Who can we trust
Psalm 33 (1-22)
Psalm 33 shows us that purity of heart produced by complete forgiveness leads to that intimacy with God which leads us to be guided by His eye, instead of our eyes.
What does complete forgiveness create in His people? That can be seen best, not only by the loyalty and praise of Christians, but what is missing in those who oppose Christ. This Psalm reminds us that our obedience to Christ is not based strictly upon a command, but should naturally flow from a blessed people.
Psa 33:1 Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.
A command to shout for joy in the Lord for the righteous.
Ill. Worst Texas Ranger game we went to, kind of…The Rangers were hopelessly down by several runs late in the game, and we were bored by the lack of life in their performance. We left early and were in the huge parking lot walking to our car when unrestrained cheering began. The crowd roared on and on, and by the time we got the car radio on, the Rangers had rallied back and won. We missed it, but we hear the shouts for joy.
When we understand that righteousness comes from the Lord, it brings forth a spontaneous shout like a stadium cheer. It is natural for the upright to praise the Lord of righteousness.
Psa 33:2 Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
Psa 33:3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
Psa 33:4 For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.
It is natural for the upright and faithful to enjoy the music and instruments that are part of giving praise to the Lord. It is good to play instruments for God. They do not belong to Satan.
Ill. Sax player at Forney. We had a small praise team at Fellowship Baptist in Forney, TX, and began adding other instruments. On visitation night, I went to the home of a couple who had visited us on Sunday. The husband indignantly stated, “We will not be back.” I asked why. He said they had been saved from the nightclub life and the saxophone would never be associated with worship in their mind. They were quite offended anyone would play a saxophone in Church. I told them the testimony of the player. He, too, was saved out of the nightclub life. After a service, he came to our music director and said that God had gifted him with the ability to play the sax. He had squandered his talents for years playing for the devil and he wanted to play for Jesus. So we made room for him. I was in tears as I related the story and the joy this man experienced and expressed upon playing for the Lord. His story had moved me greatly and I told of it with reflected joy. The offended couple did come back and actually joined the Church in subsequent weeks. The became good friends with the sax player.
Psa 33:5 He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.
There is an importance in loving righteousness and justice and having steadfast love. For many, those to positions stand opposite. But with God, He reconciles them both just fine in Jesus Christ.
Psa 33:6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
Another important reason to praise the Lord is His power, the power to speak things into existence.
Where did the angels come from? Created by the voice (breath) of God. Since the host of heaven are alive, they require the breath of God to breathe life in them.
Psa 33:7 He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses.
We see here his involvement in nature, attending to the waters and the depths of the seas. All in His plan.
Psa 33:8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
There is a reason here for anyone/everyone to fear and be amazed at the power of God. Why?
Psa 33:9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
Others have chosen to oppose God and they bring all they've got. They store and utilize all the power, deception, influence and allies they can to influence the outcome.
Not God. He just speaks and the battle is over, the issue is completed, the war is over. That is enough reason to fear him and be amazed at His power.
Psa 33:10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
There are some attacks that seem to have us on the defensive. Atheism, evolution, humanism, so-called science, all these seem to be shouting loudly that the traditions and crippling faith of the past religions have ended their reign, and rightly so.
However, the game is still on, and the Lord will bring the weapons of the opposing people to nothing. Jesus would frustrate the plans of the people who oppose Him.
My brother-in-law used to have a tag on his email signature that said, "Want to make God laugh? Tell Him your plans.
Psa 33:11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.
The attacks of the world are against the counsel of the Lord, but it shall stand for ever. The desires of His heart will survive all generations of attacks.
Psa 33:12 Blessed is the nation (or people) whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!
Things will fair differently for those who trust in God. The scriptures call us blessed and chosen.
Psa 33:13 The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man;
Psa 33:14 from where he sits on he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth,
Psa 33:15 he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.
The funny things, God fashioned the hearts of all men and has watched them change to turn away from Him. This is no surprise to Him and He is totally prepared for this eventuality.
Psa 33:16 The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
Psa 33:17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.
A couple of warnings: Weapons and military might will not stop God's assault in that day. However, this passage has a far deeper meaning.
