Psalms 135:18

135:15-21 These verses arm believers against idolatry and all false worship, by showing what sort of gods the heathen worshipped. And the more deplorable the condition of the Gentile nations that worship idols, the more are we to be thankful that we know better. Let us pity, and pray for, and seek to benefit benighted heathens and deluded sinners. Let us endeavour to glorify his name, and recommend his truth, not only with our lips, but by holy lives, copying the example of Christ's goodness and truth.

They that make them are like unto them,.... Are as blind, stupid, and senseless as they; or "let them that make them", &c. (q); so some versions and interpreters; See Gill on Psalm 115:8 ; so is everyone that trusteth in them; alike ignorant and sottish: and so are all such that set up idols and lusts in their own hearts, and serve them; or trust to their own righteousness; even all unregenerate and self-righteous persons: they cannot speak a word for God and his grace, for Christ and his righteousness, for the Spirit of God, and his work upon their hearts, of all which they are ignorant; they are blind and have no sight and sense of their sin and misery, and of their need of Christ and his righteousness; they are deaf to his Gospel, and the charming voice of it; they are lifeless and breathless, are dead in trespasses and sins, and have no pantings and desires after spiritual things. (q) So V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Sept. Syr. Arab. Ethiop.

The idols of the heathen are silver and gold ... - To show more fully the propriety of praising God, and him alone as God, the psalmist instituted a comparison between him and idols, showing that the gods worshipped by the pagan lacked every ground of claim to divine worship and homage. They were, after all that could be done to fashion, to decorate, and to adorn them, nothing but silver and gold, and could have no better claim to worship than silver and gold as such. They had, indeed, mouths, eyes, ears, but they could neither speak, see, hear, nor breathe. The passage here is substantially the same as in Psalm 115:4-8 ; and the one was evidently copied from the other, though in the latter the description is in some respects amplified; but which was the original it is impossible to determine. See the notes at that passage.

For the good of His proved church He ever proves Himself to be the Living God, whereas idols and idol-worshippers are vain - throughout following Psalm 115:4-8 , but with some abridgments. Here only the אף used as a particle recalls what is said there of the organ of smell (אף) of the idols that smells not, just as the רוּח which is here (as in Jeremiah 10:14 ) denied to the idols recalls the הריח denied to them there. It is to be rendered: also there is not a being of breath, i.e., there is no breath at all, not a trace thereof, in their mouth. It is different in 1 Samuel 21:9 , where אין ישׁ (not אין) is meant to be equivalent to the Aramaic אין אית, num (an) est; אין is North-Palestinian, and equivalent to the interrogatory אם (after which the Targum renders אלּוּ אית).

righteous —in a similar relation of meaning to "righteousness" (Psalms 145:7). 18, 19. (Compare Psalms 34:7, 10). ## 20. Those who fear Him (Psalms 145:19) are those who are here said to love Him. 21. (Compare Psalms 33:21). all flesh —(Psalms 65:2). The Psalm ends, as it began, with ascriptions of praise, in which the pious will ever delight to join. PSALM 146 Psalms 146:1-10. An exhortation to praise God, who, by the gracious and faithful exercise of His power in goodness to the needy, is alone worthy of implicit trust. ## PSALM 147 Psalms 147:1-20. This and the remaining Psalms have been represented as specially designed to celebrate the rebuilding of Jerusalem (compare Nehemiah 6:16; 12:27). They all open and close with the stirring call for praise. This one specially declares God's providential care towards all creatures, and particularly His people. 1. (Compare Psalms 92:1; 135:3). 2. (Compare Psalms 107:3; Isaiah 11:12). 3. Though applicable to the captive Israelites, this is a general and precious truth. wounds —(Compare Margin ). 4, 5. God's power in nature (Isaiah 40:26-28, and often) is presented as a pledge of His power to help His people. telleth … stars —what no man can do (Genesis 15:5). 6. That power is put forth for the good of the meek and suffering pious, and confusion of the wicked (Psalms 146:8, 9). 7-9. His providence supplies bountifully the wild animals in their mountain homes.

