Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.
He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield.
For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.
Psalms 33 is a powerful call to worship, urging God's people to offer joyful praise to their Creator and to place their unwavering trust in Him. The Septuagint attributes this psalm to David, and it likely resonated with the Israelites after experiencing God's deliverance from their enemies. The psalm beautifully blends a worship leader's invitation to praise with the congregation's heartfelt response, creating a vibrant tapestry of adoration.
A Call to Joyful Worship (Psalms 33:1-3)
The psalm opens with an enthusiastic summons to the righteous to rejoice in the Lord. The psalmist encourages the use of musical instruments to enhance the praise, calling for a "new song" to be sung. This "new song" speaks to the ever-present need to express our personal experiences of God's goodness in fresh and creative ways. It represents not just the creation of original music, but also a renewed and vibrant sense of God's presence in our lives. Music, in its varied forms, becomes a vehicle for expressing the depth of our gratitude and devotion.
God's Character and Power (Psalms 33:4-11)
The heart of the psalm extols God's character, emphasizing His justice, creative power, sovereignty, and unwavering love for His people. God's faithfulness and trustworthiness are the foundation upon which our praise is built (Psalms 33:4). He loves righteousness and justice, virtues that should be reflected both in our relationship with Him and in our treatment of others (Psalms 33:5). This inseparable link between vertical righteousness (standing right before God) and horizontal justice (treating our neighbors fairly) is a recurring theme in Scripture.
The psalm highlights God's creative power, noting that all creation is a product of His powerful word (Psalms 33:6). He spoke, and it came into being; He commanded, and it stood firm (Psalms 33:9). This sovereign, creative power should inspire awe and reverence in all people (Psalms 33:8). Furthermore, God's word also governs history. While the plans of nations may seem formidable, they are ultimately insignificant before God, who can thwart them with ease (Psalms 33:10). His plans, however, are unstoppable (Psalms 33:11).
Blessed is the Nation Whose God is the Lord (Psalms 33:12-19)
The psalmist declares the blessedness of being part of God's chosen people (Psalms 33:12). God, in His omniscience, sees and knows all (Psalms 33:13). True security and deliverance are not found in earthly power or human ingenuity (Psalms 33:16-17). Instead, God rescues those who depend on His faithful love, even in the most perilous circumstances (Psalms 33:18-19). He watches over those who fear Him, to deliver their lives from death and to keep them alive in famine (Psalms 33:18-19).
Hope and Trust in the Lord (Psalms 33:20-22)
The psalm concludes with a reaffirmation of trust and hope in the Lord. To "wait" on the Lord implies a patient and attentive expectation of His will. It is not passive idleness, but a conscious decision to remain within His will, trusting that He will act on our behalf. This requires faith, the essence of a relationship with God. As we wait, we can have confidence in experiencing His faithful love (Psalms 33:22). The people declare their intent to rely on God and eagerly anticipate His powerful work in their lives. This trust becomes the foundation for experiencing God's unfailing love.
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.
He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield.
For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.
Psalms 33 is a powerful call to worship, urging God's people to offer joyful praise to their Creator and to place their unwavering trust in Him. The Septuagint attributes this psalm to David, and it likely resonated with the Israelites after experiencing God's deliverance from their enemies. The psalm beautifully blends a worship leader's invitation to praise with the congregation's heartfelt response, creating a vibrant tapestry of adoration.
A Call to Joyful Worship (Psalms 33:1-3)
The psalm opens with an enthusiastic summons to the righteous to rejoice in the Lord. The psalmist encourages the use of musical instruments to enhance the praise, calling for a "new song" to be sung. This "new song" speaks to the ever-present need to express our personal experiences of God's goodness in fresh and creative ways. It represents not just the creation of original music, but also a renewed and vibrant sense of God's presence in our lives. Music, in its varied forms, becomes a vehicle for expressing the depth of our gratitude and devotion.
God's Character and Power (Psalms 33:4-11)
The heart of the psalm extols God's character, emphasizing His justice, creative power, sovereignty, and unwavering love for His people. God's faithfulness and trustworthiness are the foundation upon which our praise is built (Psalms 33:4). He loves righteousness and justice, virtues that should be reflected both in our relationship with Him and in our treatment of others (Psalms 33:5). This inseparable link between vertical righteousness (standing right before God) and horizontal justice (treating our neighbors fairly) is a recurring theme in Scripture.
The psalm highlights God's creative power, noting that all creation is a product of His powerful word (Psalms 33:6). He spoke, and it came into being; He commanded, and it stood firm (Psalms 33:9). This sovereign, creative power should inspire awe and reverence in all people (Psalms 33:8). Furthermore, God's word also governs history. While the plans of nations may seem formidable, they are ultimately insignificant before God, who can thwart them with ease (Psalms 33:10). His plans, however, are unstoppable (Psalms 33:11).
Blessed is the Nation Whose God is the Lord (Psalms 33:12-19)
The psalmist declares the blessedness of being part of God's chosen people (Psalms 33:12). God, in His omniscience, sees and knows all (Psalms 33:13). True security and deliverance are not found in earthly power or human ingenuity (Psalms 33:16-17). Instead, God rescues those who depend on His faithful love, even in the most perilous circumstances (Psalms 33:18-19). He watches over those who fear Him, to deliver their lives from death and to keep them alive in famine (Psalms 33:18-19).
Hope and Trust in the Lord (Psalms 33:20-22)
The psalm concludes with a reaffirmation of trust and hope in the Lord. To "wait" on the Lord implies a patient and attentive expectation of His will. It is not passive idleness, but a conscious decision to remain within His will, trusting that He will act on our behalf. This requires faith, the essence of a relationship with God. As we wait, we can have confidence in experiencing His faithful love (Psalms 33:22). The people declare their intent to rely on God and eagerly anticipate His powerful work in their lives. This trust becomes the foundation for experiencing God's unfailing love.