eternal. The moon and stars as rulers of the night; his love is eternal.

136:2.2.3.2.1.3.2 Here is the distinction and benefits of what was created, with the idea: He should be praised because he made the lights, and also because he made the sun to rule over the day, to let things be discerned and known, to give heat and attract vapor, to dry soft things and harden flexible things.

Praise him also because he made the moon and the stars to rule over the night, to give their own light as the sun does in the day. -Jer 31:35 who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night.

The sun stand for the major prelate, whose job is to give daylight knowledge of the truth -Ps 19:3 Each day passes the word to the next. On the other hand (Joel 2:10), The sun and the moon are darkened. -Amos 8:9 I will make the sun go down at noon, and darken the earth in broad daylight. -Rev 6:12 The sun became black as sackcloth. The moon stand for the lesser prelate, who receives light from the the greater, like the moon from the sun. He has power in the night, that is, over ignorant subjects -Ps 19:3 Each night discloses knowledge to the next. But the moon also is often obscured -Job 31:26 if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor, that is, the minor prelate. The stars stand for the simple clergy. -Ps 8:3 When I see your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you created. But the bishop goes around and visits. -1 Cor 15:41 Star differs from star in glory. On the other hand, (Rev 6:12), the full moon became like blood.

10. Who smote Egypt with their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who struck the firstborn of Egypt; his love is eternal.

136:2.2.3.2.2.1.1.1 Here he shows the excellence of his goodness and mercy through works done through a minister, particularly for the benefit of his people. He touches on (1) the many great benefits and works, (2) the excellence and reason for praising: "Praise the Lord of lords". In the first there are his works (1) in bringing his people out of Egypt, (2) in leading them through the desert: "who led", (3) in leading them to the promised land: "and gave their land". In the first there are (1) the punishment of the Egyptians, (2) his people's separation from them: "who brought Israel out", (3) his leading through the divided sea: "who divided the Red Sea", (4) the drowning of their enemies in the sea: "and overthrew". The idea is: Praise him for doing all the preceding by himself, and also because he struck Egypt with many different plagues (Ex 7-11), and finally in their firstborn (Ex 12), through Moses and Aaron, his ministers.

Briefly, Egypt is sin, for the word means "darkness", and it dominated over the people of Israel, that is, the elect of God, until they passed through the waters of baptism. -Eph 2:3 We were by nature children of wrath. But the Lord struck sin, to stop it from ruling over us. -Rom 6:12 Do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies. The firstborn of sin are the first motions, which the Lord kills in the perfect. -Cant 2:15 Catch us the foxes, the little foxes, that ruin the vineyards. -Jerome: Do not allow to remain any languor or anything of the pristine ruin, lest apple trees sprout for women (ne mali feminis pullulent plantaria??).

11. Who brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever. 12. With a mighty hand and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
And brought Israel out of their midst; his love is eternal. With a strong hand and arm outstretched; his love is eternal.

136:2.2.3.2.2.1.1.2 Here is the second benefit, (1) the coming out of Egypt, (2) how this was accomplished: "with a mighty hand". The idea is: Praise God who struck your enemies, and also brought Israel out of their midst. -Jer 11:7 I brought them out of the land of Egypt. -Ps 105:37 Then he brought them out with silver and gold. He brought his own out of the midst of sin, having drowned its first motions. -Wis 4:14 He took them quickly from the midst of wickedness. For the beginning of the Egyptians are first motions. The end is eternal damnation. The midst and progress is consent and habitual action. But God delivers his own from this midst, so that they will not get used to it, and not even commit the sin or consent to it in their hearts. In this way first motions are killed and annihilated so that they cannot live. To flee such a midst, Zechariah (2:7) cries: Up! Escape to Zion, you that live with daughter Babylon.

Israel was brought out with a mighty hand, that is, with a strong operation, and an outstretched arm, which is his singular power. His operation was strong when he gave his people leave to go, whether the Egyptians liked it or not, after nine plagues. His power was singular when, with the tenth plague, he forced the Egyptians to let them go. Spiritually the hand and arm are the Son of God. It is the hand which David requested, Ps 144:7 Stretch forth your hands from high. -Is 53:1 To whom has the arm of Yahweh been revealed? In this hand and outstretched arm, lifted up on the cross, the Lord brought his own people out of the Egypt of sin. -Ex 6:6 I will deliver you from slavery to them. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm. -Micah 5:9 Your hand shall be lifted up over your adversaries. This hand will spare you and draw you up on high. -John 12:32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.

13. Who divided the Red Sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever. 14. And brought out Israel through the midst thereof: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who divided the Reed Sea in half; his love is eternal. And let Israel pass through it; his love is eternal.

136:2.2.3.2.2.1.1.3 Here is the leading of his people through the Red Sea: (1) the division of the Sea, (2) leading them through: "And brought". The idea is: Praise Him who gave the previous benefits, and also Him who divided the Red Sea into parts, not just in one place, as the Gloss says, but in twelve, for the twelve tribes, each to go through its own path. -Ex 14:21-22 The waters were divided. The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground.

