Psalms 134-136

Thoughts

Psalm 134

 Come, Bless the LORD. A Song of Ascents. 

• Last psalm of the Song of Ascents. 

Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD,
who stand by night in the house of the LORD!
Lift up your hands to the holy place
and bless the LORD!”

• Worship is addressed to those who serve  “by night” – could be Levites, watchmen, or faithful servants. 

May the LORD bless you from Zion,
he who made heaven and earth!

• Blessing flows back to those who bless the LORD.

Psalm 135

Your Name, O Lord, Endures Forever

• From https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-135/: Psalm 135 is of note for its use of other passages from the Hebrew Scriptures. Almost every verse quotes the words or the idea of another Old Testament passage, including four different psalms, two passages from Deuteronomy, two from Jeremiah, and two from Exodus. Derek Kidner wrote of Psalm 135, “Every verse of this psalm either echoes, quotes or is quoted by some other part of Scripture.”

Praise the LORD! 
Praise the name of the LORD, give praise, O servants of the LORD, 
who stand in the house of the LORD,
in the courts of the house of our God! 

• Praise is commanded to all who worship the Lord

For the LORD is good;
sing to his name, for it is pleasant. 
For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, 
Israel as his own possession.

• God’s goodness and God’s choosing of His people are the foundation of praise.

For I know that the LORD is great, 
and that our Lord is above all gods.
Whatever the LORD pleases, he does,
in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.

• The LORD’s greatness is unmatched.
• Creation responds to God’s purposes

He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
both of man and of beast; 
who in your midst, O Egypt, 
sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants.
Who struck down many nations 
and killed mighty kings, 
Sihon, king of the Amorites, 
and Og, king of Bashan, 
and all the kingdoms of Canaan, 
and gave their land as a heritage, 
a heritage to Israel his people.

• Retelling of judgment and deliverance from Exodus, Deuteronomy, Numbers
• Praise remembers what God has done, not just who He is.

Your name, O LORD, endures forever, 
your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages. 
For the LORD will vindicate his people 
and have compassion on his servants.

• God’s name outlasts generations and any political powers.
• God is mighty and powerful, but has compassion on His people

The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
the work of human hands. 
They have mouths, but do not speak;
they have eyes, but do not see;
they have ears, but do not hear,
nor is there any breath in their mouths.
Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them.

• Idols are lifeless because they are human-made.
• People resemble what they worship

O house of Israel, bless the LORD! 
O house of Aaron, bless the LORD! 
O house of Levi, bless the LORD! 
You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!
Blessed be the LORD from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem! 

Praise the LORD!

• Priests, servants, and all who fear the LORD are included 
• Praise directed to the LORD alone.

Psalm 136

• Sometimes called “The Great Hallel”

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever 

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords
for his steadfast love endures forever.

• Thanksgiving is grounded in who God is

To him who alone does great wonders
for his steadfast love endures forever.
to him who by understanding made the heavens
for his steadfast love endures forever.
to him who spread out the earth above the waters
for his steadfast love endures forever.

• Creation is attributed to God’s wisdom, not chance.

To him who made the great lights
for his steadfast love endures forever.
the sun to rule over the day
for his steadfast love endures forever.
the moon and stars to rule over the night
for his steadfast love endures forever.

• God’s ruling of time and rhythm is intentional.

To him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
for his steadfast love endures forever.
and brought Israel out from among them
for his steadfast love endures forever.
with a strong hand and an outstretched arm
for his steadfast love endures forever.

• God’s love confronts oppression.

To him who divided the Red Sea in two
for his steadfast love endures forever.
and made Israel pass through the midst of it
for his steadfast love endures forever.
but overthrew Pharaoh and his host
for his steadfast love endures forever.

• Salvation includes both rescue and judgment.
• God makes a way where there is none.

To him who led his people through the wilderness
for his steadfast love endures forever.
to him who struck down great kings
for his steadfast love endures forever.
and killed mighty kings
for his steadfast love endures forever.

• Even in the wilderness they were not abandoned
• Victory over enemies is attributed to God, not Israel’s strength.

And gave their land as a heritage
for his steadfast love endures forever.
a heritage to Israel his servant
for his steadfast love endures forever.

• God’s promises result in lasting provision.
• The inheritance is a gift, not an achievement.

It is he who remembered us in our low estate
for his steadfast love endures forever.
and rescued us from our foes
for his steadfast love endures forever.
he who gives food to all flesh
for his steadfast love endures forever.

• God’s love reaches into weakness and need.
• God’s care extends beyond Israel to all creation.

Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

• The psalm ends where it began

Questions

Application

Psalm 134 is a very short Psalm, but shows us how important it is to praise God. Those who bless the LORD are themselves blessed. Psalm 135 continues to teach us about praise. Praise can be sustained by remembering who God is and what He has done. Lastly, Psalm 136 shows us all we have to be thankful for because of God’s good works. His steadfast love endures forever!