Psalms 136:10-20
The Wonder of Redemption
These verses recall Psalm 135 (Psa 135:8-9). In Psalm 135, these are acts that express God’s Name and glory. These same acts are sung here as proofs of His lovingkindness, with each act resulting in a special praise. It begins with God “who smote the Egyptians in their firstborn” (Psa 136:10; Exo 12:29). This is a more powerful expression than “He smote the firstborn in Egypt” (Psa 135:8). Here God’s judgment comes emphatically on all the Egyptians. Then their resistance broke and they let Israel go, even with many gifts. What God did to the Egyptians is a proof of His lovingkindness to His people, the result of which is forever unchangeable. After the judgment on the Egyptians, God did the next act showing His lovingkindness: He led Israel out of the midst of the Egyptians (Psa 136:11). After breaking the power of the oppressors, He delivered His people from their oppressors. The deliverance through the Red Sea is described in detail (Psa 136:11-15), for it is a shadow of the coming deliverance of the faithful remnant from the power of the antichrist (Isa 43:16-21). The people saw that God used His “strong hand” and His “outstretched arm” against the Egyptians and for them (Psa 136:12; Exo 6:6; Deu 5:15; Deu 7:19; Deu 26:8; Jer 32:21). This display of power in judgment on the Egyptians and in favor of His people comes from His lovingkindness to His people. The result of deliverance can never change, it will never end, for “His lovingkindness is everlasting”.The proofs of God’s lovingkindness does not stop at deliverance. When it seemed that they were facing an insurmountable obstacle and they would be taken captive again, God divided the Red Sea asunder (Psa 136:13; Exo 14:21). Literally it says that He “cut in pieces” the Red Sea, which makes the power of His act even more apparent. Then God made “Israel pass through the midst of it” (Psa 136:14; Exo 14:22; 29). What seemed to be an insurmountable obstacle became a highway. The waters, by the power of God, stood as walls as Israel passed through the sea. This is another special proof of the goodness of God that is eternal.The concluding evidence of God’s goodness in regard to the redemption of His people is the definitive extermination of His people’s enemies (Psa 136:15; Exo 14:26-28; 30). Here it says that God “overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea”. In the description of this event in the book of Exodus, it is not explicitly stated that Pharaoh drowned in the Red Sea; it is stated here. The word “overthrew” is a word used for a tree that shakes off its leaves. It is an act of God’s judgmental power. That judgment is an act of lovingkindness will be confirmed by all who hate evil and love justice. When persistent evildoers are judged, it is a benefit to society. No injustice is done to the evildoers, for they get what they deserve.The Wonder of the LORD’s Guidance and Leading
The leading of His people through the wilderness is also an occasion to sing of His lovingkindness, which is everlasting (Psa 136:16). God has wonderfully led His people through the wilderness with its many dangers, thereby caring for and protecting them. He has been their Guide all the way through that “howling waste of a wilderness” (Deu 32:11-12; Deu 8:15; Jer 2:6; Am 2:10). When they look back on it, they burst into this praise.In Psalm 135, the psalmist has mentioned that God has defeated nations and slain mighty kings (Psa 135:10-11), which foreshadows victory over hostile nations. As noted above, God’s actions in Psalm 135 are actions that express His Name and glory. These mighty acts of God are mentioned again here, but now each individual act is attributed to His lovingkindness:That He “smote great kings” is due to His lovingkindness toward His people (Psa 136:17). That He “slew mighty kings” is due to His lovingkindness toward His people (Psa 136:18). The first example of this is that He slew “Sihon, king of the Amorites” (Psa 136:19). This His people owe to His lovingkindness toward them. As a second example of this, it is mentioned that He slew “Og, king of Bashan” (Psa 136:20). This His people owe to His lovingkindness toward them.
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