“Praise the Lord!
Praise the name of the Lord;
Praise Him, you servants of the Lord,
Who stand in the house of the Lord,
In the courtyards of the house of our God!”

“Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
Sing praises to His name, for it is lovely.
For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself,
Israel as His own possession.”

“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 in all the ocean depths.”

“He causes the mist to ascend from the ends of the earth,
He makes lightning for the rain,
He brings forth the wind from His storehouses.”

“He struck the firstborn of Egypt,
Both man and animal.
He sent signs and wonders into your midst, Egypt,
Upon Pharaoh and all his servants.”

“He struck many nations
And brought death to mighty kings,
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
And Og, king of Bashan,
And all the kingdoms of Canaan;
And He gave their land as a heritage,
A heritage to His people Israel.”

“Your name, Lord, is everlasting,
Your remembrance, Lord, is throughout all generations.
For the Lord will judge His people
And will have compassion on His servants.”

“The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
The work of human hands.
They have mouths, but they do not speak;
They have eyes, but they do not see;
They have ears, but they do not hear,
Nor is there any breath at all in their mouths.
Those who make them will become like them,
Yes, everyone who trusts in them.”

“House of Israel, bless the Lord;
House of Aaron, bless the Lord;
House of Levi, bless the Lord;
You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord.
Blessed be the Lord from Zion,
Who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!”

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Context and Meaning

Psalm 135 is a hymn of praise that recounts God’s goodness, power, deliverance, and faithfulness. It blends worship with history, reminding Israel of the Lord’s mighty acts in creation and redemption.

It contrasts the living God with lifeless idols, showing the futility of trusting in man-made gods. It ends with a call for all God’s people—from Israel to priests to all who fear Him—to bless His name.

Key Themes:

1. Call to Praise: God’s servants are invited to bless His name (v. 1–2).
2. God’s Goodness and Choosing: His love and election of Israel are cause for joy (v. 3–4).
3. God’s Sovereignty Over Creation: He rules heaven, earth, and seas (v. 5–7).
4. God’s Deliverance in History: He struck Egypt, kings, and nations to redeem His people (v. 8–12).
5. God’s Everlasting Name: His remembrance is from generation to generation (v. 13–14).
6. The Futility of Idols: Man-made gods are lifeless, unlike the living Lord (v. 15–18).
7. All God’s People Called to Bless Him: Israel, priests, Levites, and all who fear Him (v. 19–21).

Reflection and Impact

Psalm 135 shows us that worship flows from remembering who God is and what He has done:

• Praise because He is good – “Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good” (v. 3) recalls Psalm 100:5: the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting.
• God is sovereign over all – “Whatever the Lord pleases, He does” (v. 6) aligns with Daniel 4:35: none can stay His hand.
• God delivers His people in history – “He struck the firstborn of Egypt” (v. 8) points to Exodus 12 and foreshadows Christ, our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7).
• God’s name endures forever – “Your name is everlasting” (v. 13) reflects Philippians 2:10–11: every knee will bow to the name of Jesus.
• Idols are lifeless, God is living – “They have mouths, but they do not speak” (v. 16) echoes Jeremiah 10:10: the Lord is the true God, the living God.
• All are called to bless Him – “House of Israel… you who fear the Lord” (v. 19–20) reminds us of Revelation 7:9–10: all nations cry, “Salvation belongs to our God!”

Application

• Worship God Daily: Let His goodness and faithfulness lead you to praise.
• Trust His Sovereignty: Rest in the God who does all He pleases.
• Remember His Salvation History: Recount how He has delivered you personally.
• Reject Idols in All Forms: Don’t trust in lifeless things of this world—only the living God saves.
• Join the Chorus of Praise: Bless the Lord with His people across generations and nations.

Closing Thought

The Lord alone is good, sovereign, and faithful. Unlike lifeless idols, He is the living God whose name endures forever.
“Blessed be the Lord from Zion, who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!”