1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD.
2 Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God.
3 Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.
4 For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.
5 For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
6 Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
7 He 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.
8 Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.
9 Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.
10 Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;
11 Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan:
12 And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.
13 Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations.
14 For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.
15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
16 They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;
17 They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.
18 They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.
19 Bless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron:
20 Bless the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD.
21 Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.
Psalm 135 is a hymn of praise to the Lord, a call to worship, and a reminder of God's power and sovereignty over all things. It is a psalm that encourages us to acknowledge God's greatness, His role in history, His power over nature, and His kindness towards His people. This psalm is not attributed to a specific author but is typically categorized among the "Hallelujah Psalms" due to its emphasis on praise.
Psalm 135 begins with a call to praise God, to bless His name, and to worship Him. The psalmist encourages those who serve in God's house to praise Him, as he is good and His name is pleasant. This indicates a recognition of God's inherent goodness, His benevolence towards His creation, and the joy that comes from acknowledging Him.
The psalmist then moves on to affirm God's sovereignty. He declares that God does whatever pleases Him in the heavens, on the earth, in the seas, and all their depths. This is a bold proclamation of God's supreme authority over the entire universe. It reminds us that God is not limited by human constraints and can act according to His will, which is always good and perfect.
The psalmist also highlights God's role in history, particularly His intervention on behalf of His people, Israel. He mentions God's signs and wonders against Egypt, His defeat of powerful kings, and His gift of their lands to His people. These historical events are not just past occurrences, but they are reminders of God's power, His faithfulness, and His commitment to His people.
These references serve to remind the reader of God's active involvement in human affairs. He is not a distant, uninvolved deity, but a God who is intimately concerned with the affairs of His people and who intervenes on their behalf. This reinforces the idea that God is a personal God who cares for His people and acts in their best interest.
The psalmist further emphasizes God's authority by acknowledging His power over nature. God is the one who causes clouds to ascend from the end of the earth, makes lightnings for the rain, and brings wind out of His treasuries. These poetic descriptions illustrate God's control over the forces of nature.
This emphasis on God's power over nature serves to inspire awe and reverence. It reminds us of our smallness and insignificance in comparison to the vastness and power of the Creator. Yet, despite our smallness, God is mindful of us and cares for us. This realization should lead us to a deeper sense of gratitude and worship.
In contrast to the living and active God, the psalmist describes the idols of the nations as being made of silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, eyes but cannot see, ears but cannot hear, and there is no breath in their mouths. This is a critique of idolatry, highlighting the futility of worshiping inanimate objects that cannot interact with their worshippers or influence the world around them.
The psalmist warns that those who make and trust in idols will become like them, implying that they will become spiritually dead and unresponsive. This is a stark contrast to those who trust in the Lord, who are described as being blessed. Thus, the psalmist encourages the reader to place their trust in the living God rather than in lifeless idols.
The psalmist concludes by reminding the reader of God's kindness towards His people. He asserts that God will vindicate His people and have compassion on His servants. This reassures the reader of God's commitment to His people, His readiness to defend them, and His compassionate nature.
The psalm ends with a triumphant note of praise to God from Zion, the place of His dwelling. This serves to reiterate the central theme of the psalm - the praise and worship of the Lord. The psalmist has taken us on a journey through the many reasons why God is worthy of our praise - His greatness, His power, His involvement in history, His kindness towards His people - and now he invites us to join him in praising God from the depth of our hearts.
Psalm 135 is a powerful hymn of praise that extols the greatness of God. It invites us to worship the Lord for His goodness, His sovereignty, His involvement in human history, His power over nature, and His kindness towards His people. It also warns us of the futility of idolatry and encourages us to place our trust in the living God. By doing so, we are reminded of our place in the grand scheme of things - that we are creatures of a loving and powerful Creator who deserves our utmost praise and worship.
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