Psalms 135

This Psalm also w f ants a title in the Hebrew: but the Greeks arc justified in the former part of their inscription (which calls it An Ode of David’s), by 1 Chron. xvi. where we find, that, at the bringing up the ark from the house of Obed-Edom, to the place he had prepared for it on Mount Zion, David delivered this Psalm (together with the hundred and fifth) into the hand of Asaph, to express the joy he had in God’s special presence among them: which all their neighbours round about, he foretells, should be made sensible of, as well as themselves. This Psalm, indeed, is not exactly the very same with that; but there is a difference in some expressions: ex.gr. it is called here a new song, but not there; which shews it was afterward altered by some Divine person, who accommodated it to other uses. And very probably by Ezra, when they came out of Babylon: which occasioned the Greeks to add, in the latter part of the inscription of this Psalm, these words: when the house teas built after the captivity. Ezra, that is, made use of it to express their joy at the re-edification of the temple. But it never had a complete fulfilling, answerable to the height of it, till the Messiah (wiio was indeed the temple of God)came to dwell among us, to give eternal salva- * tic>n to us. Several, of the Jewish writers acknowledge that it belongs to his times: and accordingly we not only may, but ought to have him in our minds, when we say, Sing unto the Lord a new song (for his new grace, that is, in sending him to give salvation to all nations), and the Lord reiguetk, (ver. 10.) and hath all thiugs put under his feet. (See Euseb. in his Demonstrat. Evangelica, lib. k cap. 4.) Ver.l. \J SING unto the Lord a new song; sing unto the Lord all the earth.’) O sing praises unto the Lord, for his new and extraordinary benefitswhich he hath bestowed upon us: let all the earth join together with us to sing his praises. This perhaps was the Morning Hymn, which the precentor (ver. 4, 5.) called upon the Levites to sing, at the opening of the gates of the temple: as the former was sung at the shutting up of the gates in the evening. It recounts several of the great works of the Lord.; especially towards that nation: whom it excites to steadfastness in their religion; and to contempt of idols and idolaters. It both begins and concludes with an exhortation to give praise to God; and so was entitled, as several other Psalms are, (cvi. cxi. &c.) Hallelujah, or Praise the Lord: that is, by this Hymn set forth the most excellent perfections and works of the Lord. There are those who conjecture, from what we read ver, 14. of this Psalm, that when it was composed they were (or rather had been lately) infested “by some of their idolatrous neighbours. Whose gods the Psalmist derides in the very same manner as he doth Psal. cxv. For the four following verses of this Psalm, 15 — 18. differ very little from 4 — 6. 8. of that, which it is certain was composed in a timo of great distress; as this was when it was over. without their life: having mouths, but eannot give a word of advice, or comfort, to their supplicants; and eyes also, but cannot see, much less prevent any danger that doth approach them.

Psalms 135:1

Jl RAISE ye the Lord. Praise ye the name of the Lord; praise him, O ye servants of the Lord. Let all here present praise the most wise omnipotent goodness of the Lord: let him especially be praised, by you, his priests, who minister unto his majesty.

Psalms 135:2

Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. We can never praise him enough; and therefore cease not to bless his name, and to spread the fame of his almighty goodness towards us; but publish every day, with joyful hearts, the great deliverances he hath wrought for us. Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.] And by the Levites who attend upon him in his house; together with all the rest of his people, that frequent the courts of God’s house, who is our constant and most liberal benefactor.

Psalms 135:3

Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders ammig all people. Tell the nations round about how he hath glorified himself: let none of them be ignorant of the wonderful things he hath done among us. Praise ye the Lord; for the Lord is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.] Let this excite you all to praise the Lord: for, as his nature is most excellent, so he is the fountain of all the good we enjoy: and no employment is so delightful as to acknowledge his perfections, and commemorate the benefits we have received from him, by singing psalms and hymns of praise and thanks unto him.

Psalms 135:4

For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. For all our praises fall infinitely short of the greatness of the Lord; who is worthy of the highest praise of the whole world: and hath shewn both to us (1 Chron. xiii. 10—12. 1 Sam. vi. 29.) and to others (1 Sam. v. 3, 4, &c.) how dreadful he is above all that are called gods. For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself and Israel for his pecidiar treasure.] I invite you above all other people to this heavenly duty: both because the Lord had a peculiar kindness for Jacob your forefather; and doth still exercise a special providence over you his children, as far more dear and precious. to him, than the rest of mankind, who are under his care:

Psalms 135:5

For all the gods of the nations are idols; but the Lord made the heavens. For all the gods of the nations arc nothing worth, being able to do neither good nor harm; but the Lord not only made the earth, but the heavens too; which abundantly declare the greatness and splendour of his majesty. • Ver. G. Honour and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are i?i his sanctuary.] Whose heavenly court infinitely outshines all the state and pomp wherein the greatest earthly monarchs live, (Esther i. 4.) For all tho words we have are not able to express the brightness and magnificence, the power and comely order, of so much as his ministers: an image of which we have in his holy place; wherein he manifests himself among us. For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Jjord is above all gods.] And because I am sensible that the Lord, under whose government we are, is so great and powerful ^bove all other beings, though called by the name of gods; that you can never praise his majesty enough. Ver. G. Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and inearth, in the seas, and all deep places.] His own will alone gives bounds to his power: for, as none act without his leave, so none can hinder him from doing what pleases himself; in the heavens as well as in the earth, and the seas, and other deep waters.

