Handel’s Messiah at the end repeats the word “forever” 16 times. The Psalmist does it 10 times more!
There is both a comparison and a contrast between Psalms 135 and 136. As to the comparison, the subjects mirror each other, except the part in Psalm 135 about idols. Thus both are a call to praise, bless, and give thanks to the Lord. Both speak of God’s wonders in creation, Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, the battles over the kings east of Jordan, and of Israel given as “a heritage” (Ps 135:12; 136:21-22). Psalm 135 starts and finishes with “Praise the Lord!” Psalm 136 begins and ends with “Oh, give thanks.” But the contrast is also obvious. In Psalm 136, no fewer than 26 times we hear the refrain, “For His mercy endures forever.” The psalm was probably sung responsively, perhaps with the Levites singing the first lines, and the gathered people with a thundering response singing out, “For His mercy endures forever.” The psalm begins with a three-fold introduction to the One with this ever-enduring mercy. He is Yahweh, Jehovah, the Covenant-keeping God, who was, and is, and is to come (v 1). This name occurs 678 times in the Psalter! It is first linked with the life-giving act of breath being given to humanity (Gen 2:7). He is also the God of gods, the ’Elôhîym of the ’elôhîym (Ps 136:3). Occurring 342 times in the Psalter, it is the first name given for God in the Bible, where it is linked with His creation (Gen 1:1). And He is the Adôn of the adônim, the Lord of lords, His title of authority as Master, Ruler, and Lord. No wonder the Jews called this “The Great Hallel”! What a wonderful declaration of our appreciation for the Three-In-One God! But what are the reasons the psalmist gives for us to “give thanks” to Him? How many ways has He shown us His mercy? Twenty-six? Well, that’s a good start!