How does Psalm 136:2 affirm the existence of one true God over other deities? Verbal And Textual Data Psalm 136:2 : “Give thanks to the God of gods. His loving devotion endures forever.” Hebrew: הוֹדוּ לֵאלֹהֵי הָאֱלֹהִים כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ (hodû leʾĕlōhê hāʾĕlōhîm kî leʿôlām ḥasdô). The plural-singular construction “ʾĕlōhê hāʾĕlōhîm” is a Hebrew superlative meaning “the supreme God” rather than a concession that other true gods exist. Literary Frame Of Psalm 136 Psalm 136 is a liturgical antiphon—26 lines, each ending “His loving devotion endures forever.” Verses 1–3 form a triad: “Give thanks to the LORD… the God of gods… the Lord of lords,” piling titles to underline absolute supremacy before the psalm recounts creation (vv. 4-9), redemption from Egypt (vv. 10-15), providence in the wilderness (vv. 16-22), and ongoing care (vv. 23-25). The structure itself functions as testimony that the One addressed is unequalled in power and covenant love. Near-Eastern Backdrop And Polemic Ancient Near-Eastern literature—Ugaritic tablets (14th c. BC) listing El, Baal, Anat, Mot, et al.; Enuma Elish’s pantheon; the Babylonian “gods lists”—shows religion by committee. Israel’s Scriptures answer with a polemical formula: “God of gods” (Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 136:2) and “There is no God besides Me” (Isaiah 45:5). Far from hedging, the phrase is a courtroom claim that the LORD alone is ontologically real while so-called gods are non-entities (Jeremiah 10:11; 1 Corinthians 8:4). Theological Claims Embedded In The Title 1. Exclusivity: A singular divine nature—“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). 2. Supremacy: All powers—angelic, earthly kings, demonic pretenders—are derivative, judged by Him (Psalm 82:1). 3. Eternality: “Loving devotion” (ḥesed) links verse 2 to Yahweh’s covenant name (Exodus 34:6-7), implying the same God acts consistently from creation to final redemption. Cross-Canonical Witness • OT echoes: Exodus 15:11; 2 Samuel 7:22; 1 Kings 8:23; Psalm 86:8-10. • NT echoes: 1 Timothy 6:15 (“King of kings and Lord of lords”); Revelation 17:14; John 17:3 (“the only true God”)—each showing the early church’s seamless continuation of Psalm 136’s monotheism while confessing Jesus as divine (John 1:1-3). Philosophical And Apologetic Relevance Cosmological necessity: A finite universe (confirmed by B-mode polarization, cosmic microwave background, and the Cepheid/Type Ia distance ladder) requires an uncaused first cause outside space-time. Psalm 136:5-9 names that cause. Moral argument: The refrain “His loving devotion” grounds objective morality in God’s character, answering the Euthyphro dilemma. Resurrection corroboration: The historical bedrock of Jesus’ bodily resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-8; minimal-facts consensus) uniquely verifies that the “God of gods” vindicated Jesus’ divine claims, thus cementing the psalmist’s thesis. Archaeological Data Supporting A Singular Yahwistic Faith • Ketef Hinnom silver scrolls (7th c. BC) display the Priestly Blessing, invoking YHWH alone. • Mesha Stele (mid-9th c. BC) distinguishes Chemosh from “YHWH,” showing Israel’s God perceived as a singular rival, not a peer. • Tel Dan inscription (9th c. BC) and Merneptah Stele (13th c. BC) locate “Israel” early, aligning with a Mosaic-era monotheism. • Qumran Psalm scroll 11QPs a (1st c. BC) contains Psalm 136 almost verbatim, demonstrating textual stability. Practical Implications For Worship And Evangelism Recognizing God as the “God of gods” demands exclusive loyalty (Matthew 4:10). The psalm’s evangelistic thrust—gratitude rooted in covenant mercy—answers pluralistic relativism by pointing seekers to a personal, knowable Creator whose definitive self-revelation is Jesus Christ (Acts 17:22-31). Summary Psalm 136:2, in five Hebrew words, proclaims that the LORD alone possesses ultimate being, authority, and steadfast love. Set against polytheistic cultures, authenticated by manuscript fidelity, corroborated by archaeology, and fulfilled in the resurrected Christ, the verse compellingly affirms the existence of one true God over every pretended deity. |
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