PSALM 135
Priest and Levites are to praise the LORD verse 1- 2
Praise you the LORD
Praise you the name of the LORD
Praise HIM – O you servants of the LORD
You that stand in the house of the LORD
in the courts of the house of our God
Israel is to praise the LORD
as HIS peculiar treasure verse 3- 4
Praise the LORD – for the LORD is good
sing praises to HIS name – for it is pleasant
for the LORD has chosen Jacob to HIMSELF
and Israel for HIS peculiar treasure
Praise the LORD for HIS greatness in creation verse 5- 7
For I know that the LORD is great
and that our LORD is above all gods
Whatsoever the LORD pleased – that did HE in heaven – and in earth
in the seas – and all deep places
HE caused the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth
HE made lightnings for the rain
HE brings the wind out of HIS treasuries
Praise the LORD for HIS greatness in provision verse 8- 12
WHO smote the firstborn of Egypt – both man and beast
WHO sent tokens and wonders into the midst of you – O Egypt
upon Pharaoh – and upon all his servants
WHO smote great nations – and slew mighty kings
Sihon – king of the Amorites – and Og – king of Bashan
and all the kingdoms of Canaan
and gave their land for an heritage
an heritage to Israel HIS people
Praise the LORD for HIS endurance verse 13- 14
YOUR name – O LORD – endures forever
and YOUR memorial – O LORD – throughout all generations
for the LORD will judge HIS people
and HE will repent HIMSELF
concerning HIS servants
Description of false gods verse 15- 18
The idols of the heathen are silver and gold – the works of men’s hands
they have mouths – but they speak not
eyes have they – but they see not
they have ears – but they hear not
neither is there any breath in their mouths
They that make them are like to them
so is every one that trusts in them
All who are in Israel need to praise the LORD verse 19- 21
Bless the LORD – O house of Israel – bless the LORD
O house of Aaron
bless the LORD – O house of Levi
you that fear the LORD
bless the LORD
blessed be the LORD out of Zion
which dwells at Jerusalem
Praise you the LORD
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
:1 “ Praise you the LORD, Praise you the name of the LORD: praise HIM, O you servants of the LORD. (Praise – 1984 הָלַל, הָלַל, הָלַל, הַלְלוּיָהּ [halal /haw·lal/] v. A primitive root; TWOT 499, 500; GK 2145 and 2146 and 2147 and 2149; 165 occurrences; AV translates as “praise” 117 times, “glory” 14 times, “boast” 10 times, “mad” eight times, “shine” three times, “foolish” three times, “fools” twice, “commended” twice, “rage” twice, “celebrate” once, “give” once, “marriage” once, and “renowned” once. 1 to shine. 1A (Qal) to shine (fig. of God’s favour). 1B (Hiphil) to flash forth light. 2 to praise, boast, be boastful. 2A (Qal). 2A1 to be boastful. 2A2 boastful ones, boasters (participle). 2B (Piel). 2B1 to praise. 2B2 to boast, make a boast. 2C (Pual). 2C1 to be praised, be made praiseworthy, be commended, be worthy of praise. 2D (Hithpael) to boast, glory, make one’s boast. 2E (Poel) to make a fool of, make into a fool. 2F (Hithpoel) to act madly, act like a madman. James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2001).
DEVOTION: As the psalmist concludes the Ascent psalms and begins a new thought he entreats the reader to the temple area to begin to praise the Lord and acknowledge who it is they are worshipping. After traveling and enduring the hardships that the journey to Jerusalem presented, the worshipper is now encouraged to “Praise the Lord!” The psalmist calls on the all who are in the temple to worship the Lord.
As the word can be translated many ways (look above) so the congregation is encouraged to worship! Sing praises (v.3), remember His deliverances (v. 5-12), worship the true God (v. 13-18). In praise bless the Lord! To bless means to kneel, congratulate or salute him for His works! Today as the psalm does begin and end with praise to the Lord and in the process bless him!
