Psalm 135:3 Study Bible: Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good. Sing praises to his name, for that is pleasant.

◄ Psalm 135:3 ►

Hallelujah, for the LORD is good; sing praises to His name, for it is lovely.

Hallelujah
The term "Hallelujah" is a Hebrew word meaning "Praise the LORD." It is a call to worship and is often used in the Psalms to invite the congregation to join in praising God. This word is a compound of "Hallelu," meaning "praise," and "Yah," a shortened form of "Yahweh," the covenant name of God. The use of "Hallelujah" in this context emphasizes the communal aspect of worship, inviting all believers to participate in glorifying God. It is a term that transcends cultural and linguistic barriers, being used universally in Christian worship.

for the LORD is good
This phrase highlights the intrinsic nature of God as being good. The goodness of the LORD is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, seen in passages like Psalm 100:5 and Nahum 1:7. God's goodness is not just a moral quality but is also reflected in His actions and His creation. The goodness of God is foundational to His character and is a reason for worship. It assures believers of His benevolent intentions and faithful provision.

sing praises to His name
Singing praises is a form of worship that involves both the heart and the mind. In biblical times, music was an integral part of worship, as seen in the temple services led by the Levites. The "name" of God represents His character and His deeds. Singing praises to His name is an acknowledgment of His attributes and His mighty works. This practice is encouraged throughout the Psalms and is a way to express gratitude and reverence.

for it is lovely
The term "lovely" here can be understood as "pleasant" or "beautiful." This phrase suggests that praising God is not only a duty but also a delightful experience. The beauty of worship lies in its ability to connect the worshiper with the divine, bringing joy and peace. This loveliness is reflected in the harmonious relationship between God and His people, as well as in the aesthetic beauty of worship itself, which includes music, poetry, and communal participation.

Persons / Places / Events

1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The central figure in this verse, Yahweh is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal existence and faithfulness to His people.

2. The Psalmist
The author of this psalm, traditionally attributed to the community of Israel, who calls the people to worship and praise God.

3. The Temple
While not explicitly mentioned in this verse, the context of Psalm 135 suggests a setting of communal worship, likely in the temple in Jerusalem.

Teaching Points

The Goodness of God
Recognize and meditate on the inherent goodness of God. His nature is the foundation for our praise and worship.

The Beauty of His Name
The name of the LORD is lovely, reflecting His character and deeds. In worship, we should focus on the beauty and holiness of God's name.

The Call to Worship
Worship is both a personal and communal act. Engage in both private and corporate worship, acknowledging God's goodness and beauty.

Consistency in Praise
Make praising God a regular part of your life, not just in times of joy but also in times of trial, as an expression of faith in His goodness.

The Role of Music in Worship
Singing is a powerful form of worship that engages the heart and mind. Use music as a means to express your love and adoration for God.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does understanding the goodness of God influence your daily life and decisions?

2. In what ways can you incorporate the practice of praising God's name into your daily routine?

3. How does the communal aspect of worship enhance your personal relationship with God?

4. Reflect on a time when singing praises to God brought you peace or joy. How can you make this a more regular practice?

5. How do other scriptures that speak of God's goodness and beauty deepen your understanding of Psalm 135:3?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Psalm 100
This psalm also emphasizes the goodness of the LORD and calls for joyful worship, reinforcing the theme of praising God for His inherent goodness.

1 Chronicles 16
This passage includes a song of thanksgiving that highlights the goodness and enduring love of the LORD, similar to the call to praise in Psalm 135:3.

James 1:17
This New Testament verse speaks of every good and perfect gift coming from God, aligning with the acknowledgment of God's goodness in Psalm 135:3.

Sermons

The Pleasantness of the Divine Name	R. Tuck	Psalm 135:3
God's Praises	C. Short	Psalm 135:1-21
The March of Mercy	S. Conway	Psalm 135:1-21
The Sublime Object of Worship	Homilist	Psalm 135:1-21

People

Aaron, Amorites, Jacob, Levi, Og, Pharaoh, Psalmist, Sihon

Places

Jerusalem

Topics

Gracious, Jah, Lovely, Melody, Pleasant, Pleasing, Praise, Praises, Psalms, Sing, Yah

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Psalm 135:3

1050 God, goodness of
8665 praise, reasons

Psalm 135:1-3

8660 magnifying God

Psalm 135:3-4

7135 Israel, people of God
8666 praise, manner and methods

Library

What Pleases God.
"Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places."--Psalm 135:6. "Was Gott gefaellt, mein frommes Kind." [74]Gerhardt. transl., Sarah Findlater, 1858 What God decrees, child of His love, Take patiently, though it may prove The storm that wrecks thy treasure here, Be comforted! thou needst not fear What pleases God. The wisest will is God's own will; Rest on this anchor, and be still; For peace around thy path shall flow, When only wishing here …
Jane Borthwick—Hymns from the Land of Luther

From Kadesh to the Death of Moses.
Num. 14-Dt. 34. The Pathos of the Forty Years. The stories of this period have running through them an element of pathos arising especially from two sources. (1) Perhaps the experiences of Moses are most sorrowful. That he should now, after faithfully bringing this people to the very border of the land which they sought, be compelled to spend forty monotonous years in this bare and uninteresting desert must have been a disappointment very heavy to bear. During these wanderings he buried Miriam, …
Josiah Blake Tidwell—The Bible Period by Period

Excursus on the Present Teaching of the Latin and Greek Churches on the Subject.
To set forth the present teaching of the Latin Church upon the subject of images and the cultus which is due them, I cite the decree of the Council of Trent and a passage from the Catechism set forth by the authority of the same synod. (Conc. Trid., Sess. xxv. December 3d and 4th, 1563. [Buckley's Trans.]) The holy synod enjoins on all bishops, and others sustaining the office and charge of teaching that, according to the usage of the Catholic and Apostolic Church received from the primitive times …
Philip Schaff—The Seven Ecumenical Councils

Notes on the First Century:
Page 1. Line 1. An empty book is like an infant's soul.' Here Traherne may possibly have had in his mind a passage in Bishop Earle's "Microcosmography." In delineating the character of a child, Earle says: "His soul is yet a white paper unscribbled with observations of the world, wherewith at length it becomes a blurred note-book," Page 14. Line 25. The entrance of his words. This sentence is from Psalm cxix. 130. Page 15. Last line of Med. 21. "Insatiableness." This word in Traherne's time was often …
Thomas Traherne—Centuries of Meditations

Christ's Kingly Office
Q-26: HOW DOES CHRIST EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF A KING? A: In subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies. Let us consider now Christ's regal office. And he has on his vesture, and on his thigh, a name written, "King of kings, and Lord of lords", Rev 19:16. Jesus Christ is of mighty renown, he is a king; (1.) he has a kingly title. High and Lofty.' Isa 57:15. (2.) He has his insignia regalia, his ensigns of royalty; corona est insigne …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Introduction. Chapter i. --The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of Poitiers.
St. Hilary of Poitiers is one of the greatest, yet least studied, of the Fathers of the Western Church. He has suffered thus, partly from a certain obscurity in his style of writing, partly from the difficulty of the thoughts which he attempted to convey. But there are other reasons for the comparative neglect into which he has fallen. He learnt his theology, as we shall see, from Eastern authorities, and was not content to carry on and develop the traditional teaching of the West; and the disciple …
St. Hilary of Poitiers—The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of Poitiers

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links

Psalm 135:3 NIV
Psalm 135:3 NLT
Psalm 135:3 ESV
Psalm 135:3 NASB
Psalm 135:3 KJV

Psalm 135:3 Commentaries

Bible Hub