Martin Luther on Psalms 134:1

The .134. Psalme. Behold, prayse ye the Lord.

This is the last of the Psalmes which are called the Psalmes of degrees. In the which ye haue heard many weighty and profitable pointes of doctrine as touching all the articles in a maner, What points of doctrine Dauid intreateth of in the Psalmes of degrees. of Christian doctrine, namely of Iustification or remission of sinnes, of the crosse, of charitie and brotherly loue, of matrimony, of ciuill gouernment, &c. as though the Prophet had studied to comprise in these short Psalmes the fumme and effect of all suche thinges as are to be taught vnto the people. Nowe therefore he concludeth in this Psalme, the whole matter which he tooke in hand to entreat of: As we also doe when in the ende of our preachings we pray that God would preserue his word amonges vs, and that we may continue in the same vnto the ende. For when the word is purely taught, all thinges are safe, holy & pure, although the gates of hell rage against vs neuer so much, and we lose, not only our goods, but also our liues. For what harme haue we therby, so that our soules may be saued? It is the word therefore alone that preserueth all good thinges. But if that be lost or corrupted, then all good thinges are lost. For like as, if the Sunne and light of the world should be taken away, he that walketh walketh in darkenes: so if the word be darkned and corrupted, in what misery and daunger is the common wealth? For then neither Magistrate, nor subiect, nor seruant knoweth what he ought to doe, but all thinges are wrapped vp in error and horrible darknes.

Wherefore this Psalme exhorteth vs to pray, that the Lorde would preserue and continue his word amongest vs, and euery one of vs to endeuour with this seruice to helpe the Church. For although the Church is neuer without heretikes, like as also the common wealth is neuer without seditious persons: yet so long as the word remayneth found and vncorrupt, it can not be but that many good thinges and many good men also wil remayne. I take this Psalme therfore to be as a conclusion of those things whiche were spoken of before. This Psalme is as it were a conclusion of those thinges that goe before. In yt which he exhorteth vs to giue thanks vnto the Lord for the benefite of his word, and to pray for the preseruation and continuance thereof, for as much as, if it flourish, there will alwaies be founde some good men which will leade a godly and a holy life. Therefore he saith: Verse. 1. Behold, praise ye the Lord all ye seruants of the Lord, ye that by night stand in the house of the Lord.

To blesse signifieth not onely priuatly to giue thankes vnto the Lord, To blesse what it signifieth. but also publikely to praise the Lorde, to preach and to publish his word. And this can not be done without the praise also of the mercie and goodnes of the Lord our Creator, our defender and our redeemer, which hath prouided for vs and giueth vnto vs all thinges perteining not onely to this our corporall life, but also to our euerlasting life & felicitie in the kingdom of God. And albeit this clause: seruaunts of God, belongeth here properly to the ministers of the Church, yet generally it comprehendeth all those which professe and embrace the true and sincere doctrine of the Gospell. For it is the duty euen of those which are not in the ministery of the word, to confesse the word, & to acknowledge and praise the benefites of God. Wherefore with one hart and minde (saith he) ioyne ye all togither: continue in the worde, confesse, preach, praise and magnifie the worde, that whiles all the worlde befids dishonoreth & blasphemeth God, ye may blesse him, because he is mercifull. Then shall it come to passe, that ye shall ouercome all your enemies, though ye be to them in number farre vnlike.

But what meaneth he by these wordes? which by night stande in the house of the Lorde? Did they obserue certaine howers in the night after the maner of the Papistes? You must note that it is a kinde of speech proper vnto the Hebrewes, and is as much to say, as morning & euening, that is to say, continually. As he saith also in an other Psalme: From the morning watche euen vntill the night. Psal. 129. Coloss. 3.16. Paule expresseth this sentence with other wordes: Let the word of Christ dwell in you plenteously, saith he. And our Sauiour Christ teacheth, Luke, 18.1. that we must pray alwaies. For wheras the night season is appointed for sleepe, he that will blesse in the night, will do ye same also in the day, & so he wil be alwaies blessing.