Psalms 135:1-16: a reflection

1Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD’s name! Praise him, you servants of the LORD, 2you who stand in the LORD’s house, in the courts of our God’s house. 3Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good. Sing praises to his name, for that is pleasant. 4For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel for his own possession. 5For I know that the LORD is great, that our Lord is above all gods. 6Whatever the LORD pleased, that he has done, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps. 7He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightnings with the rain. He brings the wind out of his treasuries. 8He struck the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and animal. 9He sent signs and wonders into the middle of you, Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his servants. 10He struck many nations, and killed mighty kings— 11Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan— 12and gave their land for a heritage, a heritage to Israel, his people. 13Your name, LORD, endures forever; your renown, LORD, throughout all generations. 14For the LORD will judge his people and have compassion on his servants. 15The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. 16They have mouths, but they can’t speak. They have eyes, but they can’t see.

This psalm of praise declares the greatness of God, and states his sovereign freedom over all things: Whatever the LORD pleased, that he has done, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps. God does whatever he pleases, in every realm; there is nothing that can thwart or resist his will. He is above all, sovereign over heaven and earth and sea, doing whatever he pleases, unlike the lifeless idols of the nations that can do nothing at all. The living God is sovereign, doing whatever he pleases in all creation.

Notice the sovereign freedom of God: he does whatever he pleases, in every realm. There is no realm where God's will can be thwarted; whatever he pleases, in heaven, earth, sea, and the depths, he does. His will is not limited or resisted; he is free and sovereign over all, doing as he pleases in all creation. This is not the impotence of the idols, which can do nothing; it is the sovereign freedom of the living God, who does whatever he pleases, unhindered, in every realm. God is sovereign, and his will is done.

That sovereign freedom of God is worth resting in, for it means the God who cares for us is able to do whatever he pleases, unhindered. We can fear that God's will for our good might be thwarted, that circumstances or powers might prevent what he would do; but God does whatever he pleases, in every realm, unhindered and unresisted. The God who is for us is sovereign over all, able to do whatever he pleases. Do not fear that God's purposes for your good can be finally thwarted; he does whatever he pleases in heaven and earth, unhindered by any power. Rest in the sovereign freedom of God, who does whatever he pleases in all creation, and who is thus able to accomplish his good purposes for you, unhindered, as the psalm declares that whatever the LORD pleased, he has done, in heaven and earth and sea; for the living God is sovereign, and his will, unlike the impotence of idols, is done in every realm.

Lord, this psalm of praise declares your greatness, and states your sovereign freedom over all things: whatever the LORD pleased, that he has done, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps. You do whatever you please, in every realm; there is nothing that can thwart or resist your will. You are above all, sovereign over heaven and earth and sea, unlike the lifeless idols of the nations that can do nothing at all. Show me your sovereign freedom: you do whatever you please, in every realm. There is no realm where your will can be thwarted; whatever you please, in heaven, earth, sea, and the depths, you do. Your will is not limited or resisted; you are free and sovereign over all. This is not the impotence of the idols; it is the sovereign freedom of the living God. Let me rest in that sovereign freedom, for it means the God who cares for me is able to do whatever he pleases, unhindered. I can fear that your will for my good might be thwarted, that circumstances or powers might prevent what you would do; but you do whatever you please, in every realm, unhindered. The God who is for me is sovereign over all. Keep me from fearing that your purposes for my good can be finally thwarted; you do whatever you please in heaven and earth. Help me rest in your sovereign freedom, Lord, who does whatever you please in all creation, and who is thus able to accomplish your good purposes for me, unhindered.