ANALYSIS OF THE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIFTH PSALM

In this Psalm the prophet invites the servants of God, and especially his ministers, to praise God, ver. 1, 2, from arguments drawn, I. From his goodness, particularly in choosing Israel, ver. 3, 4.

II. From the greatness and power showed in his works, ver. 5- 8.

III. From his justice showed to the enemies of Israel, ver. 1-13.

IV. From his loving-kindness extended and promised still to his servants, ver. 13, 14.

V. Having derided the vanity of idols, ver. 15-19, he returns to his exhortation calling upon them to bless God, ver. 19- 21.

I. He calls upon the ministers of religion especially to attend the recitation of Divine praises: - 1. "Praise ye the Lord," &c.

2. "Ye that stand." And now, repeating his words again, he produces his reason of inducement: - 1. Because the Lord is worthy of praise: "For he is good," &c. Not comparatively, but absolutely good.

2. "Sing praises unto his name," &c. Because it is no painful duty, but pleasant.

3. Praise him for his love to Israel; for this you owe him gratitude: "For the Lord hath chosen Jacob," &c. 2. "And Israel for his peculiar treasure." II. The next argument he uses is drawn from his greatness.

1. From his empire and universal dominion in heaven and earth: "Whatsoever the Lord pleased," &c. Nothing is impossible to him: but he does all from his free will, not from any necessity.

2. "He doth all things," &c. In all places; heaven, earth, seas, and hell.

And these last words the prophet amplifies: - 1. In the earth. Causing the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth, from all parts, which are endued with several qualities.

2. In the air. "He maketh lightning for rain." 3. In the water. "For he bringeth the winds out of his treasuries." Nothing is more obscure than the generation of the winds.

III. The fourth argument the prophet uses to persuade men to praise God, is from the vengeance he executes on the enemies of his people.

1. Upon the Egyptians. "Who smote the firstborn of Egypt," &c.

2. "Who sent tokens and wonders," &c. "And he smote great nations," &c.

IV. To the commemoration of the justice God exercised upon their enemies, the prophet exhorts them to extol God.

1. "Thy name, O Lord," &c.

2. "And thy memorial," &c.

And the reason is drawn from his mercy.

1. "For the Lord will judge his people." Judge their cause, and deliver them.

2. "And he will repent himself," &c. If they repent, and turn to him.

The prophet, having proved that God is great in himself, now proves that he is above all gods, which are but vanity.

1. From their composition: "Silver and gold." 2. From their makers: "The work of men's hands." 3. From their impotency: "They have mouths," &c.

4. From the nature of their worshippers : "They that make them," &c.

Lastly, he invites all true worshippers of God to praise him, because they are lively images of the living God, from whom all their faculties have proceeded. To this he invites: - 1. All Israel: "Bless the Lord, O house of Israel." 2. The priests: "Bless the Lord, O house of Aaron." 3. The Levites: "Bless the Lord, O house of Levi." 4. Lastly, all the laity: "Ye that fear the Lord bless the Lord." To which he adds his own note, concluding: - 1. "Blessed be the Lord out of Zion." Where he shows his presence by the ark.

2. "Which dwelleth at Jerusalem." Who, though in essence he is every where, yet more especially manifests his presence in his Church by his indwelling Spirit.