Psalm 135 – Stand
What do you stand for? For whom or what are you willing to take action? Psalm 135 – stand, calls us to stand and praise our God. What can we learn from this psalm?
Psalm 135
Psalm 135 begins and ends with Hallelujah or praise the Lord! It includes fragments from other Scripture passages crafted into a new psalm, offering reasons to praise God.
The psalm begins with the call to praise the Lord, all servants of the Lord, all who stand in the house of the Lord. (Translation used is New American Standard)
“Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord; Praise Him, you servants of the Lord,
You who stand in the house of the Lord, In the courtyards of the house of our God!” (1-2)
The psalm calls us to worship. “To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, to devote the will to the purpose of God.” (Former Archbishop of Canterbury William Temple, cited in Boice) Psalm 135 Commentary: Praise for the Creator
In worship, we stand in adoration of our God.
Reasons to Praise God
Why praise God? Because God is good, Psalm 135 – stand, tells us.
“Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; Sing praises to His name, for it is lovely.
For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel as His own possession.” (3-4)
Praise God for God is great, with power over all creation.
“For I know that the Lord is great and that our Lord is above all gods.
Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and in all the ocean depths.
He causes the mist to ascend from the ends of the earth, He makes lightning for the rain; He brings forth the wind from His treasuries.” (5-7)
Praise God for all God has done for the Hebrew nation.
“He struck the firstborn of Egypt, both human firstborn and animal.
And sent signs and wonders into your midst, Egypt, Upon Pharaoh and all his servants.
He struck many nations and brought death to mighty kings,
Sihon, king of the Amorites, Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan;
And He gave their land as an inheritance, An inheritance to His people Israel.” (8-12)
The Israelites constantly recall the miracle of the Exodus. “Psalmists are never weary of drawing confidence and courage for today from the deeds of the Exodus and the Conquest.” (Maclaren) Psalm 135 Commentary: Praise for the Creator
God Surpasses Idols
Praise God because God is superior to pagan idols. Verses 15-17 repeats Psalm 115:4-6,8.
“The idols of the nations are nothing but silver and gold, the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but they do not speak; They have eyes, but they do not see;
They have ears, but they do not hear, nor is there any breath at all in their mouths.
Those who make them will become like them, yes, everyone who trusts in them.” (15-18)
(For more on false idols, see Psalm 115: Worshiping that which has no Substance – Patricia M Robertson)
Psalm 135 ends with prayers of blessing, similar to Psalm 115:9-11, and another call to praise God.
“House of Israel, bless the Lord; House of Aaron, bless the Lord;
House of Levi, bless the Lord; You who revere the Lord, bless the Lord.
Blessed be the Lord from Zion, Who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!” (19-21)
What Does It Mean to Stand?
The word stand has multiple meanings. According to Webster it is “to support oneself on the feet in an erect position.” It can also be “to maintain one’s position,” as in stand firm, or “to be in a particular state or situation,” as in stand financially. It can mean “to have a particular belief or opinion,” or “to endure or undergo successfully.” Eg. where do you stand on this issue? And how can you stand that? Plus, more.
It can also imply being ready, standing ready to serve or take action. “In Hebrew, the word ‘amad’ signifies not just physical standing, but also implies service and readiness to act.” Psalms 135:2 Meaning & Commentary – Servants of the Lord
Stand in the house of the Lord refers to the priests. “This phrase refers to the priests and Levites who served in the temple, a central place of worship for the Israelites. The “house of the LORD” is the temple in Jerusalem, which was the focal point of Jewish religious life. Standing in the temple signifies a position of service and worship, highlighting the role of the priests as mediators between God and the people.” Psalm 135:2 who stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God.
But the psalmist adds those who stand in the courtyards of the Lord, indicating everyone. “Serving in the house of the Lord is a high calling and privilege. Just as the priests and Levites were chosen for this sacred duty, believers today are called to serve God in various capacities within the church.” Psalms 135:2 Meaning & Commentary – Servants of the Lord
Psalm 135 – Stand
Worship is not passive. It is active. Psalm 135 – stand, calls all who believe to stand ready to serve the Lord in all we do. “Standing in the courts of the Lord signifies a life dedicated to worship. Our daily lives should reflect an attitude of worship, not just during church services but in all we do.” Psalms 135:2 Meaning & Commentary – Servants of the Lord
Where God is concerned, are you standing and ready?
(For another take on this psalm, see Psalm 135: An Early MashUp – Patricia M Robertson)
This post is part of a series of blog posts on the Psalms. Sign up to follow this blog and receive a free copy of Still Dancing, the second book in my Dancing through Life Series. click here to sign up
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