CHALLENGE: Whether you are beginning or ending your day with these devotions take a moment to praise the Lord for all He has done for you! Then bless Him before ending your time in acknowledgement of who He is! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 3 Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises to HIS name; for it is pleasant. (5273 “pleasant” [na‘iym] means happiness, lovely delightful, affording pleasure with the implication of being acceptable or favorable, or agreeable)
DEVOTION: As believers we should enjoy singing praises to the LORD all the time. I have observed many in the churches that I visit do not put their hearts in the times of worship. It seems that people come to church as a habit but don’t really enjoy being there.
When we come to praise the LORD we need to be willing to give our all to our times of singing and listening to the preaching of the Word of God.
Too often it seems that the fellowship before the service and after the service is good and sometimes even exciting but during the service many sit there as a bump on a log. It is wrong.
It should be the most exciting time of the week as we come together with other believers to worship the LORD with our whole heart. We are coming before the LORD to thank HIM for our salvation.
If we can genuinely come with our whole heart and soul to worship the LORD on Sunday than it should show on our faces and in our attitude toward the service and the people that are in the service.
If this happens than the group turns into a family time, that is, the family of God getting together to enjoy each other’s presence.
I personally make a joyful noise when I sing but I do enjoy singing and listening to the preaching of the Word of God. It is a joy to travel and worship in different churches where I speak or attend the services. It is a learning lesson.
CHALLENGE: We need to realize that the LORD is in any service where HIS name is glorified. If HE is watching then we need to be genuine in our worship and in our fellowship with other believers.
: 6 Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. (2654 “pleased” [chaphets] means incline to, to bend, desire, delight, favor, like, have pleasure, will or would)
DEVOTION: There is God who is without beginning or end. HE is eternal. Next is the creation of angels before the foundation of the world. Angels never become humans and humans never become angels. Finally, there is the creation of the world and mankind. Man and woman were created on the sixth day. God created Adam and Eve to be a couple. Only a man and a woman make a couple in the eyes of the LORD. All these things delighted the LORD of creation.
This Psalm demonstrates to us the power and actions of the LORD. This Psalm gives us the history of the LORD with HIS people. This Psalm gives everyone a reason to worship the LORD.
As we read this verse, it informs us about the God we serve. Whatsoever HE desires to do – HE does it. HE has NO limits. HE is omnipotent. HE is omniscient. HE is omnipresent. HE will not do anything against HIS attributes. HE is sovereign in this world.
HE lives outside time. We are limited to time. We have a beginning and an end. HE has no beginning or end.
Once we realize HE is unknowable to us, as far as, understanding all HIS attributes and HIS actions. Then we can truly worship HIS greatness. IS our God too small? DO we limit God? Can OUR God truly do the impossible?
Are we asking HOW we can change our world? Most churches want to see how they can please their people. We should be different. We should ask “HOW can our church change our world?” or “HOW can we truly worship the LORD in HIS greatness? We can do ALL things through Christ who gives us strength.
Therefore when we worship the LORD this Sunday are we remembering HIS actions and HIS greatness? HE is in control!!! Praise HIS name!
CHALLENGE: If our God is great, we should expect great things to happen in our homes and churches and nations. Don’t be individuals who think that the God of the Bible is powerless in our day and age
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
:15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold; the work of men’s hands. (1471 “heathen” [gowy] means nation, Gentiles, people, nations beside Israel, or pagan peoples.)
DEVOTION: There is only one chosen people in the Old Testament. That group was called Israelites. They were chosen through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God made a promise to Abraham that in his seed all the nations would be blessed.
During the period of the Old Testament we find that the nation of Israel sent our missionaries to reach the peoples of other nations with the message of the Creator of the Universe. Some nations believed the missionaries and converted to be followers of the LORD. Those who didn’t’ convert were pagan people. Their gods were false gods that were made with their hands.
They would take wood or precious stones or gold or silver or anything to form gods that they would worship. They would even make the sun, moon or stars as their gods. There are stories of false gods being presented in our movie theaters even today.
We however are different here in America. Our god is still money, even if there is no silver or gold to back them up. Our other gods are fame, sports, possessions, positions, books, and movie stars. Even believers can spend more time with their other gods than with the God of the Universe.
This is a praise Psalm but it is also a warning Psalm. Our priority should be to worship only the God of the Bible. If we chose to worship other gods we are not honoring the LORD. HE doesn’t want us to be a divided individual. We can’t worship God and mammon according to the New Testament. We are not to have a divided heart where we want to be a servant of the LORD and a servant of the world.
Remember that we are tempted in three areas in our life: the world, the flesh and the devil. When we give in to the temptations in these areas we are going out of the fellowship with the LORD into a fellowship with sin. For true believers there needs to be confession of sin. For those who are not followers of the LORD there need to be repentance and an acknowledgement of Jesus Christ as the One who died on the cross for your sins and a willingness to follow HIM. This is done through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
CHALLENGE: Ask the LORD to show you if anyone or anything has a hold on you more than HIM. Once HE reveals anyone or anything to you. Cleanse your life.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Praise the LORD verse 1- 3, 21
House of the LORD verse 2
House of our God verse 2
Sing praise verse 3
Bless the LORD verse 19- 21
House of Aaron verse 19
House of Levi verse 20
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1- 6, 13, 14, 19- 21
Name of the LORD verse 1
Servants of the LORD verse 1
House of the LORD verse 2
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign)
House of our God verse 2
LORD is good verse 3
Name of the LORD is pleasant verse 3
LORD is great verse 5
Lord – Adonai (Owner, Master) verse 5
LORD is above all gods verse 5
Lord pleases verse 6
Creator verse 6, 7
Smote the firstborn of Egypt verse 8
Sent tokens and wonders on Egypt verse 9
Smote great nations and mighty kings verse 10- 12
Sihon – king of Amorites
Og – king of Bashan
All the kingdoms of Canaan
Gave heritage to Israel – His people verse 12
Name endures forever verse 13
Judge verse 14
LORD relents verse 14
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
gods verse 5
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Egypt verse 8, 9
Pharaoh verse 9
Servants of Pharaoh verse 9
Great nations verse 10
Kings verse 10
Sihon king of the Amorites verse 11
Og king of Bashan verse 11
Kingdoms of Canaan verse 11
Heathen verse 15
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
gods verse 5
idols verse 15
Heathen verse 15
Idols of silver and gold verse 15
Idols works of hands of man verse 15
Description of idols verse 15- 18
Trusting in false gods verse 18
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Praise verse 1, 3, 21
Servant verse 1, 2, 14
Chosen verse 4
Peculiar treasure verse 4
Heritage verse 12
Bless the LORD verse 19- 21
Fear of the LORD verse 20
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
House of the LORD verse 2
House of our God verse 2
Jacob verse 4
Israel verse 4, 12
Peculiar treasure verse 4
Heritage verse 12
God’s people verse 14
House of Israel verse 19
House of Aaron verse 19
House of Levi verse 20
Zion verse 21
Jerusalem verse 21
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Name of LORD endures for ever verse 13
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QUOTES regarding passage
This psalm is a hymn of descriptive praise of God the Creator (vv. 5–7) and Lord of history (vv. 8–12). The reader will be struck by the many allusions as well as direct citations to other passages of Scripture. The end result of the psalmist’s artistry is that the inspired creation stands on its own, even though it is dependent on other Scriptures for its poetic, liturgical, and idiomatic expressions. (VanGemeren, W. A. (1991). Psalms. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (Vol. 5, p. 819). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
A Psalm of praise, in which God’s relations to His Church, His power in the natural world, and in delivering His people, are contrasted with the vanity of idols and idol-worship. (Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 387). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.)
