Psalm 135 Praise ye the Lord
1. The Call for Praise -
The Person to Praise - 1 Praise ye the Lord.
The Priority in Praise - Praise ye the name of the Lord;
The People for Praise - praise him, O ye servants of the Lord.
The Place of Praise - 2 Ye that stand in the house of the Lord,
in the courts of the house of our God,
The Purpose through Praise - To Magnify -
His Goodness - 3 praise the Lord; for the Lord is good:
sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.
His Grace - 4 For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself,
and Israel for his peculiar treasure.
His Glory - 5 For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
2. The Conformity of Praise -
It Reflects -
God's Preeminence - 6 Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth,
in the seas, and all deep places. 7 He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.
God's Power - 8 Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.
9 Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.
God's Performance - 10 Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;
11 Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan:
God's Provision - 12 and gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.
God's Permanence - 13 Thy name, O Lord, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O Lord, throughout all generations.
God's Purpose - 14 For the Lord will judge his people,
and he will repent himself concerning his servants.
3. The Contrast in Praise -
Idolatry Condemned As -
Material - 15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold,
Manufactured - the work of men’s hands.
Misleading -
In Sound - 16 They have mouths, but they speak not;
In Sight - eyes have they, but they see not;
In Sense - 17 they have ears, but they hear not;
In Substance - neither is there any breath in their mouths.
Misguided - 18 They that make them are like unto them:
so is every one that trusteth in them.
4. The Called To Praise - Bless the Lord
The People - 19 Bless the Lord, O house of Israel:
The Priesthood - bless the Lord, O house of Aaron:
The Pure - 20 bless the Lord, O house of Levi:
The Pardoned - ye that fear the Lord, bless the Lord.
Their Provision - 21 Blessed be the Lord out of Zion,
Their Presence - which dwelleth at Jerusalem.
Their Praise - Praise ye the Lord.
