Psalms 134: The night watch answers with a blessing

Psalm 134 closes the Songs of Degrees with only three verses, but it creates a complete exchange. Servants stand in the house of the LORD by night and are called to lift their hands and bless him. The Book of Psalms lets the sanctuary remain active after ordinary daytime movement has ended. Then the direction of blessing reverses. The servants bless the LORD in praise, and the LORD, maker of heaven and earth, is asked to bless the addressed person or community from Zion. The local place and the cosmic title stand together without conflict. Zion is the place from which the blessing is spoken, but the giver is not confined there. After Psalm 120 began among hostile speech and people set on war, the sequence ends with voices in the night directed toward praise and blessing. The ascent concludes in worship that turns outward again.