Psalms 135
Big idea: A hymn assembled out of other psalms — its opening borrows Psalm 134's, its idol passage is Psalm 115's, its history is Psalm 136's — and that is not laziness. It is a congregation singing what it already knows by heart. The argument sits in verse 6: whatever Yahweh pleased, that he has done. Everything else in the psalm is evidence, from the weather coming out of his treasuries to Sihon and Og, and the counter-example is a shelf of statues that cannot even breathe.
Psalm 135 lists what God has done. Psalm 136 lists the same things again, and says why after every one.
135:1–7 — Whatever Yahweh pleased, that he has done
A psalm stitched from other psalms and from the Torah, which suits its subject: a congregation reciting what it has been given. The claim at its centre is about freedom of action — whatever Yahweh PLEASED, he has done — and the proof offered is weather, including the psalm's most charming detail: wind kept in treasuries, like a stored commodity.
1 Praise Yah! Praise Yahweh’s name! Praise him, you servants of Yahweh, 2 you who stand in Yahweh’s house, in the courts of our God’s house. 3 Praise Yah, for Yahweh is good. Sing praises to his name, for that is pleasant. 4 For Yah has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel for his own possession. 5 For I know that Yahweh is great, that our Lord is above all gods. 6 Whatever Yahweh pleased, that he has done, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps. 7 He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightnings with the rain. He brings the wind out of his treasuries.
135:8–14 — He struck many nations
The recitation proper — Egypt's firstborn, Sihon, Og, the land given as a heritage — and it is the same list Psalm 136 will sing with a refrain. What this version adds is verse 13: the NAME endures, which is what the history is for. The events are being recited as evidence about a character rather than as a chronicle.
8 He struck the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and animal. 9 He sent signs and wonders into the middle of you, Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his servants. 10 He struck many nations, and killed mighty kings— 11 Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan— 12 and gave their land for a heritage, a heritage to Israel, his people. 13 Your name, Yahweh, endures forever; your renown, Yahweh, throughout all generations. 14 For Yahweh will judge his people and have compassion on his servants.
135:15–21 — Those who make them will be like them
The idol passage from Psalm 115, reused almost word for word, with one telling change: this version adds 'neither is there any BREATH in their mouths'. Breath is what Genesis gives the first human, so the shortened list ends on the thing that actually separates a made god from a maker. Then four groups are called to praise, one more than Psalm 115's.
15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. 16 They have mouths, but they can’t speak. They have eyes, but they can’t see. 17 They have ears, but they can’t hear, neither is there any breath in their mouths. 18 Those who make them will be like them, yes, everyone who trusts in them. 19 House of Israel, praise Yahweh! House of Aaron, praise Yahweh! 20 House of Levi, praise Yahweh! You who fear Yahweh, praise Yahweh! 21 Blessed be Yahweh from Zion, who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise Yah!
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).