Psalm 135:1-21
Q.1. What is it about the nature of God that is worthy of the praise of His servants? How does God display His ultimate greatness? – (Ps.135:1-7)
This is probably a song composed by one of the Levites, in which he exhorted his fellow Temple servants to bring worthy praise to God – 1 Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord; Praise Him, O servants of the Lord, 2 You who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God! (Ps.135:1-2 c.f. 1 Chr.25:1-7). They were to exalt His lovely name (N.B. Since Christ came, we have been given so many more beautiful names that describe God, such as Is.9:6; Rev.19:11-16). God should be praised, for He is good, especially to those chosen for His own possession (Ps.135:3-4 c.f. 1 Pet.2:9-10). Apart from governing us, God is the great Governor of the Universe – 5 For I know that the Lord is great and that our Lord is above all gods. 6 Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps … (Ps.135:5-60).
Q.2. What did this song celebrate? What does it say about the worship of idols? – (Ps.135:8-21)
The Psalm highlights the redemption of Israel from Egypt, and the deliverance from the nations of the Promised Land, which God gave to them as a heritage (Ps.135:8-12). There is no comparison between the man-made gods of the other nations – Your name, O Lord, is everlasting, Your remembrance, O Lord, throughout all generations (Ps.135:13). He described the idols of people with the oft repeated observation – 16 They have mouths, but they do not speak; They have eyes, but they do not see; 17 They have ears, but they do not hear, nor is there any breath at all in their mouths
(Ps.135:16-17). He stated – Those who make them will be like them, yes, everyone who trusts in them (Ps.135:18). Idol worshippers are as useless as their images. Then why would they bless God? Most people just enjoy their blessings – and curse God or their luck when things change. Israel was to factor God into all the bounty and trials of life, and to thank Him for it all, since He had chosen to dwell with all who fear Him and acknowledge Him.