Bible Commentaries
Psalms 135

Verse 1

PSALM CXXXV

An exhortation to praise God for his goodness and greatness,

1-5;

for his wonders in nature, 6, 7;

his wonders done in Egypt, 8, 9;

in the wilderness, 10-12;

for his goodness to his people, 13, 14.

The vanity of idols, 15-18.

Israel, with its priests and Levites, exhorted to praise the

Lord, 19-21.

NOTES ON PSALM CXXXV

This Psalm is intimately connected with the preceding. It is an exhortation addressed to the priests and Levites, and to all Israel, to publish the praises of the Lord. The conclusion of this Psalm is nearly the same with Psalm cxv.; and what is said about idols, and the effects of the power of God, seems to be taken from it and the tenth chapter of Jeremiah; and from these and other circumstances it appears the Psalm was written after the captivity; and might as Calmet conjectures, have been used at the dedication of the second temple.

Verse Psalms 135:1. Praise ye the Lord — This may be considered as the title, for it has none other.

Praise ye the name of the Lord — Perhaps the original הללו את שם יהוה haleu eth shem Yehovah, should be translated, Praise ye the name Jehovah; that is, Praise God in his infinite essence of being, holiness, goodness, and truth.

Verse 2

Verse Psalms 135:2. Ye that stand — Priests and Levites. For which he gives several reasons.

Verse 3

Verse Psalms 135:3. The Lord is good — Here is the first reason why he should be praised; and a second is subjoined: -

For it is pleasant. — It is becoming to acknowledge this infinite Being, and our dependence on him; and it is truly comfortable to an upright mind to be thus employed.

Verse 4

Verse Psalms 135:4. For the Lord hath chosen Jacob — This is a third reason. He has taken the Israelites for his peculiar people, סגלתו segullatho, his peculiar treasure; and now has brought them home to himself from their captivity and wanderings.

Verse 5

Verse Psalms 135:5. The Lord is great — Unlimited in his power: another reason.

Is above all gods. — Every class of being, whether idolized or not; because he is the Fountain of existence. This is a fifth reason.

Verse 6

Verse Psalms 135:6. Whatsoever the Lord pleased — All that he has done is right, and therefore it is pleasing in his sight. He is the author of all existence. Angels, men, spirits, the heavens, the earth, and all their contents, were made by him, and are under his control.

Verse 7

Verse Psalms 135:7. He causeth the vapours to ascend — Dr. Shaw thinks that the account here refers to the autumnal rains in the east. Of them he speaks as follows: "Seldom a night passes without much lightning in the north-west quarter, but not attended with thunder; and when this lightning appears in the west or south-west points, it is a sure sign of the approaching rain, which is often followed by thunder. A squall of wind and clouds of dust are the sure forerunners of the first rain." This account induces Mr. Harmer to believe that the word נשאים nesiim, should be translated clouds, not vapours. It shows that God-

Maketh lightnings for the rain — The squalls of wind bring on these refreshing showers, and are therefore precious things of the treasuries of God; and when he thunders, it is the noise of waters in the heavens. See Jeremiah 10:13, which contains almost the same words as those in this verse: "When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens; and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasuries."

Verse 8

Verse Psalms 135:8. Who smote the first-born of Egypt — See the parallel passages.

Verse 14

Verse Psalms 135:14. The Lord will judge his people — He will do them justice against their enemies.

Verse 15

Verse Psalms 135:15. The idols of the heathen — This verse and the following, to the end of the 18th, Psalms 135:15-18 are almost word for word the same as verses 4-8 of Psalm cxv., where see the notes. Psalms 115:4-8

Verse 17

Verse Psalms 135:17. To this verse one of Kennicott's MSS. adds the 6th and 7th verses of Psalm cxv. Psalms 115:6-7

Verse 19

Verse Psalms 135:19. Bless the Lord. O house, &c. — See similar verses, Psalms 115:9-13, and the notes there.

Verse 21

Verse Psalms 135:21. Blessed be the Lord out of Zion — Who has once more restored our temple and city, and now condescends to dwell with us in Jerusalem.

ANALYSIS OF THE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIFTH PSALM

In this Psalm the prophet invites the servants of God, and especially his ministers, to praise God, Psalms 135:1-2, from arguments drawn,

I. From his goodness, particularly in choosing Israel, Psalms 135:3-4.

II. From the greatness and power showed in his works, Psalms 135:5-8.

III. From his justice showed to the enemies of Israel, Psalms 135:1-13.

IV. From his loving-kindness extended and promised still to his servants, Psalms 135:13-14.

V. Having derided the vanity of idols, Psalms 135:15-19, he returns to his exhortation calling upon them to bless God, Psalms 135:19-21.

I. He calls upon the ministers of religion especially to attend the recitation of Divine praises:-

1. "Praise ye the Lord," c.

2. "Ye that stand."

And now, repeating his words again, he produces his reason of inducement: -

1. Because the Lord is worthy of praise: "For he is good," &c. Not comparatively, but absolutely good.

2. "Sing praises unto his name," &c. Because it is no painful duty, but pleasant.

3. Praise him for his love to Israel for this you owe him gratitude: "For the Lord hath chosen Jacob," c. 2. "And Israel for his peculiar treasure."

II. The next argument he uses is drawn from his greatness.

1. From his empire and universal dominion in heaven and earth: "Whatsoever the Lord pleased," &c. Nothing is impossible to him: but he does all from his free will, not from any necessity.

2. "He doth all things," &c. In all places heaven, earth, seas, and hell.

And these last words the prophet amplifies, -

1. In the earth. Causing the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth, from all parts, which are endued with several qualities.

2. In the air. "He maketh lightning for rain."

3. In the water. "For he bringeth the winds out of his treasuries." Nothing is more obscure than the generation of the winds.

III. The fourth argument the prophet uses to persuade men to praise God, is from the vengeance he executes on the enemies of his people.

1. Upon the Egyptians. "Who smote the firstborn of Egypt," &c.

2. "Who sent tokens and wonders," &c. "And he smote great nations," &c.

IV. To the commemoration of the justice God exercised upon their enemies, the prophet exhorts them to extol God.

1. "Thy name, O Lord," &c.

2. "And thy memorial," &c.

And the reason is drawn from his mercy.

1. "For the Lord will judge his people." Judge their cause, and deliver them.

2. "And he will repent himself," &c. If they repent, and turn to him.

The prophet, having proved that God is great in himself, now proves that he is above all gods, which are but vanity.

1. From their composition: "Silver and gold."

2. From their makers: "The work of men's hands."

3. From their impotency: "They have mouths," &c.

4. From the nature of their worshippers : "They that make them," &c.

Lastly, he invites all true worshippers of God to praise him, because they are lively images of the living God, from whom all their faculties have proceeded. To this he invites -

1. All Israel: "Bless the Lord, O house of Israel."

2. The priests: "Bless the Lord, O house of Aaron."

3. The Levites: "Bless the Lord, O house of Levi."

4. Lastly, all the laity: "Ye that fear the Lord bless the Lord."

To which he adds his own note, concluding -

1. "Blessed be the Lord out of Zion." Where he shows his presence by the ark.

2. "Which dwelleth at Jerusalem." Who, though in essence he is every where, yet more especially manifests his presence in his Church by his indwelling Spirit.

Therefore, let all the people bless the Lord for his great mercy: but let the citizens of Zion and Jerusalem never cease to praise him.