◄ Psalm 135:20 ►
O house of Levi, bless the LORD; you who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!
Study Bible
O house of Levi
The "house of Levi" refers to the tribe of Levi, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Historically, the Levites were set apart for religious duties and service in the tabernacle and later the temple. The Hebrew root for "Levi" is "לֵוִי" (Levi), which is associated with the idea of joining or being attached. This reflects their role in being attached to the service of God, acting as intermediaries between God and the people. The Levites' call to praise underscores their unique position and responsibility in leading worship and maintaining the spiritual life of Israel.

praise the LORD
The phrase "praise the LORD" is a call to worship and adoration directed towards Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. The Hebrew word for "praise" is "הַלֵּל" (halal), which means to boast, celebrate, or glorify. This imperative is not just a suggestion but a command, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging God's sovereignty, goodness, and mighty acts. The Levites, as leaders in worship, are reminded of their duty to lead by example in praising God, setting a standard for the rest of the community.

You who fear the LORD
This phrase extends the call to praise beyond the Levites to all who "fear the LORD." The Hebrew word for "fear" is "יָרֵא" (yare), which encompasses reverence, awe, and respect. It is not a fear of terror but a profound respect for God's holiness and authority. Those who fear the LORD are those who recognize His power and majesty and live in obedience to His commandments. This call to praise is inclusive, inviting all who hold God in reverence to join in worship.

praise the LORD
Reiterating the call to "praise the LORD" serves to emphasize the central theme of the verse and the psalm as a whole. The repetition underscores the importance of worship as a response to God's character and deeds. It is a reminder that praise is not just an act of the lips but an expression of the heart, rooted in a deep understanding of who God is. This call to praise is a unifying force, bringing together the Levites and all who fear the LORD in a collective act of worship, celebrating the greatness and goodness of God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. House of Levi
The tribe of Levi was set apart for religious duties and service in the temple. They were responsible for the priestly functions and maintaining the worship practices of Israel.

2. Those who fear the LORD
This phrase refers to all believers who hold a reverent awe and respect for God. It encompasses not only the Israelites but also Gentiles who have come to faith.

3. Praise the LORD
This is a call to worship and glorify God, acknowledging His sovereignty, goodness, and mighty works.
Teaching Points
The Role of the Levites
The Levites were chosen for a special purpose in God's plan. As believers, we are also called to serve God in unique ways, using our gifts for His glory.

The Fear of the LORD
Fearing the LORD is foundational to a life of faith. It involves recognizing His holiness and responding with obedience and worship.

Universal Call to Worship
Worship is not limited to a specific group; all who fear the LORD are invited to praise Him. This inclusivity reflects the universal nature of God's call to salvation.

Praise as a Response to God's Character
Our praise should be a response to who God is and what He has done. Reflecting on His attributes and deeds fuels genuine worship.

Community in Worship
The call to praise is communal, involving the whole house of Israel and all believers. Worshiping together strengthens our faith and unity.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the role of the Levites in the Old Testament inform our understanding of service and worship today?

2. In what ways can we cultivate a healthy fear of the LORD in our daily lives?

3. How does the call to praise the LORD in Psalm 135:20 relate to the New Testament teachings on worship?

4. What are some practical ways we can incorporate praise into our daily routines, both individually and as a community?

5. How can reflecting on God's character and deeds enhance our worship experience and deepen our relationship with Him?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 32
The Levites' loyalty to God during the golden calf incident highlights their role as dedicated servants of the LORD.

Psalm 115:11
This verse also calls those who fear the LORD to trust in Him, emphasizing the relationship between reverence and reliance on God.

Hebrews 12:28-29
These verses speak to worshiping God with reverence and awe, connecting the fear of the LORD with acceptable worship.
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
Bless, Fear, Fearing, Levi, O, Praise, Revere, Sons, Worshippers
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 135:19-21

     7468   temple, rebuilding

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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