Psalm 136:10 - His Loving Faithfulness Endures Forever

Audio Bible

Context

His Loving Faithfulness Endures Forever
…9the moon and stars to govern the night. His loving devotion endures forever. 10He struck down the firstborn of Egypt His loving devotion endures forever. 11and brought Israel out from among them His loving devotion endures forever.…

Cross References

Exodus 12:29
Now at midnight the LORD struck down every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner in the dungeon, as well as all the firstborn among the livestock.Exodus 11:4-5
So Moses declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt, / and every firstborn son in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, to the firstborn of the servant girl behind the hand mill, as well as the firstborn of all the cattle.Exodus 12:12
On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn male, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.Exodus 12:30
During the night Pharaoh got up—he and all his officials and all the Egyptians—and there was loud wailing in Egypt; for there was no house without someone dead.Numbers 33:4
who were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck down among them; for the LORD had executed judgment against their gods.Psalm 78:51
He struck all the firstborn of Egypt, the virility in the tents of Ham.Psalm 105:36
Then He struck all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their vigor.Hebrews 11:28
By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn.1 Corinthians 10:10
And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.Acts 7:36
He led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness.Revelation 11:8
Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city—figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where their Lord was also crucified.Jude 1:5
Although you are fully aware of this, I want to remind you that after Jesus had delivered His people out of the land of Egypt, He destroyed those who did not believe.Romans 9:17
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”Exodus 4:23
and I told you to let My son go so that he may worship Me. But since you have refused to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son!’”Exodus 6:1
But the LORD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh, for because of My mighty hand he will let the people go; because of My strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”

Psalm 78:51
And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:

Psalm 105:36
He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.

Psalm 135:8
Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.

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Psalm 136

He struck down the firstborn of Egypt
This phrase refers to the tenth and final plague that God inflicted upon Egypt, as recorded in Exodus 12:29-30. This event was a pivotal moment in the liberation of the Israelites from slavery. The striking down of the firstborn was a direct judgment against the gods of Egypt, demonstrating the power and sovereignty of the God of Israel over all other deities. Historically, this event is significant as it led to the Exodus, a foundational narrative for the Jewish people. Theologically, it prefigures the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, the "firstborn over all creation" (Colossians 1:15), who was struck down for the salvation of humanity. The Passover, which commemorates this event, is a type of Christ's sacrifice, as He is referred to as the "Lamb of God" (John 1:29).

His loving devotion endures forever
This phrase emphasizes the enduring and steadfast love of God, a central theme throughout Psalm 136. The Hebrew word for "loving devotion" is "hesed," which conveys God's covenantal faithfulness and mercy. Despite the severity of the judgment on Egypt, this act is framed within the context of God's enduring love for His people, Israel. This love is not only historical but also eternal, as it continues to be a source of hope and assurance for believers. The repetition of this refrain throughout the psalm serves as a reminder of God's unchanging nature and His commitment to His promises. This enduring love is ultimately fulfilled in the New Testament through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who embodies God's love for the world (John 3:16).

Persons / Places / Events

1. God (Yahweh)
The central figure in this verse, God is depicted as the deliverer of Israel, demonstrating His power and justice.

2. Egypt
The nation that held the Israelites in bondage, representing oppression and opposition to God's people.

3. The Firstborn of Egypt
Refers to the final and most devastating plague that God sent upon Egypt, leading to the release of the Israelites from slavery.

4. Israelites
The people of God who were enslaved in Egypt and were delivered through God's mighty acts.

5. Passover
The event commemorating the sparing of the Israelite firstborn and the deliverance from Egypt, which is central to understanding this verse.

Teaching Points

God's Sovereignty and Justice
God's actions in Egypt demonstrate His sovereign power over nations and His commitment to justice. He acts decisively against oppression and injustice.

The Enduring Nature of God's Love
The refrain "His loving devotion endures forever" emphasizes that God's acts of judgment are also acts of love for His people, ensuring their freedom and well-being.

Deliverance and Redemption
The deliverance from Egypt is a foreshadowing of the ultimate redemption through Christ. Just as God delivered Israel, He delivers us from sin through Jesus.

The Importance of Remembrance
The repeated refrain in Psalm 136 encourages believers to remember and recount God's past faithfulness as a foundation for trust in His future promises.

(10) For his mercy.--Here the refrain, after the mention of the destruction of the Egyptian first-born, and subsequently after that of war and slaughter, sounds harsh to Christian ears. But the word mercy (khesed) in the Hebrew motto implies distinctly covenant grace, that special favour of Jehovah in which the heathen did not share, and which was often most signally shown in their destruction.

Verse 10. - To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn. The parallelism with Psalm 135, here becomes very close, and so continues till the end of ver. 22. Five verses, however, are expanded into thirteen. For his mercy, etc. Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

He struck down
לְמַכֵּ֣ה (lə·mak·kêh)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5221: To strike

the firstborn
בִּבְכוֹרֵיהֶ֑ם (biḇ·ḵō·w·rê·hem)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1060: Firstborn, chief

of Egypt
מִ֭צְרַיִם (miṣ·ra·yim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa

His loving devotion
חַסְדּֽוֹ׃ (ḥas·dōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2617: Kindness, piety, reproof, beauty

endures forever.
לְעוֹלָ֣ם (lə·‘ō·w·lām)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5769: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always

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