Psalm 135 (134):15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In the opening, it is affirmed that “Our Lord is above all gods,” which seems to imply a relative superiority tailored to the frailty of his audience. However, notice how he magnifies that superiority. Starting with the greatness of God, he recounts His deeds in heaven, on earth, and in the depths, among the Israelites in their homeland and also in foreign nations, addressing both enemies and pagans. He further reflects on His goodness, compassion, providence, wisdom, and power, ultimately establishing that He is the sovereign God who cares for all creation. In stark contrast, he declares the powerlessness of idols, directly challenging their very essence and, more pointedly, turning their name into an insult. An idol signifies nothing more than utter insignificance and weakness.

It is truly delightful and we should find joy in the call to worship expressed in this Psalm. It states, "Praise the name of the Lord" (Psalm 134:1). This provides a compelling reason to glorify His name. Praise the Lord, O servants. What is deserving of our exaltation? What could be more worthy? If He instructs His faithful servants—those who preach His Word, guide His Church, worship Him, and follow His commandments—so that they may experience the joy of a life well-lived, free from the corruption of misplaced praise and the despair that comes from others’ reproach, then how much more is He, the Immutable One above all, who imparts these teachings? As His servants, there is nothing wrong in offering praise to your Lord. Even if you were to remain merely servants, you should still exalt the Lord; how much more then should you, as His servants, worship Him so that you may attain the blessings of adoption as sons?

Therefore, you who are gathered in the house of the Lord, within the courts of our God, exalt Him (Psalm 133:2). Be grateful; you were once outside, and now you stand within. Let us not take lightly this standing in His presence, where He lifted you from a state of despair and has brought you into His house for the purpose of knowing and praising Him. Is it not a significant blessing to stand in the house of the Lord? Anyone who contemplates this and remains ungrateful surely neglects to reflect on the immense love of their Lord, who has accomplished such great deeds for them. Lacking resources to repay God for His abundant grace, what remains except to express gratitude? The act of thanking Him naturally involves taking the cup of the Lord and calling on His name. How can a servant repay their Lord for all He has given?

What motivation could I provide for why you should praise Him? Simply this: the Lord is good (Psalm 134:3). It is encapsulated in that singular expression. The Lord is good; indeed, He is good, but not merely as good as the splendid creations He has made. For God deemed all His creations very good (Genesis 1:31); everything from heaven to earth and all that inhabits it was called good, and very good. If everything He created is good, what then is He, the Creator?

How deeply can we explore His goodness? Who can fully grasp or articulate the depth of the Lord's benevolence? Yet let us turn inward and recognize Him within ourselves, raising our voices in praise of the Creator through His creations, for we are unworthy to gaze upon Him directly. With the hope that we may one day behold Him purified by faith, let us delight in His truth; for now, though we cannot see Him, let us observe His works so that we may not live without praising Him. Therefore, I proclaim, Praise the Lord for He is good; sing praises to His name for He is delightful. He is our Mediator, and thus He is sweet. What is sweeter than the sustenance of angels? How could God not be sweet if humanity has partaken of angelic food? Both men and angels partake of the same sustenance. This truth conveys the wisdom and goodness of God, yet we cannot experience it as the angels do. To enable humanity to consume angelic food, the Creator of angels assumed human form. If you taste, then let your praises flow; if you discover how sweet the Lord is, lift your voice in song; if what you experience delights you, respond with praise. Who would be so ungrateful to the chef or supplier from whom they derive pleasure from food? If we find it difficult to remain silent in such scenarios, should we quiet ourselves regarding Him who has bestowed upon us all gifts?

For indeed, the Lord chose Jacob, declaring Israel as His own possession (Psalm 134:4). Let Jacob not elevate himself, boast, or presume itself deserving. He was known beforehand, predestined, chosen not based on merits, but rather elected and granted life through God's grace. The same applies to the Gentiles; what merit did the wild olive tree possess to be grafted in, given its bitterness and barrenness? It was part of a wilderness, unfit for the divine fields, yet through mercy, the wild olive was engrafted into the true olive tree, although it was not previously included.

Because, as it is stated, "I know that the Lord is great, and our God is above all gods" (Psalm 134:5). If we were to ask someone to elucidate His greatness, they might respond that the one they perceive cannot be described. Rather, let them reflect on His works and declare His magnificence based on the greatness of God they recognize through faith, from where our eyes cannot reach, and recount the deeds He has accomplished here so that we, who cannot see as He does, may find sweetness in His works that we can understand.

