Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
Psalm 135:6 is one of Scripture’s clearest declarations of the dominion of Jehovah. The psalm has called His servants to praise Him because He is good, because His name is pleasant, because He chose Jacob for Himself, and because He is great above all gods. “For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods” (v.5). Verse 6 proves that greatness by His works: whatever He pleased, He did. No realm lies outside His authority. Heaven, earth, seas, and deep places all answer to Him. The worshipper is given a God who does not only desire or attempt, but acts according to His own pleasure.
“Whatsoever.” The word leaves nothing out. The Psalmist does not name one narrow class of works in which God succeeds; “whatsoever” allows no territory where Jehovah loses control. The following verses give examples. “He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries” (v.7). He smote the firstborn of Egypt, slew mighty kings, and gave their land for an heritage unto Israel (vv.8-12). Verse 6 is not an empty claim. Creation and history are its evidence. This should enlarge worship. Men often judge God by one event they do not understand. The God who governs clouds, wind, kings, and nations is not to be measured by one confusing hour.
“The LORD.” LORD in all capital letters is the King James Bible’s usual way of representing the ancient Hebrew tetragrammaton, JHVH. The verse does not say that fate, nature, chance, or history does whatsoever it pleases. Jehovah acts. Men often describe events while removing God from them. Rain becomes weather only, kings become politics only, and creation becomes nature only. Psalm 135 names the Ruler behind them all. The contrast with idols is sharp. “The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands” (v.15). They cannot speak, see, hear, or breathe (vv.16-17). An idol depends on its maker; mankind depends on Jehovah.
“Pleased.” God acts according to His own pleasure. His will is not governed by outside necessity, higher authority, popular consent, fear, or lack. He does what pleases Him because no creature stands above Him. Yet His pleasure is never sinful whim. God is holy, righteous, wise, and good, and what pleases Him agrees with His perfect nature. “For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright” (Psalm 11:7). He works all things after the counsel of His own will (Ephesians 1:11).
The word also destroys the idea of a frustrated God whose purposes are continually defeated by His creatures. Nebuchadnezzar learned this: “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” (Daniel 4:35). Creatures may rebel against His commands, but they cannot overthrow His dominion.
“Did he.” What Jehovah pleased, He did. Desire and accomplishment meet perfectly in Him. Men often intend things they cannot perform, for they lack power, knowledge, time, or life. God lacks none of these. “For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalm 33:9). His counsel is not wishful thinking; He has declared that His counsel shall stand and He will do all His pleasure (Isaiah 46:10). This is great comfort in providence. The saint’s confidence does not rest on God trying harder than His enemies. He is not one power competing among many. He rules the powers themselves.
“In heaven.” The highest realm comes first. Heaven is not independent territory full of powers beyond God’s reach. Angels, stars, and all the hosts above are under Him. “The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all” (Psalm 103:19). This corrects superstition about the heavens. Sun, moon, and stars are created servants, not gods. What man admires in the sky remains under the hand of the One who made it.
“And in earth.” The realm where men live is equally under God. Nations, rulers, seasons, crops, armies, families, and single lives do not escape His government. The history that follows proves it. God sent signs and wonders into Egypt, smote great nations, and gave their kingdoms to Israel (vv.9-12). Earthly rulers had real authority, but never independent authority. “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” (Proverbs 21:1). Human authority may be frightening, but it is never final.
“In the seas.” The seas stood for power, depth, danger, and territory beyond human control. Yet Jehovah acts there too. He divided the Red Sea, brought Israel through, and returned the waters upon Pharaoh (Exodus 14:21-28). Men may cross an ocean, fish it, and build on its shores, but they cannot command it as God does. What appears wild to us is governed before Him.
“And all deep places.” The last phrase reaches down to what is hidden from human sight. “All” excludes no depth. “In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also” (Psalm 95:4). Darkness, depth, distance, and concealment limit man’s knowledge, not God’s rule. This speaks to fear. Men are most frightened by what they cannot see or understand. Psalm 135 answers by carrying God’s dominion into the hidden depths. What is unknown to you is not unknown to Him.
Jesus Christ showed this same dominion in the days of His flesh. When the disciples feared the storm, He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm (Matthew 8:26). “But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” (Matthew 8:27). He is the Word by whom all things were made: “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). The One who does whatsoever He pleases in the seas walked among men.
Praise Jehovah, who does whatsoever He pleases, and whom no height, land, sea, depth, king, storm, or idol can resist. “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased” (Psalm 115:3). Let idols be exposed and pride be brought low, and rest your fears in the God who rules everywhere according to His holy pleasure.
Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
Psalm 135:6 is one of Scripture’s clearest declarations of the dominion of Jehovah. The psalm has called His servants to praise Him because He is good, because His name is pleasant, because He chose Jacob for Himself, and because He is great above all gods. “For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods” (v.5). Verse 6 proves that greatness by His works: whatever He pleased, He did. No realm lies outside His authority. Heaven, earth, seas, and deep places all answer to Him. The worshipper is given a God who does not only desire or attempt, but acts according to His own pleasure.
“Whatsoever.” The word leaves nothing out. The Psalmist does not name one narrow class of works in which God succeeds; “whatsoever” allows no territory where Jehovah loses control. The following verses give examples. “He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries” (v.7). He smote the firstborn of Egypt, slew mighty kings, and gave their land for an heritage unto Israel (vv.8-12). Verse 6 is not an empty claim. Creation and history are its evidence. This should enlarge worship. Men often judge God by one event they do not understand. The God who governs clouds, wind, kings, and nations is not to be measured by one confusing hour.
“The LORD.” LORD in all capital letters is the King James Bible’s usual way of representing the ancient Hebrew tetragrammaton, JHVH. The verse does not say that fate, nature, chance, or history does whatsoever it pleases. Jehovah acts. Men often describe events while removing God from them. Rain becomes weather only, kings become politics only, and creation becomes nature only. Psalm 135 names the Ruler behind them all. The contrast with idols is sharp. “The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands” (v.15). They cannot speak, see, hear, or breathe (vv.16-17). An idol depends on its maker; mankind depends on Jehovah.
“Pleased.” God acts according to His own pleasure. His will is not governed by outside necessity, higher authority, popular consent, fear, or lack. He does what pleases Him because no creature stands above Him. Yet His pleasure is never sinful whim. God is holy, righteous, wise, and good, and what pleases Him agrees with His perfect nature. “For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright” (Psalm 11:7). He works all things after the counsel of His own will (Ephesians 1:11).
The word also destroys the idea of a frustrated God whose purposes are continually defeated by His creatures. Nebuchadnezzar learned this: “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” (Daniel 4:35). Creatures may rebel against His commands, but they cannot overthrow His dominion.
“Did he.” What Jehovah pleased, He did. Desire and accomplishment meet perfectly in Him. Men often intend things they cannot perform, for they lack power, knowledge, time, or life. God lacks none of these. “For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalm 33:9). His counsel is not wishful thinking; He has declared that His counsel shall stand and He will do all His pleasure (Isaiah 46:10). This is great comfort in providence. The saint’s confidence does not rest on God trying harder than His enemies. He is not one power competing among many. He rules the powers themselves.
“In heaven.” The highest realm comes first. Heaven is not independent territory full of powers beyond God’s reach. Angels, stars, and all the hosts above are under Him. “The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all” (Psalm 103:19). This corrects superstition about the heavens. Sun, moon, and stars are created servants, not gods. What man admires in the sky remains under the hand of the One who made it.
“And in earth.” The realm where men live is equally under God. Nations, rulers, seasons, crops, armies, families, and single lives do not escape His government. The history that follows proves it. God sent signs and wonders into Egypt, smote great nations, and gave their kingdoms to Israel (vv.9-12). Earthly rulers had real authority, but never independent authority. “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” (Proverbs 21:1). Human authority may be frightening, but it is never final.
“In the seas.” The seas stood for power, depth, danger, and territory beyond human control. Yet Jehovah acts there too. He divided the Red Sea, brought Israel through, and returned the waters upon Pharaoh (Exodus 14:21-28). Men may cross an ocean, fish it, and build on its shores, but they cannot command it as God does. What appears wild to us is governed before Him.
“And all deep places.” The last phrase reaches down to what is hidden from human sight. “All” excludes no depth. “In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also” (Psalm 95:4). Darkness, depth, distance, and concealment limit man’s knowledge, not God’s rule. This speaks to fear. Men are most frightened by what they cannot see or understand. Psalm 135 answers by carrying God’s dominion into the hidden depths. What is unknown to you is not unknown to Him.
Jesus Christ showed this same dominion in the days of His flesh. When the disciples feared the storm, He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm (Matthew 8:26). “But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” (Matthew 8:27). He is the Word by whom all things were made: “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). The One who does whatsoever He pleases in the seas walked among men.
Praise Jehovah, who does whatsoever He pleases, and whom no height, land, sea, depth, king, storm, or idol can resist. “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased” (Psalm 115:3). Let idols be exposed and pride be brought low, and rest your fears in the God who rules everywhere according to His holy pleasure.