◄ Psalm 135:1 ►
Hallelujah! Praise the name of the LORD. Give praise, O servants of the LORD,
Study Bible
Hallelujah!
The term "Hallelujah" is a transliteration of the Hebrew phrase "Hallelu Yah," which means "Praise the LORD." This exclamation is a call to worship and is often used in the Psalms to express exuberant praise. The root "halal" means to boast or to shine, suggesting that our praise should be both vocal and radiant, reflecting the glory of God. Historically, "Hallelujah" has been a universal expression of joy and reverence, transcending cultural and linguistic barriers within the Christian faith.

Praise the name of the LORD
"Praise" here is again derived from the Hebrew "halal," emphasizing the act of glorifying God. The "name of the LORD" refers to God's revealed character and essence. In ancient Israel, a name was not merely a label but a representation of one's identity and authority. The use of "LORD" in all capitals signifies the divine name YHWH, the covenant name of God given to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). This phrase calls believers to honor God's holiness, faithfulness, and sovereignty, acknowledging His deeds and attributes.

give praise
This repetition of the call to "give praise" serves to reinforce the importance of worship as a continual and deliberate act. It is an invitation to engage in a lifestyle of worship, not just a momentary expression. The Hebrew context suggests an active participation, where worship is not passive but involves the whole being—mind, body, and spirit.

O servants of the LORD
The term "servants" (Hebrew: "avadim") denotes those who are in a covenant relationship with God, committed to His service and obedience. In the historical context, this would primarily refer to the Levites and priests who ministered in the temple, but it extends to all who are devoted to God. The phrase underscores the privilege and responsibility of serving the LORD, highlighting that true service is rooted in worship and reverence. In the New Testament context, all believers are considered servants of Christ, called to live lives that reflect His love and truth.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The central figure of the Psalm, Yahweh is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature.

2. Servants of the LORD
This refers to those who serve God, including the priests and Levites in the temple, as well as all believers who are called to worship and serve Him.

3. The Temple
While not explicitly mentioned in this verse, the context of the Psalm suggests the temple as a place of worship where God's name is praised.
Teaching Points
The Call to Praise
The Psalm begins with a call to "Hallelujah," which means "Praise the LORD." This is a reminder that praise is not just an option but a command for God's people.

The Significance of God's Name
Praising the "name of the LORD" emphasizes the importance of God's character and attributes. His name represents His identity and His deeds.

Role of Servants
As "servants of the LORD," believers are called to a life of worship and service. This is a reminder of our identity and purpose in Christ.

Worship as a Community
The collective call to praise suggests the importance of corporate worship. Gathering with other believers to praise God strengthens our faith and glorifies Him.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does the term "Hallelujah" mean, and how can understanding its meaning enhance your personal worship?

2. How does the name of the LORD reflect His character and deeds, and why is it important to praise His name specifically?

3. In what ways can you fulfill your role as a "servant of the LORD" in your daily life?

4. How does corporate worship in a church setting contribute to your spiritual growth and understanding of God?

5. Reflect on a time when praising God in the midst of a difficult situation brought you peace or clarity. How can this experience encourage you to praise God more consistently?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 113
This Psalm also begins with "Hallelujah" and emphasizes the praise of God's name, highlighting the importance of worship in the life of believers.

Exodus 3:14-15
God's revelation of His name to Moses as "I AM" (Yahweh) underscores the significance of His name, which is to be praised and revered.

1 Peter 2:9
This New Testament passage speaks of believers as a royal priesthood, called to declare the praises of God, connecting to the role of the "servants of the LORD" in Psalm 135:1.
Sermons
God's PraisesC. Short Psalm 135:1-21
The March of MercyS. Conway Psalm 135:1-21
The Sublime Object of WorshipHomilistPsalm 135:1-21
People
Aaron, Amorites, Jacob, Levi, Og, Pharaoh, Psalmist, Sihon
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Hallelujah, Jah, O, Praise, Praised, Servants, Yah
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 135:1

     8666   praise, manner and methods

Psalm 135:1-3

     8660   magnifying God

Library
What Pleases God.
"Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places."--Psalm 135:6. "Was Gott gefaellt, mein frommes Kind." [74]Gerhardt. transl., Sarah Findlater, 1858 What God decrees, child of His love, Take patiently, though it may prove The storm that wrecks thy treasure here, Be comforted! thou needst not fear What pleases God. The wisest will is God's own will; Rest on this anchor, and be still; For peace around thy path shall flow, When only wishing here …
Jane Borthwick—Hymns from the Land of Luther

From Kadesh to the Death of Moses.
Num. 14-Dt. 34. The Pathos of the Forty Years. The stories of this period have running through them an element of pathos arising especially from two sources. (1) Perhaps the experiences of Moses are most sorrowful. That he should now, after faithfully bringing this people to the very border of the land which they sought, be compelled to spend forty monotonous years in this bare and uninteresting desert must have been a disappointment very heavy to bear. During these wanderings he buried Miriam, …
Josiah Blake Tidwell—The Bible Period by Period

Excursus on the Present Teaching of the Latin and Greek Churches on the Subject.
To set forth the present teaching of the Latin Church upon the subject of images and the cultus which is due them, I cite the decree of the Council of Trent and a passage from the Catechism set forth by the authority of the same synod. (Conc. Trid., Sess. xxv. December 3d and 4th, 1563. [Buckley's Trans.]) The holy synod enjoins on all bishops, and others sustaining the office and charge of teaching that, according to the usage of the Catholic and Apostolic Church received from the primitive times …
Philip Schaff—The Seven Ecumenical Councils

Notes on the First Century:
Page 1. Line 1. An empty book is like an infant's soul.' Here Traherne may possibly have had in his mind a passage in Bishop Earle's "Microcosmography." In delineating the character of a child, Earle says: "His soul is yet a white paper unscribbled with observations of the world, wherewith at length it becomes a blurred note-book," Page 14. Line 25. The entrance of his words. This sentence is from Psalm cxix. 130. Page 15. Last line of Med. 21. "Insatiableness." This word in Traherne's time was often …
Thomas Traherne—Centuries of Meditations

Christ's Kingly Office
Q-26: HOW DOES CHRIST EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF A KING? A: In subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies. Let us consider now Christ's regal office. And he has on his vesture, and on his thigh, a name written, "King of kings, and Lord of lords", Rev 19:16. Jesus Christ is of mighty renown, he is a king; (1.) he has a kingly title. High and Lofty.' Isa 57:15. (2.) He has his insignia regalia, his ensigns of royalty; corona est insigne …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Introduction. Chapter i. --The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of Poitiers.
St. Hilary of Poitiers is one of the greatest, yet least studied, of the Fathers of the Western Church. He has suffered thus, partly from a certain obscurity in his style of writing, partly from the difficulty of the thoughts which he attempted to convey. But there are other reasons for the comparative neglect into which he has fallen. He learnt his theology, as we shall see, from Eastern authorities, and was not content to carry on and develop the traditional teaching of the West; and the disciple …
St. Hilary of Poitiers—The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of Poitiers

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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