Psalms 137:1

Psalms 137:1 says, By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.  When in captivity in Babylon, the people of Israel wept when remembering Zion.  If we as followers of Christ allow sin to take us away from God's will, then we should weep as we remember what it was like to be in His kingdom.  Even though we, like Isreal, will not be separated forever, like them our refusal to follow God's will at all times can lead to a temporary separation.  Verse two adds, We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.  They hung their harps in the trees because they had no heart to use them.  If we are out of God's will, we should have no heart for the things that brought us joy when we were following Him.  Verse three continues, For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.  Though the people of Israel had no desire to play their harps and sing, their captors required them to do so.  I believe they did this to mock the faith that the people of Israel had in God.  If we were to be taken captivity by some government today that does not believe in God, we should not be surprised if they attempt to make a mockery of our faith.  Verse four asks, How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?  The people of Israel asked God how they could sing the LORD’s song in a strange land.  We as Christians will never be separated from God's kingdom forever, and if we were to find ourselves captive in an unGodly land, we simply need to keep our faith.  Verse five adds, If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.  Verse six continues, If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.  The people of Israel said if they would never forget Jerusalem, and they would rather have their arm cut off and their tongues become useless than to sing praises to God in mockery.  We might be forced to sing to God by some power of the world, but if so, we should do so to truly worship God, and never allow our worship to become a mockery.  Verse seven says, Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.  The people of Israel asked God to remember when the people of Edom had destroyed the city of Jerusalem.  Verse eight adds, O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.  The people of Israel then said that one day Babylon would be punished for their treatment of them.  We may see times when it seems that the world is being victorious over the people of God, but it will always be temporary.  Their punishment is assured.  Verse nine continues, Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.  None were to escape God's judgment, and they will not today.  

Psalms 136:13

Psalms 136:13 says,  To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:  This is a continuation of telling of the great things God did for Israel.  He divided the Red Sea so they could escape from Egypt, but that was not as great as what He did for us when He sent Jesus Christ to die for our sins.  Verse fourteen adds, And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:  The people of Isreal passed through the Red Sea unharmed, not because of anything the did, but because of the mercy of God.  We are saved not by our own abilities but by the mercy of God.  Verse fifteen continues, But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.  Pharaoh and his srmy were drowned in the Red Sea, because they would not obey God.  Those who do not put their faith in God will one day face an even greater punishment, since they will be forever separated from God and His mercy.  Verse sixteen states, To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.  God did lead the people of Israel through the wilderness, but they were only there because of their lack of faith.  God out of His mercy will lead us through our spiritual wilderness today,  but as followers of Christ we should not be there to start with.  Verse seventeen adds, To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:  God overthrew the kings in the promised land, and He will overthrow our enemies today if we put our faith in Him.  Verse eighteen continues, And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:  Some of the kings were famous, but they could not stand before God.  No matter how famous a ruler may be today, he cannot defeat God.  Verse nineteen says, Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:  Verse twenty continues, And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:  Two of the kings overthrown by God were mentioned by name.  Verse twenty-one declares, And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:  Just as God gave the people of Israel the promised land for a heritage out of His mercy, He gives us an everlasting home in heaven as followers of Christ today.  Verse twenty-two adds, Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.  God gave the promised land to Israel because they were His servants.  If we want to be a part of God's kingdom today, we must be God's servants.  Verse twenty-three continues, Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:   God remembered Israel not because of their greatness, but because of their low estate.  We today do not come to God because of our own innate goodness, but because of our low estate as sinners in need of salvation.  Verse twenty-four states, And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.  God redeemed the people of Israel from their enemies, and He redeems us from our spiritual enemies today, all because of His mercy and not because we have done anything to deserve it.  Verse twenty-five adds, Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.  God provided for the needs of the people of Israel, and He will still provide for our needs today if we put our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty-six continues, O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.  We today, like the people of Israel then, must put our faith in God and give Him our thanks for His everlasting mercy.

Psalms 136:1

Psalms 136:1 says, O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.  The people of Israel were called on to give thanks to God because He is good and His mercy lasts forever.  God is good to extend His mercy to us, because He certainly doesn't have to, and if we accept it, it lasts forever.  Verse two adds, O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.  Like Isreal, we should give thanks to God since He is the only real God, and still He offers His mercy to us.  Verse three continues, O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.  Once more the people of Israel were called on to give thanks to God for His everlasting mercy.  None of these calls for giving thanks, and didn't say anything about material things, but were all based on Who God is and on His mercy, and this is still the reason we should praise God.  Verse four states, To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.  We are to give thanks to God for the great things and wonders He has done.  He is the Creator of everything.  Verse five adds, To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.  As just stated, He is the Creator of everything out of His wisdom, starting with the heavens.  Verse six continues, To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.  God then created the earth.  Verse seven says, To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:  God made the stars, and He did so out of His everlasting mercy.  Verse eight adds, The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:  Though scientists attempt to figure out when the sun will burn out, it will shine as long as God from His mercy wants it to shine.  Verse nine continues, The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.  Just as the sun shines by day, the moon and stars shine by night.  This is all a part of God's design and not the result of some great cosmic accident.  Verse ten states, To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:  Just as God procured freedom from Egypt for the people of Israel by His power and mercy, He procures our everlasting freedom from the power of sin and death if we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse eleven adds, And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:  Verse twelve continues, With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.  Just as it was by God's mercy and power that the people of Israel were freed from bondage in Egypt, we as Christians are freed from the bondage of sin today by His mercy.  Israel did nothing to deserve God's mercy, and neither can we.  It was freely given to them, and it is freely offered to us today.

