Psalm 135 · a question people ask
"For the LORD will judge his people" (135:14). Is that a warning or a comfort?
The psalm says both halves together: "For the LORD will judge his people and have compassion on his servants" (135:14) (tap judge, compassion). Brown-Driver-Briggs gives the verb din as "judge", and among its uses "execute judgment, vindicate". In Hebrew the line is word for word the first half of a verse in Moses' song (Deuteronomy 31:30), which goes on, "when he sees that their power is gone, that there is no one remaining, shut up or left at large" (Deuteronomy 32:36). Hebrews quotes its first words, "The Lord will judge his people" (Hebrews 10:30), straight after "Vengeance belongs to me. I will repay" (Hebrews 10:30), words from the verse before in the same song (Deuteronomy 32:35). Deuteronomy 32's notes take up how the New Testament uses those lines, and these notes don't repeat them. In Psalm 135 the line comes after "Your name, LORD, endures forever" (Psalm 135:13) and before the idols (Psalm 135:15). The psalm doesn't say more about what this judging will be, and these notes don't choose a sense for it.
The verses
“Your name, LORD, endures forever; your renown, LORD, throughout all generations. For the LORD will judge his people and have compassion on his servants. The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.”
“Moses spoke in the ears of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song, until they were finished.”
“Vengeance is mine, and recompense, at the time when their foot slides, for the day of their calamity is at hand. Their doom rushes at them.” For the LORD will judge his people, and have compassion on his servants, when he sees that their power is gone, that there is no one remaining, shut up or left at large.”
“For we know him who said, “Vengeance belongs to me. I will repay,” says the Lord. Again, “The Lord will judge his people.””