PsalmsChapter 135

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Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD; praise him, you servants of the LORD,

you who stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God.

Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing to his name, for it is delightful.

For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his treasured possession.

For I know that the LORD is great, that our Lord is above all gods.

Whatever the LORD pleases, he does—in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths.

He raises the clouds from the ends of the earth; he sends the lightning with the rain and brings the wind from his storehouses.

He struck down the firstborn of Egypt, from man to beast.

He sent signs and wonders into your midst, O Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants.

He struck down many nations and killed mighty kings—

Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan—

and he gave their land as an inheritance, an inheritance to Israel his people.

Your name, O LORD, endures forever; your renown, O LORD, through all generations.

For the LORD will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants.

The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands.

They have mouths but cannot speak, eyes but cannot see.

They have ears but cannot hear, and there is no breath in their mouths.

Those who make them will become like them, and so will all who trust 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, he who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!

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Summary2

Chapter 135

Main Theme: A hymn of praise extolling the Lord's greatness, power, and faithfulness toward Israel, in contrast to powerless idols.

Content: The psalm begins with a call for the Lord's servants in the temple to praise him because he is good and has chosen Israel as his own possession. It recalls God's sovereign power over creation and his acts of deliverance: the plagues in Egypt, the victory over kings Sihon and Og, and the gift of the land to Israel. Idols made of silver and gold are contrasted with the living God—they cannot speak, see, or hear, and those who trust in them become like them. The psalm concludes with calls for all Israel to bless the Lord.

Key Words/Images:

Servants of the Lord (עַבְדֵי יְהוָה): Those who stand in the temple and are called to praise God.
Treasured possession (סְגֻלָּה): Israel as God's chosen, precious possession.
Signs and wonders (אֹתוֹת וּמֹפְתִים): God's miraculous interventions in Egypt that demonstrated his power.
Powerlessness of idols: The gods of the nations are lifeless objects without life, in sharp contrast to the living God.

Historical context

Historical and Cultural Context for Psalms 135

Places

The chapter mentions several geographical locations with historical significance. Zion and Jerusalem (v. 21) are highlighted as the Lord’s dwelling place, reflecting the theology that God chose this site for His temple. Bashan (v. 11) was a fertile highland region east of the Jordan, ruled by King Og who was defeated during the conquest. The area was conquered during the wilderness wanderings and assigned to half the tribe of Manasseh. Egypt (vv. 8–9) represents the land of slavery and the place of God’s mighty acts, a central theme in Israel’s salvation history.

Events and Customs

The chapter refers to temple service by mentioning those who "stand in the house of the Lord" and in its "courts" (v. 2). This describes the Levites’ role as servants in the sanctuary. Praise was organized among various groups—the house of Israel, the house of Aaron, the house of Levi, and all who fear God (vv. 19–20)—representing the entire people within a liturgical structure. The chapter’s form, alternating between calls to praise and reasons for praise, suggests use in public worship, possibly during festival celebrations.

Key Terms

Segullah (סְגֻלָּה, v. 4) is often translated as "treasured possession" or "special property." The word denotes a king’s private wealth or special possession, distinct from the general resources of the kingdom. When Israel is called God’s "segullah," it expresses an intimate relationship of ownership. Otot u-moftim (אֹתוֹת וּמֹפְתִים, v. 9), "signs and wonders," is a fixed phrase describing God’s miraculous interventions in Egypt, especially the plagues.

Chapter-Specific Insights

The chapter’s polemic against idols (vv. 15–18) reflects similar texts from the ancient Near East. Babylonian texts describe how divine images were "born" through rituals in which their mouths were opened to give them life. Biblical satire turns this upside down: the images have mouths, but cannot speak. This type of critique of religion also appears in Isaiah 44 and Jeremiah 10, which may place the final form of the chapter in the exilic or early post-exilic period.

People3

And (King of Bashan)1 Sihon (Amorite king)1 Jacob1

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Key words10

Praise — An expression of gratitude and homage to God for his goodness and greatness.
Lord — A title used for God, meaning the supreme authority and ruler over all.
Servants — Those dedicated to serving and honoring God, often referred to as believers or followers.
Host of heaven — A term referring to heavenly beings, such as angels, who serve God.
Jacob — The patriarch of Israel's twelve tribes and an important figure in the Old Testament.
Israel — The name of the biblical people whom God chose as his special people, also the name of the land they inhabited.
God's house — An expression referring to the temple in Jerusalem, a place for worship and sacrifice to God.
Power — God's ability to control and influence the world and human life.
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