The Duty of Praise and Thanksgiving
H. Bonar, D. D. Psalm 136:1-26 O give thanks to the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.… I. THE DUTY, It implies — 1. A grateful sense of the Divine benefits. Here the duty begins, though it ends not here; in acts of the mind, in attentive meditations on the loving. kindness of God, and lively warm affections produced and cherished by these meditations. 2. A suitable expression of gratitude. The heart will awaken the tongue, and the affections of the inner man direct and influence the actions of the outward. II. THE PERSONS CALLED UPON. 1. The whole world of mankind are by the psalmist invited to pay their common tribute of praise to their supreme and universal Lord; even all the nations of this widespread and many-peopled earth, by whatever name, or language, or religion they are distinguished; seeing how much soever they differ in these and other respects, they all partake of the light of reason, which discovers a God to them, a first and most perfect Being, and directs them to make Him the universal object of their worship, and trust, and obedience. 2. The Church of God is more immediately and expressly spoken to. 3. All those are particularly called upon to give thanks who have received any fresh or remarkable instances of the Divine favour and interposition on their behalf; such as have been prospered in their designs, and perhaps beyond their own expectations; or have been happily disappointed (for frequent experience shows there are such things as happy disappointments), have had light and comfort in a day of trouble; succour in threatening dangers and temptations; have been raised up from beds of sickness, or blessed with extraordinary measures of health; have had considerable turns in their lives, and seen the hand of God guiding and overruling events to their good. III. THE REASON OR FOUNDATION OF IT HERES ASSIGNED. 1. Men should give thanks unto the Lord, because He is good. Other perfections challenge our reverence, and fear, and admiration; this demands our gratitude. 2. Men should give thanks unto the Lord, because His mercy endureth for ever. This may be understood — (1) In opposition to the anger of God. (2) To the favour of men. (3) More absolutely of the unchangeableness and perpetuity of the Divine mercy.APPLICATION. 1. Does religion invite and oblige us to give thanks unto the Lord, because He is good? and does a great part of religion consist in the duty of thanksgiving rightly performed? then, certainly, religion can neither be an unreasonable nor a tiresome service. 2. Since the mercy of the Lord endureth for ever, let us resolve that we will serve, and praise, and trust in Him for ever. (H. Bonar, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. WEB: Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good; for his loving kindness endures forever.