What Psalms 135:3-4 really means: Chosen by God

Setting the Scene and Understanding the Verse

This part of Psalm 135 is a joyful call to praise God, fitting within a psalm that celebrates the Lord’s greatness and faithfulness.

It highlights that praising God is right and delightful because He is good, and reminds us that He didn’t choose Israel by chance - He intentionally claimed them as His own, as Deuteronomy 7:6 states: 'For you are a people holy to the Lord your God.' The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his own possession.' This personal, loving choice shows that God’s relationship with His people is no accident, but a purposeful act of grace.

How the Poetry of Praise Reveals God's Heart

The verse uses a poetic pattern where the second line deepens the first, rather than repeating it, adding a new layer of meaning and showing that praise flows naturally from who God is.

The phrases 'Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good' and 'sing to his name, for it is pleasant' are linked by what poets call synthetic parallelism - where the second line builds on the first. This isn’t about saying the same thing twice. It’s about showing that because God is good, it’s only right and joyful to sing to Him. The pleasure we feel in worship isn’t forced. It’s the natural response to His goodness, like water flowing downhill.

This same poetic rhythm appears elsewhere, such as Psalm 118:1. That verse says, 'Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever,' echoing the idea that God’s character calls for a response - and that response is both right and delightful.

God’s Goodness and the Joy of Being Chosen

God isn’t worthy of praise only because of what He does, but because of who He is - good, loving, and intentional in calling His people His own.

He chose Jacob and Israel not because they were the strongest or most righteous, but because He set His heart on them, as Deuteronomy 7:6 says: 'For you are a people holy to the Lord your God.' The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his own possession.' In the same way, Jesus, the true and final Israel, fulfills this love by calling us into His family - not by accident, but by grace.

Chosen by God: A Covenant Love That Shapes Daily Life

The idea that Israel is God’s special possession isn’t merely a title - it’s tied to a relationship built on God’s promise, as in Exodus 19:5 where God says, 'Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples,' showing that being chosen comes with a call to listen and live close to Him.

This kind of love changes how we live each day - like choosing patience when you’re stuck in traffic, because you remember you’re part of God’s calm and kind family. Or forgiving someone who hurt you, not because it’s easy, but because you’ve been forgiven by the One who chose you. It also means speaking up with courage when others mock faith, not to argue, but to quietly reflect the worth of the God who called you His own.

When we live like we truly belong to God, our choices start to match His heart - not out of duty, but because we’re responding to the deep goodness we’ve already received.

Application