Literally, "My peculiar treasure" (Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 7:6; 14:2; 26:18; Psalms 135:4; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 2:9; compare Ecclesiastes 2:8). C ALVIN translates more in accordance with Hebrew idiom, "They shall be My peculiar treasure in the day in which I will do it " (that is, fulfil My promise of gathering My completed Church; or, "make" those things come to pass foretold in Malachi 3:5 above [G ROTIUS ]); so in Malachi 4:3 "do" is used absolutely, "in the day that I shall do this. " M AURER , not so well, translates, "in the day which I shall make," that is, appoint as in Psalms 118:24. as … man spareth … son —(Psalms 103:18). 18. Then shall ye … discern —Then shall ye see the falseness of your calumny against God's government (Malachi 3:15), that the "proud" and wicked prosper. Do not judge before the time till My work is complete. It is in part to test your disposition to trust in God in spite of perplexing appearances, and in order to make your service less mercenary, that the present blended state is allowed; but at last all ("ye," both godly and ungodly) shall see the eternal difference there really is "between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not" (Psalms 58:11). return —Ye shall turn to a better state of mind on this point. ## CHAPTER 4 Malachi 4:1-6. G OD ' S C OMING J UDGMENT : T RIUMPH OF THE G ODLY : R ETURN TO THE LAW THE B EST P REPARATION FOR J EHOVAH ' S C OMING : E LIJAH ' S P REPARATORY M ISSION OF R EFORMATION. 1.

Psalms 135:12 No text from Poole on this verse. Psalms 135:13 These wonderful works of thine shall never be forgotten. The land which thou gavest us, Psa_135:12, and which we yet enjoy, is an everlasting monument of thy power and goodness, and an obligation and encouragement to trust in thee in all our present or future difficulties. ## Psalms 135:14 Will judge his people; will in due time plead the cause of his people, or give judgment for them, as this phrase is used, Deu_32:36 Jer_5:28 22:16 . ## He will repent himself concerning his servants; he will recall that severe sentence which for their sins he had passed upon them, and be reconciled to them. ## Psalms 135:15 Of this and the following verses, See Poole " Psa_115:4 " , See Poole " Psa_115:5 " , &c. Psalms 135:16 No text from Poole on this verse. Psalms 135:17 No text from Poole on this verse. Psalms 135:18 No text from Poole on this verse. Psalms 135:19 No text from Poole on this verse. Psalms 135:20 No text from Poole on this verse. ## Psalms 135:21 Blessed be the Lord out of Zion; by the assemblies of his people in Zion or Jerusalem. ## Which dwelleth at Jerusalem: this clause may be added either to distinguish the true God from the gods which were worshipped in other places and countries; or as a reason why they should bless God, because he had blessed and honoured that place with his gracious and glorious presence.

From the sea, the common source of vapours, 1Ki_18:44 Amo_5:8; wherewith both the earth in general, and several particular countries, are terminated or bounded: or rather, ## 2. From all parts of the earth, from one end to another; as the borders of a land are commonly put for the whole land, from one border to another, as Psa_105:31 ,33 147:14 , and oft elsewhere. For in this sense this phrase is generally used in Scripture, as Job_28:24 38:13 Psa_19:4 ,6 48:10 , and every where. ## He maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth water even out of the fire; he maketh thick clouds, which being broken produce lightnings, and so are dissolved into showers of rain. So the lightnings are both a sign, and in some sort the cause of rain. Or, he maketh lightnings with (as this particle is used, Gen_46:26 Psa_89:4 119:56,98 ) rain, i.e. he causeth both of them to come out of the same cloud. ## Out of his treasuries; out of those secret places where he reserves them, and whence he bringeth them, as he sees fit. Thus we read of treasures of snow and hail , Job_38:22; not that they are formally laid up in any certain places, but to signify that God hath them as much at his disposal, as any man hath that which he hath laid up in his stores. Psalms 135:8 From the general works of nature, he comes to God’s special works of providence towards his people. Psalms 135:9 No text from Poole on this verse. Psalms 135:10 No text from Poole on this verse. Psalms 135:11 No text from Poole on this verse.