Difference between revisions of "Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 134."

Latest revision as of 20:42, 1 February 2011

Other Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150

This is the last of the fifteen songs of degrees; and, if they were at any time sung all together in the temple-service, it is fitly made the conclusion of them, for the design of it is to stir up the ministers to go on with their work in the night, when the solemnities of the day were over. Some make this psalm to be a dialogue.

I. In the first two verses, the priests or Levites who sat up all night to keep the watch of the house of the Lord are called upon to spend their time while they were upon the guard, not in idle talk, but in the acts of devotion.

II. In the last verse those who were thus called upon to praise God pray for him that gave them the exhortation, either the high priest or the captain of the guard. Or thus: those who did that service did mutually exhort one another and pray for one another. In singing this psalm we must both stir up ourselves to give glory to God and encourage ourselves to hope for mercy and grace from him.

A song of degrees.

Psa 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, Psa 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, etc. 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, and the rich things of the temple, that they might not be plundered. While the ark was in curtains there was the more need of guards upon it. They attended likewise to see that neither the fire on the altar nor the lamps in the candlestick went out. Probably it was usual for some devout and pious Israelites to sit up with them; we read of one that departed not from the temple night or day, Lk. 2:37. Now these are here called upon to blesss the Lord. Thus they must keep themselves awake by keeping themselves employed. Thus they must redeem time for holy exercises; and how can we spend our time better than in praising God? It would be an excellent piece of husbandry to fill up the vacancies of time with pious meditations and ejaculations; and surely it is a very modest and reasonable to converse with God when we have nothing else to do. Those who stood in the house of the Lord must remember where they were, and that holiness and holy work became that house. Let them therefore bless the Lord; let them all do it in concert, or each by himself; let them lift up their hands in the doing of it, in token of the lifting up of their hearts. Let them lift up their hands in holiness (so Dr. Hammond reads it) or in sanctification, as it is fit when they lift them up in the sanctuary; and let them remember that when they were appointed to wash before they went in to minister they were thereby taught to lift up holy hands in prayer and praise.

2. It is a call to us to do it, who, as Christians, are made priests to our God, and Levites, Isa. 66:21. We are the servants of the Lord; we have a place and a name in his house, in his sanctuary; we stand before him to minister to him. Even by night we are under his eye and have access to him. Let us therefore bless the Lord, and again bless him; think and speak of his glory and goodness. Let us lift up our hands in prayer, in praise, in vows; let us do our work with diligence and cheerfulness, and an elevation of mind. This exhortation is ushered in with Behold! a note commanding attention. Look about you, Sirs, when you are in God's presence, and conduct yourselves accordingly.

II. God's blessing us, and that is doing well for us, which we are here taught to desire, Psa 134:3. Whether it is the watchmen's blessing their captain, or the Levites' blessing the high priest, or whoever was their chief (as many take it, because it is in the singular number, The Lord bless thee), or whether the blessing is pronounced by one upon many ("The Lord bless thee, each of you in particular, thee and thee; you that are blessing God, the Lord bless you), is not material.

We may learn, 1. That we need desire no more to make us happy than to be blessed of the Lord, for those whom he blesses are blessed indeed.

2. That blessings out of Zion, spiritual blessings, the blessings of the covenant, and of communion with God, are the best blessings, which we should be most earnest for.

3. It is a great encouragement to us, when we come to God for a blessing, that it is he who made heaven and earth, and therefore has all the blessings of both at his disposal, the upper and nether springs. 4. We ought to beg these blessings, not only for ourselves, but for others also; not only, The Lord bless me, but, The Lord bless thee, thus testifying our belief of the fullness of divine blessings, that there is enough for others as well as for us, and our good-will also to others. We must pray for those that exhort us. Though the less is blessed of the greater (Heb. 7:7), yet the greater must be prayed for by the less.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Other Chapters''' [[Book 19 - Psalms|'''1''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 2.|'''2''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 3.|'''3''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 4.|'''4''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 5.|'''5''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 6.|'''6''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 7.|'''7''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 8.|'''8''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 9.|'''9''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 10.|'''10''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 11.|'''11''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 12.|'''12''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 13.|'''13''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 14.|'''14''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 15.|'''15''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 16.|'''16''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 17.|'''17''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 18.|'''18''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 19.|'''19''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 20.|'''20''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 21.|'''21''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 22.|'''22''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 23.|'''23''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 24.|'''24''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 25.|'''25''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 26.|'''26''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 27.|'''27''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 28.|'''28''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 29.|'''29''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 30.|'''30''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 31.|'''31''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 32.|'''32''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 33.|'''33''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 34.|'''34''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 35.|'''35''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 36.|'''36''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 37.|'''37''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 38.|'''38''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 39.|'''39''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 40.|'''40''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 41.|'''41''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 42.|'''42''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 43.|'''43''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 44.|'''44''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 45.|'''45''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 46.|'''46''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 47.|'''47''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 48.|'''48''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 49.|'''49''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 50.|'''50''']], [[Book 10 - Psalms Chapter 51.|'''51''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 52.|'''52''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 53.|'''53''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 54.|'''54''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 55.|'''55''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 56.|'''56''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 57.|'''57''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 58.|'''58''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 59.|'''59''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 60.|'''60''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 61.|'''61''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 62.|'''62''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 63.|'''63''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 64.|'''64''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 65.|'''65''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 66.|'''66''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 67.|'''67''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 68.|'''68''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 69.|'''69''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 70.|'''70''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 71.|'''71''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 72.|'''72''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 73.|'''73''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 74.|'''74''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 75.|'''75''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 76.|'''76''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 77.|'''77''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 78.|'''78''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 79.|'''79''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 80.|'''80''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 81.|'''81''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 82.|'''82''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 83.|'''83''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 84.|'''84''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 85.|'''85''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 86.|'''86''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 87.|'''87''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 88.|'''88''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 89.|'''89''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 90.|'''90''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 91.|'''91''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 92.|'''92''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 93.|'''93''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 94.|'''94''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 95.|'''95''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 96.|'''96''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 97.|'''97''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 98.|'''98''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 99.|'''99''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 100.|'''100''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 101|'''101''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 102|'''102''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 103.|'''103''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 104.|'''104''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 105.|'''105''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 106.|'''106''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 107.|'''107''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 108.|'''108''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 109.|'''109''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 110.|'''110''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 111.|'''111''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 112.|'''112''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 113.|'''113''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 114.|'''114''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 115.|'''115''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 116.|'''116''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 117.|'''117''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 118.|'''118''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 119.|'''119''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 220.|'''220''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 121.|'''121''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 122.|'''122''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 123.|'''123''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 124.|'''124''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 125.|'''125''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 126.|'''126''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 127.|'''127''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 128.|'''128''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 129.|'''129''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 130.|'''130''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 131.|'''131''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 132.|'''132''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 133.|'''133''']], '''134''', [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 135.|'''135''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 136.|'''136''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 137.|'''137''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 138.|'''138''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 139.|'''139''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 140.|'''140''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 141.|'''141''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 142.|'''142''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 143.|'''143''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 144.|'''144''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 145.|'''145''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 146.|'''146''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 147.|'''147''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 148.|'''148''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 149.|'''149''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 150.|'''150''']]
+'''Other Chapters''' [[Book 19 - Psalms|'''1''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 2.|'''2''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 3.|'''3''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 4.|'''4''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 5.|'''5''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 6.|'''6''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 7.|'''7''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 8.|'''8''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 9.|'''9''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 10.|'''10''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 11.|'''11''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 12.|'''12''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 13.|'''13''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 14.|'''14''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 15.|'''15''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 16.|'''16''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 17.|'''17''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 18.|'''18''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 19.|'''19''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 20.|'''20''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 21.|'''21''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 22.|'''22''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 23.|'''23''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 24.|'''24''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 25.|'''25''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 26.|'''26''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 27.|'''27''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 28.|'''28''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 29.|'''29''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 30.|'''30''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 31.|'''31''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 32.