Psalms 147:1. Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
"It is good," that is to say, it is a thing that ought to be done, it is a right thing "to sing praises unto our God." "It is good," that is to say, it is profitable, it is beneficial to our own hearts. Prayer is refreshing, but praise is even more so, for there may be, and there often is, in prayer, the element of selfishness; but praise rises to a yet higher level. Prayer and praise together make up spiritual respiration; we breathe in the air of heaven when we pray, and we breathe it out again when we praise. "It is good to sing praises unto our God." What a mercy it is that it is pleasant, too! There are many things that are good that are not pleasant, and many more things that are pleasant that are not good; but here is a holy duty which is also a heavenly pleasure. It is the bliss of heaven to praise God; let us anticipate that bliss by praising him now, "for it is pleasant." And then there is a third commendation: "and praise is comely." That is to say, it is beautiful, it is a good thing in its right place, it is according to the natural and spiritual fitness of things that God should be praised. In God’s sight, one of the most beautiful things in the world is a grateful heart: "it is pleasant; and praise is comely."
Psalms 147:1. Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
"It is good," that is to say, it is a thing that ought to be done, it is a right thing "to sing praises unto our God." "It is good," that is to say, it is profitable, it is beneficial to our own hearts. Prayer is refreshing, but praise is even more so, for there may be, and there often is, in prayer, the element of selfishness; but praise rises to a yet higher level. Prayer and praise together make up spiritual respiration; we breathe in the air of heaven when we pray, and we breathe it out again when we praise. "It is good to sing praises unto our God." What a mercy it is that it is pleasant, too! There are many things that are good that are not pleasant, and many more things that are pleasant that are not good; but here is a holy duty which is also a heavenly pleasure. It is the bliss of heaven to praise God; let us anticipate that bliss by praising him now, "for it is pleasant." And then there is a third commendation: "and praise is comely." That is to say, it is beautiful, it is a good thing in its right place, it is according to the natural and spiritual fitness of things that God should be praised. In God’s sight, one of the most beautiful things in the world is a grateful heart: "it is pleasant; and praise is comely."