All that the Lord desired, He created in heaven, on earth, in the sea, and in every ocean's depths (Psalm 133:6). Who can fully comprehend these matters? Who can recount the works of the Lord across heaven, earth, and the depths of the sea? Though we cannot fathom them all, we must believe and embrace them without question, as all regarding heaven, earth, and the seas has been established by the Lord.

He draws clouds from the ends of the earth (Psalm 134:7). We witness these divine acts in creation. Clouds arise from all corners of the earth to replenish it with rain, often beyond our understanding of their origins. The prophet speaks of this phenomenon; from any part of the earth, He raises clouds as He wills. He transforms lightning into rain; for lightning that does not yield rain can bring fear without providing benefit. The very thing that strikes terror, He converts into joy. He who brings forth winds from His storehouses conceals their causes; we feel their power though their origins remain obscure. Yet, we owe God our faith and worship because it would not have occurred without His command over its creation.

Thus, we observe this in His works; let us exalt, marvel, and bless God. We must contemplate what He has done for His people. Who struck down the firstborn of Egypt (Psalm 134:8)? These narratives recount divine actions meant to inspire love rather than fear. Consider that even in His wrath, He accomplishes His will, addressing both man and beast. He performed signs and wonders for you, O Egypt (Psalm 134:9). You are aware of what the Lord's hand executed through Moses against the proud Egyptians, bringing them to ruin. But what did He do after rescuing His people? He devastated many nations (Psalm 134:10) and granted the promised land to His people. He vanquished powerful kings: Sihon, king of the Amorites, Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan (Psalm 134:11). All these events are affirmed in other records of the Lord, where His strength is evident. When you witness the fate of the wicked, take care not to imitate their deeds. Likewise, when a good person witnesses the punishment of the wicked, let them purge every iniquity, ensuring they do not fall into similar consequences. Thus, you will grasp these truths fully. What did God accomplish? He expelled the wicked, granting Their land as an inheritance to Israel, His servant (Psalm 133:12).

This leads to an exuberant declaration of His praise. "Thy name, O Lord, is forever" (Psalm 134:13), following all that Thou hast done. I perceive the wonders of Your creation in heaven and earth, to which You have given us clouds, wind, and rain. I honor Your people, whom You have liberated from enslavement, performing miracles before their enemies. You punished those who oppressed them, drove out the wicked, annihilated their kings, and bestowed their lands upon Your chosen. Having witnessed all these deeds, I cried, "Lord, Your Name is eternal."

God dismantled these forces physically when our ancestors exited Egypt, and now He acts in the spirit. His Hand continues its work until the end. Thus, do not assume that the extraordinary acts of God concluded at that time. The Lord's name is forever and ever, indicating that His mercy is unending, and His influence persists in the fulfillment of all things as declared. These accounts were documented for our instruction, as we have arrived at the conclusion of ages (1 Corinthians 10:11). One generation succeeds another; through the generation that grants us faith, we are reborn through baptism and resurrected to eternal life alongside angels. The Lord's remembrance extends above and beyond our generations; even now, He shall not forget to summon us nor fail to crown us in the end.

The Lord has judged His people and will be acknowledged among His servants (Psalm 133:14). His judgment has already commenced; referring specifically to the fate of the Jewish people. What involves judgment? The righteous are taken while the unrighteous remain. If it seems I am mistaken in asserting this judgment has begun, hear what the Lord declares: "I came into this world for judgment, that those who cannot see may gain sight, and those who see may become blind" (John 9:39). The proud are rendered blind, and the humble receive enlightenment. Isaiah pronounced this judgment. "Now, O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord" (Isaiah 2:5). While this is profound, what follows? For He rejected His people, the house of Israel; the house of Jacob is synonymous with Israel. Hence, God judged His people, distinguishing between good and evil, and will be recognized among His servants, particularly by the Gentiles. Consider how vast those drawn by faith have become; many now come to us from distant and forsaken places, and their number is beyond count—they desire to know the glory of God. Believe me, dear brethren, we are astounded and gratified by the words of these villagers as they come from unknown regions, drawn by an unseen entity. How do we know what stirred them? Because He proclaimed, "No one can approach Me unless drawn by the Father" (John 6:44). They emerge from forests, deserts, and the highest mountains, entering the Church; many, indeed almost all, possess a common language, revealing the truth God has imparted to them. The Scriptures fulfill the prophecy that "All shall be taught of God" (Isaiah 54:13). We inquire of them, "What do you seek?" and they respond, "To behold the glory of God" (John 6:45). For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). They believe, they are sanctified, they desire a clergy to be appointed for them. Has not this prophecy been fulfilled that He will indeed be called among His servants?

