Reflections on Psalm 135

Psalms 135 (Contemporary English Version)


1. Shout praises to the LORD! You are his servants, so praise his name.
   
2. All who serve in the temple of the LORD our God,
   
3. come and shout praises. Praise the name of the LORD! He is kind and good.
   
4. He chose the family of Jacob and the people of Israel for his very own.
   
5. The LORD is much greater than any other god.
   
6. He does as he chooses in heaven and on earth and deep in the sea.
   
7. The LORD makes the clouds rise from far across the earth, and he makes lightning to go with the rain. Then from his secret place he sends out the wind.
   
8. The LORD killed the first-born of people and animals in the land of Egypt.
   
9. God used miracles and wonders to fight the king of Egypt and all of his officials.
   
10. He destroyed many nations and killed powerful kings,
    
11. including King Sihon of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan. He conquered every kingdom in the land of Canaan
    
12. and gave their property to his people Israel.
    
13. The name of the LORD will be remembered forever, and he will be famous for all time to come.
    
14. The LORD will bring justice and show mercy to all who serve him.
    
15. Idols of silver and gold are made and worshiped in other nations.
    
16. They have a mouth and eyes, but they can't speak or see.
    
17. They are completely deaf, and they can't breathe.
    
18. Everyone who makes idols and all who trust them will end up as helpless as their idols.
    
19. Everyone in Israel, come praise the LORD! All the family of Aaron
    
20. and all the tribe of Levi, come praise the LORD! All of his worshipers, come praise the LORD.
    
21. Praise the LORD from Zion! He lives here in Jerusalem. Shout praises to the LORD!
    

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Why should we praise God? The particulars will vary for different people, but there will be similarities. The psalmist begins by mentioning a couple of God's attributes: He is good and He is delightful. These are reasons for us all to praise Him. Then he then points out that the Lord had chosen them - Israel - as His treasured possession. Although there is a uniqueness about God choosing Israel, those today who have received Christ into their life are also God's chosen people. Ephesians 1:6 says God chose us in Christ and in Christ we have been made God's inheritance. We have a similar reason as the psalmist's to praise the God who has chosen us as His inheritance.

We praise Him also because He is greater than all gods. The psalmist supports this by pointing out God's wonders in nature. He does whatever He pleases in heaven and earth. For instance, He causes the clouds to rise, makes lightning for the rain, and brings the wind from His storehouses. The psalmist moves on to mention the wonders God did for His people. For this he goes back to Israel's slavery in Egypt and tells of the miracles God performed to free them from that slavery. What wonders has God done for us that we can point to for praising Him? I can point to an occasion just this week in which God diverted catastrophe for me when a wheel came off my car. Rather than it happening on the interstate, it happened as soon as I was on a boulevard. Instead of happening at 70 miles an hour, it happened at 30 miles an hour. Mere chance? I think not.

Then the psalmist mentions how God took the Israelites through the wilderness once they were free from Egypt and brought them safely to their land of promise in Canaan. I can point to the ways over the years God has guided my path, charting a course that has blessed me and made my life fruitful. How He has protected me and provided for me. All reasons to give Him praise. Having mentioned these things about God, the psalmist returns to his comment earlier that God is greater than all gods. In verses 15-18 he says idols are nothing but silver and gold, made by human hands. They can't talk or see or hear or breathe. They do not even have the capacities of those who make them.

The psalmist concludes with another call to praise the Lord, this time directing it specifically to the priests and Levites - house of Aaron and house of Levi. May the Lord be praised from Zion. And, may He be praised from within my heart!