Repetitive Prayers

“Give thanks to the Lord of lords,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who alone does great wonders,

for his steadfast love endures forever;” (Psalm 136:3-4 ESV)

Psalm 136 repeats the same phrase 26 times: for his steadfast love endures forever.

Why is it so repetitive?

Doesn’t the Bible warn against rote prayers?

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.” (Matthew 6:7 ESV) 

Repetition, if used mindfully, can help one focus. The key is intentionality.  There is a big difference between merely going through the motions and doing something sincerely. The former is empty while the latter is meaningful. The litany in Psalm 136 is not meant to appease God or garner His favor. It reminds the reader of the enduring faithfulness of God. The rhythmic reiteration is meant to enable contemplation. Reciting rote prayers while allowing our mind to wander is useless. This sort of vain repetition is what the Gospels warn us against. However, as we see in the Psalms, the practice of repeating verses can be deeply prayerful. If done sincerely, it centers our mind on truth.