Praise and Trust
“Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.” Psalm 33:1
The author of Psalm 33 is unknown, but the words of this Psalm should become well known to every follower of God. They are powerful words of praise and trust in the creator and sovereign ruler of the universe, proclaiming confidence that God cares for us and that He acts on our behalf.
The Psalmist gives us some fundamental reasons to praise God. “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.” (vv. 4-5). And we should praise Him as the creator of the universe. “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.” (vs. 6) It wasn’t hard for Him to do; He merely spoke, and it happened: “For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.” (vs.9)
The psalmist notes that God actively monitors His creation. “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.” (vv. 13-15)
The Psalmist also assures us that God has a plan for His creation, and ultimately God’s plan wins out. “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.” (vv. 10-11)
The last three verses of the Psalm are a powerful proclamation of trust that can be made by all who follow Him. “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.” (vv. 20-22)
Is this your song of praise and your proclamation of trust today?
Having begun as a guest speaker in 2005, Dan was appointed Interim Pastor in 2008 and has been serving Maple Root Baptist ever since. As a small group leader and Chaplin for the Connecticut Tigers, Dan has a heart for the lost and the God that saves them.