Psalm 135. According to the Mishnah, with this psalm on the morning of Passover Day the congregation and ministers are called to praise the Lord, because the Lord is good and praise is pleasant (neb praise… is good, honouring his name… is pleasant). Then the great truths of Israel’s creed are recited: her election, the greatness of God, his sovereign will in nature, Israel’s deliverance from Egypt into Canaan. Choral voices (apparently) then celebrate the divine renown, affirming faith in future favors. A familiar contrast between the living God and lifeless idols leads to renewed exhortation to priests and people to unite in praise.
Little here is new, but grateful hearts love to rehearse familiar truths and recall great memories. (Elwell, W. A. (1995). Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, Ps 135:1). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House)
This is a song of praise to the Lord for His goodness as the Lord of creation, in seven verses; for His grace as the deliverer of His people, in seven more; and for His unity as the only true and living God, in seven more. In the first seven, three verses sing the praise of the Lord, and four assign reasons for it. In the second, two celebrate the wonders in Egypt; three, the conquests which He made for His people; and two, His special kindness to them. In the third, four describe the impotence of idols, and three call upon all that fear the Lord to bless Him. Many passages in this Psalm have appeared in others. It is at least as late as the time of David, since Zion and Jerusalem are mentioned in it. (Murphy, J. G. (1875). A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Psalms (p. 655). Andover: Warren F. Draper.)
135:13–14. The sovereignty of God is then mentioned in reference to Israel’s future history. The Lord, who is eternal, will vindicate His people because of His compassion on them. (Ross, A. P. (1985). Psalms. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 889). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
The name of Jehovah is glorious and renowned; it is everlasting. Few people today think or speak about the gods of the past, but the name of the Lord God is still revered. One poet wrote, “The great god Ra whose shrines once covered acres / Is filler now for crossword puzzle makers.” People who take comparative religions courses in school recognize the names of the ancient gods and goddesses, but one does not have to go to university to know the name of Jehovah God or of Jesus. Yet this glorious God, whose name will live forever, has compassion for lost sinners and for His people. Many times during their history, the Israelites were rescued and vindicated by the Lord as He put their enemies to shame. (See 102:12; Ex. 3:15; Deut. 32:26; and Heb. 10:30.) (Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be exultant (1st ed., p. 186). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.)
Ver. 14. For the Lord will judge his people, &c.] Rule and govern, protect and defend them; plead their cause, and avenge them of their enemies; judge between them, distinguish them by his care and providence, make them visible, so that others shall see the difference between them; especially at the last day, when he will judge them, and, as the righteous Judge, give them the crown of righteousness. Or though the Lord judges his people; chastises them in a fatherly way, that they may not be condemned with the world; and or yetn he will repent himself concerning his servants; of the evil of affliction he has brought upon them; he will change the course of his providential dealings with them, according to his unchangeable will; and turn their adversity into prosperity, and their mourning into joy: some render it, he will be entreated for his servants; he will hear prayer on their account, and save them out of their afflictions; or, as others, he will comfort himself concerning his servantsp; take pleasure in them and their prosperity, comfort them, and take delight in so doing. The Targum of the whole is, “for the Lord will judge the judgment of his people by his word, and to his righteous servants will return in his mercies.” (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 4, p. 274). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
14. “For the Lord will judge his people.” He will exercise personal discipline over them, and not leave it to their foes to maltreat them at pleasure. When the correction is ended he will arise and avenge them of their oppressors, who for a while were used by him as his rod. He may seem to forget his people, but it is not so; he will undertake their cause and deliver them. The judges of Israel were also her deliverers, and such is the Lord of hosts: in this sense—as ruling, preserving, and delivering his chosen—Jehovah will judge his people. “And he will repent himself concerning his servants.” When he has smitten them, and they lie low before him, he will pity them as a father pitieth his children, for he doth not afflict willingly. The Psalm speaks after the manner of men: the nearest description that words can give of the Lord’s feeling towards his suffering servants is that he repents the evil which he inflicted upon them. He acts as if he had changed his mind and regretted smiting them. It goes to the heart of God to see his beloved ones oppressed by their enemies: though they deserve all they suffer, and more than all, yet the Lord cannot see them smart without a pang. It is remarkable that the nations by which God has afflicted Israel have all been destroyed as if the tender Father hated the instruments of his children’s correction. The chosen nation is here called, first, “his people,” and then “his servants:” as his people he judges them, as his servants he finds comfort in them, for so the word may be read. He is most tender to them when he sees their service; hence the Scripture saith, “I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” Should not the “servants” of God praise him? He plagued Pharaoh’s servants; but as for his own he has mercy upon them, and returns to them in love after he has in the truest affection smitten them for their iniquities. “Praise him, O ye servants of the Lord.”
