提要
詩篇第一三五篇是一篇採用其他詩篇及舊約聖經中合適部份編輯而成的詩篇。毫無疑問地，它是作為我們在聖經中敬拜上帝的時候，所用的詩篇。耶和華的僕人已被認為：祭司、利未人、所有以色列的兒女，敬畏上帝的外邦人、及所有耶路撒冷的居民（135：19~21）；他們都受召讚美耶和華。有好幾個理由說明，為什麼上帝的百姓要讚美祂，特別在讚美中強調上帝在大自然中（135：6、7）及在歷史中（135：8~12）有統佔一切的權力。要讚美感謝祂的第一個理由就是：「耶和華本為善」（135：3；136：1）。如果我們想列舉上帝的良善，我們根本就講不完的。每一位敬拜上帝的人都要自己解釋，上帝的良善對他有什麼意義。
整個詩篇都在說明上帝的良善，並且列舉理由說明，為什麼耶和華的百姓要讚美祂。第一，因為祂從萬民中將我們揀選出來，作為祂的子民（申7：6~8）。作為上帝的選民是一件多麼光榮的事啊！因此，繼之而來的則是很多的責任。由於是上帝的選民，今天的信徒也有很多的責任，就像古代以色列人一樣，要照亮這黑暗的世界，使人們能看清楚他們應當走的道路。
詩人以他堅定，不可動搖的信心證明，「耶和華是偉大的」，以及由於祂的偉大，祂是當受讚美的。祂是統一世界的唯一君王，超乎萬神之上，因為他們祇不過是人手所造的偶像而已（135：5、15~18；115：4~8；95：3；96：4~5；申10：17）。上帝的特別啟示已清楚地指出，祂有權力統治世界。上帝的意旨就是祂對世界與人類事務的最後控制。以色列人要讚美上帝、感謝祂拯救他們脫離埃及地為奴之家。今天的信徒同樣地要讚美上帝、感謝祂拯救他們脫離罪惡與苦難的捆綁。我們就像以色列人一樣、讚美上帝、感謝祂賜給我們能力、戰勝我們的仇敵撒但、以及繼承祂永恆的產業（135：12）。上帝是當受感謝與讚美的，因為祂施行公義的審判、並且以慈愛對待祂的百姓（申32：36；例如上帝在士師時代就以恩慈對待祂的百姓）。今天，我們也要以同樣的熱誠讚美耶和華，因為祂昨天這樣、今天這樣、明天也是這樣！
詩篇第一三六篇雖然在風格上有所不同，仍然是第一三五篇的擴大；這兩篇詩篇在主題上有密切的關係。前者是讚美的詩篇；後者則為感謝的詩篇。詩篇第一三六篇顯然是一首啟應聖詩。每節經文的第一行都表示上帝的憐憫，也許是為祭司找利未人，詩歌領袖所唱。第二行則是詩歌中的副歌，也是會眾或詩班回唱：「因為祂的慈愛存到永遠」。
這一詩篇一開始就描述上帝本為善、萬神之神、及萬軍之耶和華（申10：17）。由於祂是唯一的真神，祂獨自施行創造及奇蹟式的聖工（136：4；72：18）。由於祂是至高的耶和華，萬國萬王都臣服在祂的腳前。顯然，當祂拯救以色列人脫離埃及，並推翻法老時，祂的大能都為以色列人及外邦人所目睹。上帝以祂的慈愛和信實領導他們在曠野中行進，賜給他們應許之地，並且三番五次地拯救他們。祂不僅供應他們的生活所需和保護他們，而且也本著祂的憐憫為祂所有的百姓及受造物提供食物（104：27、28；145：15、16）。毫無疑問地，詩人重複廿六次：「祂的慈愛永遠長存」，並且在詩篇結束時，呼求所有的人都要「稱謝天上的上帝」（136：26）。
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Overview
Psalm 135 was compiled by using many different portions from other psalms and other Old Testament writings. It was undoubtedly composed for us in the Temple worship. The servants of the Lord, identified as: the priests, Levites, all the children of Israel, the Gentile God-fearers and all inhabitants of Jerusalem (135:19-21), are called upon to praise and bless the Lord. Several reasons are given as to why God's people should praise Him, with the emphasis upon God's sovereign power in nature (135:6,7) and history (135:8-12). The first reason to praise and thank Him is because "the Lord is good" (135:3; 136:1). If we were to enumerate the goodness of God we would never finish. Each individual worshipper must interpret for himself what the goodness of God means to him.
The whole psalm illustrates God's goodness and gives reasons why the people of the Lord are to praise Him. Firstly, because He had chosen them as His own special treasure (Deut. 7:6-8). What a privilege it is to be the elect of God! With it come many responsibilities. Believers today, who are God's elect, have the responsibility, as did the ancient Israelites, to be lights shining in a dark world to show others the way they should go.
With a firm and unshakable belief, the psalmist affirms that "the Lord is great" and because of His greatness He is worthy to be praised. He is the sole sovereign over the world, above all the false gods who are but the work of foolish man's hands (135:5, 15-18; 115:4-8; 95:3; 96:4,5; Deut. 10:17). The special revelation of God clearly shows His sovereignty over the world. The ultimate control over the world and the affairs of mankind is the will of God. The Israelites were to praise God for delivering them from bondage in Egypt. Believers today need to praise God for delivering them from being enslaved to sin and suffering. We, like the Israelites, must also praise God for giving us the victory over the enemy Satan, and for giving us an eternal inheritance (135:12). God is also to be praised for His righteous judgment and the compassion He shows to His people (Deut. 32:36; e.g. God's treatment of Israel during the period of the judges). Today we must bless the Lord with equal enthusiasm for He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!
Psalm 136, although different in form, is an expansion of Psalm 135 and the two are closely related in subject matter. The former is a psalm of praise; the latter of thanksgiving. Psalm 136 is clearly a responsive hymn. The first line of each verse expresses God's mercy, likely sung by the priest or Levitical song leader. The second line is the refrain which is the response of the congregation or choir: "For His mercy endures forever".
The psalm begins by describing God as good, the God of gods, and Lord of lords (Deut. 10:17). Since He is the only God, He alone has creative and miracle-working powers (136:4; 72:18). Since He is the supreme Lord, he has subjected all nations and kings under Him. This was evident when He delivered Israel from Egypt and overthrew the Pharoah. In His mercy and faithfulness, God guided them in the wilderness, gave them the Promised Land, and rescued them over and over again. He not only sustains and preserves them, but He, in His mercy, provides food for all people and creatures (104:27, 28; 145:15,16). It is no wonder the psalmist repeats 26 times that God's mercy endures forever and concludes by calling upon all flesh to "give thanks to the God of heaven" (136:26).
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