John Calvin Commentary Psalms 134

Behold! bless ye Jehovah. Some interpreters think that others besides the Levites are intended here, and it must be granted, at least, that some of the more zealous of the people remained overnight in the Temple, as we read (Luke 2:37) of Anna, a widow, who served God constantly with prayers night and day. But it is evident from the close of the Psalm that the inspired author addresses priests only, since he prescribes the form of benediction which they were to offer up for the people, and this was a duty belonging exclusively to the Priests.

It would appear then that the Levites are here called servants of God from the functions they discharged, being specially appointed, by turns, to watch by night in the Temple, as we read in the inspired history (Leviticus 8:35). The Psalm begins with the demonstrative adverb Behold! setting the matter of their duty before their eyes, for they were to be stimulated to devotion by looking constantly to the Temple.

We should notice the Psalmist’s design in urging the duty of praise so earnestly upon them. Many of the Levites, through the tendency in all people to abuse ceremonies, considered that nothing more was necessary than standing idly in the Temple, and thus overlooked the principal part of their duty.

The Psalmist aimed to show that merely to keep nightly watch over the Temple, kindle the lamps, and superintend the sacrifices was of no importance unless they served God spiritually and referred all outward ceremonies to that which must be considered the main sacrifice—the celebration of God’s praises. You may think it a very laborious service, as if he had said, to stand at watch in the Temple while others sleep in their own houses; but the worship which God requires is something more excellent than this and demands of you to sing his praises before all the people.

In the second verse, he further reminds them of the form observed in calling upon the name of the Lord. For why do people lift their hands when they pray? Is it not that their hearts may be raised at the same time to God? Thus, the Psalmist rebukes their carelessness in either standing idle in the Temple, or trifling and indulging in vain conversation, and thus failing to worship God in a proper manner.

Jehovah bless thee out of Zion! In my opinion, we have conclusive proof from this verse that the Psalm is to be considered as referring to the priests and Levites only, for to them it properly belonged under the law to bless the people (Numbers 6:23). The Psalmist had first told them to bless God; now he tells them to bless the people in his name.

Not that God meant by any such injunction that the people might themselves indulge in a life of carnal security — an opinion prevalent among Roman Catholics, who think that if the monks chant in the churches, this is all the worship necessary on the part of the whole body of the people.

What God intended was that the priests should lead the way in divine service, and the people should follow the example of what was done in the temple, practicing it individually in their private houses. The duty of blessing the people was enjoined upon the priests, as representing Christ’s person. Express mention is intentionally made of two things, which are in themselves distinct, when the God who blessed them out of Zion is said to be also the Creator of heaven and earth.

Mention is made of his title as Creator to set forth his power and convince believers that there is nothing they may not hope for from God. For what is the world but a mirror in which we see his boundless power? And those must be senseless persons indeed who are not satisfied with the favor of Him whom they recognize as having all dominion and all riches in his hand.

However, since many are apt, when they hear God spoken of as Creator, to conceive of him as standing at a distance from them and to doubt their access to him, the Psalmist also mentions that which was a symbol of God’s nearness to his people — and this so that they might be encouraged to approach him with the freedom and unrestrained confidence of persons who are invited to come to the bosom of a Father. By looking to the heavens, then, they were to discover the power of God — by looking to Zion, his dwelling-place, they were to recognize his fatherly love.