Psalm 135:7 Kommentar

This is one of the Hallelujah-psalms; that is the title of it, and that is the Amen of it, both its Alpha and its Omega. I. It begins with a call to praise God, particularly a call to the "servants of the Lord" to praise him, as in the foregoing psalm (Psa 135:1-3). II. It goes on to furnish us with matter for praise. God is to be praised, 1. As the God of Jacob (Psa 135:4). 2. As the God of gods (Psa 135:5). 3. As the God of the whole world (Psa 135:6, Psa 135:7). 4. As a terrible God to the enemies of Israel (Psa 135:8-11). 5. As a gracious God to Israel, both in what he had done for them and what he would do (Psa 135:12-14). 6. As the only living God, all other gods being vanity and a lie (Psa 135:15-18). III. It concludes with another exhortation to all persons concerned to praise God (Psa 135:19-21). In singing this psalm our hearts must be filled, as well as our mouths, with the high praises of God.

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 135 This psalm was written very probably by the same hand as the former. It begins in much the same manner; it has some likeness with Psalm 113 and 114. It begins and ends with "hallelujah"; and is throughout an exhortation of praise to God, on account of his name, nature, and perfections; and because of his works of creation, providence, and grace, many of which are enumerated. The Syriac interpreter says, there is an intimation in it of the conversion of the people of the Messiah unto the faith.

He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth,.... Up to the heavens. Aben Ezra interprets this of the mist which went up out of the earth, and watered it, Gen 2:6; and still vapours are exhaled out of the earth by the force of the sun, and carried up into the air, and form various things, as wind, rain, &c. The Targum, Kimchi, and others, explain it of the "clouds", so called from their elevation on high: these rise up out of the sea, the borders, and boundaries, and uttermost parts of the earth; see Kg1 18:44. Jerom interprets these clouds, spiritually and mystically, of the apostles and prophets, raised from a low and mean estate; and so may be applied to the ministers of the word, who are clouds full of water; of good doctrine, which they are sent to carry about the world, and publish in it; see Isa 5:6; he maketh lightnings for the rain: for the descent of the rain, as the Targum; by lightning oftentimes the clouds are broke, and so pour down rain; see Job 28:26; or, "lightnings with the rain" (g); as Kimchi: these frequently come together, which is very surprising, that two such different elements should meet together as fire and water; and yet the fire not quenched by the water, nor the water heated by the fire: these the above ancient Christian writer interprets of the light of knowledge, and the rain of doctrine; see Zac 9:14; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries; as he has his treasuries for the snow and hail, Job 38:22; so for the winds: not the caverns of the earth, thought to be the repositories of the wind (h); nor are there proper repositories of it: but the air, as Suidas (i); which, when without wind, is easily moved by the wise hand of God; so Theodoret, from whom he seems to have taken this hint. In Scripture only mention is made of four winds, Eze 37:9; and so the ancient Greeks only reckoned four cardinal winds, but at length they added four more; and at Athens was a marble temple, built by Andronicus Cyrrhestes, called "the temple of the eight winds": this was an octagon, and on each side were engraven the images of every wind; and on the top of it was a Triton of brass, with a rod in his right hand, which being moved about by the wind, pointed to that which then blew (k): but now, through the great improvement of navigation, the winds are divided and subdivided in the points of the compass; and, besides the four cardinal ones, there are twenty eight collateral ones, in all thirty two; but be they reckoned as many as they may, they are all in the hands of God, and disposed of at his pleasure. Jerom here interprets them of the angels; perhaps it might be better to apply them to the gifts and graces of the Spirit, sometimes compared to wind, which are treasured up in Christ; see Joh 3:8. (g) "fulgura cum pluvia", Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Gejerus; so Ainsworth. (h) "Vasto rex Aeolus antro----luctanteis ventos fraenat." Virgil. Aeneid. l. 1. (i) In voce (k) Vid. Vitruvium de Architect. l. 1. c. 6.

"Raising the clouds from the ends of the earth" [Psalm 135:7]. We see these works of God in His creation. For the clouds come from the ends of the earth to the midst thereof, and rain; you scan not whence they arise. Hence the prophet signifies this, from "the ends of the earth," whether it be from the bottom, or from the circumference of the ends of the earth, whencesoever He wills He raises the clouds, only from the earth. "He has made lightnings into rain." For lightnings without rain would frighten you, and bestow nothing on you. "He makes lightnings unto rain." It lightens, and you tremble; it rains, you rejoice. "He has made lightnings unto rain." He who terrified you, Himself causest that you should rejoice. "Who brings the winds out of His treasures," their causes are hidden, you know not whence they come. When the wind blows, you feel it; why it blows, or from what treasure of His wisdom it is brought forth, you know not; [John 3:8] yet you owe to God the worship of faith, for it would not blow unless He had bidden who made it, unless He had brought it forth who created it.

The sky above, the earth and ocean’s mightydepths, The orbs presiding over day and over night, The winds and tempests, lightnings, showers of rain and clouds, The polar stars, the star of evening, heat and snow, The fountains, hoarfrosts, precious veins of ore and streams, One in their might one both the Father and the Son, And that one splendor generated by one light With all the Godhead’s plenitude of brightness shone. In God one undivided being operates, And by one power was created all that is, The rugged cliffs and level plains and mountain dells, Wild beasts, the fowl of air and reptiles, all that swim, The beasts of burden, cattle, oxen, mammoth brutes, The flowers and shrubs, the vines, the herbs and woodland groves, All plants that shed their fragrance, plants that food supply.

This Psalm records the mourning of the captive Israelites, and a prayer and prediction respecting the destruction of their enemies. (Psa 137:1-9) rivers of Babylon--the name of the city used for the whole country. remembered Zion--or, Jerusalem, as in Psa 132:13.