Psalms 134:1-3
1 Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.
2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary,a and bless the LORD.
3 The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.
This is the last of the fifteen psalms entitled MAHALOTH, or songs of degrees. See on Psalms 120. It is ascribed to David by the Syriac, but has no title in the Hebrew. The first and second verses are supposed to be the exhortation of the high-priest, on retiring from the temple, to the priests and levites who kept the night watch. The third verse is supposed to contain the response of the latter to the highpriest.
Psalms 134:1. Which by night stand in the house of the Lord, watching the holy fire, and guarding the temple. This night-song inspires them to praise the Creator, from the glory of the stars, which rejoice and illumine the vast expanse of heaven.
REFLECTIONS.
The priests and levites are charged not to slumber in the service of God, even by night. What then shall we say to those who compose themselves to sleep, in the house of God on the sabbath day. Behold! awake! shake off your slumbers! Stand up, lift up your hands; our God is a jealous God. Above all, enter into the true spirit of worship, with a grateful heart, then the body shall wait upon the mind; and while you bless the Lord, He also shall bless you out of Zion.