Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 135:4
For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, [and] Israel for his peculiar treasure.
4. the Lord ] Heb. Jah. The verse is based upon Deu 7:6; cp. Exo 19:5.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself – The descendants of Jacob. He has selected them from among all the inhabitants of the earth to be his special people.
And Israel for his peculiar treasure – The word here rendered treasure, means that which is acquired; property; wealth. They were what God possessed, owned, or claimed among all the people of the earth as especially his own. He had chosen them; he had redeemed them; he had made them his own, and he regarded them with the interest with which anyone looks on his own property, the fruit of his own toil. See Exo 19:5; Deu 7:6; Deu 32:9; 1Ki 8:53.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 135:4
The Lord hath chosen Jacob unto Himself.
A strange yet gracious choice
This is a psalm of praise all through. It is to be sung to the highsounding cymbals. There is not a low note anywhere; it is all robust, exhilarating, joyful. It is Hallelujah! from beginning to end; and it did not seem possible to the psalmist that he could omit from it the high jubilant note of election; for if there is anything that makes believers hearts sing unto the Lord, it is the recollection that He has chosen them, and fixed His love upon them.
I. The choice.
1. Divine.
2. Sovereign–irrespective of character.
3. Most gracious.
4. Very wonderful.
When you have told me why He chose Jacob, I shall then try to find out why He chose me; and if I should find that out, probably you will at the same time discover why He chose you. God never acts unreasonably; yet He does not find His reasons for acting in men, but within Himself, in His compassion, in the eternal counsels of His own will.
II. The reason or result of Gods choice.
1. That we might know Him.
2. That we might keep His truth alive in the world.
3. To keep up His worship.
4. That He might commune with us.
III. The separation which grows out of this choice. He led Israel out into the wilderness that there He might speak to their hearts. He drew them away from men; He made them live solitary and alone, like eagles on the rock, that they might dwell there with Him, and have no strange god among them. Blessed are the people who enjoy this separation; but unhappy are the men and women who talk about election, and yet have never known the separation which stamps their election as being a matter of fact.
IV. Their elevation. His peculiar treasure. Gods people are everything to Him; there is nothing that you have, that you account rich or rare, that is anything to you in value in comparison with what Gods people are to Him. His delight is in them: the pleasure which God has in His people is truly wonderful. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 4. For the Lord hath chosen Jacob] This is a third reason. He has taken the Israelites for his peculiar people, segullatho, his peculiar treasure; and now has brought them home to himself from their captivity and wanderings.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
4-7. God’s choice of Israel isthe first reason assigned for rendering praise; the next, Hismanifested greatness in creation and providence.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself,…. To be his own special people, and not another’s; for his own service, and for his glory; and to be an habitation for himself, and to be for ever with him. This is not to be understood personally of Jacob, though a chosen vessel of mercy; nor of his natural posterity as such, though chosen as a nation to outward favours; for not all they, only some of them, were chosen to special grace and glory, a remnant according to the election of grace: but mystical and spiritual Jacob and Israel are meant, even the whole church and people of God, whether Jews or Gentiles; these God has chosen, of his own free grace and good will, to all the blessings of grace and glory, and that from all eternity; which choice will remain firm and immutable, in time and for ever; and therefore is worthy of praise and thanksgiving, now, and to all eternity;
[and] Israel for his peculiar treasure; by whom they are accounted as such; even as the peculiar treasure of kings, as silver, gold, jewels, and precious stones; as his inheritance, his portion, and peculiar people; see Ex 19:5.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
4. For God hath chosen Jacob Other reasons are given afterwards why they should praise God, drawn from his government of the world. But as it was only the children of Abraham who were favored with the knowledge of God at that time, and were capable of praising him, the Psalmist directs them to the fact of their having been chosen by God to be his peculiar people, as affording matter for thanksgiving. The mercy was surely one of incomparable value, and which might well stir them up to fervent gratitude and praise, adopted as they were into favor with God, while the whole Gentile world was passed by. The praise of their election is given by the Psalmist to God — a clear proof that they owed the distinction not to any excellency of their own, but to the free mercy of God the Father which had been extended to them. He has laid all without exception under obligation to his service, for
“
he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good.” (Mat 5:45.)
But he bound the posterity of Abraham to him by a closer tie, such as that by which he now adopts men generally into his Church, and unites them with the body of his only-begotten Son. (158)
(158) “ Comme c’est aujourd’huy de tous ceux qu’il adopte en sa bergerie, et ente au corps de son fils unique.” — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(4) Peculiar treasure.A special covenant-name for Israel (Exo. 19:5; Deu. 7:6, &c.), and of private property (1Ch. 29:3; Ecc. 2:8).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Chosen Jacob Copied from Deu 7:6.
Peculiar treasure See Mal 3:17, where the same word is rendered “jewels.” In these four verses Jehovah occurs four times; Jah, three times; and Elohim, once.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
But the song riseth to a higher note in this verse, in the choice God hath made of Jacob, for his peculiar people. Yes this is the great mark for praise, distinguishing mercies. The Bible is full of this peculiarity of God’s mercy to Israel. Deu 7:7-8 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 135:4 For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, [and] Israel for his peculiar treasure.
Ver. 4. For the Lord hath chosen ] God’s distinguishing grace should make his elect lift up many a humble, joyful, and thankful heart to him.
And Israel for his peculiar treasure
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jacob. Compare Mal 1:2. Rom 9:13. Put also by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause) for his posterity (App-6).
Israel. See notes on Gen 32:28; Gen 43:6; Gen 45:26, Gen 45:28.
peculiar treasure = own possession. See note on Exo 19:5.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 135:4
Psa 135:4
II.
“For Jehovah hath chosen Jacob unto himself,
And Israel for his own possession.”
“For Jehovah hath chosen Jacob.” This is cited here as the second reason why God’s people should praise him. “Election is one of the most forcible arguments for adoring love. Chosen! Chosen by God Himself! Husbands and wives love each other because each spouse is “the choice” of the other. Where is any Christian whose heart does not thrill to the thought of God’s unmerited love, bestowed upon “the beloved in Christ?”
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 135:4. Jacob and Israel refer to the same people in the way the names are used here. They are both named because Israel as a nation and people are so named because they sprang from Jacob who had the name “Israel” applied to him personally. Peculiar treasure means the Israelite nation belonged to the Lord and to no one else.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
the Lord: Psa 33:12, Deu 7:6, Deu 7:7, Deu 10:15, 1Sa 12:22, Isa 41:8, Isa 43:20, Isa 43:21, Zec 2:10-12, 1Pe 2:9
his peculiar: Exo 19:5, Exo 19:6, Deu 32:9, Mal 3:17, Tit 2:14
Reciprocal: Exo 34:9 – take us Deu 4:20 – a people 1Sa 10:1 – his inheritance 1Ch 16:13 – his chosen Psa 65:4 – choosest Psa 74:2 – thine Psa 149:2 – rejoice Isa 43:4 – precious Isa 63:19 – are thine Jer 10:16 – Israel Jer 13:11 – I caused Jer 51:19 – the rod Eze 16:7 – excellent ornaments Zec 2:12 – inherit Act 13:17 – God Act 27:23 – whose Rom 2:17 – thou art Eph 1:4 – as
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 135:4-5. For the Lord hath chosen Jacob, &c. Here we have a third reason why the Israelites should praise the Lord, namely, the circumstance of their having been selected from among the nations to be his church, to receive the law and the promises, to have his presence residing in the midst of them, and to be the guardians of the true faith and worship. For I know that the Lord is great, &c. Here he assigns a fourth reason for their praising God, his superiority over the gods of the heathen, and, consequently, over those who worshipped them; from whence followed this comfortable inference, that he was able to protect and to defend his people against every enemy. Horne.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
135:4 For the LORD hath {c} chosen Jacob unto himself, [and] Israel for his peculiar treasure.
(c) That is, has freely loved the posterity of Abraham.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
2. The cause for praise 135:4-18
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
The sovereignty of God is what called forth the poet’s praise in this psalm. The Lord chose Israel as His special treasure (cf. Deu 7:6). He is also greater than all the pagan gods because He does whatever pleases Him (cf. Psa 115:3). This is obvious in His control of nature.