Psalms 135

1 Let the Lord be praised. O you servants of the Lord, give praise to the name of the Lord.

2 You who are in the house of the Lord, and in the open spaces of the house of our God,

3 Give praise to Jah, for he is good: make melody to his name, for it is pleasing.

4 For the Lord has taken Jacob for himself, and Israel for his property.

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

6 The Lord has done whatever was pleasing to him, in heaven, and on the earth, in the seas and in all the deep waters.

7 He makes the mists go up from the ends of the earth; he makes thunder-flames for the rain; he sends out the winds from his store-houses.

8 He put to death the first-fruits of Egypt, of man and of beast.

9 He sent signs and wonders among you, O Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his servants.

10 He overcame great nations, and put strong kings to death;

11 Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan;

12 And gave their land for a heritage, even for a heritage to Israel his people.

13 O Lord, your name is eternal; and the memory of you will have no end.

14 For the Lord will be judge of his people's cause; his feelings will be changed to his servants.

15 The images of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.

16 They have mouths, but no voice, they have eyes, but they do not see;

17 They have ears, but no hearing; and there is no breath in their mouths.

18 Those who make them are like them; and so is everyone who puts his hope in them.

19 Give praise to the Lord, O children of Israel: give praise to the Lord, O sons of Aaron:

20 Give praise to the Lord, O sons of Levi: let all the worshippers of the Lord give him praise.

21 Praise be to the Lord out of Zion, even to the Lord whose house is in Jerusalem, Let the Lord be praised.

PREVIOUS Psalms 134 NEXT Psalms 136

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.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible