Psalms 135

Psalms 135:1-4

This is the last of the fifteen songs of degrees, penned probably when David appointed the Levites in their course, 1 Chron. xlii. 26—30.

¶ A song of degrees.

1. Bhold, ‘bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD. 2. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary: and bless the LORD. 3. The LORD, that made heaven and earth, bless thee out of Zion.

In the courts of the tabernacle the Levites kept constant watch and ward night and day; and in these hours of their attendance the psalmist directs them.

1. How to employ their time in blessing, praises, and prayer to God, v. 1, 2. the happy occupation of all God’s faithful ones who delight in the courts of his sanctuary, condoles watch unto prayer, and in every thing give thanks.

2. They thank and pray for him, who gives them this good advice, The Lord, that made heaven and earth, bless thee out of Zion. Or these words may be considered as an encouragement to engage their praises, because the Lord out of Zion shall bless thee, returning in blessings upon themselves the praises they offered up to him. Note, They who wait upon God shall find the blessedness of his service; he will bless us, and we need nothing more to make us happy, now and for evermore.

This is one of the Hallelujah psalms. 1. It begins with a call to praise God, particularly a call to the servants of the Lord to praise him, as in the foregoing psalm, ver. 1—3. 2. It goes on to furnish us with matter for praise. God is to be praised, (1.) As the God of Jacob, ver. 4. (2.) As the God of gods, ver. 5. (3.) As the God of the whole world, ver. 6, 7. (4.) As a terrible God to the enemies of Israel, ver. 8—11. (5.) As a gracious God to Israel, both in what he had done for them, and what he should do, ver. 12—14. (6.) As the only loving God, all other gods being vanity and a lie, ver. 15—18. 3. It concludes with another exhortation to all persons concerned to praise God, ver. 19—21.

1. Praise ye the LORD, praise ye the name of the LORD, praise him, O ye servants of the LORD. 2. Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God. 3. Praise ye the LORD, for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name, for it is pleasant. 4. For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.

This psalm is full of praise: and that the servants of God may never want matter for their songs, David suggests.

1. His great goodness. He is good in himself to all his creatures, especially to the vessels of mercy, who are peculiarly bound to praise him for the riches of his grace manifested to their souls.

2. The delightfulness of the service. It is pleasant: no pleasure indeed can equal a sense of the Divine love, warm upon the soul, and battling forth in grateful acknowledgments to him who hath shed it abroad in our hearts.

3. The distinguishing privileges of God’s Israel, and the obligations thereon arising. For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure. God’s people are his chosen, which in his sovereign grace be depassed for his own, and in whom he delights, as men do in their treasures; most bounden therefore are they in love and duty to adore him for his mercy.

4. For

5. For I know that the LORD is great, and that our LORD is above all gods: 6. Whosoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. 7. He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth, he makes lightnings for the rain: he bringeth the wind out of his treasures. 8. Who smote the first-born of Egypt, both of man and beall. 9. Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharoah, and upon all his servants. 10. Who smote great nations, and few mighty kings: 11. Simon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Balban, and all the kingdoms of Canaan: 12. And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people. 13. They name, O LORD, endureth for ever, and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations. 14. For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.

Psalms 135:5-14

The greatness, as well as the goodness of God, opens a large field for his people’s praises: this is here insisted upon:

1. In general, I know that he is great in his adorable perfectness, and all the wonders of his power, manifested in the works of creation and providence; yea, there is neither measure nor end of his greatness, it surpasses all created understanding; our Lord is above all gods, whether the idols of the heathen, the kings of the earth, or the mighty angels, none can compare with him, less than nothing and vanity before him; his power is universal, what he wills he doth in heaven of earth, without control, and with absolute sovereignty, v. 6.

2. In particular instances, [1.] The rain, lightning, and winds own his government. By his established order in the course of nature, the heat of the sun causes the exhalations to ascend, and float in clouds; according to their different nature, the winds of the earth, or the mighty angels, none can compare with him, less than nothing and vanity before him; his power is universal, what he wills he doth in heaven of earth, without control, and with absolute sovereignty, v. 6.

3. In particular instances, [1.] The rain, lightning, and winds own his government. By his established order in the course of nature, the heat of the sun causes the exhalations to ascend, and float in clouds; according to their different nature, the winds of the earth, or the mighty angels, none can compare with him, less than nothing and vanity before him; his power is universal, what he wills he doth in heaven of earth, without control, and with absolute sovereignty, v. 6.

4. God’s people will feel the everlasting effects of his goodness and greatness: he is for ever the same, v. 13. to latest ages his people shall prove his power and his love, the memorial of which will be transmitted from one generation to another, and confirmed full by the experience of the preceding. For the Lord will judge his people, rule over them, preserve, protect them, plead their cause against their enemies, and at the last day crown them with glory, and will repent himself concerning his servants; if he chastises them for a while, he will change his method of procedure with them, and turn their mourning into joy; or, he will be interested for his servants, being gracious to hear, and grant their prayer; or, he will comfort himself concerning his servants, delighting in their prosperity, and watching over them for good: and happy the people who are in such a case!

5. The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the works of meres hands. 16. They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not. 17. They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. 18. They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them. 19. Bles the LORD, O house of Israel: bles the LORD, O house of Aaron. 20. Bles the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bles the LORD. 21. Blesed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalms 135:15-21

The plainest here.

1. Yours contempt on the vanities of the heathen, and on their worshippers: their idols, though made of the most precious metals, were the creatures of their own hands, foothests, and unable to hear or answer the prayers of their stupid votations, who trusted in them, and thereby proved themselves as void of understanding as the flock they adged.

2. He encourages the house of Israel to praise and trust in their God, the only living and true God, who deserved their highest thankgivings, and was able to save them to the untermouth: the people in general, the mindless of the loneliness in particular, and all that fear the Lord, Jews and profetites,

assembled in Zion, must join to bless his name, so good, so great, and render him that tribute which they so deeply owed. Now, The greatness and goodness of our God will be the saints everlasting long, and eternity shall never be able to exhaust the subject.