A manual of the book of Psalms · Martin Luther
PSALM CXXXV.
_An exhortation to praise God for his mercy, for his power, for his judgments. The vanity of idols. An exhortation to bless God._ Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise _him_, O ye servants of the LORD. Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God, Praise the LORD; for the LORD _is_ good: sing praises unto his name; for _it is_ pleasant. For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, _and_ Israel for his peculiar treasure. For I know that the LORD _is_ great, and _that_ our LORD _is_ above all gods. Whatsoever the LORD pleased, _that_ did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain: he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries. Who smote the first-born of Egypt, both of man and beast. _Who_ sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants. Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings; Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan: And gave their land _for_ an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people. Thy name, O LORD, _endureth_ for ever; _and_ thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations.
For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants. The idols of the heathen _are_ silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not: neither is there _any_ breath in their mouths. They that make them are like unto them: _so is_ every one that trusteth in them. Bless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron: Bless the LORD, O house of Levi; ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD. Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD. This Psalm is a Psalm of thanksgiving; exhorting all priests and ministers of the word to preach and to praise God in his great and marvellous works, done in Egypt and in the land of Canaan, that the people might not forget God and his wonderful works, and be turned unto idols, and false kinds of worship; which very soon takes place through security or contempt; where the word of God is not taught diligently and with a great willingness and fervor of heart; as we have already seen in the preceding Psalm.
But where God judges a people; as the Psalmist sets it forth, verse 14; that is, when God by the mouth of his ministers, judges and condemns our sin; there he manifests his grace unto us; there is a ground of firm consolation for afflicted consciences; there God is found and known, (for he is found in no other places and doctrines than these!) there, to a certainty, he will be propitious and merciful to his servant. But, where the word of God is not; there God is silent; for where he doth not preach, he doth not judge; and there, to a certainty, is the wrath of God and blindness. “Therefore,” (as saith the Psalmist) “Praise ye the name of the Lord; praise him, all ye servants of the Lord:” that is, preach the word and explain it, with all diligence; and proclaim the works of the Lord.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.