Psalm 135 is a call to praise the LORD, and it explains why. The chapter gives reasons rooted in God’s choosing of Israel, his power over creation and history, and his faithfulness to his people, set against the emptiness of idols. People read it when they want to understand why worship is worth the effort, or when they need a reminder that the God they serve is both near and mighty.
Psalm 135 Summary
The psalm opens with a loud summons: praise the LORD’s name, especially those who serve in his house. The writer then gives the grounds for that praise. The LORD is good, he has chosen Israel as his own people, and he is greater than every rival god. His power is shown in creation, from the clouds rising at the edge of the earth to the wind coming out of his storehouses.
The middle of the psalm turns to history. The writer recalls the plagues on Egypt and the defeat of kings who stood in Israel’s path, including Sihon and Og, and then the gift of their land as an inheritance. From there the focus moves to the character of God, whose name and renown last through every generation, and who will judge and show compassion to his servants.
The psalm closes by contrasting the LORD with the idols of the nations. Those gods are made of silver and gold, have mouths that cannot speak and eyes that cannot see, and their makers come to resemble them. The psalm then calls every group in Israel, from the house of Israel to the Levites and all who fear the LORD, to bless him from Zion.
Background and Setting
Psalm 135 belongs to the book of Psalms, the collected songs of Israel used in worship. It is traditionally linked with the hymns sung in the temple, and its phrase “the courts of our God’s house” points to a setting of public worship in Jerusalem. Most scholars date the psalm to the post-exilic period, after the return from Babylon, though some place it earlier. The authorship is not stated in the psalm itself.
The chapter draws heavily on earlier Scripture, especially the Exodus story and the conquest of Canaan, which it recalls to make a point for the community. Its audience is the worshiping people of Israel, including priests and Levites, who gather to remember what the LORD has done. Within the book of Psalms, it sits among the hymns of praise that celebrate God’s greatness and faithfulness.
Psalm 135 Section by Section
Verses 1-4: The Call to Praise and the Reason Given
1 Praise Yah! Praise the LORD’s name! Praise him, you servants of the LORD, 2 you who stand in the LORD’s house, in the courts of our God’s house. 3 Praise Yah, for the LORD is good. Sing praises to his name, for that is pleasant.
Psalm 135:1-3 (WEB)
The psalm begins with an urgent command repeated three times: praise the LORD. The writer addresses the servants who stand in the temple courts, reminding them that worship is their role and their privilege. The first reason is simple and direct: the LORD is good, and praising his name is pleasant.
Verse 4 explains why this God is worth such devotion. He has chosen Israel as his own possession, which is an act of grace rather than a reward for merit. Praise, in this psalm, grows out of remembering that the relationship began with God’s initiative.
Verses 5-7: The Greatness of the LORD Over Creation
5 For I know that the LORD is great, that our Lord is above all gods. 6 Whatever the LORD pleased, that he has done, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps; 7 who causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth; who makes lightnings with the rain; who brings the wind out of his treasuries…
Psalm 135:5-7 (WEB)
Here the writer states his confidence plainly: the LORD is great, and he is above all gods. The claim is supported by the sweep of creation, from the heavens and the seas to the deepest waters. Nothing in nature lies outside his purpose, and the psalm presents this as something the worshiper can observe and trust.
The description of clouds, lightning, rain, and wind shows God as active in ordinary weather. For ancient Israelites surrounded by nations that worshiped storm gods, this was a deliberate statement about who truly governs the sky.
Verses 8-12: The Deeds of God in History
8 Who struck the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and animal; 9 Who sent signs and wonders into the middle of you, Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his servants…
Psalm 135:8-9 (WEB)
The writer moves from creation to history, recalling the striking of Egypt’s firstborn and the signs sent against Pharaoh. These events were the foundation of Israel’s identity, the moment God rescued a people from slavery. Remembering them teaches the community to read their own story as the work of a God who acts.
The defeat of kings such as Sihon and Og, and the giving of their land, carries the same message. The gift of territory is presented as God’s faithfulness to his promise, and the psalm counts it among the deeds worth praising.
