Psalm 135 (134):5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Here is another motivation for expressing our adoration. But let me ask: do you truly 'know,' while others may not? Indeed, they do, yet not in the same way that I do. Those who are sanctified and notably elevated might genuinely grasp His majesty, not in its entirety—that would be beyond reach—but more vividly than most. ‘And our Lord is above all gods.’ You might observe that he states: ‘The Lord is great,’ and “for I have learned.” He then seems to diminish the emphasis of his proclamation, placing God alongside other deities to affirm His superiority through comparison. However, this was articulated to cater to the limitations of his audience, aiming to gradually elevate their understanding.

It should bring us great joy and delight, for the Psalm encourages us towards such joy. It declares, ‘Praise the name of the Lord’ (Psalm 134:1). Herein lies the rationale for extolling the name of the Lord. Servants of the Lord, lift your voices in praise. What could be more deserving of our adoration? What could be more satisfying? If He instructs His faithful servants—the heralds of His Word, the overseers of His Church, those who revere His name, and those who heed His commands—to savor the sweetness of their own lives within their hearts, so as not to be corrupted by praise or weighed down by human reproach, how much more worthy is He, the Immutable One, who teaches all these truths, both through commendation and through challenge? As His servants, it is only right that we offer our praises to Him. Even if you were only ever His servants, you ought to glorify the Lord; how much more should you do so, so that one day you may enjoy the status of sons?

Therefore, you who stand in the Lord's house, within the courts of our God, exalt the Lord (Psalm 133:2). Be grateful; once you were on the outside, but now you dwell within. Is it not a great honor to reflect on where you should laud Him who lifted you from despair and brought you into His sanctuary to know and praise Him? Is it not a precious gift that we are enabled to stand in the house of the Lord? Anyone who contemplates this without gratitude runs the risk of neglecting their own well-being in light of the love shown to them by the Lord, who has performed such wonderful deeds on their behalf. As they possess nothing to repay God for His boundless blessings, what remains but to express their thanks? To give thanks is to take up the cup of the Lord and call upon His name. And with what could a servant possibly repay the Lord for all His goodness bestowed upon them?

What justification can I present for your praise of Him? Simply this: ‘Because the Lord is good’ (Psalm 134:3). In a single phrase, we see the essence of our God’s praise affirmed. The Lord is good—truly good—but not merely as good as His creation. For He deemed all that He made to be exceedingly good (Genesis 1:31)—not just good, but very good. He formed heaven and earth, along with all that exists therein, and deemed it all immensely good. If all creation is good, then how much more magnificent is the Creator?

How can we rightly articulate His goodness? Who can grasp in their heart or fully comprehend the extent of the Lord’s goodness? Let us turn inward and recognize Him within ourselves, praising the Creator for His wondrous works; for we are unworthy to behold Him directly. Yet we aspire to see Him once our hearts are purified by faith, so that we might rejoice in the Truth hereafter. Currently, since He remains unseen, let us contemplate His marvelous creations, so that we do not live without offering Him praise. Therefore, I proclaim, Praise the Lord, for He is good; sing to His name, for He is delightful. He is the Mediator, and thus sweet. What could be sweeter than the sustenance of angels? How can God not be sweet, especially when humans partake of angelic nourishment? For both men and angels share a common source of sustenance. This is truth, this is wisdom, this reflects the goodness of God, though we cannot fully experience it as the angels do. In order for humanity to partake in the angelic food, the Creator of angels became man. If you taste His sweetness, sing joyful hymns; rejoice if you sense how delightful the Lord is; when you experience His kindness, express your gratitude. Who would be so ungrateful as to not praise the cook or provider after relishing their culinary offerings? If we do not remain silent regarding earthly feasts, how could we remain silent about Him who has given us everything?

For the Lord has chosen Jacob, selecting Israel as His treasured possession (Psalm 134:4). Therefore, let Jacob not elevate himself or boast of his own merits, for he was known, predestined, and chosen by grace before he possessed any merit of his own. The same holds true for all the Gentiles: what merit did the wild olive tree possess to be grafted in, given its bitter fruit and wild nature? It resided in the wilderness, not in the Lord’s fields, yet by His mercy, the wild olive was incorporated into the true olive tree—though it had not been grafted in prior to this time.

Indeed, I acknowledge that the Lord is great, and our God transcends all other gods (Psalm 134:5). If we were to inquire about His greatness, might one not respond that He who I behold is not as great as I could describe Him? Let him thus return to God’s works and recount them. Let him hold firmly in his conscience the greatness of God, which he has witnessed and testified to our faith—those things which our eyes cannot behold—and enumerate the works the Lord has performed. This will sweeten the understanding for us who are unable to see His greatness as he can.

All that the Lord intended, He created in heaven and on earth, in the sea and in its depths (Psalm 133:6). Who can truly fathom these wonders? Who can list the Lord’s works in the heavens and the earth, in the sea and in all its depths? Regardless, if we cannot grasp them all, we ought to believe and accept them unreservedly, for all creation in heaven, earth, sea, and depths exists through the Lord’s command.

The clouds being lifted from the corners of the earth (Psalm 134:7) is a testament to His handiwork. Clouds, appearing from diverse places, unleash rain, although we do not inquire into their origins. Thus the prophet conveys this: from the ends of the earth, whether from beneath or from its farthest points, He raises clouds as He wills, solely from the earth. He transforms lightning into rain, for lightning alone would impose terror without offering anything beneficial. He renders the formerly frightening into something that inspires joy. He who once frightened now brings you delight. He summons the winds from His treasure, yet their origins remain unfathomable; when they blow, you may sense them, but their source remains hidden. Just as it is written, ‘The wind blows where it wishes’ (John 3:8), you owe the Lord your faith and worship, as its existence and power come from Him.

Thus, we witness His works; let us offer praise, awe, and blessing to God, considering what He has done for His people. Who struck down Egypt’s firstborn? (Psalm 133:8) Here we recount these divine deeds; out of love they are narrated, not from fear. Hearken and see that even in anger, He accomplishes His purposes, reaching even to beast and man. He has sent signs and wonders against you, Egypt! (Psalm 134:9). Reflect upon what the Lord executed through Moses in Egypt, to bring down the arrogant Egyptians—Pharaoh and all his officials. How little did He do in Egypt compared to what He did subsequent to rescuing His people from there! For He struck down many nations (Psalm 134:10), conquering the land that He desired to provide to His people; He vanquished the mightiest kings, such as Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, alongside all the kingdoms of Canaan (Psalm 134:11). The actions detailed in this Psalm can be found in other scriptures as well, reflecting the might of the Lord’s hand. When you witness what befalls the wicked, take heed to avoid falling into similar misdeeds. Good people, seeing the fate of the evil, should rid themselves of sin to escape the same fate. This understanding reveals God’s nature: He expelled the wicked and granted their land as an inheritance to Israel, His servant (Psalm 133:12).

Then arises a loud proclamation of His praise. Your name, O Lord, is everlasting (Psalm 134:13), in light of all Your deeds. For what do I witness in all that You have created? I behold the heavens, I see the place where we reside, and I perceive Your gifts of clouds, winds, and rain. I honor Your people, having liberated them from bondage and performing signs and wonders against their foes. You have punished those who harbored animosity toward them, expelled the wicked from their territory, eliminated their kings, and granted their lands to Your people. Witnessing all these marvels, I exclaim, Lord, Your name is eternal.

All these acts of God were manifested in the physical realm, when our ancestors emerged from Egypt, and now they continue in the spiritual domain. His hand does not cease until the end. Therefore, do not believe that His grand works terminated back then. Your name, O Lord, remains forever. That is, Your mercy endures, and Your hand remains active in fulfilling the promises made. These accounts serve as lessons for us, for the conclusion of the ages has arrived (1 Corinthians 10:11)—one generation after another; the generation that experiences faith and rebirth through baptism, the generation that rises from spiritual death, destined to dwell with angels forever. Your remembrance, O Lord, transcends this generation and that, for He will not forget to summon us, nor will He neglect to crown us one day.

