Psalms 135

1 Praise the Lord! Praise his name, you servants of the Lord,

2 who stand in the Lord's house, in the Temple of our God.

3 Praise the Lord, because he is good; sing praises to his name, because he is kind.

4 He chose Jacob for himself, the people of Israel for his own.

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

6 He does whatever he wishes in heaven and on earth, in the seas and in the depths below.

7 He brings storm clouds from the ends of the earth; he makes lightning for the storms, and he brings out the wind from his storeroom.

8 In Egypt he killed all the first-born of people and animals alike.

9 There he performed miracles and wonders to punish the king and all his officials.

10 He destroyed many nations and killed powerful kings:

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

12 He gave their lands to his people; he gave them to Israel.

13 Lord, you will always be proclaimed as God; all generations will remember you.

14 The Lord will defend his people; he will take pity on his servants.

15 The gods of the nations are made of silver and gold; ¹ they are formed by human hands.

16 They have mouths, but cannot speak, and eyes, but cannot see.

17 They have ears, but cannot hear; they are not even able to breathe.

18 May all who made them and who trust in them become like the idols they have made!

19 Praise the Lord, people of Israel; praise him, you priests of God!

20 Praise the Lord, you Levites; praise him, all you that worship him!

21 Praise the Lord in Zion, in Jerusalem, his home. 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.

Cross References

• 1. 135.15-18Psalms 115.4-8;Revelation 9.20.

Footnotes

• [a]. he is kind; [or] it is pleasant to do so.
• [b]. May all . . . become; [or] All who made them and who trust in them will become.

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.