Chapter 135: Sovereignty Of The Supreme

I. EXHORTATION TO PRAISE (1-3). God's Servants. Hallelujah. The Summons to Worship. II. EXPLANATION FOR PRAISE (4-8). The Subjects of Worship. l,, Choice of Jehovah (4). Israel's Election.

ANALYTICAL STUDIES IN THE PS ALMS 2. Comparison with Idols (5-12). Jehovah's Omnipotence. (i) Proved in Nature (5-7). (ii) Proved in History (8-r2). 3. Continuance of Jehovah's Name (13). Eternal. 4. Compassion of Jehovah (14). Israel's Vindication. 5. Comparison with Idols (15-18). Idols' Impotence. (i) Their Fabrication (15). (ii) Their Futility (16-17). (iii) Their Fabricators (18a). (iv) Their Followers (18b). III. EXHORTATION TO PRAISE (19-21). God's Saints. The Summons to Worship. Hallelujah. PRIMARY AssocIATION.-Pss. cxxxv.-cxxxvi. form a pair apparently_ composed for worship in the second temple. In this case they were probably written by Ezra, see Analysis Book V, notes. In contents they combine Exod. iii. and Deut. xxxii. The term ''Great Halle!'' is sometimes applied to these two psahns alone. The former is a summons to celebrate, the latter is the response. cxxxv. contains many allusions to other psahns. "fragments of familiar songs are rearranged by the inspired writer like fragrant flowers into a fresh bouquet." PROPHETIC ANTICIPATION.-A song of restored Israel celebrating Jehovah their God as the grand Deliverer and Disposer of the nation. He has once more taken up the cause of His people. Israel at last acknowledges His faithfulness and wisdom in all His dealings with them throughout their history. The old Egyptian deliverance will be paralleled by a more striking deliverance in Israel's future. It is to be noted that judgment must precede the nation's future blessing (14). PERSONAL APPLICATION.-"True worship is as spontaneous as the singing of birds, expressing a gladness which unuttered loads the heart. Conquests of the past furnish confidence and courage in present conflict. It is ·cheering to know that all the 'apparatus of storm' is in God's hand and made to serve His beneficent purposes." VERSE NOTES 1 f£ C£ cxxxiv. I; but note addition of" courts." "P · J h c " "s· ak 1 d Ii " a1m raise a , 1or . . . ; mg praises, or m e me o y; t. ps to ... 4. As margin; c£ Exod. xix. s; Mal. iii. 17.

5. "C' (cmpb.). 6. This covers all space. 8. Last plague mentioned as being the culminating point of judgment which led to Israel's release. 13. "memorial," syn. with "name," as bringing to mind all that Jehovah is and does. 14. (a) " ... will right (vindicate or, do justice to) ... and will relent .•• " c£ Deut. xxxii. 36. 15. For the vanity of idols, c£ cxv.; here a slight abbreviation and one notable difference (17b). The variation emphasises the fact of the lifelessness of the idols. There seems a reference to the national sin before the Babylonian captivity and the yet future idolatrous apostasy of the nation. 19 ff."C£ cxv. 9-11 (where word "trust" is repeated); cxviii. 2-4. 21. C£ cxxxiv. 3-the blessing comes out of Zion from Jehovah; cxxxv. 21the blessing returns from Zion to Jehovah.