Psalms 135 — with JFB Commentary
The King James text with the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary (1871, public domain) directly beneath the verses it explains. Verses without a JFB note stand alone.
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“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” — John 5:39
1Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD.
PSALM 135
Psa 135:1-21. 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.
1-3. In the general call for praise, the priests, that stand in the house of the Lord, are specially mentioned.
Praise ye the Lord (comp. Psa_104:35; Psa_105:45; Psa_106:1, Psa_106:48; Psa_111:1; Psa_112:1; Psa_113:1, etc.). Praise ye the Name of the Lord (comp. Psa_113:1). Praise him, O ye servants of the Lord; rather, praise it; i.e. the Name.
2Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God.
Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. The "servants" are not here the priests and Levites only, as in Psa_134:1; but the priests, the Levites, and the people—all those who throng the "courts" of the temple (comp. verses 19, 20).
3Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.
Praise the Lord; for the Lord is good (comp. Psa_86:5; Psa_119:68). Sing praises unto his Name; for it is pleasant; or, "lovely" (comp. Psa_52:9; Psa_54:6).
4For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.
4-7. God's choice of Israel is the first reason assigned for rendering praise; the next, His manifested greatness in creation and providence.
For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself. This is the first reason why Israel should praise God. Israel is his people, his chosen people, selected by him out of all the nations of the earth to be his own, his inheritance (Deu_4:20; Deu_7:6; Deu_14:2, Deu_14:21, etc.). And Israel for his peculiar treasure (see Exo_19:5).
5For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Here is the second reason why God should be praised—he is great, greater far than any other being—"above all gods"—"more to be feared than all gods" (Psa_96:4). This greatness is shown, firstly, in his power over nature, which is the subject of Psa_135:7, Psa_135:8; and secondly, in his dealings with mankind, which form the subject of Psa_135:8-12.
6Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he (comp. Psa_115:3). God's power is only limited by his own attributes of truth and goodness. He cannot contradict his own reason, or his own moral qualities. Otherwise he can do anything and everything. In heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. This is intended as a complete division of space:
(1) the heavens above the earth;
(2) the earth and seas, in the middle sphere; and
(3) the abysses, or depths below the earth, as far as they can be conceived of as extending.
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.
He causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth (comp. Jer_10:13; Jer_51:16) By God's contrivance vapor is continually rising from the remotest regions of the earth, to hang in clouds, descend in rain, and spread abroad fertility. He maketh lightnings for the rain. To accompany it, perhaps to give it its fertilizing qualities. He bringeth the wind out of his treasuries (see Job_38:22, where God's "treasuries" for the snow and the hail are spoken of; and comp. Virgil, 'Aen.,' 2:25).
8Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.
8-9. The last plague [Ex 12:29] is cited to illustrate His "tokens and wonders."
Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast (comp. Exo_12:29). The most stupendous of the plagues of Egypt is given the first place in the account of God's wonderful dealings with men, and especially with his people. It gave them the deliverance out of Egypt, which made them a people (Exo_12:31-33).
9Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.
Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt; or, "signs and wonders" (comp. Exo_4:9, Exo_4:21; Neh_9:10; Psa_78:43). Upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants; i.e. "upon all his subjects." The plagues fell upon the whole people of Egypt (Exo_7:21; Exo_8:4, Exo_8:11,Exo_8:17, Exo_8:24; Exo_9:6, Exo_9:11, Exo_9:25; Exo_10:6, Exo_10:15; Exo_12:30).
10Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;
10-12. The conquest of Canaan was by God's power, not that of the people.
Who smote great nations (see Exo_14:27, Exo_14:28; Exo_17:8-13; Num_21:24-30, Num_21:33-35; Jos_8:21-26; Jos_10:10, Jos_10:11; Jdg_4:10-16; Jdg_7:19-23; Jdg_11:32, Jdg_11:33; 1Sa_7:10-13; 2Sa_8:1-14; 2Sa_10:8-19; 1Ki_20:1-30; 2Ki_3:4-27; 2Ki_14:25-28; 2Ki_18:7, 2Ki_18:8; 2Ki_19:35; 2Ch_14:9-15; 2Ch_20:1-25, etc.). And slew mighty kings (see Jos_12:9-24; Jdg_7:25; Jdg_8:21; 1Sa_15:33, etc.).
11Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan:
Sihon King of the Amorites (comp. Num_21:24; Deu_2:33). And Og King of Bashan (see Num_21:35; Deu_3:3). And all the kingdoms of Canaan. Joshua destroyed thirty-one Canaanite kingdoms (Jos_12:24).
12And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.
And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people (see Exo_6:8; Psa_78:55; Psa_136:21).
13Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations.
13. heritage--or, "possession."
name ... memorial--Each denote that by which God is made known.
Thy Name, O Lord, endureth forever. The result of God's marvelous doings (Psa_135:6-12) is that "his Name endureth forever"—can never be forgotten—attracts to itself eternal praise and honor. And thy memorial (or, "thy remembrance") throughout all generations (comp. Psa_102:12).
14For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.
14. will judge--do justice (Psa 72:2).
repent himself--change His dealings (Psa 90:13).
For the Lord will judge his people; i.e. will right them whenever they are wronged (see Exo_2:23-25; Exo_3:7-9; Exo_6:6; Psa_54:1-3). And he will repent himself concerning his servants. God "will not keep his anger for ever" (Psa_103:9). When he has sufficiently chastised his sinful servants, he will "repent," or "relent" (Kay, Cheyne), with respect to them, and receive them back into favor. The history contained in the Book of Judges strongly illustrates this statement (Jdg_3:6-11, Jdg_3:12-30; Jdg_4:1-3, Jdg_4:13-16; Jdg_6:1-16; Jdg_10:6-18; Jdg_11:4-33; Jdg_13:1-5, etc.).
15The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
15-18. (Compare Psa 115:4-8).
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:
19-21. (Compare Psa 115:9-11). There we have "trust" for "bless" here.
The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work 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 unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them. A condensed recitation of Psa_115:4-8 (comp. Jer_10:3-5). In its present place it is a sort of exposition of Psa_115:5.
Bless the Lord, O house of Israel. The concluding strain corresponds to the opening one, and is a simple hymn of praise. Israel generally, the priestly order, the Levites, and the devout worshippers of God, of whatever class, are called upon in succession to praise and bless Jehovah (comp. Psa_115:9-11). Bless the Lord, O house of Aaron (see Psa_115:10, Psa_115:12; Psa_118:3).
20Bless the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD.
Bless the Lord, O house of Levi: ye that fear the Lord, bless the Lord (comp. Psa_115:11, Psa_115:13).
21Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.
Blessed be the Lord out of Zion. As God gives his people blessings "out of Zion" (Psa_134:3), so they praise and bless him most appropriately out of the same place. Which dwelleth at Jerusalem (comp. Psa_76:2; Psa_48:1-3). Praise ye the Lord (see the comment on Psa_135:1).
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