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1Praise Yah!

Praise Yahweh’s name!

Praise him, you servants of Yahweh,

2you who stand in Yahweh’s house,

in the courts of our God’s house.

3Praise Yah, for Yahweh is good.

Sing praises to his name, for that is pleasant.

4For Yah has chosen Jacob for himself,

Israel for his own possession.

5For I know that Yahweh is great,

that our Lord is above all gods.

6Whatever Yahweh pleased, that he has done,

in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.

7He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth.

He makes lightnings with the rain.

He brings the wind out of his treasuries.

8He struck the firstborn of Egypt,

both of man and animal.

9He sent signs and wonders into the middle of you, Egypt,

on Pharaoh, and on all his servants.

10He struck many nations,

and killed mighty kings—

11Sihon king of the Amorites,

Og king of Bashan,

and all the kingdoms of Canaan—

12and gave their land for a heritage,

a heritage to Israel, his people.

13Your name, Yahweh, endures forever;

your renown, Yahweh, throughout all generations.

14For Yahweh will judge his people

and have compassion on his servants.

15The idols of the nations are silver and gold,

the work of men’s hands.

16They have mouths, but they can’t speak.

They have eyes, but they can’t see.

17They have ears, but they can’t hear,

neither is there any breath in their mouths.

18Those who make them will be like them,

yes, everyone who trusts in them.

19House of Israel, praise Yahweh!

House of Aaron, praise Yahweh!

20House of Levi, praise Yahweh!

You who fear Yahweh, praise Yahweh!

21Blessed be Yahweh from Zion,

who dwells in Jerusalem.

Praise Yah!

Biography of Jacob

Biography of Jacob

Biography | Ps 135:4 | Hershel Wayne House

Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, born immediately after Esau, and Abraham was his grandfather. He achieved the right of the firstborn by trickery, in offering his older brother, Esau, food in exchange for the birthright, who cared little for this position. He also received the blessing of firstborn from his father Jacob before his death by cunning, and with the assistance of his mother Rebekah.

After his deception of Esau, receiving the blessing from his father, Jacob escaped to his uncle Laban, who in turn deceived Jacob into working for fourteen years for the marriage of Jacob to Leah, and then his beloved Rachel. Laban also sought to deceive Jacob of wages, but God intervened to ensure he would prosper. In a time of trial, when he feared the wrath of Esau, upon returning to the land of Canaan, Jacob had an encounter with God, and his name was changed to Israel, the one who wrestles with God. Even though his early life was characterized by deception, God worked through the situation to ensure that Jacob would be the one in the line of the patriarchs, to create a great nation and ultimately fulfill His purposes in the earth, especially through the future Messiah. The Messiah would guarantee the promise of the land to Abram and a person who would rule over Abraham's descendants, but also He would bring blessings to all the people of the earth (Gen 12:1-3).

In spite of Jacob's early failure by deception, God worked through him, and finally, Jacob became a different type of man after his struggle with God. As one has said,

"Despite Jacob’s faults, God chose him to be the leader of a great nation that still bears his name today. But for this, it is unlikely that we would know much about Jacob, who appears to be in the middle of events while the key players are those around him. There is no great wisdom or bravery in Jacob to speak of, and we are tempted to see him as little more than God’s passive instrument. If we are tempted to think that, because we aren’t in the spotlight performing great acts for God, we are unimportant to Him, then we should consider the life of Jacob and know that, in spite of our failings, God can and will still use us in His plan."

For more on Jacob, see "Who was Jacob in the Bible?", https://www.gotquestions.org/life-Jacob.html