“Bless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron:”
My Notes
What Does Psalms 135:19 Mean?
The psalmist calls for worship from two specific groups in sequence: the house of Israel (the people) and the house of Aaron (the priests). Each group is told separately to bless the LORD, indicating that both have distinct but complementary roles in worship. The people's blessing and the priests' blessing are both required.
The next verse adds the house of Levi (verse 20) and then "ye that fear the LORD" (verse 20) — expanding the call in concentric circles from specific tribes to anyone who reverences God. The call to worship is comprehensive but structured: it begins with specific communities and widens to include everyone.
The repetition — "bless the LORD" stated twice in rapid succession — creates urgency and emphasis. The psalmist isn't casually suggesting worship. He's commanding it from every quarter, making sure no group thinks it's exempt. Everyone blesses. No one sits out.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Do you tend to watch worship or participate in it?
- 2.Why does the psalm call specific groups to worship rather than just saying 'everyone worship'?
- 3.How does the expanding circle — from Israel to Aaron to Levi to 'those who fear God' — include you?
- 4.What does it mean to 'bless the LORD' when He's already fully blessed?
Devotional
Israel: bless the LORD. Aaron: bless the LORD. Nobody's exempt. Nobody sits this one out. The people and the priests — the congregation and the clergy — both have the same instruction: bless.
The doubling isn't accidental. There's a tendency in every religious community for one group to do the worshipping while the other watches. The laypeople think worship is the professionals' job. The professionals think they're performing for the laypeople. The psalm says: both of you. Bless the LORD. Your worship isn't a spectator sport.
The next verses expand the circle: Levites, then everyone who fears God. The call to worship starts with insiders (Israel, Aaron, Levi) and widens to include outsiders (anyone who fears God). Worship begins in the community and radiates outward. It doesn't stay internal.
The word "bless" (barak) when directed from humans toward God means to praise, to speak well of, to acknowledge His goodness. You can't add to God's blessedness — He's already fully blessed. But you can acknowledge it, declare it, participate in it. Your blessing of God is your recognition of what's already true.
Are you blessing the LORD — not waiting for someone else to do it, not assuming the priests have it covered? The psalm specifically names you. House of Israel: that's you. Bless the LORD.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Bless the Lord, O house of Levi,.... These were of the same tribe with the house of Aaron, but inferior ministers; they…
Bless the Lord, O house of Israel ... - This passage, also, is evidently an imitation of the passage in Psa 115:9-13.…
The design of these verses is,
I. To arm the people of God against idolatry and all false worship, by showing what sort…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture