Bible Commentaries
Psalms 135

Verses 1-21

Psalms 135

The Lord Is Great Psalm Scripture v. 1-21:

This psalm is believed to have been written when Nehemiah returned from Babylon and Persia to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, while opposed by Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah, the Ammonite, with the Arabians and Ashdodites, as related in Nehemiah.

This Psalm Is a Mosaic, made up of many Psalms concern­ing the greatness of God and the joy of worship. Verses 1-14 are an invocation to praise God for three things: (1) First, for His goodness, v. 1-4, (2) Second, for his greatness, v. 5-7, and (3) Third, for His glory, v. 8-14. Verses 15-21 indicate three incentives to praise (1) First, because of perversions of heathens, v. 15-18; (2) Second, because of all God had done for Israel, v. 19,20; and (3) Third, because Zion was the ordained, proper place where "prayer is wont to be made," v. 21.

Verses 1, 2 begin with an Hebrew "Hallelujah," translated "praise ye the Lord," which is the theme of the psalm. It is a phrase used in both the opening and closing, salutation and benediction of this psalm, v. 1,21. Both the priests and Levites, His special servants, who stand in His house and in the courts of the Lord, and all His people of Israel, are called on to praise Him, for His name is worthy, v. 19,20; Psalms 134:1; Psalms 92:13; Luke 2:37; See also 1 Chronicles 16:37; 1 Chronicles 16:42; 1 Chronicles 23:30.

Verse 3, 4 ask that the Lord be praised because He is good; Songs are to be sung in praise to His name, "for it is pleasant," or lovely, Psalms 90:17; Psalms 147:1.
Verse 4 adds that He is to be praised because He "hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure," a people as custodian of His earthly program of Divine worship and service under the law, Exodus 19:5; Isaiah 62:3; Malachi 3:17; Titus 2:14; See also Deuteronomy 7:6-7; Deuteronomy 10:15; 1 Samuel 12:22; Psalms 33:12.

Verse 5 affirms "I know (recognize) that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above (higher than, supreme over) all gods," that are lifeless, blind, deaf, dumb, and dead, Psalms 115:4-8; Psalms 95:9. See also Deuteronomy 3:24; Psalms 145:3; Exodus 8:10.

Verse 6 relates that historically which the Lord has pleased or willed to do He has done, "in heaven, in earth, in the seas, and all deep places," manifesting His power and sovereignty over all creation, Deuteronomy 4:39; Daniel 2:20; Job 42:2; Psalms 115:3; Isaiah 43:13.

Verse 7 adds that God is presently in sovereign control of His universe, causing the "vapours (for rain) to ascend from the ends of the earth;" making "lightnings for the rain," Job 28:25; Job 38:24; Zechariah 10:1; demonstrating His care for men, bird, beast, fishes, the earth and all her plant life and small creatures, as certified Jeremiah 10:13; Jeremiah 51:16; See also 1 Kings 18:1; 1 Kings 18:41-45; Job 5:10; Psalms 148:8; Zechariah 10:1; Exodus 19:16.

Verses 8, 9 assert that this living, sovereign God of Israel, "smote the first born of Egypt," (with judgment upon) both man and beast, as related Exodus 6:6; Exodus 12:29. It is added that He also "sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharoah, and upon all his servants," as also recounted Exodus 4:21; Exodus 15:7; Psalms 116:19.

Verses 10-12 explain that He also "smote great nations, and slew mighty or powerful kings," as a God Sovereign in battlesPsalms 136:17. Those named are "Sihon king of the Amorites, and Oz king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan," thirty one as numbered, Joshua 12:7-24; See also Numbers 21:21; Numbers 21:33; John 12:7.
Verse 12 further states that He "gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel His people, as further explained Genesis 17:8; Exodus 34:24; Leviticus 20:24.

Verse 13 extols "Thy name (honor) O Lord, will endure for ever; and thy memorial O Lord, throughout all generations," because of His deeds of the past on behalf of His people Israel. He desires that the Lord manifest His glory for them again, Exodus 3:15; Exodus 34:5-7; Hosea 12:5; Matthew 6:9; Matthew 6:15.

Verse 14 asserts that the Lord "will judge (chasten) his people," but will repent himself concerning his servants, "or will not chasten them forever. He will turn away from judging them with chastening when they repent, turn away from their sins, Genesis 18:25; Psalms 9:4; Psalms 10:18; Psalms 54:1; Psalms 90:13; Psalms 106:45.

Verses 15-18 describe the idol gods of the heathen as having blind eyes, deaf ears, dumb lips, without breath in their mouths; They are made of silver and gold, as works of men’s hands, lifeless, adding that both their producers and worshipers are like their gods, deaf, dumb, blind, spiritless, dead! Psalms 115:4-8; See also Deuteronomy 4:8; 2 Kings 16:3; Ezekiel 39:21; 1 Chronicles 16:26; Psalms 52:7.

Verses 19, 20 address the a) house of Israel; b) the house of Aaron; and c) the house of Levi, asking all who feared the Lord to "Bless the Lord," or praise the Lord God Jehovah, and glorify Him, Psalms 22:23; Psalms 115:9; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Samuel 12:14; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Psalms 118:2-4.

Verse 21 concludes, as verse 1 began, calling upon all Israel to bless, praise, and glorify the Lord in an high-praise of "Hallelujah," for His residing or dwelling in Zion, even in the temple at Jerusalem, Psalms 78:2; Psalms 134:3; Psalms 132:14; Psalms 9:11; 2 Samuel 5:7.