Psalms Chapter 135 — A Call to Praise the Lord's Greatness
Psalm 135 is a liturgical call for the house of Israel to praise God for His goodness, His control over nature, and His historical deliverance of His people.
1Praise the LORD!*Hebrew: יה Yah
2you who stand in the LORD’s house,
3Praise the LORD,‡Hebrew: יה Yah for the LORD is good.
4For the LORD§Hebrew: יה Yah has chosen Jacob for himself,
5For I know that the LORD is great,
6Whatever the LORD pleased, that he has done,
7He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth.
8He struck the firstborn of Egypt,
9He sent signs and wonders into the middle of you, Egypt,
10He struck many nations,
11Sihon king of the Amorites,
12and gave their land for a heritage,
13Your name, LORD, endures forever;
14For the LORD will judge his people
15The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
16They have mouths, but they can’t speak.
17They have ears, but they can’t hear,
18Those who make them will be like them,
19House of Israel, praise the LORD!
20House of Levi, praise the LORD!
21Blessed be the LORD from Zion,
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Psalm 135:3
“Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praises to his name, for it is pleasant.”
This verse establishes the central theme of the psalm, grounding worship in the inherent goodness of God.
Psalm 135:6
“Whatever the LORD pleased, that he has done, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.”
This verse emphasizes God's total authority and power over every realm of the physical world.
Psalm 135:15-16
“The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they can’t speak.”
This provides a sharp contrast between the active, living power of God and the helplessness of man-made objects.
Chapter Summary
Psalm 135 is a communal hymn of praise that begins with an invitation to those who stand in the house of the Lord to bless His name. The text celebrates God's goodness and His specific choice of Jacob as His own possession. The psalmist highlights God's absolute sovereignty over the natural world, describing His ability to make clouds rise and control the elements of the earth. The narrative transitions into a historical recount of God's power, specifically referencing the plagues sent upon Egypt and the striking of their firstborn. It also notes the defeat of nations and kings like Sihon to provide a heritage for Israel. The second half of the psalm contrasts the living God with the lifeless idols of other nations, which are made of silver and gold and lack the ability to speak or hear. The chapter concludes with a series of calls for the house of Israel and the house of Levi to praise the Lord from Zion.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main message is a call to praise God for His unique greatness, His control over nature, and His faithful acts in Israel's history. It emphasizes that unlike the idols of other nations, God is alive and active.
The psalm describes idols as objects made of silver and gold by human hands. It notes that although they have human-like features such as mouths and ears, they are unable to speak or hear.
The house of Levi refers to the tribe of Levi, who were set apart for service in the sanctuary. Along with the house of Israel, they are called to lead the community in praising the Lord.
The psalm references the Exodus from Egypt, specifically the striking of the firstborn and the signs and wonders performed there. It also mentions the defeat of Sihon king of the Amorites.
Study Note
Psalm 135 is frequently categorized as a 'Hallelu-Yah' psalm because it begins with the Hebrew command to 'Praise the Lord'.
Related Chapters
Psalms 136
Psalm 136 shares similar liturgical structures and historical themes regarding God's deliverance of Israel.
Exodus 12
This chapter provides the primary historical account of the striking of the firstborn in Egypt mentioned in this psalm.
Psalms 115
Psalm 115 contains a very similar description of the vanity of idols compared to the living God.
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