<< Psalm 135:3 >>

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Praise the LORD because he is good. Make music to praise his name because his name is beautiful.

King James Bible
Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.

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Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary

PSALM 135

This is one of the Hallelujah-psalms; that is the title of it, and that is the Amen of it, both its Alpha and its Omega. I. It begins with a call to praise God, particularly a call to the "servants of the Lord" to praise him, as in the foregoing psalm (v. 1-3). II. It goes on to furnish us with matter for praise. God is to be praised, 1. As the God of Jacob (v. 4). 2. As the God of gods (v. 5). 3. As the God of the whole world (v. 6, 7). 4. As a terrible God to the enemies of Israel (v. 8-11). 5. As a gracious God to Israel, both in what he had done for them and what he would do (v. 12-14). 6. As the only living God, all other gods being vanity and a lie (v. 15-18). III. It concludes with another exhortation to all persons concerned to praise God (v. 19-21). In singing this psalm our hearts must be filled, as well as our mouths, with the high praises of God.

Verses 1-4

Here is, 1. The duty we are called to-to praise the Lord, to praise his name; praise him, and again praise him. We must not only thank him for what he has done for us, but praise him for what he is in himself and has done for others; take all occasions to speak well of God and to give his truths and ways a good word. 2. The persons that are called upon to do this-the servants of the Lord, the priests and Levites that stand in his house, and all the devout and pious Israelites that stand in the courts of his house to worship there, v. 2. Those that have most reason to praise God who are admitted to the privileges of his house, and those see most reason who there behold his beauty and taste his bounty; from them it is expected, for to that end they enjoy their places. Who should praise him if they do not? 3. The reasons why we should praise God. (1.) Because he whom we are to praise is good, and goodness is that which every body will speak well of. He is good to all, and we must give him the praise of that. His goodness is his glory, and we must make mention of it to his glory. (2.) Because the work is its own wages: Sing praises to his name, for it is pleasant. It is best done with a cheerful spirit, and we shall have the pleasure of having done our duty. It is a heaven upon earth to be praising God; and the pleasure of that should quite put our mouths out of taste for the pleasures of sin. (3.) Because of the peculiar privileges of God's people (v. 4): The Lord hath chosen Jacob to himself, and therefore Jacob is bound to praise him; for therefore God chose a people to himself that they might be unto him for a name and a praise (Jer. 13:11), and therefore Jacob has abundant matter for praise, being thus dignified and distinguished. Israel is God's peculiar treasure above all people (Ex. 19:5); they are his Segullah, a people appropriated to him, and that he has a delight in, precious in his sight and honourable. For this distinguishing surprising favour, if the seed of Jacob do not praise him, they are the most unworthy ungrateful people under the sun.

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