OUR BLESSING AND HIS (Psalm 134)

We have come to the last song of degrees. These were the songs that the travelers sang every year as they went up to Jerusalem and the temple, the place of worship. It is believed that Psalm 134 is one that might even have been sung as they left to return home.

Many of these travelers had a long way to go, so they would rise early before the sun was up. What did they see in the dark of night? They saw that the Temple lights were still burning. If they were close enough, they could see that the priests were still going about their work of service and sacrifice.

In the nighttime hours, God is still being blessed, and God is still blessing.

Verses 1-3: “Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.”

What a fitting conclusion to these songs of degrees, these travelers’ psalms. What a beautiful exclamation point on this series of worship psalms. It reminds us that we are to bless God and that God will bless us. Those are really the two great thoughts of this psalm.

We are to Bless the Lord

Look again at verse 1. Who is supposed to bless the Lord? Everybody.

Are you a blessing to God? I didn’t ask if He blessed you or if you were trying to be a blessing to someone else. If you are breathing right now, you should be blessing the Lord. The Bible says in Psalm 150:6, “Let every that hath breath praise the Lord.” If you are a Christian, you should be blessing the Lord because you are so full of gratitude for His mercy in your life.

The latter part of verse 1 refers to those “which by night stand in the house of the Lord.” The temple work went on continuously during this time. It is a beautiful picture of the work of our Intercessor and High Priest, our mediator, who never slumbers or sleeps and never lets the fire go out. The incense is continually burning, and prayers are always being offered.

The setting at night is important. There are night hours in life and in history. A family must, at times, face the night, and so must a nation. Perhaps in these dark days, you are wondering where the light is. I would suggest that you just keep blessing the Lord, giving Him glory, and praising Him in the night hours. When you do this, you will find that the light breaks through, and the sun rises. God is present and very near, no matter the time of day.

Now look at verse 2. Imagine in your mind’s eye the priest standing with his hands outstretched, raised to Heaven. This was a frequent sight in Israel, and I think that perhaps we have lost some of this.

In I Timothy 2:8, we are told to be “lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” Our hands should be clean, and we are to have no anger or sin that is hidden — praying in faith and without unbelief.

What do outstretched hands say?

Open palms raised to God, say, “I hold nothing back.” It is a picture of total surrender. But it is also saying, “Lord, we need you. We are empty. We are desperate. If we have anything, it will be because You give us what we need. Our hands are ready to receive from You.”

I have a challenge for you. Somewhere, in a quiet place, as you are going through your devotions, reading and meditating on Scripture, raise your hands to the Lord from time to time. Don’t do this out of routine but as a reminder that you need Him. Let it be a symbol, if you will, of your utter submission to God.

The Lord will Bless His People

Verse 3 turns the tables, with God blessing us. It is a reminder that all great blessings come from Him.

Remember, at this point, the travelers are leaving Jerusalem. They do not live there; they simply visit there each year and then go back home. This verse emphasizes that the Lord is the God of Jerusalem and Zion, but also of their homes.

Wherever you go, in whatever situation you find yourself, know that the Lord will bless His people. In Zion or elsewhere, in all circumstances, whether in the place of worship or on the road, God said He would bless you.

Every blessing comes from God and leads us back to God. Paul expressed it this way: “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:36).

The blessing originated with God. According to James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” Every one of those blessings that come into our lives should remind us to turn right around and bless the Lord.

Remember the words of Psalm 103:1 - “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.”

Psalm 134 is a nighttime psalm. I think it is a good reminder to all of us that when it is convenient and when it is not, it is always time to bless the Lord.

My prayer for you today is that God’s blessing will be upon your life and your family. My challenge for you today is that you would pause, lift up your hands and heart to God, and bless the Lord.