Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 135

1 PRaise ye the LORD, praise ye the name of the LORD, praise him, O ye servants of the LORD .

Ye Priests and Levites, as Psal. 134. 1.

2 Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God.

Either in the Temple or the inner Court, which were appropriated to the Priests and Levites; or in the outward Court, which was for the people. See 2 Chron. 4. 9.

3 Praise ye the LORD, for the LORD is good : sing praises unto his name, for it is pleasant .

Bountiful and gracious, especially to you, and therefore he justly expects and deserves your praises.

The work it self of singing praises to God is pleasant, as it is more fully expressed, Psal. 147. 1.

5 For I know that the LORD is great, and that our LORD is above all gods .

Above all that are called Gods, or worshipped as Gods by the heathen people. And therefore seeing they commonly praise and extol their Idols, it becometh you not to be silent as to the praises of your God.

Marginal references: Psal. 95. 3.

6 Whatsoever the LORD pleased , that did he in heaven and in earth , in the seas, and all deep places .

Either in the creation or government of them.

His power and juri[illegible: 1+ letters]diction is universal, and not like that of the heathen Gods, which is confined to their several Countries.

In the visible Seas, and in those invisible depths both of earth and of the waters which are contained in the bowels of the earth.

Marginal references: Psal. 115. 3.; Heb. depths.

7 He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth , he maketh lightnings for the rain : he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries .

Which are the matter of clouds and rain.

Either, 1. from the Sea, the common source of vapors, 1 Kings 18. 44. Amos 5. 8. wherewith both the earth in general, and several particular countries, are terminated or bounded: o[illegible: 1+ letters] rather, 2. from all parts of the earth from one end to another, as the borders of a land are commonly put for the whole land from one border to another, as Psal. 105. 31, 33. & 147. 14. and oft elsewhere. For in this sence this phrase is generally used in Scripture, as Iob 28. 24. & 38. 13. Psal. 19. 4, 6. & 48. 10. and every where.

He bringeth water even out of the fire: he maketh thick clouds, which being broken, produce lightnings, and so are dissolved into showers of rain. So the lightnings are both a sign and in some sort the cause of rain. Or, he maketh lightnings with (as this Particle is used Gen. 46. 26. Psal. 89. 4. & 119. 56, 98.) rain, i. e. he causeth both of them to come out of the same cloud.

Out of those secret places where he reserves them, and whence he bringeth them, as he sees fit. Thus we read of treasures of snow and hail, Iob 38. 22. not that they are formally laid up in any certain places, but to signifie that God hath them as much at his disposal as any man hath th[illegible: 1+ letters] which he hath laid up in his stores.

Marginal references: Jer. 10. 13. & 51. 16[illegible: 1+ letters]; Gr. clouds. So Prov. 25. 14.; Job 38. 24▪ &c. Zech. 10. 1.

8 Who smote the first-born of Egypt, both of man and beast.

From the general works of Nature he comes to Gods special works of Providence towards his people.

Marginal references: Exod. 12. 12, 29.; Heb. from man unto beast.

13 Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever, and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations .

These wonderful works of thine shall never be forgotten. The land which thou gavest us, v. 12. and which we yet enjoy, is an everlasting monument of thy power and goodness, and an obligation and encouragement to trust in thee in all our present or future difficulties.

Marginal references: Psal. 102. 12.; Heb. to generation and generation.

14 For the LORD will judge his people , and he will repent himself concerning his servants .

Will in due time plead the cause of his people, or give judgment for them, as this phrase is used Deut. 32. 36. Ier. 5. 28 & 22. 16.

He will recal that severe sentence which for their sins he had passed upon them, and be reconciled to them.

15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold , the work of mens hands.

Of this and the following verses see the Notes on Psal. 115. 4, 5, &c.

Marginal references: Psal. 115. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.

21 Blessed be the LORD out of Zion , which dwelleth at Jerusalem . Praise ye the LORD.

By the assemblies of his people in Zion or Ierusalem.

This clause may be added either to distinguish the true God from the gods which were worshipped in other places and countries; or as a reason why they should bless God, because he had blessed and honoured that place with his gracious and glorious presence.