His Mercy Endureth Forever

 Temple Baptist Church - 10-5-2025

Psalm 136

 

Introduction:

 

A.  This Psalm is one of a repetitive phrase.  All 26 verses end in the phrase: “for his mercy endureth forever.”

 

B.  When I think of mercy, my mind automatically goes to Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life …”

 

Lamentations 3:22-23  It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  (23)  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

 

Psalms 78:37-39  For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.  (38)  But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.  (39)  For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

 

C.  I often say that God has been a lot better to me than I have been to Him!

 

D.  I have seen different breakdowns of Psalm 136 by good men of God that I want to take a short look at.  This is just for your information.

 

1.  Dr. John Phillips outlined Psalm 136 this way:

 

I.  THE CALL TO THANKSGIVING (136:1-3)

 

A.  The Goodness of God (136:1)

B.  The Greatness of God (136:2-3)

 

1.  His Diety (136:2)

2.  His Dominion (136:3)

 

II.  THE CAUSES OF THANKSGIVING (136:4-25)

 

A.  The Lord Created All Things (136:4-9)

 

1.  God’s Personal Uniqueness (136:4)

 

2.  God’s Perfect Universe (136:5-9)

 

a.  The Original Chaos (136:5-6)

b.  The Original Cosmos (136:7-9)

 

B.  The Lord Controls All Things (136:10-24)

 

1.  How The Lord Delivered Israel (136:10-15)

 

a.  His First Act of Deliverance (136:10)

b.  His Further Act of Deliverance (136:11-14)

 

(1)  In Saving Them (136:11-12)

(2)  In Separating Them (136:13-14)

 

c.  His Final Act of Deliverance (136:15)

 

2.  How The Lord Directed Israel (136:16-22)

 

a.  In Their Ways (136:16)

b.  In Their Wars (136:17-22)

(1)  Their Conspicuous Triumphs (136:17-20)

(2)  Their Conquered Territory (136:21-22)

 

3.  How The Lord Defended Israel (136:23-24)

 

a.  Remembered Them (136:23)

b.  Rescued Them (136:24)

 

C.  The Lord Considers All Things (136:25)

 

III.  THE CONCLUSION OF THANKSGIVING (136:26)

 

 

2.  Dr. Tom Wallace outlined Psalm 136 this way:

 

" THANK GOD FOR HIS ETERNAL MERCY "

PSALM ONE-HUNDRED THIRTY SIX

INTRODUCTION:

A. God's mercy is displayed in a number of ways.

B. God's mercy is eternal and unchanging.

C. God's mercy reveals supernatural through the natural.

1. GOD'S GOODNESS IS ETERNAL AND UNCHANGING. V 1-3

A. His mercy is unchanging.

B. His mercy is never exhausted.

C. His mercy is present in all His actions.

2. GOD'S GREAT WORKS SHOW HIS MERCY. V 4-9

A. His work of creation. (4-7)

B. His work of controlling. (8) "by day"

C. His work of controlling. (9) "by night"

3. GOD'S GRUESOME JUDGEMENT SHOWS HIS MERCY. V 10,12,15

A. The smiting of Egypt with the ten plagues.

B. The strong hand of Judgement in the sea.

4. GOD'S GRACE AND DELIVERANCE REVEALS HIS MERCY. V 13,14,19

A. Deliverance through the barrier of the sea.

B. Deliverance through the battles with the enemy.

C. Deliverance through the burdens of the desert.

5. GOD'S GUIDANCE OF HIS PEOPLE REVEALS HIS MERCY. V 16

A. By the pillar of cloud by day.

B. By the pillar of fire by night.

6. GOD'S GIFT TO CAANAN TO ISRAEL REVEALS HIS MERCY. V 21,22

A. He gave it in the days of Joshua.

B. He gave it in the days of Nehemiah.

C. He gave it again in 1948.

7. GOD'S GRACIOUS PROVISION FOR US REVEALS HIS MERCY. V 23,25

A. He saw us in our sinfulness.

B. He sent to us a Saviour.

C. He sent to us supply and provision.

E.  There is so much in this Psalm that shows us the love, goodness, and mercy of God.

 

1.  Verses 1–3 — God’s Goodness and Supremacy.

 

Psalms 136:1-26  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.  (2)  O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.  (3)  O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. 

 

a.  God’s goodness is the fountainhead of His mercy. His character never changes, and His mercy never expires.

b.  He alone is the true God above all false gods of the nations. His mercy is seen in revealing Himself to us.

 

c.  Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16). His mercy ensures His reign is both just and gracious.

 

2.  Verses 4–9 — God’s Mercy in Creation.

 

(4)  To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.  (5)  To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.  (6)  To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.  (7)  To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:  (8)  The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:  (9)  The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever. 

 

a.  Creation itself is a wonder of mercy. The God who made the heavens and the earth did so to reveal His glory and provide for His creatures.

 

b.  God’s wisdom ordered the heavens. His mercy is seen in the regularity of the seasons, the stars guiding man, and the heavens declaring His glory (Psalm 19:1).

 

c.  He brought stability and habitation to the earth—mercy in providing a home for man.

 

d.  The sun, moon, and stars sustain life and mark time. His mercy gives light both physically and spiritually.

 

e.  Even the darkness is not void of His provision. His mercy shines in both day and night.

 

3.  Verses 10–15 — God’s Mercy in Redemption (Israel’s Deliverance from Egypt)

 

(10)  To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:  (11)  And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:  (12)  With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.  (13)  To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:  (14)  And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:  (15)  But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.

 

a.  The plagues on Egypt reveal both judgment and mercy. Mercy to Israel in delivering them; judgment on Pharaoh for rebellion.

 

b.  His mercy is not weak—it is mighty to save.

 

c.  The Red Sea miracle shows mercy opening a way of escape.

 

d.  Mercy to God’s people means judgment to their enemies. His mercy endures forever toward His children, even when the world rises against them.

 

4.  Verses 16–22 — God’s Mercy in Guidance and Conquest

 

(16)  To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.  (17)  To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:  (18)  And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:  (19)  Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:  (20)  And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:  (21)  And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:  (22)  Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever. 

 

a.  Even in times of wandering, His mercy provided manna, water, and guidance by cloud and fire.

 

b.  God’s mercy defended His people against their enemies.

 

c.  Though mighty men, they fell before God’s enduring mercy.

 

• d.  God’s mercy provides an inheritance to His people. This points forward to our eternal inheritance in Christ (1 Peter 1:4).

 

5.  Verses 23–25 — God’s Mercy in Daily Provision

 

(23)  Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:  (24)  And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.  (25)  Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever. 

 

 

a.  When we were weak, forgotten, or humbled, His mercy remembered us.

 

b.  Deliverance is not only past but present—He continually redeems His people.

 

c.  His mercy feeds the sparrows (Matthew 6:26), and He will surely feed His children.

 

6.  Verse 26 — Closing Call to Thanksgiving

 

(26)  O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

 

a.  “O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.”  The psalm concludes where it began—with thanksgiving. From the highest heaven, God rules in His mercy. His mercy never ends in this life or in eternity.

 

Conclusion:  What a merciful Heavenly Father that we have.  Psalms 23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.