And let Israel pass through it with dry feet. -Wis 10:18 She brought them over the Red Sea, and led them through deep waters. -Is 43:16 who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters. Likewise the Lord makes the sea of troubles small, as is signifiied in Daniel 3:50, where the middle of the furnace became like a breeze of dew. The beginning of the sea and of the furnace is sin, and the end is hell. The middle is penance and suffering for sin. But God mitigates the furnace through the angel he sends, that is, by the hope of salvation that he infuses -Rom 8:24 For in hope we were saved. And he changes bitterness into sweetness by the wood which he puts in, which is the memory of his cross and suffering, and as the waters of Marah were made potable by putting wood in it (Ex 15:25).

15. And overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.
But drowned Pharaoh and his army; his love is eternal.

136:2.2.3.2.2.1.1.4 The fourth benefit is the drowning of the enemy, with the idea: He divided the sea and brought his people through. Then he drowed Pharaoh, who was following through the same path, and his army in the Red Sea -Ex 15:4 Pharaoh's chariots and his army he cast into the sea. Pharaoh, the dissipator, stands for the devil, who tries to dissipate the law and the covenant of God -Is 24:5 They have broken the everlasting covenant. And he makes others do the same -Ps 119:126 It's time to act, Yahweh! They have broken your law. But afterwards God dissipates them -Ps 141:7 Split and chopped as in the underworld, lie my bones, that is, my powers, at the mouth of Sheol. But God destroys him and all his power in the water of tears -Ps 74:14 It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan.

16. Who led his people through the desert: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who marched his people across the desert; his love is eternal.

136:2.2.3.2.2.1.2.1 Here are the works and benefits shown in leading the people through the desert: (1) their being led by a column of cloud, (2) the overthrow of enemies resisting them: "who struck great kings". The idea is: Praise Him who did the preceding, and also Him who led by a column of fire by night and of cloud by day his people taken from Egypt through the desert, a land uninhabitable and without roads, a place of thirst which is the image of death. -Wis 11:2 They journeyed through an uninhabited wilderness, and pitched their tents in untrodden places. After he delivered his own people from sin and annihilated the power of the devil, he led them through the desert of penance. -Wis 10:17 She guided them along a marvelous way, and became a shelter to them by day, and a starry flame through the night. -Is 43:19 I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers of joy and consolation in the desert of natural man.

17. Who smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever. 18. And slew strong kings: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who struck great kingdoms; his love is eternal. And killed famous kings; his love is eternal.

136:2.2.3.2.2.1.2.2.1 Here is the overthow of the enemies, whose dignity and strength he shows (1) in general, (2) then specifically according to name and place: "Sihon". In the first he touches (1) on their dignity, (2) on their power: "and slew". The idea is: Praise him for working such great wonders, and who also struck great kings. Note that in Scripture the Lord is said to strike (1) by arguing -Is 11:4 He shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth. (2) But he strikes more strongly by giving troubles -Job 5:18 For he wounds, but he binds up; he strikes, but his hands heal. (3) He strikes more perilously by blinding -Jer 5:3 You have struck them, but they felt no anguish. (4) or by weakening one's strength, as he did to the devil -Hab 3:13 You crushed the head of the wicked house. (5) or by exposing to death -Zech 13:7 Strike the shepherd, that the sheep may be scattered. (6) or by killing, as in this verse and the following.

And he killed strong kings. The great king in dignity is the devil, with his accomplices, and they rule over the haughty and proud of this world -Job 41:26 It is king over all that are proud. The same verse shows that he is great in power. There is no power on earth that can be compared with his, and so he fears no one. But our Joshua struck them by his passion -Joshua 11:16-17 Joshua took all that land: the hill country and all the Negeb and all the land of Goshen and the lowland and the Arabah and the hill country of Israel and its lowland... He took all their kings, struck them down.

19. Sehon king of the Amorrhites: for his mercy endureth for ever. 20. And Og king of Basan: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Even Sihon, king of the Amorites; his love is eternal. And Og, king of Bashan; his love is eternal.

136:2.2.3.2.2.1.2.2.2 Here he describes individual kings and the places of battle, with the idea: He struck mighty and strong kings, among them Sihon, king of the Amorites, who was considered very important. -Amos 2:9 I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of cedars, and who was as strong as oaks.

And Og, king of Bashan, who was considered very powerful. -Num 21:33 King Og of Bashan came out against them, he and all his people. But they killed him, his sons and all his people. This was explained in the previous Psalm.

Spiritually, however, the word "Amorites" means bitter, and the king of bitterness is the sin of unchastity. -Qoheleth 7:26 I found more bitter than death the woman who is a trap. -Prov 5:4 but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. The different varieties of this sin are different bitter pills, even though they may seem sweet. -Hosea 12:15 Ephraim gave bitter provocation. The word "Og" means to amass, and stands for the sin of avarice, which never stopps amassing and is never satisfied. -Qoheleth 5:10 The lover of money will not be satisfied with money. -Hab 2:6 Alas for you who heap up what is not your own!" How long will you load yourselves with goods taken in pledge? -Qoheleth 2:8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold. But the Lord will kill these with his own weapons: first by the example of his most clean chastity, secondly by his example of the most true poverty.

