Psalms 135:5 - Meaning and Application

The psalmist had already pointed us to God’s goodness as the right reason for joyful praise. Here he turns to God’s greatness as the right reason for reverent, awe-filled praise. He speaks at length about this, because we are slower to think about it.

He first states the truth plainly: “The Lord is great” (Psalm 135:5). God is truly great. He knows no limits of time or place. The psalmist says this with full confidence. He knows it, not only from the signs of it around him, but from God’s own revelation. He knows it by his own experience of God’s greatness at work in his soul. He says it with holy boldness against every false god, even if all of them were to join together. God is not just above any one god, he is above all gods, beyond every comparison.

He then shows God’s greatness by the greatness of his power (Psalm 135:6). God has absolute power, meaning he may do whatever he wills. “The Lord does whatever he pleases,” and no one can stop him or question him, “What are you doing?” He acts because he chooses to act, and he does not need to explain his ways to anyone. He also has almighty power, so if he decides to act, nothing can hinder him. This power reaches everywhere, in heaven, on earth, in the seas, and in the deep places below. The idols of the nations can do nothing, but our God can do everything, and he does everything.

The psalmist gives examples of that great power. In nature, all the forces around us show the greatness of the God of nature, from whom they come and on whom they depend (Psalm 135:7). God not only made the chain of natural causes at first, he still keeps it in place. It is by his power that vapors rise from the earth. The sun’s heat does this, but that power comes from God, which is why Psalm 19:6 says that nothing is hidden from the heat of the sun. He makes the clouds rise from the ends of the earth, that is, from the seas that surround the land.

He also turns those risen vapors into rain, so the earth does not lose what it sends up. Instead, it gets it back in fruitful showers. From the same vapors, by his amazing power, he makes lightning from the rain. By this he opens the storehouses of heaven and shakes the clouds so they may water the earth. Fire and water are fully at peace here by God’s power. They come together, yet the water does not put out the fire, nor does the fire consume the water, as happened when fire fell from heaven at God’s command (1 Kings 18:38). Those same vapors, for another purpose, become winds. They blow wherever they choose, and we are so far from controlling them that we cannot tell where they come from or where they go. Yet God brings them out of his treasuries with the same care and purpose that a wise king uses when he orders money from his treasury.

He also shows God’s greatness in the kingdoms of men. Here he points to the great things God had done earlier for Israel, which proved both God’s greatness and his goodness, and also confirmed the truth of the Old Testament Scriptures, which began with Moses, the man through whom God worked these miracles. We see God’s sovereign rule and irresistible power in bringing Israel out of Egypt. He humbled Pharaoh through many plagues until Pharaoh was forced to let them go. These plagues are called signs and wonders because they did not happen in the ordinary course of providence, but had something miraculous in each of them. They came on Pharaoh and all his servants, his people; but Israel, whom God claimed as his servants, his son, his firstborn, and his free people, was spared. No plague came near their homes. The death of the firstborn, both of people and animals, was the worst of all the plagues, and it was the one that finally won the case.

He also showed his power in destroying the kingdoms of Canaan before Israel (Psalm 135:10). The people already living in that land had every advantage for keeping it. They were numerous, strong in war, and united against Israel. They were great nations. Yet a great nation can still be weak if its ruler is gentle and timid. These nations had powerful kings, and still they were all struck down and killed, including Sihon and Og, and all the kingdoms of Canaan (Psalm 135:10, 11). No power of hell or earth can keep God’s promise from being fulfilled when the time God has set has come.

He also showed his power in settling Israel in the promised land. The God who gives kingdoms to whomever he pleases gave Canaan as an inheritance to Israel his people. It came to them as an inheritance because their ancestors had received the promise, even though they had not yet possessed it. It passed down to their children. This had happened long before, yet the psalmist now praises God for it, and rightly so, because the children were now enjoying the benefit.

Finally, the psalmist rejoices in the lasting glory and grace of God. God’s name endures forever (Psalm 135:13). That means the ways God has shown himself to his people have lasting results. What God does remains forever (Ecclesiastes 3:14). His name endures forever in the constant and lasting praises of his people. His memory has endured until now, and it will continue through all generations of the church. This seems to point back to Exodus 3:15, where God, after calling himself the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, said, “This is my name forever, and this is my memorial to all generations.” God is, and always will be, the same to his church, a gracious, faithful, wonder-working God. His church is, and will be, the same to him, a thankful and praising people. In that way, his name endures forever.

He will also be kind to his people. He will plead their cause against those who oppose them. He will judge his people, that is, he will judge in their favor and will not let them be crushed. He will not keep contending with them forever. Instead, he will turn from his dispute with his servants, be moved with pity for them, and not go on in anger against them. He will be willing to receive them, return to them in mercy, and delight to do them good. This comes from the song of Moses (Deuteronomy 32:36).