Psalms 135

1 Praise the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord. You who serve the Lord, praise him.

2 You who serve in the house of the Lord, praise him. You who serve in the courtyards of the temple of our God, praise him.

3 Praise the Lord, because he is good. Sing praise to his name, because that is pleasant.

4 The LORD has chosen the people of Jacob to be his own. He has chosen Israel to be his special treasure.

5 I know that the LORD is great. I know that our Lord is greater than all gods.

6 The LORD does anything he wants to do in the heavens and on the earth. He does it even in the deepest parts of the oceans.

7 He makes clouds rise from one end of the earth to the other. He sends lightning with the rain. He brings the wind out of his storerooms.

8 He killed the oldest son of each family in Egypt. He struck down the oldest males that were born to people and animals.

9 He did miraculous signs in Egypt. He did wonders against Pharaoh and everyone who served him.

10 He destroyed many nations. He killed mighty kings.

11 He killed Sihon, the king of the Amorites, and Og, the king of Bashan. He killed all of the kings of Canaan.

12 He gave their land as a gift to his people Israel.

13 Lord, your name continues forever. Lord, your fame will last for all time to come.

14 When the LORD hands down his sentence, it will be in his people's favor. He will show deep concern for those who serve him.

15 The statues of the gods of the nations are made of silver and gold. They are made by the hands of men.

16 They have mouths, but they can't speak. They have eyes, but they can't see.

17 They have ears, but they can't hear. They have mouths, but they can't breathe.

18 Those who make statues of gods will be like them. So will all those who trust in them.

19 People of Israel, praise the Lord. Priests of Aaron, praise the Lord.

20 Tribe of Levi, praise the Lord. You who have respect for the Lord, praise him.

21 Give praise to the LORD in Zion. Give praise to the One who lives in Jerusalem. Praise the Lord.

Psalms 135 Commentary

Chapter 135

God to be praised for his mercy. (1-4) For his power and judgments. (5-14) The vanity of idols. (15-21)

Verses 1-4 The subject-matter of praise, is the blessings of grace flowing from the everlasting love of God. The name of God as a covenant God and Father in Christ, blessing us with all spiritual blessings in him, is to be loved and praised. The Lord chose a people to himself, that they might be unto him for a name and a praise. If they do not praise him for this distinguishing favour, they are the most unworthy and ungrateful of all people.

Verses 5-14 God is, and will be always, the same to his church, a gracious, faithful, wonder-working God. And his church is, and will be, the same to him, a thankful, praising people: thus his name endures for ever. He will return in ways of mercy to them, and will delight to do them good.

Verses 15-21 These verses arm believers against idolatry and all false worship, by showing what sort of gods the heathen worshipped. And the more deplorable the condition of the Gentile nations that worship idols, the more are we to be thankful that we know better. Let us pity, and pray for, and seek to benefit benighted heathens and deluded sinners. Let us endeavour to glorify his name, and recommend his truth, not only with our lips, but by holy lives, copying the example of Christ's goodness and truth.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 135

This psalm was written very probably by the same hand as the former. It begins in much the same manner; it has some likeness with Psalm 113 and 114. It begins and ends with "hallelujah"; and is throughout an exhortation of praise to God, on account of his name, nature, and perfections; and because of his works of creation, providence, and grace, many of which are enumerated. The Syriac interpreter says, there is an intimation in it of the conversion of the people of the Messiah unto the faith.