The Most Unique Psalm of the Psalter--Psalm 136

The Most Unique Psalm of the Psalter--Psalm 136

Psalm 136 has been called the most unique Psalm of the Psalter. While this Psalm has similarities to other Psalms, it is its format that stands out.  Look it over.  Do you know why it stands out?  If you said, "its repetitive refrain you'd be correct!"  For it is the one and only Psalm, the sole Psalm, that has the same refrain to end all of its twenty-six verses.

Some Psalm 136 Stats:  Book V, No Superscription, Vvs. 26, Words: Mercy, Antiphonal, Unique, Refrain, Thanks

First Verse:  "O GIVE thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever."

Final Verse:  "O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth forever."

It's An Antiphonal Psalm:  This Psalm is an antiphonal psalm because in Bible days the Levite Priest read the first part, and the people responded with the refrain.  How many times did the people repeat the refrain?  How many words are in it?  Which five letter word means "loving-kindness?"  Which word means "continues"?  Do we today divide the word "forever"? 

It's A Thanksgiving Psalm:  How do its first three words begin?  To whom should we give thanks? (The LORD, God of gods, and the Lord of lords) Why? 

An OT Ref:  Go back to Ps.106:1. How does it begin?  How is it the same?  different?   Be looking for other Scripture that repeats:  "for/that the mercy of the Lord endureth for ever."

Reasons to Thank the Lord:  Check out verses four to twenty-five for reasons why we should do this.  

Click on the "Stat and Chat" Mats Pics:  Always click on the photo pic for enlarged view of the mats.  Remember, you can add other things to your mats focusing in on what you wish to emphasize.  In this Psalm e.g. you might add info regarding the two famous kings mentioned; "Sihon and Og." 

View the Stat Mat Photo:  The Stat Mat Statistics includes Psalm 136, Book 5, 26 Vvs., a verse image, and the three ways God is addressed in verse 1-3.  Notice Book 5 uses the numeral 5, but if one turns over the card the Roman numeral "V" can be seen.  

Bottle Top Rings Great to Highlight Vocab Words:  Notice that bottle top rings that may be moved to highlight various words/numbers.  For the youngest:  Count to twenty-six, and 136.  After find the Psalm in their Bible and use a highlighter over the 26 refrain verses.

View the Chat Mat Photo:

The Priest's Part/The People's Part  

At the mat top is a small Levite priest made by using an orange juice lid and adding a priestly hat, eyes, nose, mouth, plus beard.  Recall that the priest reads the first part of each verse, while the people answer or respond with the refrain.  For the younger kids use more orange juice tops to make some responders--the people.  View verse one on the mat, and check out the mat for the priest's section, and the people's refrain.     

The Word of the Week Is Unique!  

Below that is the word "Unique" all in caps.  Chat about why this is a unique Psalm. By the way, today we call antiphonal psalms responsive readings.

A Key Psalm Refrain Word: Mercy!

Highlight the word "mercy" inside the bottle top rings.  It's biblical meaning is "loving-kindness." God mercy, as the Psalm repeats, continues for how long?  Which word means "continues?"  

Listen to Psalm 136 Video: put into song where the musician sings the verse, and the people answer.  This song is from Grace Immanuel Bible Church and is their rendition of Ps. 136.  It is an excellent example of antiphonal singing.  For "mercy" in the refrain they sing "love."  Find here: New psalm setting: "Give Thanks to God (Psalm 136)" - Grace Music

There Is One Psalm

There is one Psalm

that you should know

that over and over

goes like so: 

"...for his mercy 

endureth for ever."

There is one Psalm

that has a refrain

that 26 times says

again and again:

"...for his mercy

endureth for ever."

And just so we 

won't forget-

one more time

let's all chime:

"...for his mercy 

endureth for ever."

Do you know

this Psalm?

Yes!  Psalm 136!

                        LEP

Last line:  Yell: "Psalm 136!" Have kids make a card saying "... for his mercy endureth for ever."  Hold it up each time the phrase is repeated; have older kids make their own card. 

 A Kids' Challenge:  Write the refrain twenty-six different ways using different tools or colors.  For example, one might use highlighters, markers, glitter markers, thin markers, thicker markers, colored pencils, crayons, chalk, and so on.  Kids might even go on the computer and write the refrain with twenty-six different fonts.