Psalm 136:7
He made the great lights--His loving devotion endures forever.
He made the great lights
This phrase acknowledges God's sovereignty and creative power. The Hebrew word for "made" is "עָשָׂה" (asah), which implies not just creation but also craftsmanship and purpose. The "great lights" refer to the sun and the moon, which are essential for life on Earth. In the ancient Near Eastern context, celestial bodies were often deified, but this verse emphasizes that they are creations of the one true God, not deities themselves. This underscores the biblical theme of monotheism and God's ultimate authority over all creation.

His loving devotion endures forever
The phrase "His loving devotion" is translated from the Hebrew word "חֶסֶד" (chesed), which is rich in meaning, encompassing love, mercy, kindness, and covenant faithfulness. This word is central to understanding God's relationship with His people, highlighting His unwavering commitment and grace. The repetition of "endures forever" throughout Psalm 136 serves as a refrain, reinforcing the eternal and unchanging nature of God's love. This assurance of God's perpetual faithfulness provides comfort and hope, encouraging believers to trust in His promises regardless of their circumstances.

Persons / Places / Events
1. God (Yahweh)
The Creator of the universe, who is praised for His enduring loving devotion.

2. The Great Lights
Refers to the sun, moon, and stars, which God created to govern the day and night.

3. Creation
The event of God creating the heavens and the earth, including the celestial bodies.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty in Creation
God is the ultimate Creator, and His creation of the great lights demonstrates His power and authority over the universe. Recognizing His sovereignty should lead us to worship and trust in His perfect plan.

Enduring Loving Devotion
The phrase "His loving devotion endures forever" is a reminder of God's unchanging love and faithfulness. Just as the sun rises each day, God's love is constant and reliable.

The Purpose of Creation
The great lights serve a purpose in God's creation, providing light and marking time. Similarly, we are created with purpose and should seek to fulfill God's will in our lives.

Reflecting God's Light
As the sun, moon, and stars reflect God's glory, we are called to reflect His light in the world. Our lives should be a testament to His love and truth.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does recognizing God as the Creator of the great lights influence your understanding of His power and authority in your life?

2. In what ways can you see God's enduring loving devotion in the natural world around you?

3. How can the constancy of the sun and moon serve as a reminder of God's faithfulness in your daily life?

4. What specific purposes has God created you for, and how can you align your life with His will?

5. How can you reflect God's light in your community, and what practical steps can you take to be a testament to His love and truth?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 1
The creation account where God creates the sun, moon, and stars, establishing them as "great lights" to govern the day and night.

Psalm 19
This psalm also speaks of the heavens declaring the glory of God, emphasizing the role of the celestial bodies in revealing God's majesty.

James 1:17
This verse speaks of God as the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change, highlighting His constancy and faithfulness.
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
God the Wonder-WorkerPsalm 136:4-9
People
Amorites, Egyptians, Og, Pharaoh, Psalmist, Sihon
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Age, Endures, Endureth, Everlasting, Forever, Kindness, Lights, Love, Loving, Lovingkindness, Loving-kindness, Making, Mercy, Steadfast, Unchanging
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 136:1-10

     4963   past, the

Psalm 136:1-20

     1035   God, faithfulness

Psalm 136:1-26

     1085   God, love of
     8352   thankfulness

Psalm 136:7-8

     4284   sun

Psalm 136:7-9

     4212   astronomy
     4251   moon
     4281   stars
     4834   light, natural

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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