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No study of mercy could be complete with considering the 136th Psalm. It is quoted in its entirety here. It is not difficult to discover its theme. Read it slowly and let it's truth sink deep into your heart.

1Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

2Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever.

3Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever:

4To Him who alone does great wonders, For His mercy endures forever;

5 To Him who by wisdom made the heavens, For His mercy endures forever;

6 To Him who laid out the earth above the waters, For His mercy endures forever;

7 To Him who made great lights, For His mercy endures forever—

8 The sun to rule by day, For His mercy endures forever;

9 The moon and stars to rule by night, For His mercy endures forever.

10 To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn, For His mercy endures forever;

11And brought out Israel from among them, For His mercy endures forever;

12With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, For His mercy endures forever;

13To Him who divided the Red Sea in two, For His mercy endures forever;

14And made Israel pass through the midst of it, For His mercy endures forever;

15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, For His mercy endures forever;

16 To Him who led His people through the wilderness, For His mercy endures forever;

17 To Him who struck down great kings, For His mercy endures forever;

18 And slew famous kings, For His mercy endures forever—

19 Sihon king of the Amorites, For His mercy endures forever;

20 And Og king of Bashan, For His mercy endures forever—

21And gave their land as a heritage, For His mercy endures forever;

22 A heritage to Israel His servant, For His mercy endures forever.

23Who remembered us in our lowly state, For His mercy endures forever;

24And rescued us from our enemies, For His mercy endures forever;

25 Who gives food to all flesh, For His mercy endures forever.

26 Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever.

Adapting some thoughts from Matthew Henry, we observe that the Psalmist praises God for His mercy as evidenced by: 1) His innate and eternal goodness (vv 1-3), 2) His mighty Creative Works (vv 4-9), 3) His strong arm displayed in delivering Israel from Egyptian oppression (vv 10-15), 4) His power to keep His promises even against seemingly overwhelming odds (vv 16-22), and 5) The fact that He is the Saviour of all who will trust in Him (vv23-26).

That the God of heaven is the first and last word when it comes to mercy should come as no surprise to those of us who believe in Him. Yet, some see God in the Old Testament as harsh and unforgiving, a god almost devoid of mercy. Such could not be further from the truth! I may not understand the reasons for everything He did in the Old Testament, but I know one thing; God's Mercy did not take a holiday under the first covenant any more than it will wane or weaken under the New Covenant!

Questions:

1. What truth is indicated by the fact that our Father is “God of gods” (Psalm 136.2)?

2. Psalm 136.5 cites wisdom as a guiding principle in the creation of the universe. What evidences of wisdom are manifested in the physical universe in which we live? How pervasive is that wisdom? How much of it have we discovered?

3. What chance did Israel have of conquering Canaan apart from God's power?

4. Let it sink in slowly! How long will God's mercy last?

"The Way" from Kevin Pauley

A World of One