Psalm 136:21
and He gave their land as an inheritance, His loving devotion endures forever.
and He gave their land as an inheritance
This phrase refers to God's act of giving the land of Canaan to the Israelites as their inheritance. This event is rooted in the Abrahamic Covenant, where God promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land (Genesis 15:18-21). The fulfillment of this promise is seen in the conquest of Canaan under Joshua's leadership (Joshua 21:43-45). The land was divided among the twelve tribes of Israel, signifying God's faithfulness to His covenant. Archaeological evidence, such as ancient boundary stones and settlement patterns, supports the historical occupation of Canaan by the Israelites. This act of giving the land is a type of the spiritual inheritance believers receive through Christ, as mentioned in Ephesians 1:11, where believers are said to have obtained an inheritance in Him.

His loving devotion endures forever
This phrase emphasizes the enduring nature of God's covenant love, often translated as "steadfast love" or "mercy" in other versions. The Hebrew word "chesed" conveys a sense of loyal love and faithfulness. This enduring love is a central theme throughout the Bible, highlighting God's unchanging nature and commitment to His people. It is seen in His patience and forgiveness, despite Israel's repeated disobedience. The phrase is a refrain throughout Psalm 136, underscoring the perpetual and unbreakable nature of God's love. This enduring love is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, whose sacrificial death and resurrection provide eternal life for believers, as seen in John 3:16. The repetition of this phrase in the psalm serves as a reminder of God's unwavering commitment to His promises and His people.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Israelites
The chosen people of God, who received the Promised Land as an inheritance.

2. The Promised Land
The land of Canaan, which God promised to Abraham and his descendants.

3. God
The central figure who, in His loving devotion, fulfills His promises to His people.

4. Canaanite Nations
The original inhabitants of the land that God gave to the Israelites.

5. Inheritance
The act of receiving land as a fulfillment of God's promise, symbolizing His faithfulness.
Teaching Points
God's Faithfulness
God's promise to give the land as an inheritance demonstrates His unwavering faithfulness. Believers can trust in God's promises in their own lives.

Enduring Loving Devotion
The phrase "His loving devotion endures forever" highlights God's eternal commitment to His people. This should encourage believers to rely on God's steadfast love in all circumstances.

Spiritual Inheritance
While the Israelites received a physical land, Christians are reminded of their spiritual inheritance in Christ. This inheritance is eternal and secure.

Obedience and Trust
The Israelites' journey to the Promised Land required obedience and trust in God. Believers today are called to live in obedience and trust in God's plan for their lives.

Gratitude for God's Provision
Recognizing God's provision in giving the land should lead to a heart of gratitude. Believers are encouraged to thank God for His blessings and provisions.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the concept of inheritance in Psalm 136:21 relate to the promises God made to Abraham in Genesis 12:7?

2. In what ways can we see God's loving devotion enduring forever in our own lives today?

3. How does the physical inheritance of the Israelites point to the spiritual inheritance believers have in Christ?

4. What lessons can we learn from the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land about obedience and trust in God?

5. How can we cultivate a heart of gratitude for God's provision, as seen in His giving of the land to the Israelites?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 12:7
God's promise to Abraham about giving the land to his descendants, establishing the foundation for the inheritance.

Joshua 1:6
God's command to Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, fulfilling the promise.

Deuteronomy 7:1-2
Instructions to the Israelites regarding the conquest of the Canaanite nations, showing God's plan for the inheritance.

Psalm 105:11
Reiteration of God's promise to give the land of Canaan as an inheritance, emphasizing His faithfulness.

Hebrews 11:8-10
The faith of Abraham in God's promise, connecting the physical inheritance to a spiritual one.
A Song, a Solace, a Sermon, and a SummonsPsalm 136:1-26
Does His Mercy Endure Forever?S. Conway Psalm 136:1-26
God's Goodness and MercyR. Harris, D. D.Psalm 136:1-26
Repetitions Many, But not VainS. Conway Psalm 136:1-26
The Church's AntiphonS. Conway Psalm 136:1-26
The Duty of Praise and ThanksgivingH. Bonar, D. D.Psalm 136:1-26
The Eternity or God's GoodnessHomilistPsalm 136:1-26
From Egypt to CanaanS. Conway Psalm 136:10-25
Mercy in the Destruction of TyrantsHomilistPsalm 136:17-22
Sihon and Og, or Mercies in DetailPsalm 136:17-22
Fulfillment of Race-MissionsR. Tuck Psalm 136:21, 22
People
Amorites, Egyptians, Og, Pharaoh, Psalmist, Sihon
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Age, Endures, Endureth, Everlasting, Forever, Heritage, Inheritance, Kindness, Love, Loving, Lovingkindness, Loving-kindness, Mercy, Steadfast, Unchanging
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 136:1-26

     1085   God, love of
     8352   thankfulness

Library
Pilgrim Song
Gerhard Ter Steegen Ps. cxxxvi. 16 Come, children, on and forward! With us the Father goes; He leads us, and He guards us Through thousands of our foes: The sweetness and the glory, The sunlight of His eyes, Make all the desert places To glow as paradise. Lo! through the pathless midnight The fiery pillar leads, And onward goes the Shepherd Before the flock He feeds; Unquestioning, unfearing, The lambs may follow on, In quietness and confidence, Their eyes on Him alone. Come, children, on and
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

The Last Discourses of Christ - the Prayer of Consecration.
THE new Institution of the Lord's Supper did not finally close what passed at that Paschal Table. According to the Jewish Ritual, the Cup is filled a fourth time, and the remaining part of the Hallel [5717] repeated. Then follow, besides Ps. cxxxvi., a number of prayers and hymns, of which the comparatively late origin is not doubtful. The same remark applies even more strongly to what follows after the fourth Cup. But, so far as we can judge, the Institution of the Holy Supper was followed by the
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Minstrel
ELISHA needed that the Holy Spirit should come upon him to inspire him with prophetic utterances. "Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." We need that the hand of the Lord should be laid upon us, for we can never open our mouths in wisdom except we are under the divine touch. Now, the Spirit of God works according to his own will. "The wind bloweth where it listeth," and the Spirit of God operates as he chooseth. Elisha could not prophesy just when he liked; he must wait until
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 27: 1881

Gethsemane
We turn once more to follow the steps of Christ, now among the last He trod upon earth. The hymn,' with which the Paschal Supper ended, had been sung. Probably we are to understand this of the second portion of the Hallel, [5818] sung some time after the third Cup, or else of Psalm cxxxvi., which, in the present Ritual, stands near the end of the service. The last Discourses had been spoken, the last Prayer, that of Consecration, had been offered, and Jesus prepared to go forth out of the City, to
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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