Psalm-136
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Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of Thy Law!
Tehillim - Psalm 119:18..
(JPS-1917 version
of the Tanakh).
Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have
been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following truth from our beloved
Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which
I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM
IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2.
However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago have shamefully disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
Tehillim - Psalm 136 is a liturgical call to thanksgiving built on a repeated refrain—“For His mercy endureth for ever.” It strings together creation, deliverance, and covenant acts so the community remembers אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s steadfast love.
Let us read Tehillim - Psalms Chapter 136: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).
1. O give thanks unto יְהוָה - the LORD, for He is good, for His mercy endureth for ever.
2. O give thanks unto the אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim of gods, for His mercy endureth forever.
3. O give thanks unto יְהוָה - the LORD of lords, for His mercy endureth
for ever.
4. To Him who alone doeth great wonders, for His
mercy endureth for ever.
5. To Him that by understanding made the heavens, for
His mercy endureth for ever.
6. To Him that spread forth 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.
10. To Him that smote Egypt in their first-born, 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 an outstretched
arm, for His mercy endureth for ever.
13. To Him who divided the Red Sea in sunder, 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.
16. To Him that led His people through the
wilderness, for His mercy endureth for ever.
17. To Him that smote great kings; for His mercy endureth for ever;
18. And slew mighty kings, for His mercy endureth for ever.
19. Sihon king of the
Amorites, for His mercy endureth for ever;
20. And Og king of Bashan,
for His mercy endureth for ever;
21. And gave their land for a heritage, for His
mercy endureth for ever;
22. Even a heritage unto Israel His servant, for His
mercy endureth for ever.
23. Who remembered us in our low estate, for His
mercy endureth for ever;
24. And hath delivered us from our adversaries, for His
mercy endureth for ever.
25. Who giveth food to all
flesh, for His mercy endureth for ever.
26. O give thanks unto the אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim of heaven, for His mercy endureth for
ever.
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Let us now turn to the ‘verse by verse’ item and explanations:
1. “O give thanks unto יְהוָה - the LORD, for He is good, For His mercy endureth forever”.
Opening summons: thanksgiving grounded in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s goodness and perpetual mercy.
2. “O give thanks unto the אֱלֹהִים - Elohim of gods, For His mercy endureth forever”.
Exalts אֱלֹהִים - Elohim above all powers; mercy remains the refrain.
3. “O give thanks unto יְהוָה - the LORD of lords, For His mercy endureth forever.
Sovereignty emphasized alongside mercy.
4. “To Him who alone doeth great wonders, For His mercy endureth forever”.
אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s unique wonders prompt praise.
5. To Him that by understanding made the heavens, For His mercy endureth forever”.
Creation attributed to divine wisdom.
6. “To Him that spread forth the earth above the waters, For His mercy endureth forever”.
Cosmic ordering as reason for thanks.
7. “To Him that made great lights, For His mercy endureth forever!;
Sun and moon as signs of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s rule.
8. “The sun to rule by day, For His mercy endureth forever”;
Daytime governance of the sun.
9. “The moon and stars to rule by night, For His mercy endureth forever”
Night governed by moon and stars.
10. “To Him that smote Egypt in their first‑born, For His mercy endureth for ever”;
Acts of judgment in history recalled.
11. “And brought out Israel from among them, For His mercy endureth forever”;
Exodus as central redemptive act.
12. “With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, For His mercy endureth forever”.
Divine power and deliverance emphasized.
13. “To Him which divided the Red sea into parts, For His mercy endureth forever”;
Miracle at the sea as cause for praise.
14. “And made Israel to pass through the midst of it, For His mercy endureth forever”;
Safe passage as sign of care.
15. “But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea, For His mercy endureth forever”;
Enemy defeat underscores אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s saving action.
16. “To Him which led His people through the wilderness, For His mercy endureth forever”;
Guidance in the desert remembered.
17. “To Him which smote great kings, For His mercy endureth forever”;
Victories over nations attributed to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim.
18. “And slew famous kings, For His mercy endureth forever; Specific triumphs celebrated”.
19. “Sihon king of the Amorites, For His mercy endureth forever”;
Named enemies recall historical conquest.
20. “And Og king of Bashan, For His mercy endureth forever”;
Further examples of deliverance.
21. “And gave their land for an heritage, For His mercy endureth forever”;
Land as covenantal gift.
22. “Even for an heritage unto Israel His servant, For His mercy endureth forever”.
The gift is for Israel’s sake.
23. “Who remembered us in our low estate, For His mercy endureth forever”;
אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s remembrance in weakness affirmed.
24. “And hath redeemed us from our enemies, For His mercy endureth forever”.
Redemption from foes reiterated.
25. “Who giveth food to all flesh, For His mercy endureth for ever”.
Providence for all creation acknowledged.
26. “O give thanks unto the אֱלֹהִים - Elohim of heaven, For His mercy endureth forever”.
Final cosmic doxology closes the Psalm.
My Closing
message:
Psalm 136 is a memory litany: repeat the refrain, remember אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s acts from creation to redemption, and let thanksgiving shape communal identity.
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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said
the following via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD
of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem; walk
in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances,
and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and
you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
- the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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“The More Torah, the More Life”
For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
He is
the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with
you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as
the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim -
Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers)
and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s
(blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens,
PhD.
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My Closing message:
Psalm 136 is a memory‑litany: repeat the refrain, remember God’s acts from creation to redemption, and let thanksgiving shape communal identity.
Would you like a large‑print handout, an audio read‑aloud script, or a one‑page study guide with questions?