Psalms 135:7

Give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, givevnto the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe, therefore, unto the Lord, O yc people, from whatsoever family yc come; ascribe unto him that incomparable majesty, and supreme dominion and authority, which you give to imaginary gods. lie causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.] He raises vapours, for instance, from any quarter of the earth, and makes them go up into the air; where some of them break forth in flashes of lightning; and that (which is strange) is followed with great showers of rain: and, from unknown places and causes, strong and violent winds blow with such continuance, as if they came out of some treasury, where he had gathered, and long locked them up, till he had occasion to bring them forth.

Psalms 135:8

Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. And renounce them all; and, acknowledging the Lord alone to be the omnipotent king of all the world, do him honour suitable to the excellency of his majesty; bring him an oblation in token of your subjection to him, and humbly worship liim in his temple. Who smote the first-born of Egypt, both of man and beast.] He made the Egyptians feel how much superior he was to all their gods; (Exod. xii. 12.) who could not defend them from his stroke: but he sent his angel, and, in one night slew all the first-born in the country, both of man and beast, (ver. 29.)

Psalms 135:9

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him all the earth. O come and cast down yourselves before the Lord in his sanctuary, where he hath fixed his. glorious residence among us: adore his transcendent perfections; and let all the people approach into his presence with a pious trembling and dread to offend their Sovereign. u Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, tinto Pharaoh, mid upon all his servants.] Before which terrible blow, he had given many other won* derful demonstrations of his power, in several miraculous plagues; which he openly inflicted on thee, O Egypt; not only on the meaner sort, but upon the king and all his court, (Exod. vii. — ix. &c.)

Psalms 135:10

Say among the heathen, that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be established, that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously. Go, ye that, are already become proselytes unto him, and publish every where, in all countries, that the Lord [Christ] is the sovereign of the world, who alone can make it happy: for he shall settle those in peace that submit unto his government; and. they shall not be so disturbed as they were wont, with wars and tumults: he shall administer equal justice unto all; and neither suffer the good to be unrewarded, nor the evil to escape unpunished. Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings.] And after he had, by these means, brought you out of their bondage, he overthrew several great nations and slew potent kings: who, presuming of their strength, opposed the accomplishment of his promises to you.

Psalms 135:11

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the whole universe therefore be filled with joy a.t this blessed news; which the angels themselves shall gladly receive: (Luke i. 30. 32.) much more ought all mankind, wheresoever they are dispersed, on the earth, or on the sea, and the islands thereof, exceedingly rejoice; and fill all places with the loud sound of their joyful praises. Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan.] First of all Sihon king of the Amorites, who were esteemed invincible, (Numb. xxi. 24. Amos ii. 9.) and then Og, that giantly king of Bashan, (Numb. xxi. 33. Deut. iii. 11.) and, at last, all the kingdoms and kings of the land of Canaan, (Josh. xii.

Psalms 135:12

Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice. Let the husbandmen, and the shepherds, and all that dwell in the fields, leap for joy: and the woodmen and foresters shout for joy, to sec the happy day approaching; when all the idols that arc worshipped there shall be thrown down together with their groves., h And gave their land for a heritage, a heritage unto Israel his people.] Which he graciously bestowed upon us, the children of Israel, as an inheritance we should hold of him, by a Divine right; of which none, while we continue his obedient people, shall be able to dispossess us.

Psalms 135:13

Before the Lord; for he cometk, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world ivith righteousness, and the people with his truth. Let them welcome that day; and meet the Lord with forward affection, who is coming to thcin: for he comes to reform the earth, and will govern mankind hf righteous and merciful laws; and faithfully keep his word with all those that truly observe them. Thy name, O Lord, endurethfor ever; and thy memorial, O Lord, throughout all generations.] O Lord, how astonishing is this thy omnipotent goodness! the fame of which shall never be forgotten: but an illustrious memory, O Lord, shall be continued of it, from generation to generation.

Psalms 135:14

For the Ixyrd will judge his people, and lie tvill repent himself concerning his servants. For though our enemies may sometimes oppress us, when we offend him, yet tho Lord, at last, will take the part of his people, and deliver thorn: and, being reconciled unto his servants, will turn his severity into kindness towards them.

Psalms 135:15

The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. It is not in the power of the idols, which tho heathen worship, to divert his kindness from us; for they are of no more value than the silver and the gold of which they are made: and are so far from being able to do any thing, that they themselves are made by those that adore them.

Psalms 135:16

They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not. They are mere images of things,

Psalms 135:17

They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. Ears they have; but cannot hear a word that is said to them: and noses also; but they do not so much as breathe, much less can they smell the odours that are offered them. Vcr. 18. Th*% that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.’] They that make them therefore, or put any confidence in them, are as senseless as themselves; having eyes, for instance, but do not see, that brutes are more excellent than such gods; and that no help is to be expected from them,

Psalms 135:19

Bless the Lord, O house of Israel: bless the Lord, O house of Aaron. O how much then are we all bound to bless the Lord, the creator of all, who hath freed ns from this stupid blindness. Let the whole nation of the children of Israel, especially’ the priests of the Lord, praise him and give thanks to him, who hath better instructed them. Vcr. 20. Bless the Lord, O house of Levi: ye that fear the Lord, bless the Lord.] Let all the Levites declare how gracious he is: yea, let all his pious worshippers, of whatsoever nation they be, join in this heavenly employment, of speaking good of the Lord.

Psalms 135:21

Blessed be the Lord out ofZion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord. Let them all say, with one accord, The Lord be ever praised in this holy place; who, though he be the owner of all the world, yet makes his special residence at Jerusalem, The honour the heathens give to their lifeless images ought to excite you all,- with the greater devotion, to praise the Lord of the world. ( *