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John Gill
INTRODUCTION TO Psalms 136 This psalm was very probably composed by David, and given to the Levites to sing every day, 1 Chronicles 16:41. Solomon his son followed his example, and made use of them in singing at the dedication of the temple, 2 Chronicles 7:3; as Jehoshaphat seems to have done when he went out to war against his enemies, 2 Chronicles 20:21. The subject of it is much the same with...
John Gill
To him which smote great kings,.... Either the thirty one kings in the land of Canaan; or those who are after particularly mentioned; which seems best, since the kings of Canaan were petty kings, when these were greater ones; for his mercy [endureth] for ever; the smiting of those kings were in mercy to Israel; both to preserve them from falling into their hands, and that they might possess their...
Matthew Henry
The scope of this psalm is the same with that of the foregoing psalm, but there is something very singular in the composition of it; for the latter half of each verse is the same, repeated throughout the psalm, "for his mercy endureth for ever," and yet no vain repetition. It is allowed that such burdens, or "keepings," as we call them, add very much to the beauty of a song, and help to make it...
Charles H. Spurgeon
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: Here you have the repetitions of God. I have sometimes said that I like the tunes which allow us to repeat the line of a hymn; and, certainly, one likes a...
Charles H. Spurgeon
To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: His mercy and his vengeance are quite compatible; the one has not done away with the other.
Charles H. Spurgeon
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: We are far too slow to recall the special mercies of God. We have here a bright example given us, not only to remember God’s goodness in the lump, but in detail. We are, as it were, to take his...
Charles H. Spurgeon
To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: That is a terrible and tragic matter, that smiting of kings. Yes, but these singers did not groan over it. There are no less than four notes over this.