Psalm 135

1 Praise ye the name of the Lord; praise the Lord, ye his servants,

2 who 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 to his name; for it is good.

4 For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.

5 For I know that the Lord is great, and our Lord is above all gods;

6 all that the Lord willed, he did in heaven, and on the earth, in the sea, and in all deeps.

7 Who brings up clouds from the extremity of the earth: he has made lightnings for the rain: he brings winds out of his treasures.

8 Who smote the first-born of Egypt, both of man and beast.

9 He sent signs and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, on Pharao, and on all his servants.

10 Who smote many nations, and slew mighty kings;

11 Seon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Basan, and all the kingdoms of Chanaan:

12 and gave their land for an inheritance, an inheritance to Israel his people.

13 O Lord, thy name endures for ever, and thy memorial to all generations.

14 For the Lord shall judge his people, and comfort himself concerning his servants.

15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the works of men’s hands.

16 They have a mouth, but they cannot speak; they have eyes, but they cannot see;

17 they have ears, but they cannot hear; for there is no breath in their mouth.

18 Let those who make them be made like to them; and all those who trust in them.

19 O house of Israel, bless ye the Lord: O house of Aaron, bless ye the Lord:

20 O house of Levi, bless ye the Lord: ye that fear the Lord, bless the Lord.

21 Blessed in Sion be the Lord, who dwells in Jerusalem.

Psalm 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.