To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.
The Psalmist drums home a hard truth: unless we labor in God's praises, we rob Him of what is justly His due for His benefits. Every benefit He names draws our eye to His mercy, to teach us that everything we possess comes to us freely, by His grace alone, not by our desert.
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 136:1-26
To him which led his people through the wilderness. He led them into it, and therefore he was pledged to lead them through it. They were "his people", and yet they must go into the wilderness, and the wilderness must remain as barren as ever it was; but in the end they must come out of it into the promised land.
God singled out the death of the firstborn among all Egypt's plagues because it was the conquering blow. With a strong hand stretched out, He distinguished Israel from the Egyptians and brought them out; that same Red Sea became a path for His people and a grave for Pharaoh's host.
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 136:10-22