“Bless the Lord, O house of Israel: bless the Lord, O house of Aaron:”
O house of Israel, bless the Lord! O house of Aaron, bless the Lord! This verse calls the major corporate divisions of Israel's faith community to praise God: the people of Israel generally and the priestly house of Aaron specifically. The doubling of the summons (two houses of Israel, Aaron; three blessings total) creates emphatic parallelism, making clear that all segments of the community should participate in praise. The specific invocation of both lay and priestly segments suggests that praise is not confined to professional religious personnel but is the responsibility and privilege of all Israel. This verse redirects attention from the false gods and their foolish worshippers to the living God and His community of faith. The imperative to bless the Lord becomes a kind of antidote to idolatry; true worship displaces false worship.
Church Fathers on Psalms 135:19
1. Very pleasant ought it be to us, and we should rejoice because it is pleasant, to which this Psalm exhorts us. For it says, “Praise the name of the Lord” Psalm 134:1. And it immediately appends the reason, why it is just to praise the name of the Lord. “Praise the Lord, you servants.” What more just? What more worthy? What more thankful?...For if He teaches His own servants who have deserved well of Him, the preachers of His Word, the rulers of His Church, the worshippers…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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