What is the meaning of Psalm 147:1? Hallelujah! • The first word is an exclamation, a command, and a celebration all at once. It literally calls God’s people to “Praise the LORD,” setting the tone for the entire psalm. • Scripture regularly opens and closes worshipful sections with this same shout (Psalm 104:35; Psalm 106:48). Its repetition underscores that praise is the fitting response whenever God’s greatness is in view. • Revelation 19:1 carries the same cry into eternity: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God”. From earth to heaven, the song remains unchanged because God never changes. How good it is to sing praises to our God • “Good” here speaks of what is morally right and spiritually healthy. Praise aligns our hearts with truth, so singing to the Lord benefits the worshiper even as it honors Him. • Psalm 92:1 confirms this: “It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to Your name, O Most High”. • New-covenant believers are urged the same way: “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19-20). • When praise rises, complaining fades, faith is strengthened, and unity deepens—each one a “good” gift that flows from obedient worship. How pleasant and lovely to praise Him! • “Pleasant” points to personal delight; “lovely” adds the idea of beauty. God designed praise not as a duty heavy on the shoulders, but as a joy that refreshes the soul. • Psalm 135:3 echoes this pleasure: “Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant”. • Righteous praise is beautiful to God and to His people (Psalm 33:1). It reflects His own splendor, giving a foretaste of the perfection awaiting us in His presence. • Practical outworking: – Praise lifts eyes above circumstances. – Praise reminds the heart of God’s character. – Praise invites others to taste the same joy. summary Psalm 147:1 calls believers to wholehearted, vocal, joyful worship. The shout “Hallelujah!” anchors praise in God Himself. Declaring that it is “good” underscores the rightness and benefit of worship, while “pleasant and lovely” highlights its delight and beauty. Taken together, the verse teaches that praising the Lord is both our duty and our deepest joy, fitting for time and eternity alike. |
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