← The Psalm world
Illustration for Psalm 135: Praise the LORD's Great Name

Psalm 135

Praise the LORD's Great Name

Praise

Praise God because He is good! He chose Israel as His special people. He is greater than all other gods — He controls lightning, wind, and rain. The idols of silver and gold have mouths but can't speak. But our God does great wonders and His name endures forever.

  1. 1Hallelujah! Praise the name of the LORD; praise Him, O servants of the LORD—
  2. 2you who minister in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God.
  3. 3Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant.
  4. 4For the LORD has chosen Jacob as His own, Israel as His treasured possession.
  5. 5For I know that the LORD is great, and our Lord is above all gods.
  6. 6The LORD does whatever pleases Him, in the heavens and on earth, in the seas and all their depths.
  7. 7He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain and brings out the wind from His storehouses.
  8. 8He struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both man and beast.
  9. 9He sent His signs and wonders into your midst, O Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants.
  10. 10He struck down many nations and killed mighty kings—
  11. 11Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kings of Canaan—
  12. 12and gave their land as an inheritance, an inheritance for His people Israel.
  13. 13Your name, O LORD, endures forever; Your renown, O LORD, throughout all generations.
  14. 14For the LORD will vindicate His people and have compassion on His servants.
  15. 15The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.
  16. 16They have mouths but cannot speak, eyes but cannot see.
  17. 17They have ears but cannot hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths.
  18. 18Those who make them will become like them, and so will all who trust in them.
  19. 19O house of Israel, praise the LORD! O house of Aaron, praise the LORD!
  20. 20O house of Levi, praise the LORD! You who fear the LORD, praise the LORD!
  21. 21Praise be to the LORD from Zion, to Him who dwells in Jerusalem. Hallelujah!

What it means

God is in charge of the lightning and the wind and the rain, and He is good. Big power and real goodness together in one God. That is why we can be glad He is powerful instead of frightened of it.

A little prayer

God, You are so good, and You are greater than anything else. Thank You that You are powerful and kind at the same time. Your name lasts for ever. Amen.

Memory verse

“Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant.”

Psalm 135:3 (BSB)

It gives the reason for praise before the instruction, which is the right way round.

Talk about it

Questions with no single right answer — for a family table or a Sunday-school circle.

  1. The psalm says God does whatever pleases Him in heaven and on earth. Is that comforting or unsettling?
  2. It says idols have mouths but cannot speak. What cannot speak that people still listen to?
  3. It says God controls the weather. What weather have you been glad of?
  4. What is the best thing about today?

Try this

Weather watch

Write down what the weather does every hour for a day. Look at the list. Read verse 7 and talk about how much of that anyone controls.

You will need: Paper and a pen.

Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB)