The next two psalms are a sort of appendices to the Songs of Degrees, in that they bring together incidents in Israel’s history as fitting subjects of their praises.
Psalm 135. This is a call to Israel to praise the Lord. The first thing mentioned is that He has chosen Israel for His own peculiar treasure, which is given as a promise in Exodus 19:55Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: (Exodus 19:5), if they would keep His law. Then the Lord’s care of the earth is mentioned, and how He controls the elements so as to provide the needed rain for it. This is followed by recounting their deliverances, first from Egypt in the starting of their journey, and secondly from the king of Bashan who at the close of their journey opposed their entrance into the land. The idols of the nations are shown to be only the work of men’s hands, and to have no power. The whole house of Israel is called upon to bless the Lord. The house of Aaron and Levi, and then all that fear the Lord are called upon to bless Him.
Psalm 136. The giving of thanks unto the Lord is here called for because His mercies and lovingkindness endure forever. God is spoken of as the God of gods, and the Lord of lords. He has done great wonders in the creation of the heavens and the earth. We have His mercies in connection with the deliverances of His people from Egypt and His leading them through the wilderness journey. At the close He is called the God of heaven, for His mercies endure forever.
Psalm 137. This psalm goes back to their captivity in Babylon and tells of their weeping there when they remembered Zion. Their captors had required a song of them but they could not sing the Lord’s songs in a strange land. The theme of their songs was largely their deliverances from their enemies, and so it would be inappropriate for them to sing such songs in the land of their captivity. At the present time the Lord’s people, when overcome by the world, are unable to sing His songs amid worldly associations. It is only when they have begun to retrace their steps, as in Psalm 126:22Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. (Psalm 126:2), that these songs come back to them. The people here pledge themselves not to forget Jerusalem. There was a small remnant which did not forget and were ready to return when King Cyrus gave the word. We read about them in the book of Ezra.
Psalm 138. We have the faithful awakened remnant here turning to the Lord. They realize the importance of His Word and say that He has magnified it above all His name. If we stopped to realize this, we could not claim to be honoring Him and at the same time go contrary to His Word, for it is there we learn what is pleasing to Him. In the coming day His Word will reach out to the kings of the earth, and they also will praise the Lord. Here confidence is expressed in the Lord that He will revive them and perfect that which concerned them, in accomplishing their full deliverance.
ML 06/11/1961