Psalm 136:23
He remembered us in our low estate His loving devotion endures forever.
He remembered us
The phrase "He remembered us" is deeply rooted in the Hebrew concept of "zakar," which means to recall or bring to mind. In the biblical context, this is not merely a mental exercise but an active, covenantal remembrance. God’s remembrance is always tied to action. Throughout Scripture, when God remembers His people, it leads to deliverance and blessing. This phrase assures believers that God is not distant or forgetful; He is intimately aware of our circumstances and is actively involved in our lives. Historically, this remembrance is seen in God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt, a central theme in the Old Testament, symbolizing God's faithfulness and intervention.

in our low estate
The term "low estate" refers to a state of humility, affliction, or distress. The Hebrew word "shaphel" conveys a sense of being brought low or humbled. This phrase acknowledges the reality of human suffering and the trials that believers face. It is a reminder of the Israelites' bondage in Egypt and their subsequent hardships. In a broader sense, it speaks to the human condition of sin and the need for divine intervention. Theologically, it underscores the idea that God’s grace is most evident in our weakness, as His strength is made perfect in our frailty.

His loving devotion
The phrase "His loving devotion" is translated from the Hebrew word "chesed," which is a rich and multifaceted term encompassing love, mercy, kindness, and faithfulness. "Chesed" is a covenantal term, reflecting God’s steadfast love and loyalty to His people. It is a central theme in the Old Testament, highlighting God’s unwavering commitment to His covenant promises. This loving devotion is not based on human merit but on God’s character and His eternal covenant with His people. It is a source of comfort and assurance for believers, knowing that God’s love is constant and unchanging.

endures forever
The phrase "endures forever" emphasizes the eternal nature of God’s "chesed." The Hebrew word "olam" signifies perpetuity and timelessness. This assurance of God’s everlasting love is a recurring refrain throughout Psalm 136, reinforcing the idea that God’s faithfulness transcends time and circumstances. Historically, this enduring love is evident in God’s dealings with Israel, from the patriarchs to the prophets, and ultimately fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. For believers, this phrase is a reminder of the eternal security found in God’s promises, offering hope and encouragement in every season of life.

Persons / Places / Events
1. God
The central figure in this verse, God is portrayed as the one who remembers His people in their low estate, demonstrating His enduring loving devotion.

2. Israel
While not explicitly mentioned in this verse, the context of Psalm 136 is a recounting of God's faithfulness to Israel, His chosen people.

3. Low Estate
This refers to times of distress, humility, or need, where God's people find themselves in a position of vulnerability or weakness.
Teaching Points
God's Faithfulness in Our Low Estate
God’s remembrance of us in our low estate is a testament to His faithfulness. No matter how dire our circumstances, God is aware and actively involved in our lives.

The Enduring Nature of God's Loving Devotion
The phrase "His loving devotion endures forever" emphasizes the eternal and unchanging nature of God’s love. This assurance can be a source of comfort and strength in times of trouble.

Humility and Dependence on God
Recognizing our low estate should lead us to humility and a deeper dependence on God. It is often in our weakest moments that we experience the fullness of His strength and love.

Gratitude for God's Remembrance
Reflecting on how God has remembered us in our past struggles can cultivate a heart of gratitude and trust in His future provision and care.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding God’s remembrance of us in our low estate impact your view of His character?

2. Can you identify a time in your life when you felt in a "low estate" and experienced God's loving devotion? How did that experience shape your faith?

3. How does the concept of God’s enduring loving devotion encourage you in your current circumstances?

4. In what ways can you cultivate a heart of gratitude for God’s faithfulness in your life?

5. How can the themes of Psalm 136:23 be applied to encourage others who may be experiencing a low estate?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 2:24-25
This passage describes God remembering His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when the Israelites were in bondage in Egypt, similar to how He remembers His people in their low estate in Psalm 136:23.

Luke 1:48
Mary’s song of praise acknowledges God’s remembrance of her humble state, paralleling the theme of God’s attention to those in lowly positions.

Psalm 113:7
This verse speaks of God raising the poor from the dust, which aligns with the theme of God’s care for those in low estate.
Remembered of GodS. Conway Psalm 136:23
The Divine Dealing with the HumiliatedR. Tuck Psalm 136:23
A Song, a Solace, a Sermon, and a SummonsPsalm 136:1-26
Does His Mercy Endure Forever?S. Conway Psalm 136:1-26
God's Goodness and MercyR. Harris, D. D.Psalm 136:1-26
Repetitions Many, But not VainS. Conway Psalm 136:1-26
The Church's AntiphonS. Conway Psalm 136:1-26
The Duty of Praise and ThanksgivingH. Bonar, D. D.Psalm 136:1-26
The Eternity or God's GoodnessHomilistPsalm 136:1-26
From Egypt to CanaanS. Conway Psalm 136:10-25
Raised from Low EstateIsaac Mann.Psalm 136:23-24
People
Amorites, Egyptians, Og, Pharaoh, Psalmist, Sihon
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Age, Endures, Endureth, Estate, Everlasting, Forever, Kept, Kindness, Love, Loving, Lovingkindness, Loving-kindness, Low, Lowliness, Mercy, Mind, Remembered, Steadfast, Trouble, Unchanging
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 136:23

     5888   inferiority

Psalm 136:1-26

     1085   God, love of
     8352   thankfulness

Library
Pilgrim Song
Gerhard Ter Steegen Ps. cxxxvi. 16 Come, children, on and forward! With us the Father goes; He leads us, and He guards us Through thousands of our foes: The sweetness and the glory, The sunlight of His eyes, Make all the desert places To glow as paradise. Lo! through the pathless midnight The fiery pillar leads, And onward goes the Shepherd Before the flock He feeds; Unquestioning, unfearing, The lambs may follow on, In quietness and confidence, Their eyes on Him alone. Come, children, on and
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

The Last Discourses of Christ - the Prayer of Consecration.
THE new Institution of the Lord's Supper did not finally close what passed at that Paschal Table. According to the Jewish Ritual, the Cup is filled a fourth time, and the remaining part of the Hallel [5717] repeated. Then follow, besides Ps. cxxxvi., a number of prayers and hymns, of which the comparatively late origin is not doubtful. The same remark applies even more strongly to what follows after the fourth Cup. But, so far as we can judge, the Institution of the Holy Supper was followed by the
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Minstrel
ELISHA needed that the Holy Spirit should come upon him to inspire him with prophetic utterances. "Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." We need that the hand of the Lord should be laid upon us, for we can never open our mouths in wisdom except we are under the divine touch. Now, the Spirit of God works according to his own will. "The wind bloweth where it listeth," and the Spirit of God operates as he chooseth. Elisha could not prophesy just when he liked; he must wait until
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 27: 1881

Gethsemane
We turn once more to follow the steps of Christ, now among the last He trod upon earth. The hymn,' with which the Paschal Supper ended, had been sung. Probably we are to understand this of the second portion of the Hallel, [5818] sung some time after the third Cup, or else of Psalm cxxxvi., which, in the present Ritual, stands near the end of the service. The last Discourses had been spoken, the last Prayer, that of Consecration, had been offered, and Jesus prepared to go forth out of the City, to
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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