Commentary on Psalms Volume 3 John Calvin (continued)
Psalm 135
Psalm 135
An exhortation to praise God, both for his goodness specially shown to his chosen people, and for his power and glory apparent in the world at large. A contrast is drawn between idols, which had but a vain show of divinity, and the God of Israel, who had established his claim to be considered the only true God by clear and indubitable proofs, and this with the view of leading his people the more cheerfully to praise him, and submit to his government.
Halleluiah.
Psalm 135:1-4
1. Praise ye the name of Jehovah, 594 praise him, O ye servants of Jehovah! 2. Ye who stand in the house of Jehovah, and ye who stand in the courts of the house of our God. 595 3. Praise God, for good is Jehovah: sing unto his name, for it is pleasant. 4. For God hath chosen Jacob 596 unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.
"Perhaps the original,,יהוה שם הללוhalelu et shem Jehovah, should be translated, Praise ye the namee Jehovah: that is, praise God in his infinite essence, of being, holiness, goodness, and truth."—Dr. Adam Clarke.
The words ye who stand we have supplied in the second clause, as being necessary to bring out the sense which Calvin attaches to it. The" יהוה ביתthe house of Jehovah," mentioned in the first clause, remarks Men-dlessohn in his Beor, is the place where the priests stood; whilst "the courts" surrounding the temple, referred to in the second clause, were occupied by the people when engaged in their public prayers.