Verses 13-14: The Enduring Name and the Justice of God
13 Your name, the LORD, endures forever; your renown, the LORD, throughout all generations. 14 For the LORD will judge his people, and have compassion on his servants.
Psalm 135:13-14 (WEB)
In contrast to the passing rulers and fading kingdoms just mentioned, the name of the LORD endures forever. His renown reaches across every generation, so that each new age has reason to remember him. This gives the worshiper stability when human powers rise and fall.
The verse also promises that the LORD will judge his people and have compassion on his servants. Judgment and compassion are held together, showing that God’s care for his people includes correcting them as well as comforting them.
Verses 15-18: The Emptiness of Idols
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.
Psalm 135:15-18 (WEB)
The psalm turns sharply to the idols of the nations, which it describes as silver and gold shaped by human hands. They have mouths, eyes, and ears, but none of these work. The writer’s sarcasm is pointed: a god that cannot speak, see, or hear offers no help to anyone.
The final warning is that those who make such things become like them. Trusting in lifeless objects leaves a person as empty as the objects themselves. The psalm invites the reader to see that worship shapes the one who worships.
Verses 19-21: The Call to Every House to Bless the LORD
19 House of Israel, praise the LORD! House of Aaron, praise the LORD! 20 House of Levi, praise the LORD! You who fear the LORD, praise the LORD! 21 Blessed be the LORD from Zion, Who dwells at Jerusalem. Praise Yah!
Psalm 135:19-21 (WEB)
The psalm ends by calling on each group in the community to praise the LORD: the house of Israel, the house of Aaron, the house of Levi, and all who fear him. Worship is not the job of one class of people but the response of the whole covenant community.
The closing blessing comes from Zion, the place where the LORD dwells, and the psalm returns to where it began with a final “Praise Yah.” The circle of the chapter is complete.
Key Themes in Psalm 135
- The goodness of God: The psalm grounds praise in the simple fact that the LORD is good and his name is worth singing.
- God’s choosing of his people: Israel is described as the LORD’s own possession, a relationship founded on his grace.
- Sovereignty over creation and history: The same God who controls the weather also acted in Egypt and in the conquest of the land.
- The futility of idols: Lifeless gods cannot speak, see, or hear, and those who trust them become empty themselves.
Lessons From Psalm 135 for Today
Many people find that praise feels forced on a bad day, when the news is heavy and the to-do list is long. Psalm 135 gives a pattern: begin with the plain goodness of God, then remember what he has already done. A person waiting for test results or grieving a loss can read the psalm slowly and let the recalled faithfulness of God steady them before asking for anything else.
The psalm also speaks to the pull of modern idols, which rarely look like statues. Money, status, approval, and constant busyness can promise security and then go silent when a crisis arrives. Asking what a particular thing can actually do for you, in the way this psalm questions the idols, can help clarify where trust is being placed.
Questions for Reflection
- What does it mean to you that the LORD’s goodness is a reason for praise rather than a result of it?
- Where have you seen God act in creation or in your own history in a way that you can name?
- Which modern “idols” in your life promise more than they can deliver, and how would you notice that?
- How does remembering that God’s name endures through every generation change the way you face uncertainty?
A Prayer From Psalm 135
Lord, you are good, and your name is worth singing about even when my heart feels dry. Thank you for choosing me and for keeping your promises across more generations than I can count. Remind me of what you have already done, so that I can trust you with what I do not yet understand. Turn my attention away from the things that cannot help me and toward you, the God who acts and who cares. Let my life be one long praise. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote Psalm 135?
The psalm does not name its author in the text. Scholars generally regard it as a later hymn of praise, often dated to the post-exilic period, though the exact origin is not known.
Why does Psalm 135 mention the idols of the nations?
The psalm contrasts the living LORD with the lifeless gods of surrounding peoples. It shows that idols cannot speak, see, or act, and that trusting them leaves a person as empty as the objects themselves.
How is Psalm 135 used in worship?
Its repeated calls to praise make it well suited to congregational and temple worship. Many churches and synagogues have used its opening and closing summons as a call to gather and bless the LORD.
