Psalms 134 & 135 - Blessings and Hallelu-jahs!

LINK: Psalm 134

BACKGROUND

This psalm is the last in the “Songs of Ascent” and seems to have been part of the worship service at the temple. The theme of the psalm certainly makes it a fitting close to worship. The psalm centers on those who remained in the temple to care for it (the Levites), bidding them to do it in worship of God. Then the psalm turns and invokes the Creator God’s blessing on those who worship. Perhaps it was spoken from the people to the Levites, a continuation of their previous words or perhaps it was a response from the priests to the people.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

My service to God is a form of worship to Him. Am I serving Him – doing those tasks He has given me, some perhaps mundane and boring – with reverence and joy? Do I desire to bless the Lord through them?

How do I do those tasks? What is the quality of my work? Does my work reflect my LORD's work?

Those are the questions I’m asking myself this morning as a result of thinking about this psalm. I hope you’ll ask them yourself, as well.

I love the last verse! No matter how much we want to bless the LORD, He is the one who gives more. He, the Creator of heaven and earth, has infinite resources with which to bless us.

LINK: Psalm 135

BACKGROUND

Does this psalm remind you of any other scripture passages? It should! It pieces together verses from other places into a patchwork quilt of thoughts that form a cohesive whole. You will find parts of Psalms 134, 116, 95, 115, and 136 in it; as well as verses reminiscent of Deuteronomy 7:6 and 32: 36, Jeremiah 10:13, and Exodus 3:15 . Check it out!

The psalm also begins and ends with Hallelu-jah – praise to Jehovah God!

REFLECTION

So let’s look at what’s between the Hallelu-jahs!

There is a list of reasons for praising the LORD:

Praise Him for His goodness in choosing us. We as believers are grafted into the vine of Israel – we are His special treasure.

Praise Him for His power revealed in nature. He is in charge of every bit of this world, from the depths of the seas to the atmosphere that surrounds the earth. “Whatever the LORD pleases He does.”

Praise Him for His power revealed in history. He worked miracles to get His people out of Egypt. He judged those nations who refused to recognize Him, to fear Him.

Praise Him for His unchanging character. He is the same forever. That is something to hang onto in this changing world!

Praise Him for His compassion for His people. He judges us with compassion!

Praise Him for His trustworthiness. He, unlike idols, sees and hears. He isn’t made by man. (Whenever I run across something in God’s word that is impossible to understand, I am comforted, because it is a sign to me that God, who is greater than man, authored it. What man would write something impossible to understand?)

The psalm closes with a repeated invocation for all His people to bless the LORD.

If you fear Him, bless Him!

APPLICATION

So do it!

Then make a list of ways you have seen God’s goodness, power, faithfulness, compassion, and trustworthiness exhibited to you in your own life.

PRAYER

Hallelu-jah! We praise you, LORD, for your power and love. Either of those without the other would diminish you. Thank you for giving us hearts to love you and hands to serve you. Help us to reflect your faithfulness and constancy – both to you and to those around us.