Bible Commentaries

Psalms 134:1 « A Song of degrees. » Behold, bless ye the LORD, all [ye] servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.

Ver. 1. Behold, bless ye the Lord] This short psalm (the last of the fifteen graduals) is breve Sacerdotum speculum, saith an expositor; a mirror for ministers, who are first excited by a Behold, as by the sounding of a trumpet, or the ringing of a sermon bell. And, secondly, exhorted to praise God, and to pray unto him; whereunto if we add their teaching of Jacob God’s judgments, whereof Moses reminds them, Deuteronomy 33:10, what more can be required of Archippus, to the fulfilling of his ministry? and if he be slack, he must be told of it, Colossians 4:17, yet with all due respect and reverence to his office, 1 Timothy 5:1. And it were far better, if they would rouse up themselves with the wakeful cock, and not keep sleepy sentry in the sanctuary.

All ye servants of the Lord] Ye priests and Levites, who are God’s servants, but of a more than ordinary alloy; servants of noblest employment about him. Such are all faithful ministers; each of them may say with Paul, Acts 27:23, "Whose I am, and whom I serve."

Which by night stand in the house of the Lord] Keeping watch and ward there in your turns, Numbers 18:1-2, &c.; 1 Chronicles 9:33. The Rabbis say, that the high-priest only sat in the sanctuary (as did Eli, 1 Samuel 1:1-28), the rest stood, as ready priest to do their office.

Psalms 134:2 Lift up your hands [in] the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.

Ver. 2. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary] Or, Lift up holy hands, as 1 Timothy 2:8. One readeth it, out of the Hebrew, Lift up your hands, sanctuary, that is, ye sanctuary men, continens pro contento. Hearts and hands must both up to heaven, Lamentations 3:41, and God be glorified both with spirits and bodies, which are the Lord’s, 1 Corinthians 6:20.

And bless the Lord] Like so many earthly angels; and as if ye were in heaven already, say,

Psalms 134:3 The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.

Ver. 3. The Lord that made heaven and earth] And therefore hath the blessings of both lives in his hand to bestow. See Numbers 6:24.

Bless thee out of Zion] They are blessings indeed that come out of Zion; choice, peculiar blessings, even above any that come out of heaven and earth. Compare Psalms 128:5, and the promise, Exodus 20:24, In all places where I put the memory of my name I will come unto thee and bless thee.