"Praise the LORD!...
For I know that the LORD is great,
and that our Lord is above all gods.
Whatever the LORD pleases, He does,
in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.
He causes vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth;
Who makes lightnings for the rain;
Who brings forth the wind from His treasuries.
He smote the firstborn of Egypt,
both of man and beast.
He sent signs and wonders into your midst, O Egypt,
under Pharoah and all his servants.
He smote many nations,
and slew mighty kings,
Sihon, king of Bashan,
and all the kingdoms of Canaan;
and He gave their land as a heritage,
a heriatage to Israel His people.
Thy name, O LORD, is everlasting,
Thy remembrance, O LORD, throughout all generations.
For the LORD will judge His people,
and will have compassion on His servants."
(Psalm 135:1, 5-14)
We, the chosen people and prized possession of God, have been told to praise the good and lovely God. Here, in verses 5-14, we are extolled to praise the greatness of this good God.
Yes, our God is good. He is kind and His mercies are new every morning. But He is not merely some jovial old grandpa pouring forth blessings upon His children. No, our good God is a GREAT God. Mighty in power. Sovereign in all things. He "is above all gods and whatever He pleases, He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps."
Henry sums it up this way:
"The Lord is great, great indeed, who knows no limits of time or place. He has an absolute power, and may do with it what He will. This absolute almighty power is of universal extent; He does what He will in heaven, in earth, in the sea, and in all the deep place that are in the bottom of the sea or the bowels of the earth."God is great and greatly to be praised. Hallelujah!
The psalmist not only arbitrarily claims the greatness of our God, he goes on to give instances and examples of His great power. He does so in "the kingdom of nature" and in "the kingdoms of men".