|'''32''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 33.|'''33''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 34.|'''34''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 35.|'''35''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 36.|'''36''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 37.|'''37''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 38.|'''38''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 39.|'''39''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 40.|'''40''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 41.|'''41''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 42.|'''42''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 43.|'''43''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 44.|'''44''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 45.|'''45''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 46.|'''46''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 47.|'''47''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 48.|'''48''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 49.|'''49''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 50.|'''50''']], [[Book 10 - Psalms Chapter 51.|'''51''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 52.|'''52''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 53.|'''53''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 54.|'''54''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 55.|'''55''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 56.|'''56''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 57.|'''57''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 58.|'''58''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 59.|'''59''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 60.|'''60''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 61.|'''61''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 62.|'''62''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 63.|'''63''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 64.|'''64''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 65.|'''65''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 66.|'''66''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 67.|'''67''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 68.|'''68''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 69.|'''69''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 70.|'''70''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 71.|'''71''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 72.|'''72''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 73.|'''73''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 74.|'''74''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 75.|'''75''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 76.|'''76''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 77.|'''77''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 78.|'''78''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 79.|'''79''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 80.|'''80''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 81.|'''81''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 82.|'''82''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 83.|'''83''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 84.|'''84''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 85.|'''85''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 86.|'''86''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 87.|'''87''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 88.|'''88''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 89.|'''89''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 90.|'''90''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 91.|'''91''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 92.|'''92''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 93.|'''93''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 94.|'''94''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 95.|'''95''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 96.|'''96''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 97.|'''97''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 98.|'''98''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 99.|'''99''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 100.|'''100''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 101|'''101''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 102|'''102''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 103.|'''103''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 104.|'''104''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 105.|'''105''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 106.|'''106''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 107.|'''107''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 108.|'''108''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 109.|'''109''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 110.|'''110''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 111.|'''111''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 112.|'''112''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 113.|'''113''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 114.|'''114''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 115.|'''115''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 116.|'''116''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 117.|'''117''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 118.|'''118''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 119.|'''119''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 120.|'''120''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 121.|'''121''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 122.|'''122''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 123.|'''123''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 124.|'''124''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 125.|'''125''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 126.|'''126''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 127.|'''127''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 128.|'''128''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 129.|'''129''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 130.|'''130''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 131.|'''131''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 132.|'''132''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 133.|'''133''']], '''134''', [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 135.|'''135''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 136.|'''136''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 137.|'''137''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 138.|'''138''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 139.|'''139''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 140.|'''140''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 141.|'''141''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 142.|'''142''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 143.|'''143''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 144.|'''144''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 145.|'''145''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 146.|'''146''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 147.|'''147''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 148.|'''148''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 149.|'''149''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 150.|'''150''']]
 ----
+This is the last of the fifteen songs of degrees; and, if they were at any time sung all together in the temple-service, it is fitly made the conclusion of them, for the design of it is to stir up the ministers to go on with their work in the night, when the solemnities of the day were over. Some make this psalm to be a dialogue.
+I. In the first two verses, the priests or Levites who sat up all night to keep the watch of the house of the Lord are called upon to spend their time while they were upon the guard, not in idle talk, but in the acts of devotion.
+II. In the last verse those who were thus called upon to praise God pray for him that gave them the exhortation, either the high priest or the captain of the guard. Or thus: those who did that service did mutually exhort one another and pray for one another. In singing this psalm we must both stir up ourselves to give glory to God and encourage ourselves to hope for mercy and grace from him.
+A song of degrees.
+Psa 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, Psa 134:1, 2.
+. 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, etc. 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, and the rich things of the temple, that they might not be plundered. While the ark was in curtains there was the more need of guards upon it. They attended likewise to see that neither the fire on the altar nor the lamps in the candlestick went out. Probably it was usual for some devout and pious Israelites to sit up with them; we read of one that departed not from the temple night or day, Lk. 2:37. Now these are here called upon to blesss the Lord. Thus they must keep themselves awake by keeping themselves employed. Thus they must redeem time for holy exercises; and how can we spend our time better than in praising God? It would be an excellent piece of husbandry to fill up the vacancies of time with pious meditations and ejaculations; and surely it is a very modest and reasonable to converse with God when we have nothing else to do. Those who stood in the house of the Lord must remember where they were, and that holiness and holy work became that house. Let them therefore bless the Lord; let them all do it in concert, or each by himself; let them lift up their hands in the doing of it, in token of the lifting up of their hearts. Let them lift up their hands in holiness (so Dr. Hammond reads it) or in sanctification, as it is fit when they lift them up in the sanctuary; and let them remember that when they were appointed to wash before they went in to minister they were thereby taught to lift up holy hands in prayer and praise.
+. It is a call to us to do it, who, as Christians, are made priests to our God, and Levites, Isa. 66:21. We are the servants of the Lord; we have a place and a name in his house, in his sanctuary; we stand before him to minister to him. Even by night we are under his eye and have access to him. Let us therefore bless the Lord, and again bless him; think and speak of his glory and goodness. Let us lift up our hands in prayer, in praise, in vows; let us do our work with diligence and cheerfulness, and an elevation of mind. This exhortation is ushered in with Behold! a note commanding attention. Look about you, Sirs, when you are in God's presence, and conduct yourselves accordingly.
+II. God's blessing us, and that is doing well for us, which we are here taught to desire, Psa 134:3. Whether it is the watchmen's blessing their captain, or the Levites' blessing the high priest, or whoever was their chief (as many take it, because it is in the singular number, The Lord bless thee), or whether the blessing is pronounced by one upon many ("The Lord bless thee, each of you in particular, thee and thee; you that are blessing God, the Lord bless you''), is not material.
+We may learn, 1. That we need desire no more to make us happy than to be blessed of the Lord, for those whom he blesses are blessed indeed.
+. That blessings out of Zion, spiritual blessings, the blessings of the covenant, and of communion with God, are the best blessings, which we should be most earnest for.
+. It is a great encouragement to us, when we come to God for a blessing, that it is he who made heaven and earth, and therefore has all the blessings of both at his disposal, the upper and nether springs. 4. We ought to beg these blessings, not only for ourselves, but for others also; not only, The Lord bless me, but, The Lord bless thee, thus testifying our belief of the fullness of divine blessings, that there is enough for others as well as for us, and our good-will also to others. We must pray for those that exhort us. Though the less is blessed of the greater (Heb. 7:7), yet the greater must be prayed for by the less.