Psalms 134:1

Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD. Psalms 134:1.-Call to Yahweh's servants, who stand by night in the sanctuary, to bless Yahweh (Psalms 134:1); their blessing in reply (). In Psalms 134:1 the pilgrims arriving in the afternoon address Yahweh's servants, the priests assembled at the evening sacrifice in the Lord's house, and ask them to bless Him in their and the people's name, and to prey. In the priests in reply bless the people as represented by the pilgrims. When we bless G...

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 for the people, and this was a duty belonging exclusively to the Priests. It would appear then, that the Levites are here called servants of God, from the functions they discharged, being specially appointed, and that by turns, to watch by night in the Temple, as we read in the inspired history. (151) ...

PSALM CXXXIV _An exhortation to praise God in his sanctuary_, 1-3. NOTES ON PSALM CXXXIV This is the last of the fifteen Psalms called _Psalms of degrees_. Who was the author is uncertain; it is attributed to _David_ only by the _Syriac_; it is intimately connected with the two preceding Psalms, and is an exhortation to the priests and Levites who kept nightly watch in the temple, to the assiduous in praising the Lord. It seems to consist of _two_ parts: 1. An exhortation, probably from the high priest, to those priests and Levites who kept watch in the temple by night, to spend their time profitably, and duly celebrate the praises of God, Psalms 134:1. The _second_ part, which is c

BEHOLD - As if calling attention to the fact that they were there, or had come. BLESS YE THE LORD - Praise Yahweh. Making known their desire that God should be praised, and calling on those who presided over the public worship of the sanctuary to engage now in that service as expressive of their feelings. ALL YE SERVANTS OF THE LORD - The priests or ministers of religion, appointed especially to this service. WHICH BY NIGHT STAND IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD - There was a class of singers in the temple who devoted the night, or a part of the night, to praise; and it is possible that this service may have been, as it was subsequently in some of the monasteries, continued by succeeding choirs, during the entire night. Thus in 1 Chron

EXPOSITION THE" Little Psalter" of" Songs of Ascents" terminates here with a short psalm, due probably to the compiler—a psalm of four lines only. It consists of two portions: (1) A call from those without the temple, upon God's servants, who conduct his service within his house during the night season (1 Chronicles 9:33), to praise and thank the Lord in their name for his met-ties vouchsafed to them (Psalms 134:1, Psalms 134:2); and (2) a response from those within the temple, who ask God to" bless out of Zion" those who have addressed them. The psalm is very suitable for pilgrim-bands arriving, as they commonly would, late in the day

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, heartily and willingly, and with great pleasure; and yet have no dependence on any service they perform: and as these are under the highest obligations to bless the Lord; the is, to ascribe greatness to him, to give him the glory of his works, and thanks for his mercies, temporal and spiritual; so they do in this way, and for those things, bless and praise him, to which they are here excited; WHICH BY N...

A SONG OF DEGREES Literally, "of ascents." Perhaps chanted by the people as they went up to Jerusalem to the feasts. See, for example (Psalms 112:1); (Psalms 112:2)....

PSALM 120-134 The Psalms of Degrees Fifteen brief Psalms follow, called songs of degrees, or, ascents. They were in all probability used by Israel going up to Jerusalem three times a year to celebrate the feasts of the Lord--”Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, a testimony for Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.” They are indeed Psalms of “the goings-up” for we rise higher and higher as we read through them. Prophetically they give us again the steps from trial and suffering to the glorious consummation. As they are so simple in language and construction no lengthy annotations are needed. Psalms 120:1 begins with distress, picturing again the suffering of the righteous godly remnant. In Psalms 121:1 the Keeper of Israel, the Covenant Keeping God, is revealed

CXXXIV. EXHORTATION TO THE NIGHTLY SERVICE OF YAHWEH. Psalms 134:1 f. may be addressed by a band of pilgrims to Levites who were about to begin their nocturnal service. To them in response comes the priestly blessing of Psalms 134:3. Psalms 134:2. Primitive men worshipped towards the place where their God dwelt. We have a survival of this custom here in the exhortation to lift up the hands to the Sanctuary. Psalms 134:3. read, bless you....

TITLE.. SONG OF DEGREES. Same as 120. See App-67. BEHOLD. See note on Psalms 133:1. THE LORD. Hebrew. _Jehovah._ App-4. SERVANTS. Limited and denned in next clause, as in Psalms 135:2. STAND. The night-watchmen. The reference is to 2 Chronicles 29:11; 2 Chronicles 30:16; 2 Chronicles 31:2. There were no _seats_ in the Tabernacle or Temple. Compare Hebrews 10:11. the