Psalms Chapter 135
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Psalms 135:1-4
Bible Verses:
1Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the name of the Lord; praise him, O ye servants of the Lord.
2Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God,
3Praise the Lord; for the Lord is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.
4For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.
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.
Psalms 135:5-14
Bible Verses:
5For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
6Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
7He 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.
8Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.
9Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.
10Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;
11Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan:
12And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.
13Thy name, O Lord, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O Lord, throughout all generations.
14For the Lord will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.
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.
Psalms 135:15-21
Bible Verses:
15The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
16They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;
17They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.
18They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.
19Bless the Lord, O house of Israel: bless the Lord, O house of Aaron:
20Bless the Lord, O house of Levi: ye that fear the Lord, bless the Lord.
21Blessed be the Lord out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord.
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.