Charles H. Spurgeon on Psalms 136:1

Whole Psalm. This Psalm was very probably composed by David, and given to the Levites to sing every day: 1Ch 16:41. Solomon his son followed his example, and made use of it in singing at the dedication of the Temple (2Ch 7:3-6); as Jehoshaphat seems to have done when he went out to war against his enemies (2Ch 20:21). —John Gill.

Whole Psalm. The grand peculiarity of form in this Psalm...is the regular recurrence, at the close of every verse, of a burden or refrain ...It has been a favourite idea with interpreters that such repetitions necessarily imply alternate or responsive choirs. But the other indications of this usage in the Psalter are extremely doubtful, and every exegetical condition may be satisfied by simply supposing that the singers, in some cases, answered their own questions, and that in others, as in that before us, the people united in the burden or chorus, as they were wont to do in the Amen. —Joseph Addison Alexander.

Whole Psalm. The Psalm is called by the Greek church Polyeleos, from its continual mention of the mercy of God. —Neale and Littledale.

Whole Psalm. In the liturgical language this Psalm is called par excellence the great Hallel, for according to its broadest compass the great Hallel comprehends Ps 120:1-136:26, whilst the Hallel which is absolutely so called extends from Ps 113:1-118:29. —Franz Delitzsch.

Whole Psalm. Praise ye (wdwh) Jehovah; not as in Ps 135:1, "Hallelujah", but varying the words, "Be ye Judahs to the Lord!"

Praise him for what he is (Ps 136:1-3).

Praise him for what he is able to do (Ps 136:4).

Praise him for what he has done in creation (Ps 136:5-9).

Praise him for what he did in redeeming Israel from bondage (Ps 136:10-15).

Praise him for what he did in his providence toward them (Ps 136:16-22).

Praise him for his grace in times of calamity (Ps 136:23-24).

Praise him for his grace to the world at large (Ps 136:25).

Praise him at the remembrance that this God is the God of heaven (Ps 136:26). —Andrew A. Bonar.

Whole Psalm. When, in the time of the Emperor Constantius, S. Athanasius was assaulted by night in his church at Alexandria by Syrianus and his troops, and many were wounded and murdered, the Bishop of Alexandria sat still in his chair, and ordered the deacon to begin this Psalm, and the people answered in prompt alternation, For his mercy endureth for ever. —Christopher Wordsworth.

O give thanks unto the LORD. When we have praised God for reasons offered unto us in one Psalm, we must begin again, and praise him for other reasons; and even when we have done this, we have not overtaken our task, the duty lieth still at our door, to be discharged afresh, as this Psalm doth show. —David Dickson.