Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

Psalm 135. This hymn calls God's people to praise him for his majestic power that he has displayed in his deeds on behalf of Israel. Each generation that sings this would strengthen their faith in and loyalty to the Lord, and deepen their gratitude toward him for their privileges. A side effect should also be an increasing compassion for the Gentiles, who suffer from worshiping lifeless idols. Many phrases in this psalm closely resemble phrases found elsewhere in the OT, as the cross-references show. This could mean that the author of the psalm used those other texts as his sources; it could also mean that this psalm and some of those other texts used phrases and ideas from a common stock. The psalm names no author, nor does it state whether the "house of the Lord" (v. 2) is the first or second temple. The psalm serves the needs of God's people at all times, in order to renew their faith and gratitude.

135:1-4 Praise the Lord Who Has Chosen Israel. The psalm begins by calling the worshiping community to praise the Lord (Hb. hallelu-yah). The term servants of the Lord could be the Levitical attendants (as in 134:1) but is more likely the faithful (cf. 19:11, 13; 27:9; 113:1; etc.) gathered for worship in the house of the Lord (the temple). On the Lord's name (135:1, 3), see note on v. 1. The reason for the praise is given at the end: for the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself (v. 4). This is a call to humility, gratitude, and faithfulness on the part of the worshipers (Deut. 7:6-11 expounds this idea).