Psalm 136
This Psalm is an important poem in Hebrew culture. It is sometimes referred to as “the great Hallel,” meaning, “great praise.” You might recognize the Hebrew word “hallel” as the beginning of the expression of praise and worship, “hallelujah.”
In the Jewish tradition, this Psalm is used during morning services on the Sabbath, and also during the Passover meal. As non-Jewish disciples of Jesus, brought into the family of God by his grace, we have something to learn from the way this Psalm has been used in the Jewish culture for hundreds of years.
Both the practice of Sabbath and the Passover meal are rituals God has given His people to remember Him and his faithful love. On the Sabbath, we remember God’s power and rest in his goodness and provision. The Passover meal is a symbol of remembrance for how God rescued the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt. The great Hallel is a Psalm of remembrance. By meditating on it, we have the opportunity to see God’s faithfulness and love throughout generations. But it is also a Psalm of faith. The repeated line, “his love endures forever,” orients our hearts to believe that if God was faithful and loving in the past, he will be faithful and loving in the future.
As followers of Jesus, we cannot forget to remember. In times when it feels like God’s not there, or we doubt his character, we must follow the example of the Hebrews and remember what he has done. From that place of remembrance, remind yourself that God’s love endures forever. God is unchanging. If he was loving then, he is loving now.
Even now, take some time to write down the ways you have seen God moving in your life or in your community. If you are currently in a season where God feels distant, ask a friend to tell you how God is transforming them. Hearing stories of God at work helps us to remember that he has the power to work in and through us, too.
If you don’t currently have disciplines or patterns of remembrance in your life, take a step towards implementing them. This might look like a nightly prayer walk where you reflect on God’s goodness to you that day or a slow morning full of worship once a week.
Whatever your rhythm of remembrance looks like, this Psalm and its integration into Jewish and Christian culture over the years shows that remembrance is central to a faithful life.
