Psalms 135

Give Praise, O Servants of the LORD

1 Hallelujah! ^{[a] 1} Praise the name of the LORD. Give praise, O servants of the LORD,

2 who stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God.

3 Hallelujah, for the LORD is good; sing praises to His name, for it is lovely.

4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob as His own, Israel as His treasured possession.

5 For I know that the LORD is great; our Lord is above all gods.

6 The LORD does all that pleases Him in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and in all their depths.

7 He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He generates the lightning with the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.

8 He struck down the firstborn of Egypt, of both man and beast.

9 He sent signs and wonders into your midst, O Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants.

10 He struck down many nations and slaughtered mighty kings:

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

12 He gave their land as an inheritance, as a heritage to His people Israel.

13 Your name, O LORD, endures forever, Your renown, O LORD, through all generations.

14 For the LORD will vindicate His people ^[b] and will have compassion on His servants.

15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.

16 They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see;

17 they have ears, but cannot hear; nor is there breath in their mouths.

18 Those who make them become like them, as do all who trust in them.

19 O house of Israel, bless the LORD; O house of Aaron, bless the LORD;

20 O house of Levi, bless the LORD; you who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!

21 Blessed be the LORD from Zion— He who dwells in Jerusalem. Hallelujah!

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.

Cross References

• 1. (Psalms 115:1–18)

Footnotes

• [a]. Or Hallelu YAH, meaning Praise the LORD; also in verses 3 and 21
• [b]. Or will judge His people; see also LXX; cited in Hebrews 10:30.

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.