Psalm 136:10-22 “to him who struck down the Egyptian firstborn, for his loving kindness endures forever; and brought out Israel from amongst them, for his loving kindness endures forever; with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, for his loving kindness endures forever; to him who divided the Red Sea apart, for his loving kindness endures forever; and made Israel to pass through the middle of it, for his loving kindness endures forever; but overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, for his loving kindness endures forever; to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his loving kindness endures forever; to him who struck great kings, for his loving kindness endures forever; and killed mighty kings, for his loving kindness endures forever; Sihon king of the Amorites, for his loving kindness endures forever; Og king of Bashan, for his loving kindness endures forever; and gave their land as an inheritance, for his loving kindness endures forever; even a heritage to Israel his servant, for his loving kindness endures forever”

The whole point of this section is to recount how God, through His loving kindness, brought His people out of slavery and led them to the land He promised to give them. And not only that, He watched over them, protected them, and ensured that they would enter into their inheritance. Just like He does with us!

John 10:27-29 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”

For additional worship: Great and Precious Promises (Susan Ashton)

Psalm 136:1-9 “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his loving kindness endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his loving kindness endures forever; to him who alone does great wonders, for his loving kindness endures forever; to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his loving kindness endures forever; to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his loving kindness endures forever; to him who made the great lights, for his loving kindness endures forever; the sun to rule by day, for his loving kindness endures forever; the moon and stars to rule by night, for his loving kindness endures forever…”

The point of this Psalm is to praise God for His loving kindness (which endures forever!) and the Psalmist gives us various examples of His mercy and grace. The first example is God’s loving kindness expressed through the making of creation. Note that He made creation by His “understanding.” Who knows more than God? Which is why we should trust and adore Him!

Romans 11:33 “Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways past tracing out!”

For additional worship: Indescribable

Psalm 135:15-21 “The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they can’t speak. They have eyes, but they can’t see. They have ears, but they can’t hear, neither is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them will be like them, yes, everyone who trusts in them. House of Israel, praise the LORD! House of Aaron, praise the LORD! House of Levi, praise the LORD! You who fear the LORD, praise the LORD! Blessed be the LORD from Zion, who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!”

You may think that you’re too sophisticated to trust in idols. But do you realize that anything you put before God in your life is an idol?

Colossians 3:5 “Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

Staying away from idolatry can be difficult, but praise can help. When we give God the praise He deserves, and recognize His place in our lives, and put our trust in Him, we’ll be well on our way to getting any idols off the throne of our hearts!

For additional worship: Christ be Magnified

Psalm 135:8-14 “He struck the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and animal. He sent signs and wonders into the middle of you, Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his servants. He struck many nations, and killed mighty kings— Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan— and gave their land for a heritage, a heritage to Israel, his people. Your name, LORD, endures forever; your renown, LORD, throughout all generations. For the LORD will judge his people and have compassion on his servants.”

God’s sovereignty and work of protection continue to be praised. He vindicates (“judges”) and has compassion on His people. His name continues to be exalted from one generation to another for what He has done for them!

Just as Israel was dependent on God for its position and blessing, so are we. All that we have; all that we are; all that we can do; all that we can be; it’s all because of God. We experience both his vindication and compassion because of our eternal inheritance through Jesus. The Holy Spirit is our down payment, and through the Spirit we experience the gifting, filling, and fruits that lead to abundant life!

Titus 3:4-7 “But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love towards mankind appeared, not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior; that being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

For additional worship: Compassion Hymn

Psalm 135:1-7 “Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD’s name! Praise him, you servants of the LORD, you who stand in the LORD’s house, in the courts of our God’s house. Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good. Sing praises to his name, for that is pleasant. For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel for his own possession. For I know that the LORD is great, that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the LORD pleased, that he has done, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps. He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightnings with the rain. He brings the wind out of his treasuries.”

The Lord is good. The Lord chooses. The Lord protects. The Lord is great. The Lord is God alone. The Lord is omnipotent. The Lord creates. The Lord sustains. Of course we should praise Him! And it should bring us joy when we do.

Ephesians 1:3-6 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love, having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire, to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely gave us favor in the Beloved.”

Ephesians 5:18-20 “Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father”

For additional worship: God of Wonders

Psalm 134:1-3 “A Song of Ascents. Look! Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the LORD’s house! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary. Praise the LORD! May the LORD bless you from Zion, even he who made heaven and earth.”

As they head towards Jerusalem to worship, their thoughts go toward those who are standing guard in the temple precincts. “How much greater will your service be if you worship and praise while you’re there? How much more will you be blessed by the God of Zion!?!”

It’s a reminder to us to use idle moments in our lives and find a way to get closer to God during them. Singing in the car. Listening to Scripture while we walk. Praying in the doctor’s office! Insert your own!

For additional worship: Psalm 134 (Poor Bishop Hooper)

Psalm 132:13-18 “For the LORD has chosen Zion. He has desired it for his habitation. ‘This is my resting place forever. I will live here, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision. I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation. Her saints will shout aloud for joy. I will make the horn of David to bud there. I have ordained a lamp for my anointed. I will clothe his enemies with shame, but on himself, his crown will shine.’ ”

This is our future!

Hebrews 12:18-24 “For you have not come to a mountain that might be touched and that burnt with fire, and to blackness, darkness, storm, the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which those who heard it begged that not one more word should be spoken to them, for they could not stand that which was commanded, ‘If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.’ So fearful was the appearance that Moses said, ‘I am terrified and trembling.’ But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels, to the festal gathering and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel.”

For additional worship: Hymn of Heaven

Psalm 132:8-12 “Arise, LORD, into your resting place, you, and the ark of your strength. Let your priests be clothed with righteousness. Let your saints shout for joy! For your servant David’s sake, don’t turn away the face of your anointed one. The LORD has sworn to David in truth. He will not turn from it: ‘I will set the fruit of your body on your throne. If your children will keep my covenant, my testimony that I will teach them, their children also will sit on your throne forever more.’ ”

The Psalm continues with a plea for God to reside in the temple, as well as a plea for God to remember His promise to David.

2 Samuel 7:12-13 “When your days are fulfilled and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up your offspring after you, who will proceed out of your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”

Although the nation failed to follow God, He still kept His promise. Jesus comes from David’s lineage and we look forward to that eternal kingdom that is yet to come.

For additional worship: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus