The Mercy of God

Psalm 136:1 “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”

This verse opens one of the most repetitive yet resounding chapters in Scripture. Twenty-six times the psalmist declares, “for his mercy endureth for ever.” The refrain is not careless redundancy; it is purposeful reinforcement. Each repetition strikes a blow against forgetfulness, carving gratitude into the hardened heart of man. The psalmist knew that human nature drifts toward complaint and presumption, so he commanded a continual remembrance of divine mercy.

The call begins with thanksgiving. “O give thanks unto the LORD.” Thanksgiving is not optional gratitude; it is commanded acknowledgment. The psalmist doesn’t urge emotion—he orders obedience. To thank the Lord is to publicly recognise His hand in every breath, battle, and blessing. When gratitude dies, pride rises. The thankful heart guards against spiritual decay. Romans 1:21 warns that the unthankful become vain in their imaginations, their foolish heart darkened. Gratitude is therefore not sentiment—it is spiritual sight.

“For he is good.” This short phrase dismantles the accusation that often rises when life turns hard. God’s goodness is not conditional upon circumstance. His nature does not change when our seasons do. Psalm 100:5 affirms, “For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting.” God’s goodness is His character in operation. It flows in creation, in providence, and in redemption. Every sunrise, every provision, every undeserved forgiveness bears witness to a good God in a fallen world.

“For his mercy endureth for ever.” Here lies the foundation. Mercy is God’s restraint of judgment and extension of compassion. It is what spares the sinner and sustains the saint. The Hebrew term chesed conveys covenant loyalty—mercy rooted in faithfulness, not emotion. Man’s mercy shifts with mood; God’s mercy stands with eternity. It has no expiration date, no seasonal lapse, no diminishing measure. When nations fall, when generations fade, mercy remains.

Consider Israel’s history—the backdrop of Psalm 136. Each line of the psalm recounts acts of divine deliverance: creation, exodus, wilderness provision, conquest, and covenant. Each victory is followed by the refrain: “for his mercy endureth for ever.” Even in judgment, mercy was at work. The Red Sea closed upon Egypt, but opened for Israel. The wilderness swallowed rebels, yet preserved the faithful. Mercy guided, chastened, and sustained. The psalmist saw history not as human achievement but as divine mercy extended.

In the New Testament, mercy culminates at Calvary. The same enduring mercy that parted seas and fed multitudes stretched wide upon a cross. Titus 3:5 declares, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.” The mercy that endured Israel’s rebellion endures our redemption. The blood of Christ is the eternal seal of mercy unending.

Thanksgiving without theology is shallow; theology without thanksgiving is sterile. Psalm 136 unites both. It teaches the worshipper that gratitude must rest upon God’s unchanging nature. The believer who understands mercy sees every moment through a lens of grace. Trials no longer appear as punishments, but as platforms for God’s faithfulness. Failures no longer end in despair, but in repentance met by mercy that endures.

When David said in Psalm 23:6, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,” he was not describing fluctuating emotion but constant pursuit. God’s mercy follows the believer like a shadow that cannot be shaken. It covers the sins of the past, strengthens the weakness of the present, and secures the hope of eternity.

The refrain “for his mercy endureth for ever” is not to be read—it is to be believed. It calls the weary saint to remember that divine compassion is not exhausted by human failure. The same mercy that spared Adam, that covered David, that restored Peter, now sustains you. Gratitude, therefore, is not based on what has happened to you, but on Who has not changed for you.

Give thanks—not because life is fair, but because God is faithful. Give thanks—not because circumstances are stable, but because His mercy is. When everything else expires, His mercy endures. That alone is reason enough to praise Him without pause.