Psalms 136:10
“To him who struck down the Egyptian firstborn; for his loving kindness endures forever;”
What does Psalms 136:10 mean?
This verse celebrates one of the most pivotal moments in Israel's history, when God brought the tenth plague upon Egypt to free the enslaved Hebrew people. The psalmist connects this act of deliverance, which was both devastating and necessary for liberation, to God's enduring faithfulness and love. It's a reminder that God's mercy isn't separate from God's justice, and that sometimes mercy requires hard intervention to break cycles of oppression. The repeated refrain "his loving kindness endures forever" (which anchors this entire psalm) tells us that even actions born from judgment flow from a heart committed to steadfast love toward God's people.