Psalms 135

Ps 135 God, the Creator and the Lord of history, “made heaven and earth” (134:3). He deserves praise because, unlike idols, he redeems his people.

135:4 The synonyms Jacob and Israel include all twelve tribes. The Lord cherishes his chosen people. They are his treasure out of all the kingdoms of the world (Exod 19:5-6).

135:5 The Lord is superior to any real or imagined supernatural being (see 95:3-5; 115:4-8).

135:6 God is sovereign over the whole created order—he does whatever pleases him him. • The phrase heaven and earth refers to all of creation.

135:7 The psalmist tells of God’s sovereignty over the weather (Pss 29; 77:17-18; 78:26; 104:4; 147:8-9; 148:5-6).

135:8-12 The Lord was sovereign over the Exodus and the conquest of the Promised Land.135:8-11 In the tenth and culminating plague against Egypt, God destroyed the firstborn of each family. • The miraculous signs and wonders are the ten plagues (see Exod 7–11; Deut 4:34; Neh 9:10).

135:13-18 The Lord’s name and character stand in contrast to idols.

135:15-20 This entire section is repeated in 115:4-11.135:15-18 Idols corrupt the thinking because they are merely things made by humans; they cannot speak, see, hear, or breathe (Isa 41:22-24; 44:9, 18; Rom 1:21-23).

135:19-21 The groups named here comprised the covenant community (see 115:9-11).