The Chosen Key Word in this Chapter is “Pleasant” it comes from the Hebrew Word “na’im” which means “pleasant, sweet.”
The psalmist calls for praise while contrasting God’s living power with the powerlessness of idols. Welcome to Bible Life Basics Chapter Reviews, I am Chris and this is Psalm 135.
The psalmist calls everyone to praise the name of the Lord, praising Him, servants of the Lord, who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of their God, praising the Lord, for the Lord is good, singing praises to His name, for it is “pleasant,” “na’im” in Hebrew.
The psalmist declares the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself, and Israel for His peculiar treasure, since He does whatever He pleases in heaven and earth, in the seas and all deep places, causing vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth, making lightnings for the rain, bringing wind out of His treasuries, recalling how He smote the firstborn of Egypt, sent tokens and wonders into the midst of Egypt, and smote great nations, and slew mighty kings, giving their land as a heritage, a heritage to Israel His people.
The psalmist mocks the idols of the heathen as silver and gold, the work of men’s hands, having mouths but they speak not, eyes but they see not, having ears but they hear not, neither is there any breath in their mouths, declaring that those who make them are like them, as is everyone who trusts in them, closing with a call for the house of Israel, the house of Aaron, and the house of Levi to bless the Lord, urging everyone who fears the Lord to bless Him, since the Lord who dwells at Jerusalem shall be blessed from Zion.
This psalm’s sweeping recollection of God’s mighty acts throughout Israel’s history, from the exodus plagues through the conquest of the promised land, models comprehensive, grateful remembrance that fuels genuine, informed praise rather than vague, generic thanksgiving. Its familiar mockery of lifeless idols reinforces the sharp contrast between the living, active God who genuinely does whatever He pleases and every powerless human-made substitute unable to see, hear, or breathe.
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