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Illustration for Psalm 134: A Nighttime Blessing

Psalm 134

A Nighttime Blessing

PraiseBedtime

This is the last Song of Ascent. It's a simple blessing for those who serve God at night in the temple. They lift their hands toward the holy place and bless God — and God blesses them back from Zion, the maker of heaven and earth.

  1. 1Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD.
  2. 2Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD.
  3. 3May the LORD bless you from Zion, He who is the Maker of heaven and earth.

What it means

This is the shortest of the travelling songs, and it is for the people working through the night while everyone else sleeps. They bless God, and God blesses them right back. Quiet faithfulness that nobody sees is never wasted.

A little prayer

God, thank You for people who serve You quietly when nobody is watching. I bless You tonight. Thank You that You bless me back, Maker of heaven and earth. Amen.

Memory verse

“Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD.”

Psalm 134:2 (BSB)

The last of the pilgrim songs, and it ends the journey with a blessing rather than an arrival.

Talk about it

Questions with no single right answer — for a family table or a Sunday-school circle.

  1. This blessing is for people working through the night. Who works while you sleep?
  2. The psalm is only three verses and it is a blessing given and returned. Why both directions?
  3. Is night a good time to pray?
  4. Who could you thank who works when nobody sees?

Try this

The night shift

Find out who is working tonight near you — a nurse, a driver, a baker. Say verse 2 for them by name before you go to bed.

Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB)