“Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant and praise is becoming.”-{Psalm 147:1}
In verse 1 we see three aspects of praise, three reasons to Praise the LORD, and to sing His praises, namely, “good, pleasant, becoming,{the word is also translated, fitting, beautiful}. Let’s look at the first truth we are told to praise Him and we are told WHY with the word “For” which gives the reason, explanation namely “…it is GOOD!” We re told in this verse that…
1. Praising the LORD… “It Is GOOD.”-
The Goodness of God is Reason to continually Praise Him and Sing His Praises!
The word “Good,”as used here it the Hebrew word “Tob,” The word means “good, pleasant, agreeable.” This is one reason why to “Praise the Lord” continually and also,”to sing praises to our God.” The Hebrew word,”Zamar” means “to make music.” It is a verb.
The Hebrew word used here for God is “Elohim,” “… the Mighty One, Supreme One,”which is the first name used in Genesis 1 “In the beginning God, {Elohim}…” He is the One who began it all, creating the heavens and the earth, separating the light from the darkness, water from dry land, night from day! It is used thirty two times in Genesis 1! To get a high view of God we need to see Him for who He is and how He is revealed in the Scriptures, praying that the LORD would “…open our mind to understand the Scriptures.”-{Luke 24:45}. Read Genesis 1 and look up the twenty two times “Elohim” is used. The “Mighty One, Supreme One,” Powerful, Sovereign God! Boast in Him, Praise Him, sing songs of praise to Him.
Praising the LORD…It is “Good,” because it is God Honoring. It is Good because it is right, It is “Good, ” because it is agreeable to the LORD. It is “good,” because He is “good and does good.” It is “good” for us to be involved in that which God says is “Good!” “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”- {Psalm 107:1}. What we should note is the call of response to praise the LORD, ” quite literally, calls for a response,” to continually praise the LORD!
Note the word “good” in each of these verse and note what or how His goodness is manifested in each verse… as “fuel” for your praise of Him! As you read, put the phrase, “LORD I Praise You Because…” before each aspect of His goodness mentioned and reason to praise Him in each verse and make a chain of PRAISE to Him from you. Personalize it, “LORD I praise You…” as a means to truthfully, specifically praise, boast, glory in Him!
“The two great topics of the Song is therefore the greatness and the goodness of GOD. Over and
over again the sweet singer repeats these two truths, never tiring of his theme.
The first lesson then is the goodness of GOD.
(1) “The Lord doth build up Jerusalem.”
(2) “He gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.”
(3) “He healeth the broken in heart.”
(4) “The LORD lifteth up the meek.”
(5) “He . . . prepareth rain for the earth.”
(6) He “. . . maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.”
(7) “He giveth to the beast his food.”
(8) “The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him.”
(9) He “blessed thy children.”
(10) He “maketh peace in thy borders.”
(11) “He . . . filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.”
(12) “He showeth his word unto Jacob,” and so forth.
Since GOD is so good and so great, let us praise him, trust him, and obey him.”
- “You are good and do good;…”-{Psalm 119:68}
- “Good and upright is the Lord. “-{Psalm 25:8}
- “The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His Works.”-{Psalm 145:9}
- “Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting. “- {Psalm 100:4-5}
- “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.”-{Nahum 1:7}
- ” Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.”-{Psalm 31:19-20}
- “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth.“‘-{Exodus 34:6}
- “But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works. “-{Psalm 73:28}
- “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” -{James 1:17}
- “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.“-{Psalm 27:13}
- ” Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. “-{Psalm 23:6}
- “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness .” -{Psalm 107:8-9}.”Praise the LORD.Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever.”-{Psalm 106:1};
He is “good, does good,” and it is “good,” for us to Praise Him and sing songs of praise to Him!
Below are some verse that speak on “singing” His praise. Note in each verse reasons to sing of His goodness” look at the word “For” in some verses which gives the reason, explanation why to sing His praises! Again use as “fuel” for your praising Him for this aspect of His nature manifested in His deeds.
- And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord: “For He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel.” -{Ezra 3:11}
- “It is good to praise the LORD and make music to Your name, O Most High,”-{Psalm 92:1}
- “Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers! I, even I, will sing to the Lord; I will praise the Lord, the God of Israel, in song. “- {Judges 5:3};
- “For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at His sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;I will sing and make music to the Lord.”-{Psalm 27:5-6}.
- “Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites from all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem so that they might celebrate the dedication with gladness, with hymns of thanksgiving and with songs to the accompaniment of cymbals, harps and lyres.”-{Nehemiah 12:27}.
- “It is good to give thanks to the LORD And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;”-{Psalm 92:1}.
It is not just a statement that God is good, but an exhortation to do something …Since The LORD is “GOOD,” let us act by Praising, Boasting, Singing His Praises because the LORD is…GOOD! Celebrate His Goodness!
“Why should I Praise The LORD GOD?”
If, no, instead, I should say “when” you have your next difficult time, and the temptation to turn inward and downward in despair, and you ask yourself, “Why should I praise the LORD?” and answer yourself, “It is Good for me to Praise the LORD, Because He is Good and does good, and He is worthy!” And then recite to Him reasons why you are praising Him. Perhaps the verses above can be an aid. Cut and copy and put in place you can see them. Perhaps on a bathroom mirror or some such place that you can regularly see, read, re-read, and you can apply daily to form a new habit of praising the LORD, beginning with…”LORD, I Praise You Because You are Good. “LORD, I praise You because You do good. LORD, I Praise You because You_______}-{Fill in the blank}… and continue and know He hears you, and the one who offers a sacrifice of praise… Honors Him.-{Read Psalm 50:23}. You are Honoring Him, even if at times you may do so through tears, or a numbed feeling due to circumstances, at other times things may be going “well,” for you, but whatever your circumstances don’t let them master you but may they turn you to Him and offer your praises to Him. Praises for who He is, praises for Salvation, Praising Him for forgiveness, praising Him for His Spirit to empower you. Praising Him for His Word to instruct you, encourage you, correct you and reveal the LORD Jesus to you by His Spirit.-{Read Luke 24:27}. Praising Him for sustaining you, Praising Him for His goodness… see, you too can add to this list… and pray that He who is good would help you develop a new consistent habit in your life, to praise Him continually!
“How I Should Answer, ‘Why Do You Praise The LORD?”
If you ever are asked,”why do you Praise the LORD?” You can respond, “because… IT IS GOOD… it is Right to, because He is Worthy.” And then ask them if they do not know the LORD Jesus if you can tell them of how He has been “good” to you, and how “…the goodness {kindness} of God leads to repentance. -{Read Romans 2:4}… and how He saved you and can save them and that they too can know Him personally, “Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him!”-{Read Psalm 34:8 nlt}. And for a fellow-follower of Christ do as the Psalmist does in Psalm 147 as he lists truth after truth of His goodness. And encourage them to remember His blessings and to count their many blessings, name them one by one of what the LORD God has done, and lift their hearts to Him and praise Him!
“Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” – {Ken}
“Praise the Saviour, ye who know Him! Who can tell how much we owe Him? Gladly let us render to Him All we are and have.-{Thomas Kelly}
The Goodness of God is Reason to continually Praise Him and Sing His Praises!
“Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant and praise is becoming.”-{Psalm 147:1}