John Trapp
Psalm 134

Verse 1

Psalms 134:1 A Song of degrees. Behold, bless ye the LORD, all [ye] servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.

Behold, bless ye the Lord. This short psalm (the last of the fifteen graduals) is breve Sacerdotum speculum, saith an expositor; a mirror for ministers, who are first excited by a Behold, as by the sounding of a trumpet, or the ringing of a sermon bell. And, secondly, exhorted to praise God, and to pray unto him; whereunto if we add their teaching of Jacob God's judgments, whereof Moses reminds them (Deut. 33:10), what more can be required of Archippus, to the fulfilling of his ministry? and if he be slack, he must be told of it (Col. 4:17), yet with all due respect and reverence to his office (1 Tim. 5:1). And it were far better, if they would rouse up themselves with the wakeful cock, and not keep sleepy sentry in the sanctuary.

All ye servants of the Lord. Ye priests and Levites, who are God's servants, but of a more than ordinary alloy; servants of noblest employment about him. Such are all faithful ministers; each of them may say with Paul (Acts 27:23), "Whose I am, and whom I serve."

Which by night stand in the house of the Lord. Keeping watch and ward there in your turns (Num. 18:1-2, &c.; 1 Chron. 9:33). The Rabbis say, that the high-priest only sat in the sanctuary (as did Eli, 1 Sam. 1:1-28), the rest stood, as ready priest to do their office.

Verse 2

Psalm 134:2 Lift up your hands [in] the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary. Or, Lift up holy hands, as 1 Tim. 2:8. One readeth it, out of the Hebrew, Lift up your hands, sanctuary, that is, ye sanctuary men, continens pro contento. Hearts and hands must both up to heaven (Lam. 3:41), and God be glorified both with spirits and bodies, which are the Lord's (1 Cor. 6:20).

And bless the Lord. Like so many earthly angels; and as if ye were in heaven already, say,

Verse 3

Psalm 134:3 The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.

The Lord that made heaven and earth. And therefore hath the blessings of both lives in his hand to bestow. See Num. 6:24.

Bless thee out of Zion. They are blessings indeed that come out of Zion; choice, peculiar blessings, even above any that come out of heaven and earth. Compare Psa. 128:5, and the promise (Exod. 20:24), In all places where I put the memory of my name I will come unto thee and bless thee.