Psalm 136: God’s faithful love endures forever

A hymn of joyous admiration which finds expression in wave after wave of jubilant thanksgiving. It is possible that the litany form with the assembly proclaiming after each statement ‘for his kindness endures forever’ was used with a variety of repeated responses in other psalms, without appearing in the text.

The history of Israel is part of Jesus’ history and so the history of his disciples. We can sing this hymn thinking also of the Passover effected by Jesus, and the many wonderful ways in which God has proved victorious in the obstacles that have faced us on our journey to the fullness of communion with God.

Psalm 136 (135)

Part One. Invitation to admire and thank God

Give thanks, for the Lord is good! (1…612)For your great love is without end! (3231…2127)Give thanks to the God of gods! (7..5671)For your great love is without end! (2127…1716)Give thanks to the Lord of lords! (6…2345)For your great love is without end! (1716…7675)

‘O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his great love is without end’(Psalm 106:1).

‘O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his great love is without end’(Psalm 107:1).

‘O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his great love is without end’(Psalm 118:1).

‘The voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord: ‘Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for his great love is without end!’ For I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the Lord’(Jeremiah 33:11).

‘They sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, ‘For he is good, for his great love is without end toward Israel.’ And all the people responded with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid’(Ezra 3:11).

‘It was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord, ‘For he is good, for his great love is without end,’ the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud’(2Chronicles 5:13).

‘When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and worshipped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying: For he is good, for his great love is without end’(2Chronicles 7:3).

‘On their return Judas and his soldiers sang hymns and praises to heaven - “For he is good, for his great love is without end”’(1Maccabees 4:24).

Part Two. Cosmic

Reflection

God alone creates all that is!For your great love is without end!Your wisdom it was made the skies!For your great love is without end!You established the earth on the seas!For your great love is without end!

It was you who made the great lights!For your great love is without end!The sun to rule in the day! For your great love is without end!The moon and stars in the night! For your great love is without end!

Egypt’s first born you struck! For your great love is without end!You brought Israel out from their midst! For your great love is without end!All with your mighty power! For Your great love is without end!

Part Three. Historic Reflection

The focus is on God’s overcoming violent opposition

You divided the Red Sea in two! For your great love is without end!You made Israel pass through the midst! For your great love is without end!You drowned Pharaoh and his army in the sea!For Your great love is without end!

Through the desert your people you led!For your great love is without end!

Nations in their greatness you struck! For your great love is without end!Kings in their splendour you slew! For your great love is without end!

Sihon, the king of the Amorites!For your great love is without end!Og, the king of Bashan! For your great love is without end!

Perhaps the following eight lines could be omitted from the liturgy

You let Israel inherit your land!For your great love is without end!To keep it as their own!For your great love is without end!

Part Five. Conclusion

You remembered us in our distress! For your great love is without end!You rescued us from our foes! For your great love is without end!You give food to all living things!For your great love is without end!

Part Four.

God’s great love continues into the present

We give thanks to our God in heaven, For your great love is without end!