Psalms 136:1. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
The Psalm begins with the august name, the incommunicable title of the one living and true God, Jah, Jehovah. For this name the Jews had a high respect, which degenerated into superstition, for they would not write it in their Bibles, and put another word instead, in which our translators have imitated them, not to the improvement of the version. Surely, if it is "Jehovah" in the original, we should have it "Jehovah" here. The name is a very wonderful one," Je-ho-vah." No man knows exactly how it should be pronounced; it is said to consist of a succession of breathings, therefore is it written, "Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord," whose name is a breathing, and in whom dwells the life of all who breathe. Let us take care that we never trifle with the name of God. I think that the common use of the word "Hallelujah," or, "Praise ye the Lord," is simply profane. Surely, this is not a word to be dragged in the mire; it should be pronounced with solemn awe and sacred joy.
Psalms 136:1. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
The Psalm begins with the august name, the incommunicable title of the one living and true God, Jah, Jehovah. For this name the Jews had a high respect, which degenerated into superstition, for they would not write it in their Bibles, and put another word instead, in which our translators have imitated them, not to the improvement of the version. Surely, if it is "Jehovah" in the original, we should have it "Jehovah" here. The name is a very wonderful one," Je-ho-vah." No man knows exactly how it should be pronounced; it is said to consist of a succession of breathings, therefore is it written, "Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord," whose name is a breathing, and in whom dwells the life of all who breathe. Let us take care that we never trifle with the name of God. I think that the common use of the word "Hallelujah," or, "Praise ye the Lord," is simply profane. Surely, this is not a word to be dragged in the mire; it should be pronounced with solemn awe and sacred joy.