Read Psalm 134
Questions from the Scripture text: What sort of song is this (superscript)? How does Psalm 134:1a demand attention? For what to be done? Unto Whom? Who are to do this blessing/praising (verse 1b)? Whose servants are they? What do they do, when, where (verse 1c)? How do they offer this blessing (Psalm 134:2a)? Where? To do what unto Whom (verse 2b)? Who is He, and what has He done (Psalm 134:3a)? What will He do (verse 3b)?
How does the worship of the church climax? Psalm 134 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the worship of the church climaxes in the evening worship, in heaven itself, and especially in the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is a wonderful interaction between the ministers “servants of the Lord” and the congregation, who encourage those ministers to the blessing of YHWH’s Name—and then whom the ministers bless in the Name of YHWH.
First, the congregation are invested in the worship leaders’ attention (“Behold,” Psalm 134:1a) and action (“bless YHWH”). They urge their leaders to bless YHWH, the Lord known by His covenant Name. Worship is joyous. It is being caught up with and exalting the blessedness, the divine happiness and goodness, of God. It is reflecting to Him that blessedness, especially by His appointed servants (v1b), who were at that time the Levitical priests.
But now, in much greater glory, this is done both by and in the Lord Jesus, in His everlasting priesthood. Still, those by whom He leads on earth, ought to be urged to attention and diligence in leading worship.
Notice that there is special attention given to the evening service (Psalm 134:1c). God’s mercies are not just new every morning. They are new all day long. How great are the riches of His blessing toward us that, coming to the end of the day, the cause to worship Him abounds anew!
He has taught us this by evenings and mornings in the creation, and all the more for His church by the morning and evening sacrifices—both of which are doubled on the Sabbath. Those congregations that apply this to the Lord’s Day find that it is all the more true on that day, and the close of the day by worship at night crowns it with blessedness in Him.
Second, the object of worship is YHWH Himself in His glory. The lifting up of the hands is not “in” the holy place, but unto it. Psalm 134:2 recognizes that it is not the temple that is the holy place. The hands and eyes would be lifted up, not as if the Lord dwelt in the skies (or anywhere in creation, cf. 1 Kings 8:27), but looking to Him Who is above and beyond creation altogether. He has designed the heavens to be beyond us in a way that points us to how He is infinitely beyond them.
Even in Old Testament worship, they knew that the ultimate “place” of worship was in glory. But, now, we have a Priest Who has passed through those heavens into the place where God has most manifested His glory(cf. Hebrews 4:14, Hebrews 7:26, Hebrews 10:19–21).
Finally, note that the response from the servants in v3 is not so much from them as from the Lord Himself. “YHWH bless you from Zion!” Because He had made His Name to dwell in that particular place, there was a special blessing from Him to be pronounced from that place. This is fitting for the final “Song of Ascents,” in which the gathering pilgrims would remember that, though they are only able to gather in that place three times per year, the Lord is always pouring out upon them the blessing associated with the place. He is Creator (“made heaven and earth”) and Redeemer (“from Zion”), and He relates to His redeemed in the full abundance of both as He blesses them.
How much more this is true now, when Zion is found not so much in a place (though that place is the third heaven!), but in a Person Whose own body is the temple (cf. John 2:21; Colossians 1:19, Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 8:2)!
How much delight do you take in public worship? How much, specifically, in evening worship (if your church has public worship in the evening)? How does (or would) remembering your Priest help you in this? What is your habit for encouraging the diligence of the servants on earth who preside over this worship? From where does your blessing in worship come? How is this a “from Whom” question, and how does that make it even better?
Sample prayer: Lord, we bless You from Your congregation on earth. Be blessed by the worship of Your Servant, Jesus Christ our Priest, in glory. We lift our hearts to You and Your holy place, where He ministers, Who has passed through the heavens. Come, now, and bless us from Zion, You Who made the heavens and the earth!
Suggested Songs: ARP134 “Bless the LORD, All You His Servants” or TPH134 “Come, Bless the LORD with One Accord”
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