Sharper Iron — Spring into the Psalms - Psalm 134: Benedicamus and Benediction

The songs of ascents end with this brief psalm in which the people of God arrive at His holy house to bless His name. In their zeal, they arrive at night to stand watch with the ministers of His house and call upon His name in prayer. Knowing His promise to hear and answer, they continue to bless His name even before their prayer is finished. The LORD has the last word as the Creator of all things blesses His people from Zion.

Rev. Jeff Hemmer, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, IL and Signal Hill Lutheran Church in Belleville, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 134.

To learn more about Bethany Lutheran, visit bethanylcms.org.

Join Sharper Iron this spring to study selected Psalms. In the Psalter, God speaks His Word to us and teaches us how to speak back to Him in prayer. Even in the great variety of the Psalms, each one points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund. Together in faith, LCEF helps to start, sustain and strengthen LCMS ministries through financial and strategic partnerships. Visit lcef.org.

Psalm 134

Come, Bless the LORD

A Song of Ascents.

[1] Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD,

who stand by night in the house of the LORD!

[2] Lift up your hands to the holy place

and bless the LORD!

[3] May the LORD bless you from Zion,

he who made heaven and earth!

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Rev. Timothy Appel

Although a mathematics degree may not be incredibly helpful to (proudly born-and-raised Texan) Rev. Timothy Appel while hosting Sharper Iron, his love of CFW Walther and the season of Easter will come in handy. His Call is shepherding the flock at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, Illinois, and he’s also husband to wife Kristin and dad to their growing basketball team of children. When he’s not carrying out pastoral duties, you may find him reading “The Lord of the Rings,” snacking on Reese’s peanut butter cups, playing dominoes with his boys, or studying up on Texas history (including Sam Houston, of course).