Psa 136:23 | KingComments | STEP | In we read about redemption in the past, while are about redemption in the present. The LORD is the same yesterday and today and forever. The redemption that the LORD could do in the past, He also can do now. In we hear for the first time about the feelings of the psalmist. He speaks of “us” and then does so several more times. He is speaking on behalf of all who belong to God’s covenant people. The psalmist and the people have experienced that the LORD, Who could rescue in the beginning of Israel’s history, can and has done it now. They are impressed with Who God is and what He has done – about which he has written in the preceding verses. He now says as a confession that God “remembered us in our low estate” ( ). They had been humbled, disaster had come upon them. But God thought of them and came to them in Christ. This awareness makes the admiration of God’s lovingkindness that much greater. It does not stop at an impressive description of God in His omnipotence and redemption. That God, Who is so great and has done great wonders, has an eye for the righteous in their “low estate”. This is overwhelming and again an occasion to praise God’s lovingkindness. In themselves they had no power to deliver themselves from the power of their adversaries ( ). But God rescued them from their adversaries. We can think especially of the time of the great tribulation. The adversaries during that time are the antichrist in the land and the king of the North or the Assyrians from abroad. The rescue from those adversaries is a new proof of God’s lovingkindness of which the effects are everlasting and therefore eternally sung about. What is contained in these verses will be acknowledged by every believer who is aware of his origin and what he has become and received in Christ. He was in the power of sin, the world and the devil, and utterly powerless to free himself from them. Then he was rescued from all those adversaries by the power of God’s love. For that he praises God. Then he was joined to Christ and allowed to share in all the consequences of His work on the cross. For that he also praises God. Then the psalmist looks around and sees that God’s attention is also on all that lives ( ; ). He is the One “who gives food to all flesh”. This is also something we can observe every day if we pay attention. He, Who is the Creator ( ), is also the Sustainer of His creation in this verse ( ). It cannot be otherwise than that when we see Him in this way, we will praise and glorify His lovingkindness. He continues to give that care throughout the time of the realm of peace.

‏ Psalms 136:23

The Wonder of His Attention

In Psa 136:10-20 we read about redemption in the past, while Psa 136:23-24 are about redemption in the present. The LORD is the same yesterday and today and forever. The redemption that the LORD could do in the past, He also can do now.

In Psa 136:23-24 we hear for the first time about the feelings of the psalmist. He speaks of “us” and then does so several more times. He is speaking on behalf of all who belong to God’s covenant people. The psalmist and the people have experienced that the LORD, Who could rescue in the beginning of Israel’s history, can and has done it now. They are impressed with Who God is and what He has done – about which he has written in the preceding verses. He now says as a confession that God “remembered us in our low estate” (Psa 136:23). They had been humbled, disaster had come upon them. But God thought of them and came to them in Christ.

This awareness makes the admiration of God’s lovingkindness that much greater. It does not stop at an impressive description of God in His omnipotence and redemption. That God, Who is so great and has done great wonders, has an eye for the righteous in their “low estate”. This is overwhelming and again an occasion to praise God’s lovingkindness.

In themselves they had no power to deliver themselves from the power of their adversaries (Psa 136:24). But God rescued them from their adversaries. We can think especially of the time of the great tribulation. The adversaries during that time are the antichrist in the land and the king of the North or the Assyrians from abroad. The rescue from those adversaries is a new proof of God’s lovingkindness of which the effects are everlasting and therefore eternally sung about.

What is contained in these verses will be acknowledged by every believer who is aware of his origin and what he has become and received in Christ. He was in the power of sin, the world and the devil, and utterly powerless to free himself from them. Then he was rescued from all those adversaries by the power of God’s love. For that he praises God. Then he was joined to Christ and allowed to share in all the consequences of His work on the cross. For that he also praises God.

Then the psalmist looks around and sees that God’s attention is also on all that lives (Psa 136:25; Psa 104:27-28). He is the One “who gives food to all flesh”. This is also something we can observe every day if we pay attention. He, Who is the Creator (Psa 136:4-9), is also the Sustainer of His creation in this verse (1Tim 4:10). It cannot be otherwise than that when we see Him in this way, we will praise and glorify His lovingkindness. He continues to give that care throughout the time of the realm of peace.