Psalms 33:1
The Bible says in Psalms 33:1-4, Rejoice in
the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.[2] Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with
the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.[3] Sing unto him a new
song; play skilfully with a loud noise.[4] For
the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
These verses are among the many verses in the Psalms about rejoicing, being
happy, singing songs about Him, and praising the Lord. Of course, the New Testament
has a similar message. It says in Ephesians 5:19, Speaking to yourselves in Psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord. It is interesting that this verse in the New Testament
encourages Christians to learn the Psalms and to be Speaking to yourselves in Psalms. The Psalms were primarily written by King David through
the inspiration of the Holy Spirt approximately one thousand years before
Christ. It is wonderful how these ancient writings are so spiritual and still
apply to our lives today as if they were just recently written. The only way
that you will be able to be Speaking to
yourselves in Psalms is if you know the
Psalms and read them and learn them, so that you can quote them to yourself throughout
the day.
The same is true about hymns and
spiritual songs. One of the blessings about church services where you gather with
other Christians is that you will sing together hymns and spiritual songs. As you
attend consistently, you will learn hymns and spiritual songs, and then once
you know them, you will be able to sing them to yourselves. These sings
will lift up your spirit, strengthen your faith, draw you close to the Lord,
and give you joy. One of the secrets to a happy Christian life is to do this
very thing on a daily basis: Speaking to yourselves in Psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord. Notice that it says, making melody in
your hearts to the Lord. God Himself is your audience and He
loves to hear you sing to Him. Dedicate everything that you do to God and His
glory and especially the speaking and singing of Psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs.
The Bible says in Psalms 33:5, He loveth righteousness and judgment; the earth is full of the
goodness of the Lord. Since God loves righteousness make sure that you are on Gods
side by aligning yourself with what is right and also aligning yourself with
true and fair judgment. Look for what is good and true and right and align yourself with it. There is a lot of good to find if you look
for it. David wrote by the Holy Spirit, the earth is full of the goodness of
the Lord. If you look for the bad, you will find some of that because
there is evil in the world. But do not get caught up in doing that. How
enjoyable is it to constantly look at what is bad and talk about it and
complain about it? There is a lot of good to look at and to think about. God is
everywhere and thus goodness is everywhere. There is also some good in every
person because God made that person. God gives to every person some gift and
some good quality. Look for the good.
The Bible says in Psalms 33:6-7, By the word
of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of
his mouth. [7] He gathereth the waters of the sea
together as an heap: he layeth
up the depth in storehouses. This is another reason that there is so much
good in the world: God made the world and everything in it. It says in Genesis
1:31, And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very
good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Can you look
at everything and say that it is very good. Notice that
Psalms 33:6 tells us how God made everything: He simply spoke and it happened.
That is power. That is the power of the Word of God. Gods power is in His
Word. Hebrews 4:12, For the word of God is alive, and powerful, and sharper
than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the
dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The Bible says in Psalms 33:8, Let all the
earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. The key
word in this verse is used twice: all. Jesus died for everyone. God
loves everyone. And God wants everyone to be saved and go to heaven when they
die. It says in John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He
gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish
but have everlasting life. Jesus said to His disciples in Mark 16:15, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every
creature. Since Jesus died for everyone and God wants everyone to be
saved, everyone can be saved if they will only turn to Christ and believe. Do
not give up on anyone. Pray for them and ask God to help you be a good witness.
The truth and the Spirit of Christ might touch someone today. It could be a
terrorist, or a political enemy, or someone else that you thought would not be
saved. You never know who might turn to Christ today.
The Bible says in Psalms 33:9, For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. This verse
is given as the reason that everyone in the earth should turn to the Lord.
Gods power as manifested in the creation is the reason. This is the first
reason to believe in God. What is the source of the universe, and the earth,
and all life: God is the Source. As a matter of fact, the world that we see
around us is one of the greatest evidences of His existence. It says in Psalms 19:1-6,
The
heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth
his handywork.[2] Day
unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.[3] There is no speech nor
language, where their voice is not heard.[4] Their line is gone out through
all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a
tabernacle for the sun,[5] Which is as a
bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth
as a strong man to run a race.[6] His going forth is from the end of the
heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the
heat thereof.
The Bible says in Psalms 33:10-11, The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought:
he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.[11] The counsel of the LORD standeth
for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all
generations. God is in control. Jesus is called King of kings and Lord
of lords. Everyone on this earth is under his control whether they know it or
not. The unbelievers who reject Christ are on a path to destruction. It is
amazing that God gives us free will, but even after we have made our own
decisions, God decides what the outcome will be. Because Gods counsel standeth for ever, you want to make sure that you seek and learn His will
and His understanding. God certainly has made His wisdom available to everyone.
His thoughts are available to
all generations by the Spirit and by the Word. That is the
reason to believe that the Bible is without error: God gave it and He has
preserved it.
