Psalms · Chapter 134

V. 1. Servant-Peculiarly so called, priests and Levites. Night-Not only by day, but also by night, when their watch was more necessary. Stand-Serve or minister.

Verse 1. Behold, bless ye the Lord] I believe hnh hinneh should be taken here in the sense of take heed! Be upon your guard; you serve a jealous God; provoke him not.

Which by night stand] Who minister during the night.

Verses 1, 2. Behold, bless ye the Lord, &c. — Attend to your duty, O ye ministers of the Lord; who not only by day, but by night also, reverently wait upon him in his house, 1 Chronicles 9:33. Employ your hearts and tongues in his praises, and cease not to declare how great and good he is. Lift up your hands, &c. — Unto God, in prayer and praise; in the sanctuary — In that holy house of God where you stand; or, in holiness, as the margin reads it, and as is prescribed 1 Timothy 2:8. Do not therefore content yourselves with lifting up your hands, but see that this be done with pure and holy hearts. And bless the Lord — Be fervent and unwearied in your devotions and praises.

Verse 1. Which by night stand in the house of the Lord, watching the holy fire, and guarding the temple. This night-song inspires them to praise the Creator, from the glory of the stars, which rejoice and illumine the vast expanse of heaven.

1. The behold calls for special attention, as if something important was to be done or said. It was the special duty of the priests to pronounce the blessing on the people. Bless ye the Lord—We “bless the Lord” when we confess and praise him as the Source of all good. He blesses us when he confers good upon us. The call is to excite and encourage the priests to the duties of their holy office. Which… stand in the house of the Lord—The word “stand” denotes being in the place and act of duty, and is specially used of the priest’s office, Deuteronomy 10:8; 18:5, 7. This attitude of duty continued, in various forms, through the night watches, not only to guard, but to see that everything was ready for the morning service. See introduction. “If the Psalter contains morning psalms (Psalm 3 and 63) and evening psalms, (Psalm 4 and 141,) why should it not then contain a watch psalm?”

Verse 2. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary] vdq kodesh, “in holiness:” or, as the SYRIAC, [Syriac] lekoudishe, “to holiness;” in sancta, VULGATE; and eis ta agia, SEPTUAGINT; “in holy things; or, as the ÆTHIOPIC, in the house of the sanctuary.” The expression seems very similar to that of St. Paul, 1 Timothy 2:8: “Lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”

Bless the Lord.] That is, speak good of his name: tell the wonders he has wrought, and show that his name is exalted.

Verses 1, 2. Behold, bless ye the Lord, &c. — Attend to your duty, O ye ministers of the Lord; who not only by day, but by night also, reverently wait upon him in his house, 1 Chronicles 9:33. Employ your hearts and tongues in his praises, and cease not to declare how great and good he is. Lift up your hands, &c. — Unto God, in prayer and praise; in the sanctuary — In that holy house of God where you stand; or, in holiness, as the margin reads it, and as is prescribed 1 Timothy 2:8. Do not therefore content yourselves with lifting up your hands, but see that this be done with pure and holy hearts. And bless the Lord — Be fervent and unwearied in your devotions and praises.

2. Lift up your hands—That is, in prayer and benediction. Exodus 17:11; 1 Timothy 2:8. In the sanctuary—Toward the holy oracle, as in Psalm 28:2, where see note.

V. 3. Thee-Thee whosoever thou art who dost faithfully perform the duty here commanded.

Verse 3. The Lord that made heaven and earth] Who governs and possesses all things; and who can give you every spiritual and earthly blessing.

Bless thee out of Zion.] As if they had said, “We will attend to your orders; go in peace, and may God shower down his blessings upon you!” The blessing pronounced by the priests was the following: “The Lord bless thee and keep thee! The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and he gracious unto thee! The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace!” Numbers 6:24-26.

Verse 3. The Lord that made heaven and earth — And therefore has all the blessings of both at his disposal, those of the upper and those of the nether springs; bless thee — O priest, who dost engage and encourage us in this blessed work; out of Zion — Where he dwells, and from whence he hears the prayers of his people, and gives them the blessings which they need.

3. This verse is the response of the priests within to the call of verses 1, 2, from the people without. The Lord that made heaven and earth—A common formula for designating the majesty and glory of God and exalting him above all beings. Psalm 115:5; 121:2; 146:6; Isaiah 37:16. Bless thee out of Zion—It was, as we have said, the priests’ special function to bless the people. The blessing must come from God out of Zion, or through the Church. God ordinarily channels his grace in the ordinances of his house. See Psalm 128:5. The verb should be taken optatively, as in Numbers 6:24: may he bless, not he shall bless.