“Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord.”
Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord! This opening summons addresses those engaged in nocturnal priestly service, inviting them to bless (praise) the God they serve. The servants of the Lord identified as those standing by night suggests dedication to worship and vigilance that transcends normal human rhythms; priestly service operates according to divine rather than natural time. The house of the Lord locates this address in the sanctuary itself, suggesting that the psalm functions as nocturnal liturgy performed within the temple precincts. The imperative Come and bless creates an invitational, participatory tone; all servants are called to join in this nocturnal praise. This opening frames the psalm as a liturgical exchange, likely between the congregation (verse 1) and the priestly watch (verses 2-3).
Church Fathers on Psalms 134:1
1. “Behold, now, bless ye the Lord, all you servants of the Lord” Psalm 133:1, “who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God” Psalm 133:2. Why has he added, “in the courts”? Courts mean the wider spaces of a house. He who stands in the courts is not straitened, is not confined, in some fashion is enlarged. Remain in this enlargement, and you can love your enemy, because you love not things in which an enemy could straiten you. How can you be…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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