Psalm 135 - a song of praise songs to God

Psalm 135: A Song of Praise Songs to God

Psalm 135 is a medley of praise songs, a mosaic of passages that first appeared in other psalms. When rearranged, these songs encompass a lot of what God does and has done throughout all the nations and Israel. Let’s dig in…

Psalm 135

Praise the Lord!

Praise the name of the Lord!
    Praise him, you who serve the Lord,
you who serve in the house of the Lord,
    in the courts of the house of our God.

Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
    celebrate his lovely name with music.
For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself,
    Israel for his own special treasure.

I know the greatness of the Lord—
    that our Lord is greater than any other god.
The Lord does whatever pleases him
    throughout all heaven and earth,
    and on the seas and in their depths.
He causes the clouds to rise over the whole earth.
    He sends the lightning with the rain
    and releases the wind from his storehouses.

He destroyed the firstborn in each Egyptian home,
    both people and animals.
He performed miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt
    against Pharaoh and all his people.
10 He struck down great nations
    and slaughtered mighty kings—
11 Sihon king of the Amorites,
    Og king of Bashan,
    and all the kings of Canaan.
12 He gave their land as an inheritance,
    a special possession to his people Israel.

13 Your name, O Lord, endures forever;
    your fame, O Lord, is known to every generation.
14 For the Lord will give justice to his people
    and have compassion on his servants.

Statue of Mary - idolatry
Statue of Mary in San Juan Cathedral

15 The idols of the nations are merely things of silver and gold,
    shaped by human hands.
16 They have mouths but cannot speak,
    and eyes but cannot see.
17 They have ears but cannot hear,
    and mouths but cannot breathe.
18 And those who make idols are just like them,
    as are all who trust in them.

19 O Israel, praise the Lord!
    O priests—descendants of Aaron—praise the Lord!
20 O Levites, praise the Lord!
    All you who fear the Lord, praise the Lord!
21 The Lord be praised from Zion,
    for he lives here in Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 135 NLT

Pastor Sandy Adams provides some insight…

It’s interesting, the psalmist chooses to refer to the nation Israel by the name “Jacob.” The word means “heel-catcher.” Jacob was a twin, and he came out of his mother’s womb holding on to his brother’s heel. He was trying to grab first place from Esau even from the womb. “Heel-catcher” came to mean “a conniver, or a thief.”

Later the Lord Himself changes Jacob’s name to “Israel” or “prince of God” – but when God chose this man he was no prince. In the words of my friend, Gayle Erwin, “Jacob was dirty, sneaky, thief.” In other words, God’s choice – like all His choices – was not based on Jacob’s character, or merit, or good works – but solely on God’s grace.

And this is God’s basis for choosing you. You also were a dirty, sneaky thief when God chose. It’s only since you’ve lived under His influence that you’ve cleaned up your act and started to live like a prince of God. It’s wonderful to know that we’re God’s special treasure – not because we’ve earned that title, but because He’s chosen to love us regardless.

Pastor Sandy Adams

You can’t escape God’s admonishment on idolatry in verse 15…

Here’s the proof of man’s insanity. He worships the creation of his own hands. Rather than understand that man was fashioned in God’s image. Man makes a god in his own image. Humans end up worshipping themselves – or objects less than themselves – this way they don’t have to give up authority. When you’re greater than your god you can still call the shots. The psalmist has the opposite attitude. He praises God and encourages His people to follow suit.

Pastor Sandy Adams

Do You Praise God?

Hallelujah! Did you that every time you say “Hallelujah!” you are praising God? That’s what Hallejuah means!

You praise God because He is your…

  • Creator
  • Savior
  • Provider
  • Protector
  • Sheild
  • Refuge
  • Source of Living Water
  • Source of Joy
  • Confident Hope
  • Source of Shalom
  • King
  • Lord
  • High Priest
  • Redeemer
  • Judge
  • True Light
  • Sacrificial Lamb
  • Sanctuary
  • Word
  • Eternal Life
  • Comforter
  • Power
  • Glory
  • Spirit

I could go on. No one else, no human being can encompass all that. No human is worthy of our praise.

Do you know Jesus?

If you’re not sure if you’re saved or not, if you truly want to be born again and have the assurance of salvation, receive the Holy Spirit, feel His Shalom — a peace that surpasses all understanding, and get a 1-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven after you die, or that you won’t be left behind at the Rapture, which can happen at any moment, this is what you have to do…

Believe. Repent. Be Baptized. Receive the Holy Spirit.

  • Believe — have Faith — that Jesus is the Christ and He died taking your sins away forever and that He rose from the dead 3 days later.
  • Repent of your sins — stop sinning! Do a complete 180-degree turn in your life and surrender your life to Him. When you ask Jesus to forgive you He will. ALL your sins will be wiped clean — past, present, and future! And All means ALL!
  • Be Baptized by water baptism — show the world and yourself that you have died to your old life and are born again in Christ.
  • Receive the gift of Holy Spirit in your heart.

Invite Jesus into Your Heart and Receive the Gift of Grace, Joy, Peace, and the Confident Hope of Eternal Life…

Some Praise Songs…




Soli Deo Gloria — To God Alone Be The Glory!

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