(21) Out of Zion.--As in Psalm 128:5, Jehovah blesses the covenant people out of Zion, so here they bless him out of Zion--that is the place where the reciprocal relation is best and chiefly realised. This localisation is made more emphatic by the addition of the name Jerusalem to Zion. (Comp. Psalm 76:2; Psalm 125:1-2.)Verse 21. - Blessed be the Lord out of Zion. As God gives his people blessings "out of Zion" (Psalm 134:3), so they praise and bless him most appropriately out of the same place. Which dwelleth at Jerusalem (comp. Psalm 76:2; Psalm 48:1-3). Praise ye the Lord (see the comment on ver. 1). 135:15-21 These verses arm believers against idolatry and all false worship, by showing what sort of gods the heathen worshipped. And the more deplorable the condition of the Gentile nations that worship idols, the more are we to be thankful that we know better. Let us pity, and pray for, and seek to benefit benighted heathens and deluded sinners. Let us endeavour to glorify his name, and recommend his truth, not only with our lips, but by holy lives, copying the example of Christ's goodness and truth.Blessed be the Lord out of Zion,.... This, according to Aben Ezra, was the formula of blessing to be used by the houses of Israel, Aaron, and Levi, and all that feared God; or a direction to them in what manner they should bless him; and may both point out the persons that were to bless, and the place where; those that were inhabitants of Zion, where praise waited for the Lord, and was his due; and the blessings and benefits he was to be praised for, such as came out of Zion, strength from the Lord there, the rod of his strength, the word of the Gospel, and the Saviour himself; which dwelleth at Jerusalem; in the temple there; and which distinguishes him from the idols of the Heathens before mentioned; and who dwells in the heavenly Jerusalem, in Gospel churches; and will dwell in the New Jerusalem, where his tabernacle will be with men, Revelation 21:3; praise ye the Lord; or "hallelujah"; and so the psalm ends as it begun, being from first to last an exhortation to praise. |