Verse 1. - Oh give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. Identical with the first verse of Psalm 118, which is probably a very ancient formula, and one used at the erection both of the first (2 Chronicles 5:13) and of the second temple (Ezra 3:11).

Verse 2. - Oh give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy, etc. The phrase, "God of gods," occurs first in Deuteronomy 10:17. It was one very familiar to the Assyrians and Babylonians ('Religions of the Ancient World,' pp. 56, 60, 68, etc.). In the Bible it is used by Joshua (Joshua 22:22), Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:47), Daniel (Daniel 11:36), and this psalmist. It sanctions a secondary use of the word "God," such as is found also in Psalm 82:6; Psalm 96:4; Psalm 97:7, 9; Psalm 138:1.

Verse 3. - Oh give thanks to the Lord of lords. "Lord of lords" occurs also first in Deuteronomy 10:17. It is used likewise by St. Paul (1 Timothy 6:15) and St. John (Revelation 17:14; Revelation 19:16). For his mercy, etc.

Verse 4. - To him who alone doeth great wonders (comp. Psalm 72:18). For his mercy, etc.

Verse 5. - To him that by wisdom made the heavens. Creation is the work, not only of God's power, but of his wisdom also. Things were made as they are by the exertion of his forethought and understanding (comp. Proverbs 3:19; Ephesians 1:11). For his mercy, etc.

Verse 6. - To him that stretched out the earth above the waters (comp. Isaiah 42:5; Isaiah 44:24; Psalm 24:2). For his mercy, etc.

Verse 7. - To him that made great lights (see Genesis 1:14-16). For his mercy, etc. Ver. 8 - The sun to rule by day (comp. Genesis 1:16). For his mercy, etc.

Verse 9. - The moon and stare to rule by night (Genesis 1:16, 18). For his mercy, etc.

Verse 10. - To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn. The parallelism with Psalm 135, here becomes very close, and so continues till the end of ver. 22. Five verses, however, are expanded into thirteen. For his mercy, etc.

Verse 11. - And brought out Israel from among them (see Exodus 12:51; Exodus 14:19-31). For his mercy, etc.

Verse 12. - With a strong hand, and with a stretched-out arm (comp. Exodus 6:6; Deuteronomy 7:8, 14; Nehemiah 1:10, etc.). For his mercy, etc.

Verse 13. - To him which divided the Red Sea into parts; literally, into section - cut it, as it were, in two (see Exodus 14:21). For his mercy, etc.

Verse 14. - And made Israel to pass through the midst of it (see Exodus 14:22, 29; Exodus 15:19). For his mercy, etc.

Verse 15. - But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea (see Exodus 14:27, 28; Exodus 15:1-10). That the Pharaoh's death in the Red Sea is not necessarily implied has been shown in the comment on Exodus. For his mercy, etc. Severity to their adversaries was "mercy" to Israel, who could not otherwise have been delivered.

Verse 16. - To him which led his people through the wilderness (Exodus 13:20-22; Exodus 40:36-38; Deuteronomy 8:15). For his mercy, etc.

Verse 17. - To him which smote great kings (see the comment on Psalm 135:10). For his mercy, etc.

Verse 18. - And slew famous kings. Oreb, Zeb, Zeba, Zalmunna, Agag. For his mercy, etc.

Verse 19. - Sihon King of the Amorites (comp. Psalm 135:11). For his mercy, etc.

Verse 20. - And Og the King of Bashan (Numbers 21:33; Psalm 135:11). For his mercy, etc.

Verse 21. - And gave their land for an heritage (see Joshua 12:1-6). For his mercy, etc.

Verse 22. - Even an heritage unto Israel his servant (comp. Psalm 135:12). For his mercy, etc.

Verse 23. - Who remembered us in our low estate. When we were brought low. The time meant is probably that of the Babylonian captivity, which is the subject of the next psalm. For his mercy, etc.

Verse 24. - And hath redeemed us from our enemies; rather, and redeemed us - or, "snatched us" - from our enemies. For his mercy, etc.

Verse 25. - Who giveth food to all flesh. Has a care, i.e., not only for man, but also for animals (comp. Psalm 104:27; 145:15; 147:9; Jonah 4:11). For his mercy, etc.

Verse 26. - Oh give thanks unto the God of heaven, "The God of heaven" is a favorite designation of God in the Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel (Ezra 1:2; Ezra 5:11, 12; Ezra 6:9, 10; Ezra 7:12, 21; Nehemiah 1:4, 5; Nehemiah 2:4, 20; Daniel 2:18, 19, 37, 44). It was a phrase known to the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and the Persians. For his mercy endureth forever.