THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION

Psalms: God's Nurture Of The Inner Man In The Life Of Faith

CXXXV: Praising God For His Sovereign Goodness

(Psalm 135:1-21)

I. Introduction

A. God is not only a Good God, but He is also a Sovereign God, and the combination of those two very different characteristics make for great blessings for the Lord's people.

B. Psalm 135:1-21 dwells on the application of these two characteristics in a great psalm of praise to God, and we view this composition for our insight and edifying application (as follows):

II. Praising God For His Sovereign Goodness, Psalm 135:1-21.

A. The numbering system of the psalm in the Hebrew text matches that of the English Bible (Kittel, Biblia Hebraica, p. 1092), so we stay with the English Bible's numbering system for this lesson.

B. We then translate Psalm 135:1-21 (as follows):

1. "Praise Jah(weh). Praise the name of Jahweh; praise Him, you servants of Jahweh," Psalm 135:1.

2. "You who minister in the house of Jahweh, in the courts of the house of our Elohim," Psalm 135:2.

3. "Praise Jah(weh), for Jahweh is good; sing praise to His name because that is pleasing," (Psalm 135:3)

4. "for Jahweh has chosen Jacob to be His own, Israel to be His treasured possession," (Psalm 135:4)

5. "for I myself (emph. pron.) know that Jahweh is great, that our Elohim is greater than all gods," Psa. 135:5.

6. "Jahweh does whatever pleases Him, in the heavens and in the earth, in the seas and in all their depths," Psalm 135:6.

7. "He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth; He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from His storehouses," Psalm 135:7.

8. "He struck down the firstborn of Egypt, the firstborn of men and animals," Psalm 135:8.

9. "He sent His signs and wonders into your midst, O Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants," v. 9.

10. "He struck down many nations and killed mighty kings --" (Psalm 135:10)

11. "Sihon, king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan and all the kings of Canaan --" (Psalm 135:11)

12. "and He gave their land as an inheritance, an inheritance to Israel, His people," Psalm 135:12.

13. "Your Name, O Jahweh, endures forever, Your renown, O Jahweh, through all generations," Psa. 135:13.

14. "For Jahweh will vindicate His people and have compassion on all His servants," Psalm 135:14.

15. "The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men," Psalm 135:15.

16. "They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see;" Psalm 135:16.

17. "They have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths," Psalm 135:17.

18. "Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them," Psalm 135:18.

19. "O house of Israel, praise Jahweh; O house of Aaron, bless Jahweh;" Psalm 135:19.

20. "O house of Levi, bless Jahweh; you who fear Jahweh, bless Jahweh;" Psalm 135:20.

21. "Blessed be Jahweh from Zion, to Him Who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise Jah(weh)," Psalm 135:21.

C. We note significant observations regarding this psalm (as follows):

1. Both in the introduction (v. 1-3a) and conclusion (v. 19-21), the psalmist called for God to be praised.

2. His reasons for praising God revolve around the application of two divine characteristics -- God's goodness and His sovereignty. To explain, (a) God's goodness is seen in His graciously choosing the people of Israel to be His treasured possession (v. 3b-4), and (b) His sovereignty has been applied toward ministering to Israel's needs in various, great ways: (i) God is sovereign over all pagan gods (v. 5) and the universe (v. 6-7) so He could slay Egypt's firstborn of men and animals and perform many mighty wonders in nature against Egypt and her gods and deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage (v. 8-9 with Exodus 12:12); (ii) God was sovereign over the gods and peoples of Canaan, so He caused them to be defeated before Israel that she might inherit the Promised Land (v. 10-12) and (iii) God is sovereign over the gods and the peoples of the world so that He will forever apply His goodness and sovereignty for His treasured people [of the truly saved future] Israel (v. 13-18 [Romans 11:26-27]).

Lesson: God is to be praised for applying His infinite goodness and sovereignty in behalf His loved, chosen people.

Application: (1) May we praise God for His goodness and sovereignty that are greatly applied to us, His people who trust in Jesus as Savior. (2) May we trust God to apply His infinite goodness and sovereignty forevermore.