His Name Is Pleasant (Psalm 135:3)

 


Wednesday, June 25, 2025


Psalm 135

1 Samuel 19:1-17

Acts 13:1-12


His Name Is Pleasant (Psalm 135:3)


Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
    sing to his name, for it is pleasant!


Church music is one of those topics that a minister should almost never get involved with. If the music in church is mostly sound, then happy days – leave it there. Because the topic of church music is more divisive than politics. Just have quick thought experiment. What do you think is more important: the red party versus the blue party, or hymns versus praise songs? If you had a strong response in either direction, then congratulations, you understand the problem.


But back a long time ago during my time at the Conservatorium, there was never a problem like that. All music was mostly fine; the question rather was whether a particular piece of music was derivative or not. That is, was a certain piece of music truly an artist’s personal expression, or was it just something light and fluffy?


And so when it came to considering church music from a classical perspective, the answer was extremely encouraging. Because no matter what style a particular piece of church music was written in, the subject matter was the infinite, ineffable Lord of all. And there is no greater muse for an artist than God himself.


The Psalmist has written a song on this very subject. The Lord is his muse, and he moves between utmost praise, and the reasons for that praise. No-one can accuse the Psalmist of being derivative. And might we introduce another definition of true art: beauty for beauty’s sake. Not only is this Psalm art because of the honest intentions of the artist, and the sublime nature of the subject matter, but because it speaks of beauty simply for beauty’s sake.


The Lord is good, and his name is pleasant. Let the Christian begin their reflection here; and let them finish here. Christianity is a religion of beauty, because of the beauty of the One we follow, and we love his beauty. Praise the lord, for the Lord is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant.


Where is the beauty of the Lord shining in your life? What makes you want to sing his name?


Lord of beauty and goodness: put a pleasant song on our lips, that we may spend our days in praise of your ineffable divinity and wondrous works among us.

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