Psalm 135:3

Psalm 135:3

The Lord is good

Firstly, this verse gives us two justifiable reasons to praise the Lord. Number 1 – He is good. Number 2 – because of His Name.

What do we mean when we say that the Lord is good? David appointed a team of Levites to worship and play music before the Ark of the Covenant once it had been brought up to Jerusalem. David also composed the words that were to be uttered and sung at this event and included in his composition was the expression, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” 1 Chronicles 16:34. The goodness of God is central to the Christian understanding of His nature. God's goodness is not just an abstract concept but is demonstrated through His actions and character. Throughout the Bible, God's goodness is evident in His creation, His provision for His people, and his redemptive plan for humanity. Whatever our God says or does – it is good, in other words it is wholly driven by righteousness, justice and truth. By acknowledging God's goodness, we are reminded of His faithfulness and love, which are constant and unchanging. 

When we sing praise to the Lord’s Name, we are also retelling ourselves exactly who it is we worship and serve. There are endless names, spread across the earth and throughout history, of beings who have been worshipped by men. Some of those names are figments of man’s imaginations, others are deliberate plants by the enemy to divert attention away from the truth. Let us never forget the names of our God, and He has a number, and also the name of Jesus who has been “given a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow.” Philippians 2:9-10. Let us pay true attention to the power and authenticity of these names.

I think the psalmist is being understated at the end of this verse, don’t you? Perhaps we have abused the term “pleasant?” In Scripture it has the sense of “attractive” or “delightful and lovely.” Perhaps in its purest sense that is exactly what God thinks when He hears us praising Him! 

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