John Calvin Commentary Psalms 134:3

"Jehovah bless thee out of Zion; Even he that made heaven and earth." — Psalms 134:3 (ASV)

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.