Ill. Dwaine Pruitt used to tell of how God delivered him and his brothers during WWII. It wasn't his superior military skills that saved him. It wasn't his strength. Even in the throes of war, it is God who delivers, for His purpose, according to His plan. He stated that the most powerful thing he knew of which delivered he and his brothers was his mother’s prayers.
Psa 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,
Psa 33:19 that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.
God is a fair and accurate score keeper. He knows those who are trusting in Him and will protect them. We need not fear war, death and famine. If we fear Him, there becomes no room for fear of anything, or anyone else.
Psa 33:20 Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
Psa 33:21 For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.
Psa 33:22 Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
We are not just hoping God comes through, we are counting on Him. We are living our lives like what God says is true and are confident that He is keeping count. He will either fail us or our faith will be all spot on. Which outcome are you expecting?
A few thoughts about what we can learn here:
1. God loves Christian music sang from the hearts of those depending upon His faithfulness. (1-4).
Many Psalms teach the use of music in praise. Many teach the use of different instruments, including stringed instruments, brass, drums and percussion. But the most common instrument called for in worship of God is the human voice.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Psa 33:2-3 Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! 3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
2. The attributes of God are to be praised, not dreaded, by forgiven people. (5-8).
When opponents of God are asked what they hate about God most, they mention the things that make us glad.
Two little football teams met at the field for the first game. The teams have not been given their Jerseys yet because of a shipping problem. They would get them that day.
Then a bigger, stronger boy strolls up to field with the other boys. One group of smaller boys is frowning, looking fearfully at the big boy. The other smaller boy is smiling. He’s says, "Don’t be afraid of Bruce. He's with us. He’s on our team."
Fear of the Lord is not dread, but reverent respect, accompanied with great joy, not that HE is with us, but that He allows us to be on His side.
Jos 5:13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?"
Jos 5:14 And he said, "No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, "What does my lord say to his servant?"
Jos 5:15 And the commander of the LORD's army said to Joshua, "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.
Psa 33:8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
3. In light of God's power, it is futile and unreasonable to rebel against Him. (9-11).
I should say, it is unthinkable to stand against God. If He can bring the counsel of nations (or all the people of the world) to nothing, what is an individual to do?
In the Tribulation, there will be amazing unity. Nearly every human will unite against God and very, very few people will follow God. This is unity like we have never seen in the world. Ashamed, they will unite for the wrong reason, against the wrong King.
Rev 16:21 And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.
Any plan against Him will be frustrated.
4. In light of His power, it is natural for us to trust God, no matter the circumstances. (12-19).
When we are recipients of complete forgiveness and are among those "made righteous" (Romans 5:19), it is natural and victorious to surrender:
Fresh Surrender by the Archers
Fresh Surrender, I humble myself before You
You are the Lord of my life— tender with compassion
Fresh Surrender, all of Your love is in my life
You are the one who makes me free— tender with compassion
You humbled Yourself and came to die for me
Before I knew I believed You
I humble myself before You now
Casting all my care upon You
Fresh Surrender, I humble myself before You
You are the Lord of my life— tender with compassion
Oh, all of my life I’ve been waiting for someone
Who’d love me the way that You love me
I trust in Your love and I open my heart
Casting all my care upon You
That’s what You really want me to do—
Fresh Surrender, I humble myself before You
You are the Lord of my life— tender with compassion (Light Records, 1977)
5. God's attributes and our dependence upon Him makes this life, with all its trials, worth living. (20-22).
I beg your pardon, God never promised you a rose garden.
In the song "Give Them All to Jesus" by Phil Johnson and Bob Benson, one verse says:
He never said you would only see sunshine,
He never said there would be no rain.
He only promised a heart full of singing
About the very things that once brought pain.
When all the fog of this life lifts and eternal truth comes into focus, we will all see that God loved us all the way, protected us in unseen ways, and lovingly grew us when we were kicking and screaming to be left alone. All the things that seemed to bring pain also brought maturity, spiritual health and God's love to us.
We cannot see it now, but we accept it by faith. Our trust is in God, who controls all. Our trust is in God, because He controls all.