21. And he gave their land for an inheritance: for his mercy endureth for ever. 22. For an inheritance to his servant Israel: for his mercy endureth for ever.
He gave out their land for allotment; his love is eternal. Allotment to Israel his servant; his love is eternal.

136:2.2.3.2.2.1.3.1 After the magnificent works and benefits given in bringing his people out of Egypt, and then leading them across the desert, here these are shown as he leads them into the land of their enemies: (1) The land is allocated to them, (2) they are delivered from many miseries and troubles: "for he was mindful", (3) they were freed from tolls and exactions: "and he redeemed us", (4) they were shown an abundance of food: "who gives", (5) after all this he showed them his heaven: "Give glory to the God of heaven". In the first, (1) the land is allocated for settling, (2) how it is to be inherited is determined: "for an inheritance". The idea is: He killed kings who were great in dignity and strong in power, and gave their land, not for a time, but for an inheritance, so that they would be the true owners.

Then he specifies that this is an inheritance not for anyone, but for his servant Israel, that is, Ruben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasse -Num 34:15 The two tribes and the half-tribe have taken their inheritance beyond the Jordan. -Deut 3:12-13 I gave to the Reubenites and Gadites the territory north of Aroer, that is on the edge of the Wadi Arnon, as well as half the hill country of Gilead with its towns, and I gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh the rest of Gilead and all of Bashan, Og's kingdom. Spiritually and briefly, however, the true and heavenly inheritance is given to none other than the servant of God. -Eph 5:5 Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. But it will be taken away from such a person and given to the servant of God. -Mat 21:43 The kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom.

23. For he was mindful of us in our affliction: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who remembered us in our abjection; his love is eternal.

136:2.2.3.2.2.1.3.2 The idea is: Praise and confess your sins to Him who did the preceding, and because he was mindful of us in our affliction, freeing us from them. For God is with those who are cast down and afflicted, nor can he easily forget those he is with. -Ps 91:15 I will be with him in time of trouble. -Is 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. He also remembers his own who have humility, which is a virtue, and he raises them up. -Sir 20:11 From obscurity a an can lift up his head. -2 Chron 34:37-38 He humbled himself along with the people of Jerusalem; so the anger of God did not come in the days of Josiah. Therefore -1 Pet 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. -Gregory: Be small in your own eyes, that you may be great in the eyes of God.

24. And he redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.
And snatched us from our adversaries; his love is eternal.

136:2.2.3.2.2.1.3.3 Here is deliverance from tolls and exactions, with the idea: Praise him because of the preceding, and also because he redeemed us, giving us freedom from our enemies who demanded tribute and levies from us. -Is 14:4 How the oppressor has ceased! How his insolence has ceased! As the Gloss says, this applies especially to the Christian people, which is redeemed, but to everyone, in so far as he is in God. For there is sufficient redemption for all. -Ex 15:13 You led in your mercy the people you redeemed. -Is 52:3 You were sold for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money. -Hosea 13:14 Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death? Yes, with my own blood. -1 Pet 1:18 You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ. This redemption is more than sufficient for everyone, according to Ps 130:7 With him is abundant redemption.

25. Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who gives food to all flesh; his love is eternal.

136:2.2.3.2.2.1.3.4 The fourth benefit is showing them abundant food. The idea is: Praise Him who redeemed you, and also gives plenty of food to all flesh, (1) introducing us to a land flowing with milk and honey (Ex 3:8). -Ps 104:27 All of them look to you to give them food in due season, including the crows. (2) But this is better understood of the food which is the word of God, which is prepared and given to everyone to eat and live. -Deut 8:3 = Mat 4:4; Luke 4:4 One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of Yahweh. -Job 36:31 He gives food in abundance. (3) Or, as the Gloss says, it could be understood of another physical food -John 6:55 My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. -Wis 16:20 You supplied them from heaven with bread ready to eat, providing every pleasure and suited to every taste.

26. Give glory to the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven; his love is eternal.

136:2.2.3.2.2.1.3.5 The fifth benefit is the exposure of heaven, with the idea: Praise Him for the previous benefits, and also praise the God of heaven, who promises to us the place which in a way belongs especially to him. -115:24 The high heavens belong to Yahweh, but he has entrusted the earth to men. -Deut 10:14 Heaven and the heaven of heavens belong to Yahweh your God. -Is 66:1 Heaven is my throne. Certainly, he who gives his body as food will not deny us his heaven. For his body is much more precious than heaven.

27. Give glory to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

136:2.2.3.2.2.2 After enumerating so many benefits, he concludes by touching on a universal description of praise, saying Praise the Lord of lords, and the reason for praising him: for his mercy is eternal. These are to be understood as commented upon above. But, in addition, note that the Psalm begins and ends with this praise formula to show that the One being praised is the beginning and the end.-Rev 1:8 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. It is also to show that the beginning and the end of any good work should be offered to him. And in Exodus 29:39 a sacrifice is ordered to be offered in the morning and in the evening. And in Leviticus 1 the tail and the head are ordered to be offered.