Psalm 136 and The Songs of Jesus, pp. 344-346
Dear Psalms friends,
This Sunday’s focus psalm is Psalm 136, the last of the Psalter’s storytelling/narrative psalms. The faithful people in Israel kept retelling the unfolding drama of YHWH’s dealings with Israel. Here’s a helpful outline for reading these storytelling psalms:
1. Psalm 105: A historical summary paralleling the Pentateuch from Genesis 12 forward
2. Psalm 106: A similar summary recited in a penitential mood
3. Psalm 78: A summary that carries the story up to the selection of David and the choice of Mount Zion (Jerusalem), again recited in a penitential tone
4. Psalm 135: A historical summary that includes a reference to God’s power as creator (vv. 5-7)
5. Psalm 136: An antiphonal summary of the Lord’s great deeds, beginning with the creation, a thanksgiving (todah) psalm that traces the actions of God right from the beginning of God’s first work of creating the world to his continuing provision and protection now
Both Psalms 135 and 136 take us back to the beginning and back to thanks and praise for YHWH’s initiating actions and providential care for his people. As you focus on Psalm 136, think of this psalm as Israel’s way of saying that the meaning disclosed in its own historical experience (“the story of our life”) unveils the meaning that underlies the whole of human history right from the start, and indeed of the entire cosmos. Reflect on Psalm 136’s immediacy, how it brings you into the here and now with God.
Notice where we are in Book V of the Psalms. The “Songs of Ascent” (Psalms 120-134) chanted by pilgrims to Israels’ temple feasts, bring their feet and ours into the temple, to the presence of God. Psalms 134 is liturgy—words for the priests and Levites (“servants of the LORD”) who also speak YHWH’s blessing on the people. Then Psalm 135 “hymns” praise for YHWH’s powerful deeds on Israel’s behalf. This leads to Psalm 136, a community song of thanksgiving emphasizing YHWH’s hesed, his unfailing love, throughout Israel’s history.
Read and reflect on the Keller’s comments and prayers connected with Psalm 136 on pages 344-346 in The Songs of Jesus.
Psalm 136 is the kind of “song of Zion” that the Babylonian captors were asking the exiles to sing in captivity (Psalm 137:3). Psalm 137 ends with a scathing protest, asking YHWH to use excessive violence against helpless “little ones” as Babylon had done to Israel’s most vulnerable. We hear Israel’s lament and fierce rage at Babylonian injustice. In the psalms, highest thanks and praise sit beside murderous rage (Psalms 136,137)
Then come Psalms 138-145, the last group of psalms with superscriptions “of David,” including individual thanks and praise, and pleas and lament. The Psalter ends in cascades of praise in Psalms 146-150.
And then we all head back to the beginning, contemplating YHWH’s torah and YHWH’s anointed one in Psalms 1 and 2.
Yes, it’s a lot to take in, but so crucial to our inner stability in Christ as we seek truly to follow him day by day.
“Search each one of us, investigate our inner being, cross-examine and test us, giving us a clearer picture of what we’re about, pointing out anything that saddens you, and leading us in your life-giving, everlasting way.” (See Psalm 139:23-24)
Check back for your Psalm 136 lesson guide for Sunday..
Grace and peace in Christ,
Toni