The Bible says in Psalms 33:12, Blessed is
the nation whose God is the LORD: and the people whom he hath chosen for his
own inheritance. God looks at nations as well as individuals. God wants
nations to turn to Him and to glorify Him and to seek Him. Israel was supposed
to be a nation that God used as His people. Israel was supposed be the nation
through whom the truth of God came to be spread to the rest of the world. But
sadly they failed. Because of the Christian influence in Americas founding, it
may be that God wanted to use America in a similar way to how He wanted to use
Israel. May the Lord keep America from having the same fate that Israel had:
Israel was overrun by the Babylonians. It does not
look good right now for America and what it could have become, but God is able.
Perhaps some other nation on earth will turn to God before it is too late and
become the nation whose God is the LORD.
The Bible says in Psalms 33:13-15, The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth
all the sons of men.[14] From the place of his
habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the
earth.[15] He fashioneth their hearts alike;
he considereth all their works.
God is watching. God sees and knows. No one will get away with anything. One
day everyone will stand before the fair Judge who knows all things. It says in
verse fifteen that God considereth all their works. Jesus
said the same thing in Matthew 16:27, For
the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with his angels; and then
he shall reward every man according to his works. God will treat everyone equally. That is why we say as
in the Declaration of Independence, all men are created equal. God has
created their hearts alike. Everyone has an opportunity to turn to Christ and believe
on Him and start serving Him. But unfortunately not everyone will repent. Not
everyone will call upon the name of the Lord Jesus to be saved. They could call
upon Him. They have the same potential in their heart, but they do not, and so
their judgment will be fair and just and true.
The Bible says in Psalms 33:16-17, 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. David lived
in a time of hand-to-hand combat. He was involved in many battles, including
the one with the Philistines when he killed Goliath with Gods help. As the
king, undoubtedly David prepared his army and his soldiers as well as he could.
Every country should do that. The best way to have peace is to have a strong
military as a deterrent. Jesus described the age in
which we live, and Jesus said in Matthew 24:6, And ye shall hear of wars and
rumors of wars
By the Holy Spirit David is reminding us that no matter how
well prepared a leader is, trusting in the Lord is what will give victory and
nothing else. David mentioned three things that the armies of his day relied
on: the multitude of an host, which is the size of an army; the
strength of a a mighty man; such as what we have with the members of the
special forces; and a horse, which gave a great advantage over infantry. David knew that even
if you had an advantage in all these things, without the Lord, you had no
advantage. Trust in the Lord Jesus. He can give you victory in any situation
against any enemy.
The Bible says in Psalms 33:18-20, Behold, the
eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;[19]
To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.[20]
Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our
shield. God is all-knowing. He sees everything, including the
thoughts of our hearts. What is God looking for when He examines the hearts of
human beings? God is looking for fear and hope
in his mercy. This kind of fear refers to
respect for God and who He is as Judge. Why should anyone turn to Christ if
they do not fear the judgment? It will be a terrible thing to stand before God
one day without a Savior. Who would have such a reverential fear: those who
understand that they are sinners. That is why they hope in his mercy.
There is a lot of mercy available from Christ: all the mercy that you need. His
death on the cross was that powerful. Once you experience the mercy of God
through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, then your soul will be saved from death. You will
have eternal life, and death will simply be when you leave this world and go to
be with Christ in heaven forever. Of course, there are many other benefits that
come with your salvation. God will keep you alive alive in famine. He
will supply your needs even when the hard times of life come; and there will be
hard times. Another great benefit of knowing the Lord Jesus as Savior is that
you know have Jesus to trust in and rely upon every day of your life. As you
learn to live by faith and trust in Him for every detail of your life, He will
be for you your help and shield. Notice that Jesus is called your help. He will help you.
That means that you do what you can, and then He blesses your efforts and helps
you. Jesus is also your shield. There are some things that you cannot do for
yourself. The spiritual attacks will come against you sometimes like flaming
arrows to crush your soul. Learn to rely upon Jesus as your shield. It says in
Ephesians 6:16, Above all, taking the
shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of
the wicked.
The Bible says in Psalms 33:21, For our
heart shall rejoice in him because we have trusted in his holy name. This is the
number one reason to rejoice: you have trusted in His holy name, and because of
that you are saved. The name of the Messiah is Jesus. The angel told Mary about
the child, Thou shalt call his name Jesus because he shall save his people
from their sins. The word Jesus means Savior. What a name! It says in Acts
4:12, Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other
name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
The Bible says in Psalms 33:22, Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. A spiritual person, even though full of faith and secure in the arms of Jesus, is constantly aware of his or her own sinfulness, and thus constantly aware that we are every day and every moment dependent upon the mercy of God. Thankfully, because of Jesus there is always mercy available even for the greatest of sins.
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Copyright; 2018 by Charles
F. (Rick) Creech
All Rights Reserved