Psalm 33:1-22 NIV.Sing joyfully to the Lord , you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars ; he puts the deep into storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord ; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord , the people he chose for his inheritance. From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth— he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the Lord ; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord , even as we put our hope in you.
A Call To International Christian Worship
God sees all the sons of men: God in all His perfections and plans for the nations and ages also has His eye on humanity as individuals. His greatness does not exclude His individual interest on all the inhabitants of the earth.
This is not speaking about just one nation. There is no one Christian nation in the world. God is the Savior of those whom he has chosen from all tribes, nations, and languages.
He fashions their hearts individually: God made us one by one, each with our own particular physical, mental, emotional makeup; including the allowance of our weaknesses and sinful inclinations. As our Maker He has the right of inspection, so He considers all their works.
a. No king is saved by the multitude of an army: In considering the greatness of God and the extent of His reach, the Psalmist understood that human effort alone does not determine events. God’s work and plan in and beyond and sometimes instead of human effort accomplishes His purpose.
Therefore, we do not trust in horses, in the army, in a country, or in technology. We trust in God whose word is true, in God who is the Creator and Lord of history, in God who is the eternal Judge, in God who is our Savior.
b. A horse is a vain hope for safety: Horses were some of the most advanced military tools in that day. Because there is a God in heaven who governs the affairs and destiny of men, even the use of the most effective resources and technologies cannot in itself determine the outcome.
a. The eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him: The Psalmist continues to think both of God’s hand in world-shaking events (such as the battles of kings), and His most minute care for the individual.
2 Chronicles 16:9 NLT The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war.”
His love for us is everlasting in Christ. In Christ we are given eternal life.
Jesus told us that God cares for the smallest of birds; surely He will care for those who honor Him, who are made in His image.
Matthew 6:26 NIV Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
b. On those who hope in His mercy: Those who truly fear the LORD find their hope in His mercy, not in their own goodness or righteousness.
a. Our soul waits for the LORD: Having praised Him and considered God’s greatness from many angles, it was then appropriate to simply wait for the LORD; for His guidance, His word, His deliverance, looking to Him as our help and shield.
The Psalmist starts the psalm by calling God's people to rejoice because of His character and might. At the end he calls us to praise God because of our experience of trusting in His holy name.
God sees all the sons of men: God in all His perfections and plans for the nations and ages also has His eye on humanity as individuals. His greatness does not exclude His individual interest on all the inhabitants of the earth.
This is not speaking about just one nation. There is no one Christian nation in the world. God is the Savior of those whom he has chosen from all tribes, nations, and languages.
He fashions their hearts individually: God made us one by one, each with our own particular physical, mental, emotional makeup; including the allowance of our weaknesses and sinful inclinations. As our Maker He has the right of inspection, so He considers all their works.
a. No king is saved by the multitude of an army: In considering the greatness of God and the extent of His reach, the Psalmist understood that human effort alone does not determine events. God’s work and plan in and beyond and sometimes instead of human effort accomplishes His purpose.
Therefore, we do not trust in horses, in the army, in a country, or in technology. We trust in God whose word is true, in God who is the Creator and Lord of history, in God who is the eternal Judge, in God who is our Savior.
b. A horse is a vain hope for safety: Horses were some of the most advanced military tools in that day. Because there is a God in heaven who governs the affairs and destiny of men, even the use of the most effective resources and technologies cannot in itself determine the outcome.
a. The eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him: The Psalmist continues to think both of God’s hand in world-shaking events (such as the battles of kings), and His most minute care for the individual.
2 Chronicles 16:9 NLT The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war.”
His love for us is everlasting in Christ. In Christ we are given eternal life.
Jesus told us that God cares for the smallest of birds; surely He will care for those who honor Him, who are made in His image.
Matthew 6:26 NIV Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
b. On those who hope in His mercy: Those who truly fear the LORD find their hope in His mercy, not in their own goodness or righteousness.
a. Our soul waits for the LORD: Having praised Him and considered God’s greatness from many angles, it was then appropriate to simply wait for the LORD; for His guidance, His word, His deliverance, looking to Him as our help and shield.
The Psalmist starts the psalm by calling God's people to rejoice because of His character and might. At the end he calls us to praise God because of our experience of trusting in His holy name.
RSS Feed