What is the meaning of Psalm 135:19? O house of Israel, bless the LORD Psalm 135:19 opens by summoning the entire covenant nation—every tribe, clan, and household—to wholehearted praise. The call is comprehensive: if you bear the name “Israel,” you are included. • Blessing the LORD means exalting His character and recounting His works (Psalm 103:1–5; Psalm 147:1). • The verse follows a pattern found earlier: “O Israel, trust in the LORD” (Psalm 115:9) and “Let the house of Israel say: ‘His loving devotion endures forever’ ” (Psalm 118:2). These parallels reinforce that praise is the fitting response to God’s steadfast love. • Israel’s history furnishes countless reasons to bless Him—deliverance from Egypt (Exodus 15:1–2), preservation in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 8:2–4), victories in Canaan (Joshua 21:43–45). The psalmist expects that memory to stir present-day worship. • The invitation is not optional; it is a command rooted in God’s covenant faithfulness (Deuteronomy 7:9). When Israel blesses the LORD, it publicly acknowledges Him as sole Redeemer and Sovereign (Isaiah 43:11). O house of Aaron, bless the LORD The focus now narrows from the nation to the priestly family. While all Israel must praise, the priests carry a special responsibility to lead in worship. • The “house of Aaron” served at the altar (Leviticus 1:5–9), kept the sanctuary lamps burning (Exodus 27:20–21), and pronounced blessing over the congregation (Numbers 6:22–27). They model what it means to bless the LORD. • Earlier psalms echo this call: “O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield” (Psalm 115:10) and “Let the house of Aaron say: ‘His loving devotion endures forever’ ” (Psalm 118:3). Their praise is designed to ignite worship among the people they represent. • By singling out Aaron’s line, Psalm 135:19 underscores that privileged service brings heightened accountability (Malachi 2:1–2; Luke 12:48). Priests who bless the LORD testify that sacrificial blood points to His mercy and foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice (Hebrews 9:11–14). • Today, every believer in Christ is part of “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). The Levitical example urges us to continual, sacrificial praise (Hebrews 13:15), declaring God’s greatness in word and deed. summary Psalm 135:19 calls both the nation (“house of Israel”) and its spiritual leaders (“house of Aaron”) to bless the LORD. The whole community must respond to God’s past and present mercies, while those entrusted with priestly duties bear a distinct obligation to lead by example. Together they illustrate that everyone—from the ordinary Israelite to the high priest—is summoned to exalt the LORD for His unfailing love and mighty acts. |
    |