Twice His servants are called to bless the Lord; then comes Heaven’s echo: “The Lord…bless you!”
Now we have another three-verse song in Psalm 134. You can see how often the psalmist mentions “the Lord” (Yhwh, Jehovah). He has formed a pyramid of praise, like this:
“Behold,
Bless the LORD,
All you servants of the LORD,
Who by night stand in the house of the LORD!
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.
The LORD who made heaven and earth bless you from Zion!”
W. Graham Scroggie writes, “The evening sacrifice has been offered, and the last psalm has been sung. The watch is being set for the night, twenty-four Levites, three priests, and the captain of the guard, whose duty it is to keep ward from sunset to sunrise. As the congregation withdraws through the gates, which soon will be shut, they look back toward the night Watch and sing this salutation (vv 1-2)….In reply the night Watch sing this benediction (v 3), which is both a prayer and a promise….The day is gone; the glowing stars shine down upon the slumbering city, and the Temple Guard watch and worship. Such is this beautiful Psalm.” How fitting it is for the last of the 15 Songs of Ascent! Wasn’t it thoughtful of the Lord to provide a short, sweet psalm for nursing mothers, those working the night shift, and poor insomniacs? When you’re too tired to think much, you can still utter this, “Dear Lord, I bless You tonight, and would be so thankful if You would bless me, too. Good night, Lord.”