Now we come to the Psalmist’s denunciation of idols, which follows most naturally upon his celebration of the one only living and true God.
15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
16 They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;
17 They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.
18 They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them. (Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: Psalms 120-150 (Vol. 6, p. 187). London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
The testing of Jesus in the wilderness was not to see whether He would sin, but to prove that He was absolutely the sinless One and therefore the fit substitute for those who were both sinners by nature and in practice. (H. A. Ironside)
We should live for the eternal rather than the temporal, and we will be rewarded accordingly.
INSIGHT
One of the marks of maturity is the ability to put off immediate reward for the sake of a future goal. Likewise, the willingness to put off temporal reward for the sake of eternal reward is a good mark of Christian maturity. The Scriptures teach that someday we must all appear before the bema seat of Christ. In ancient Greece, the bema was the grandstand where judges gave out honors to the winners of athletic competitions. Thus, it is before the divine “bema” that we will all appear. If we compete according to the eternal rules, we will gain the honor of reward from the eternal Judge. As Paul wrote, we must set our minds “on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). (QuietWalk)
Serve God, Not Self
I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” ISAIAH 6:8
There can be only one Lord in this relationship, or it just doesn’t work. Any other combination of play-callers in this game plan results in confusion, distraction and disobedience.
The Bible exhorts us to become “slaves” or “bond-servants” of Jesus Christ (see Ephesians 6:6; Acts 16:17; 2 Corinthians 4:5). We are all slaves of some master.
If that master is sin, we will be enslaved to evil. If that master is self, we will be in bondage to our pride. It is Jesus Christ who gives us the power to break free from these masters and find life in Him as our true Master.
Barbara and I have written on a number of occasions about a document we created in our first year of marriage in 1972. It was our first Christmas together and we decided that before we gave anything to each other, we would give God what we called “The Title Deed to Our Lives.”
Each of us sat down and wrote out a document that signed over all our rights, all our possessions and all our dreams of what we’d ever hope to have.
We gave ourselves as fully and completely to God as we could at the time. We became bond-slaves of Jesus Christ. I cannot begin to tell you how liberating that decision was.
Nearly 20 years later, we opened the envelopes that contained our “Title Deeds.” I laughed as I read back over all that we gave God on that day. What we gave Him on that day could hardly be considered a loss when we compared what He had given us as His bond-slaves. I cannot imagine what our lives would have looked like if we had chosen a lesser master.
Serve God, not self. When He is Lord, you have the best Master on Earth.
DISCUSS
What would it be like for you to sign a “Title Deed of Our Lives”? What would you give up? What would you gain? (Moments with You Couples Devotional by Dennis and Barbara Rainey)
“At the end of the day, you are solely responsible for your success and your failure. And the sooner you realize that, you accept that, and integrate that into your work ethic, you will start being successful. As long as you blame others for the reason you aren’t where you want to be, you will always be a failure.”
― Erin Cummings – thanks Sabrena
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