Psalm 134:1-3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 134:1-3

This psalm instructs us concerning a two-fold blessing:? I. Our blessing God, that is, speaking well of him, which here we are taught to do, Ps. 134:1, 2. 1. It is a call to the Levites to do it. They were the servants of the Lord by office, appointed to minister in holy things; they attended the sanctuary, and kept the charge of the house of the Lord, Num. 3:6-10 Some of them did by night stand in the house of the Lord, to guard the holy things of the temple, that they might not be profaned,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 134:1

Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord ,.... All men are of right the servants of God being his creatures; and are under obligation, through his providential goodness, to bless and praise him; though they are not all in fact so: but all good men are, being made so by the power of divine grace; which frees them from the servitude of sin, Satan, and the world, and makes them willing to serve the Lord; as they do in righteousness and holiness, with reverence and godly fear,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 134:2

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary ,.... Which Aben Ezra interprets of the priests lifting up their hands to bless the people; but Kimchi, better, of lifting up of the hands to God in prayer; see Psalm 141:2 ; which should be done "with holiness", as the Targum renders it, in a holy manner; and is the same with lifting up holy hands, 1 Timothy 2:8 ; or towards the holy place; the oracle in the holy of holies, and the ark of the covenant, typical of Christ; see 1 Kings 8:29 , Psalm... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 134:3

The Lord, that made heaven and earth, bless thee out of Zion. These are not the words of the priests blessing the people in this form, as some; but rather, as others, the wish of the servants of the Lord, that he would bless him that exhorted them to this service; whether one of the priests, or the captain of the temple, or the psalmist: though, according to Kimchi, and which seems agreeable, they are the words of the psalmist, promising a blessing from the Lord to those that blessed him; as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 134:1

Behold, bless ye the Lord - I believe הנה hinneh should be taken here in the sense of take heed! Be upon your guard; you serve a jealous God; provoke him not. Which by night stand - Who minister during the night. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 134:2

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary - קדש kodesh , "in holiness:" or, as the Syriac, lekoudishe , "to holiness;" in sancta, Vulgate; and εις τα ἁγια , Septuagint; "in holy things; or, as the Aethiopic, in the house of the sanctuary." The expression seems very similar to that of St. Paul, 1 Timothy 2:8 ; : "Lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting." Bless the Lord - That is, speak good of his name: tell the wonders he has wrought, and show that his name is exalted. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 134:3

The Lord that made heaven and earth - Who governs and possesses all things; and who can give you every spiritual and earthly blessing. Bless thee out of Zion - As if they had said, "We will attend to your orders; go in peace, and may God shower down his blessings upon you!" The blessing pronounced by the priests was the following: "The Lord bless thee and keep thee! The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and he gracious unto thee! The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 134:1

Verse 1 1.Behold! bless ye Jehovah. Some interpreters think, that others besides the Levites are here intended, and it must be granted, at least, that some of the more zealous of the people remained over night in the Temple, as we read (Luke 2:37) of Anna, a widow, “who served God constantly with prayers night and day.” (150) But it is evident, from the close of the Psalm, that the inspired penman addresses priests only, since he prescribes the form of benediction which they were to offer up... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 134:3

Verse 3 3.Jehovah bless thee out of Zion! We have conclusive proof in my opinion from this verse that the Psalm is to be considered as referring to the priests and Levites only, for to them it properly belonged under the law to bless the people. (Numbers 6:23.) The Psalmist had first told them to bless God; now he tells them to bless the people in his name. Not that God meant by any such injunction that the people might themselves indulge in a life of carnal security an opinion prevalent... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 134:1

Behold . The word calls attention to an immediate need—something that is to be done, and to be done at once. Bless ye the Lord. This must mean "for us"—"on our behalf." Thank God for having brought our journey to a prosperous end. All ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord ; i . e . ye special servants of the Lord, priests and Levites, now standing within his courts, and engaged in his worship. The temple was never left without a body of priests and... read more

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