Single lesson
Psalm 136: His Loving Devotion Endures Forever
Psalms 136:1–26
Psalm 136 is a song of thanks with one repeated line in every verse. Students will trace how the psalm moves from God’s goodness, to creation, to rescue, to present help and provision.
Before you teach
The psalm opens and closes with calls to give thanks. Between those calls, it names God’s wonders in creation, his rescue of Israel from Egypt and through the Red Sea, his leading in the wilderness, victories over named kings, his remembering “us” in low estate, and his food for every creature.
Students will identify the repeated refrain, outline Psalm 136 in order, and explain how the whole psalm presents God’s enduring loving kindness.
Welcome: Listen for the repeated line
6 minRead Psalms 136:1-3 aloud. Ask students to spot the words repeated in each verse. Note the opening command, “Give thanks”, and the titles “God of gods” and “Lord of lords”. Explain that this repeated refrain gives the psalm its pattern and main message from the beginning.
Psalms 136:1, Psalms 136:2, Psalms 136:3
Read and explain: Creation shows his loving kindness
8 minRead Psalms 136:4-9. Write the images named in the poem: wonders, heavens, earth above the waters, great lights, sun, moon, and stars. Point out that the psalm links God’s understanding in making the heavens with the same refrain repeated after each work.
Psalms 136:4, Psalms 136:5, Psalms 136:6, Psalms 136:7, Psalms 136:8, Psalms 136:9
Discuss: Rescue, wilderness, and named kings
8 minRead Psalms 136:10-22 slowly. Trace the order: Egypt, Israel brought out, the Red Sea divided, Israel passing through, Pharaoh overthrown, wilderness leading, then great and mighty kings. Notice that Sihon and Og are named, and their land becomes an inheritance for Israel his servant.
Psalms 136:10, Psalms 136:11, Psalms 136:13, Psalms 136:14, Psalms 136:15, Psalms 136:16, Psalms 136:17, Psalms 136:18, Psalms 136:19, Psalms 136:20, Psalms 136:21, Psalms 136:22
Make and respond: Illustrated refrain card
11 minStudents fold paper into three panels labelled Creation, Rescue, and Help Now. In each panel, they draw or write words from the psalm and add the refrain once. Encourage them to include only details the psalm names, then write one sentence explaining how the repeated line connects all three panels.
Psalms 136:4, Psalms 136:10, Psalms 136:23, Psalms 136:25, Psalms 136:26
Closing: From “Israel” to “us” to “every creature”
7 minRead Psalms 136:23-26. Ask students what changes near the end. The psalm speaks of “us” in low estate, deliverance from adversaries, and food for every creature, then ends with thanks to the God of heaven. Summarise the full movement together in one spoken outline.
Psalms 136:23, Psalms 136:24, Psalms 136:25, Psalms 136:26
Questions to explore
Why is the repeated line important in this psalm?
Look at how the same words follow opening praise, creation, rescue, and the closing thanksgiving, so the refrain ties every section to one main claim.
Psalms 136:1, Psalms 136:4, Psalms 136:10, Psalms 136:26
What order do the rescue events follow in verses 10-16?
List the actions exactly as the psalm gives them: Egypt, Israel brought out, the sea divided, Israel passing through, Pharaoh overthrown, and the wilderness.
Psalms 136:10, Psalms 136:11, Psalms 136:13, Psalms 136:14, Psalms 136:15, Psalms 136:16
How does the ending broaden the psalm’s focus?
Notice the move from Israel’s inheritance to “us” in low estate and then to food for every creature before the final thanks.
Psalms 136:22, Psalms 136:23, Psalms 136:25, Psalms 136:26
Make, think or respond
Illustrated Refrain Card
What you’ll need
- paper
- pencils
- coloured pencils or markers
- Bible
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels labelled Creation, Rescue, and Help Now.
- Read the matching verses and draw or write key words from each part of the psalm.
- Write the refrain, “for his loving kindness endures forever”, on each panel.
- Add one sentence on the back explaining what the repeated line means across the whole psalm.
This activity helps students see the psalm’s movement and how one refrain connects creation, rescue, and present help.
Adapt for your group
- For younger or less confident readers, pre-write the three panel headings and let them choose one verse image for each panel.
- For stronger readers, ask them to include the named kings Sihon and Og and explain why the poem names them.
An optional closing prayer
Suggested prayer: “God of heaven, thank you for your goodness. Help us notice your works in this psalm and respond with truthful thanks. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Psalms 136
1 Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods, for his loving kindness endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his loving kindness endures forever;
4 to him who alone does great wonders, for his loving kindness endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his loving kindness endures forever;
6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his loving kindness endures forever;
7 to him who made the great lights, for his loving kindness endures forever;
8 the sun to rule by day, for his loving kindness endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule by night, for his loving kindness endures forever;
10 to him who struck down the Egyptian firstborn, for his loving kindness endures forever;
11 and brought out Israel from among them, for his loving kindness endures forever;
12 with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, for his loving kindness endures forever;
13 to him who divided the Red Sea apart, for his loving kindness endures forever;
14 and made Israel to pass through the middle of it, for his loving kindness endures forever;
15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, for his loving kindness endures forever;
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his loving kindness endures forever;
17 to him who struck great kings, for his loving kindness endures forever;
18 and killed mighty kings, for his loving kindness endures forever;
19 Sihon king of the Amorites, for his loving kindness endures forever;
20 Og king of Bashan, for his loving kindness endures forever;
21 and gave their land as an inheritance, for his loving kindness endures forever;
22 even a heritage to Israel his servant, for his loving kindness endures forever;
23 who remembered us in our low estate, for his loving kindness endures forever;
24 and has delivered us from our adversaries, for his loving kindness endures forever;
25 who gives food to every creature, for his loving kindness endures forever.
26 Oh give thanks to the God of heaven, for his loving kindness endures forever.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.