The Lord has judged His people and will be revered among His servants (Psalm 133:14). He has already determined their fate. Excluding the final judgment, the Jewish people are being assessed. What is being scrutinized? The just are removed, the unjust remain. Yet if I have erred by stating this judgment occurs now, listen to the Lord’s assertion: “I came into this world for judgment so that the blind might see and those who see might become blind” (John 9:39). The haughty are blinded, while the humble are enlightened. Hence, He judged His people, as prophesied by Isaiah. And now, O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord (Isaiah 2:5). This is a minor point; however, notice what follows: He rejected His people, the house of Israel. The house of Jacob is synonymous with Israel, as Jacob is also Israel. Accordingly, God judged His people, distinguishing the wicked from the righteous, leading to His recognition among His servants. By whom? The Gentiles. How many nations, converting through faith, come forth! How many emerge from arid spaces and lonely locations? They come forth, uncounted in number; they desire to know the glory of God. Believe me, brethren, we are astonished and filled with joy by the declarations of these humble folk. They travel from unknown territories, awakened by an unfamiliar guide. You might ask, “How did they arrive?” The answer is clear: no one comes to Me unless the Father draws them (John 6:44). Suddenly, they emerge from forests, wildernesses, and remote peaks into the Church, and nearly all speak the language of truth, which God has instilled within them. The scripture is fulfilled, declaring, “And all shall be taught of God” (Isaiah 54:13). We ask them, “What do you seek?” and they respond, “To witness the glory of God.” For indeed, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). They believe, they become sanctified, and they desire to have clergy appointed. Has this not been fulfilled? Will He not be honored among His servants?

The Prophet teaches us about the power of our God through His works, demonstrating that the deities worshipped by other nations fall short in comparison to Him. One cannot equate something non-existent with the One who is sovereign and everlasting. The Prophet further illustrates God's greatness through His act of creation.

I am aware of the immense greatness of the Lord. Here, David provides another motive for which all ancient and modern Israelites, namely Christians, ought to worship and sing praises to God. He asserts that he has grasped the Lord’s greatness, a realization he has attained through the Divine grace that has illuminated his mind and by contemplating His works and miracles through reason. Yet, one might ask, have you gained this understanding while others have not? They have indeed known Him, he replies, but not in the same way that I have; for the truest comprehension of His greatness is reserved for the holy and exalted, though not to the fullest extent, as that is impossible, yet they understand Him more clearly than others do.

The gifts bestowed by the Lord upon His faithful servants, who reside within this perishable body, are indeed profound and wonderful, rich in generosity and known only to those who have partaken of them. Recognizing this purity of spirit, the Prophet declared on behalf of himself and those who have reached this state: "marvellous are Thy works, and my soul knows well" (Psalm 138:14). Had the Prophet possessed a different mindset or spoken of other divine actions, he would not have proclaimed anything truly remarkable. Every person is aware, through the majesty of creation itself, that God's works are extraordinary.

The prophet appears to be responding to a possible inquiry: Why does he urge the people to worship God with such fervor? For I, the prophet declares, am aware of the greatness of the Lord. He is not only exalted above all humanity but also over all deities, whether they be angels or merely fictional gods of paganism; thus, I cannot remain silent. I raise my voice in praise and summon everyone to join in song. He substantiates this by invoking God's singular omnipotence, demonstrating that He is mighty both in His essence and in His creations: all things were brought into existence by His will, whether in the heavens, on the earth, in the oceans, or in the depths. When referencing the seas, he primarily alludes to the two major bodies of water, namely the Ocean and the Mediterranean.

This intricate psalm, referencing various biblical passages, is set in the post-Tribulation era and can be interpreted, particularly in light of verse 14 regarding the contemporary oppression faced by the Israelites, as relating to the period of Samaritan assaults on Israel. It invites the Israelites, identified as the servants of the Lord (v. 1), alongside the priests and Levites, who are present in the temple (see vv. 19 and 20), and the people gathered in the courts, to extol the greatness of God. He is eternally good and merciful (v. 3), as demonstrated through His choice of Israel (v. 4); He reigns supreme over all deities (v. 3, v. 4, v. 5). He is omnipotent, the Creator of all that exists and the Sovereign of the universe (vv.

In this psalm, the prophet urges all people to offer solemn praise to God for His immeasurable blessings bestowed upon the people of Israel. This chosen race has been brought from the depths of idolatry into the true light, which has been revealed in the hearts of the faithful, illuminating their minds with the divine splendor found in Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6). This call to thanksgiving is encapsulated in the term "hallelujah," which in Hebrew signifies praise, while "Jah" refers to the Lord's name. Acknowledging the invisible essence of God, the prophet encourages the worship of His name. Moreover, those who truly believe in Christ and follow His commandments are recognized as His disciples.