Psalms 135:13

Psalms 135:13 says, Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations.  What the psalmist said then is just as true today.  The name of the LORD endures forever.  God being a memorial forever seems to refer to Exodus 3:15 where He refers to Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and adds, This is My name forever and this is my memorial to all generations.  Verse fourteen adds, For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.  God will one-day judge all His people, who are those who have been saved by putting their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse fifteen states, The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.  The heathen, those who do not believe in God, make idols of silver and gold.  We still see them today.  Of course,  I believe an idol does not have to be shaped like some creature or man, but can be material things themself.  Verse sixteen adds, They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;  Verse seventeen continues, They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.  Of course, this refers to those man-made idols that look like they can speak, see, and hear, but have no breath of life in them.  No matter how realistic idols may be made, they are still but inanimate objects.  There is but one true and living God.  Verse eighteen concludes, They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.  The psalmist declared those that made these idols to be just as unable to speak, see and hear the truth of God.  Until we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are just as dead spiritually as any idol that we worship.  Verse nineteen declares, Bless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron:  Verse twenty adds, Bless the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD.  Then verse twenty-one concludes, Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.  All of God's people were called on to bless the LORD, and we must do the same today as Christians.  We must put aside all idols that may come into our lives and worship God alone.

Psalms 135:1

Psalms 135:1 says, Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD.  The people of Israel were called on as servants of the LORD to praise Him.  We as Christians are servants of the same Lord and should praise Him just as much.  Verse two adds, Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God,  Verse three continues, Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.  Those who were in the house of the LORD or His courts were called on not only to praise Him, but to sing praises to Him because it was pleasant, to Him I believe.  We need to sing praises to God today, especially in His house.  Verse four states,  For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.  The people of Israel were to sing praises to the LORD because He had chosen them.  We should sing praises to God today because He has chosen to make salvation available to us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and our acceptance of His salvation.  Verse five adds, For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.  We serve and worship the same God as the people of Israel did then, and He is indeed great and above all false gods.  Verse six declares, Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.  God created the heavens and earth as He chose to make them.  Verse seven adds, He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.  God also created the weather system on the earth.  Scientists are still trying to find other planets like the earth, but have not done so.  Verse eight says, Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.  God not only created the heavens and earth and chose the people of Israel to be His people, but He delivered them from bondage in Egypt.  God has chosen everyone who will put their faith in Jesus Christ to be His people, and He delivers those who do from the bondage of sin.  Verse nine adds, Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.  God delivered the people of Israel from Egypt by sending plagues on Pharaoh and the Egyptians, but He delivers us today by faith in Jesus Christ alone.   Theirs was a temporary, physical deliverance, but ours as followers of Christ is an everlasting, spiritual deliverance.  Verse ten states, Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;  Verse eleven adds, Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan:  The people of Israel were reminded that God had defeated all their enemies, and when we put our faith in Jesus Christ today, God has defeated all our enemies spiritually as well.  Verse  twelve continues, And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.  Just like the land of Israel was given to the people of God as a heritage, we as Christians are given a promised heavenly home as our heritage. 

Psalms 134:1

Psalms 134:1 says, A Song of degrees.  This is the last of the songs of degrees, then verse one says, Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.  The psalmist asked for everyone who was a servant of the LORD  to bless Him.  This was directed especially to the priests who stood guard of the holy things at night to use their time worshipping God and not just idly passing the time.  We need to use our time wisely, especially when we are doing things to worship God.  It is possible to be sitting in a worship service and to be doing anything except worshipping God.  Our mind may be on something totally unrelated to God, and this is not true worship.  Verse two adds, Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.  The people of Israel were told to lift up their hands in worship in the sanctuary of the LORD and to worship Him.  There is some disagreement about lifting up our hands in worship today, but whether you do it or not, it is scriptural to do so.  Still, someone can raise their hands up in the sanctuary of God and still not truly be worshipping Him.  Whatever we do must be directed to God and not to others or to call attention to ourself.   Verse three concludes, The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.  The psalmist said that the people of Israel were to worship the LORD that made the heavens and the earth.  We should worship God, the only true God, Who created everything, because He blesses us if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ. 

Psalms 133:1

Psalms 133:1 says, A Song of degrees of David.  This is identified as a song of degrees of David, then verse one says, Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!  David said it was good and pleasant for brethren, I believe those who were spiritual brothers and sisters, to live together in harmony.  As followers of Christ, we are all spiritual brothers and sisters, and wouldn't it be wonderful if we all lived together in harmony.  I don't mean just within the church building or our physical kinfolk, but with all our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Verse two adds, It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;  David said spiritually harmony is like the holy ointment that covered the whole head and neck of Aaron when he was anointed priest.  This was not just ordinary oil, but was precious oil made by God's specification and for His purpose.  We have the gift of the Holy Spirit today Who should cover us fully.  Verse three continues, As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.  David also compared spiritual unity to the dew that refreshes the grass.  Just as grass does not work to earn the dew, but it is just sent by God, we do not work for salvation, but it is a refreshing gift of God to those who accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Because of God's anointing, refreshing gift of salvation, we as Christians should live together in spiritual harmony.