Ultimately, after this divine arrangement, the Spirit of God turns toward the contempt and derision aimed at idols, which now mock their worshippers. "The idols of the Gentiles are silver and gold" (Psalm 134:15). Since God created all things, what merit can there be in what humanity fabricates other than scorn and derision? Did He address the idols of the Gentiles to incite our disregard for them? Is He referring to pagan idols made of stone, wood, or clay? That is not the intent; instead, I reference those esteemed materials they exalt—the idols of the Gentiles, silver and gold, crafted by human hands. Are they not gold and silver? They glimmer and shine; yet can they truly see or hear? All this is ultimately empty; why do you erect gods from men fashioned from gold and silver? Do you not realize that those gods lack the ability to perceive? They possess mouths but do not speak; they have eyes yet do not see (Psalm 134:16); they have ears but do not hear, and there is no breath in their mouths (Psalm 134:17); they have nostrils but cannot smell; they have hands but do not act; they have feet but do not walk. Such objects can be crafted by the carpenter, silversmith, and goldsmith—eyes, ears, nostrils, mouths, hands, and feet—but they cannot endow them with sight, hearing, speech, smell, or movement.

The false deities of speech are crafted from silver and gold, formed by human hands. After demonstrating and honoring God's Providence, he addresses the servants who have recently arrived from the Gentiles and, in passing, condemns the idols they once revered. He proclaims, "I know that the Lord is great, and our Lord is above all gods. He has performed many mighty acts, while your past deities lie dead and are mere unfeeling statues. Let those who fashion them become like them. How can those who revere lifeless objects avoid becoming spiritually hardened? The beings that were typically called gods are now humiliated and referred to as idols, as he exposes the very materials from which they are created and the hands that shaped them.

The Prophet proclaims that our God is the Maker of everything; indeed, these creations lack any ability to generate themselves, as they have derived their very existence from human craftsmanship, necessitating both matter and skill for their formation.

Idols fashioned from silver and gold are mere creations of human hands. This concept is echoed in Psalm 113 (Ps. 113:12), which offers further clarification on the matter. Should anyone contend that our Christian depictions of saints, crafted from similar materials, also fall under this category due to their human origins, we respond by asserting that while these representations are indeed made by human hands, they are not idols. The prototypes of idols have no legitimate existence; they are false representations of deities that are, in fact, not gods at all but rather demons who fabricate falsehoods about the divine. Conversely, our sacred icons are genuine and true representations, rightfully bearing that name.

The Prophet revisits his earlier teaching and reinforces his initial assertion found in the fifth verse, where he declares that our Lord is supreme over all deities. While it may seem irrelevant for God to be considered superior to the idols made of gold and silver, His greatness far surpasses not only earthly rulers but also heavenly beings. The Prophet draws a comparison to these idols primarily to illuminate the frailty of the false gods. Furthermore, even though the pagan deities are merely manifestations of evil spirits, many followers of these practices mistakenly revered them as true gods, as illustrated in the account of the idol of Dagon in the first book of Kings.

This composite psalm (see v. 7 in relation to Jer. 10:13, 51:16 and v. 14 with Deut. 32:36, and vv. 15-20 alongside Ps. 113ff.) is situated in the aftermath of the Tribulation period. If v. 14 is interpreted in light of the contemporary oppression faced by the Israelites, it may allude to the time of Samaritan assaults on Israel. It comprises exhortations directed towards the Israelites (the servants of the Lord, v. 1), the priests and Levites (who stand within the temple as reflected in vv. 19 and 20), and the congregation (gathered in the courts) to offer praises to God. He is good and full of mercy (v. 3), as evidenced by His choosing of Israel (v. 4); He stands exalted above all deities (v. 4); He is supreme over all powers (v.

In this psalm, the prophet invites all humanity to earnestly glorify God, acknowledging His incomprehensible grace bestowed upon the nation of Israel. From the depths of idolatry, He has led them into the radiant truth, illuminating the hearts of the faithful to reflect His divine majesty through Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6). This encapsulates the essence of halleluia. In Hebrew, "praise" translates to halleluia, with Jah representing the Lord’s name. Recognizing that God's essence is unseen, the prophet exhorts us to honor His name. Christ, the Rabbi, is He who truly believes in Him, is called by His name, and follows His commandments.