Catholic Commentary on Psalm 135

"Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant." (Psalm 135:3)

History as Praise

Psalm 135 is a great hymn of praise that draws together themes from earlier psalms and weaves them into a sustained doxology. It opens with a triple Hallelujah, calling all servants of the LORD to praise, and gives the reason: the LORD is good, his name is pleasant, he has chosen Jacob for himself. The basis of worship is not human achievement but divine election: he chose us before we were worthy of being chosen. What follows is a recital of God's acts in history and in nature: he sends lightning and brings out wind from his storehouses, he struck down the firstborn of Egypt, defeated Sihon and Og, gave their land to Israel as an inheritance.

The idol polemic that follows mirrors Psalm 115: the idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands, they have mouths but cannot speak, eyes but cannot see. Those who make them become like them. But the conclusion for Israel is the opposite: those who trust in the LORD will praise him, and in praising a living God, they become alive. The Catechism teaches that the liturgical praise of God is not a human performance for divine entertainment but a participation in the divine life that transforms the worshipper (CCC 2097). Praise is formative. The God you praise shapes you into his likeness.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, praise the LORD, for the LORD is good. Not because you feel like it this morning. Not because circumstances have been kind. Because he is good, as a fact about his nature, which does not change with your circumstances. Sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant: pleasant for him to receive and pleasant for you to give. Try it and discover that this is true.

Prayer

Praise the LORD! His name endures forever and his renown through all generations. He will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants. Blessed be the LORD from Zion. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

135
Give Praise, O Servants of the LORD
(Psalms 115:1–18)
1 Hallelujah!* 135:1 Or Hallelu YAH, meaning Praise the LORD; also in verses 3 and 21
 
Praise the name of the LORD.
Give praise, O servants of the LORD,
2 who stand in the house of the LORD,
in the courts of the house of our God.
3 Hallelujah, for the LORD is good;
sing praises to His name, for it is lovely.
4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob as His own,
Israel as His treasured possession.
 
5 For I know that the LORD is great;
our Lord is above all gods.
6 The LORD does all that pleases Him
in the heavens and on the earth,
in the seas and in all their depths.
7 He causes the clouds to rise
from the ends of the earth.
He generates the lightning with the rain
and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.
 
8 He struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
of both man and beast.
9 He sent signs and wonders into your midst, O Egypt,
against Pharaoh and all his servants.
10 He struck down many nations
and slaughtered mighty kings:
11 Sihon king of the Amorites,
Og king of Bashan,
and all the kings of Canaan.
12 He gave their land as an inheritance,
as a heritage to His people Israel.
 
13 Your name, O LORD, endures forever,
Your renown, O LORD, through all generations.
14 For the LORD will vindicate His people † 135:14 Or will judge His people; see also LXX; cited in Hebrews 10:30.
and will have compassion on His servants.
 
15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
made by the hands of men.
16 They have mouths, but cannot speak;
they have eyes, but cannot see;
17 they have ears, but cannot hear;
nor is there breath in their mouths.
18 Those who make them become like them,
as do all who trust in them.
 
19 O house of Israel, bless the LORD;
O house of Aaron, bless the LORD;
20 O house of Levi, bless the LORD;
you who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!
21 Blessed be the LORD from Zion—
He who dwells in Jerusalem.
 
Hallelujah!

*135:1 135:1 Or Hallelu YAH, meaning Praise the LORD; also in verses 3 and 21

†135:14 135:14 Or will judge His people; see also LXX; cited in Hebrews 10:30.

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