Psalm 136 - the last Psalm study posting of the night.

Psalm 136 Church of the Holy Cross July 16, 2009


What is it?

Psalm 136 is a psalm giving thanks to God. It is a “call and response” psalm that involves a leader who commands the people to give thanks and they respond with “for his steadfast love endures forever” (NRSV). The connecting word “for” (same word in Greek as “because” or “since”), indicates that God’s enduring love is behind all of the things proclaimed by the worship leader.

In celebrating gratitude to Yahweh, the Israelites remember God’s works in creation, in history and the benefits.

Read together.

Questions and Observations

In addition to Thanksgiving, what other “liturgical” functions do you think Psalm 136 has? What is it proclaiming, teaching, remembering?

This Psalm reflects the creation story in Genesis 1, as well as other stories in the Old Testament. What are some of the other stories you recognize? Are they all stories of God’s salvation?

What shape is it?

Some Psalms have stanzas, sections or “movements” like a symphony. Where are the movements in this psalm? The NIV (Serendipity Bible Study for Groups 1989) breaks it up as follows: vv 1-3, vv 4-9, vv 10-22, vv 23-25 and v 26. How is your Bible translation similar or different? What do each of the “movements” say?

History of Tradition

Jewish: This psalm has been traditionally used as the prayer just before the Passover meal. Passover, remember, is the sacred meal remembering the Pharaoh’s oppression of the Israelites in Egypt. By eating Passover, according to the instructions given by God to Moses, the Israelites’ first-born sons would survive the scourge of the Angel of Death. Linked to this is the memory of escape from Egypt, in which they begin forming a sense of “national” identity as a tribe. Ancient custom called for everyone in the household, including slaves and hired hands, to be a part of this sacred meal. This would have been a situation for prayer, remembrance, as well as for teaching and proclamation. (Deuteronomy 6 summarizes the necessity of teaching children God’s commandments and, “…be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” Dt 6:10, NIV)

This Psalm is known in Jewish traditions as “The Great Hallel” (The Great Praise). The heading for this Psalm in the Greek (Septuagint) simply says, “Alleluia.” The Septuagint also uses the Greek word for “confess” instead of the traditional word “eukaristesthe” which we translate as “give thanks.”

Christian: Our sacramental prayers are similar in content and pattern to Psalm 136 (See “Thanksgiving over the Water” baptismal rite BCP p 306 and Holy Eucharist II BCP pp 370, 373). The Episcopalians and Presbyterians share similar prayers which open in adoration and praise, giving thanks for God’s Creation, giving thanks for God’s presence throughout history and giving thanks for the benefits that are evident in Jesus Christ.

Theological Perspectives

German theologian Karl Barth said that God is sovereign, yet chooses to “break into” history. How has God “broken into” your life?

Memory and gratitude are intimately connected in this Psalm. How have memory and gratitude been a part of your faith journey?

Remembrance and gratitude are connected to the sacraments in the Christian traditions, and are also connected to the Jewish Passover. This is a personal question that doesn’t need to be answered…but how do you experience the sacraments? (remember, “Sacrament” means “mystery”)



Coming next week... Psalm 91