SUMMARY: The people of the covenant Lord should make praise to the powerful creator God. Because he is the Sovereign Covenant and controlling maker and frustrator of the nations.
INTRODUCTION
In 1992, when the Mississippi Govenor, Kirk Fordice, stated unreservedly “America is a Christian nation” the response bordered on hysteria.
But before that ... Congress, declared 1983 to be the “Year of the Bible” — stating that the Bible, the Word of God, has made a unique contribution in shaping the US as a distinctive and blessed nation....Biblical teaching inspired concepts of civil government that are contained in our Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the US (Public Law 97-280, Stat. 1211, approved 10/4/1982).
But before that ... Former Chief Justice Earl Warren, 1954, said, the history of our country and the documents/charter exhibit the same objective: “A Christian land governed by Christian principles...”
But before that ... Abraham Lincoln, April 30, 1863, appointed a National Fast Day and declared, “It is the duty of nations as well as men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history: that nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.”.
But before that ... George Washington Oct 3, 1789, “It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly implore his protection and favor.”
But before that ... Mayflower Compact 1620 was a covenant “in the presence of God,” “In the name of God, Amen...by the Grace of God...have undertaken for the glory of God and advancement of the Christian faith.”
But before that ... Calvin wrote to the King of France in 1536, "Now, that king who in ruling over his realm does not serve God’s glory exercises not kingly rule but brigandage [oppression]. Furthermore, he is deceived who looks for enduring prosperity in his kingdom when it is not ruled by God’s scepter, that is, his Holy Word; for the heavenly oracle that proclaims that ’where prophecy fails the people are scattered’ (Prov. 29:18) cannot lie."
But before long before that Psalm 33:12 says, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD!"
EXPOSITION
Bruce Metzger describes this Psalm as "The Greatness and Goodness of God." It is classified as a “hymn of praise” and the movement of psalm is praise to hope.
Its outline is:
The Response of Praise to the Sovereign Covenant Lord (1-3)
The Reason of Praise to the Sovereign Covenant Lord (4-7)
The Resolution of Praise to the Sovereign Covenant Lord (8-17)
The Rejoicing of the Praiseful/Hopeful in the Sovereign Covenant Lord (18-22)
1. The Response of Praise in the Righteous to the Sovereign Covenant Lord (1-3)
Verses 1-3 are an invitation to the righteous to praise God.
Make time for joyful praise: Psa 33:1 Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones. J.A. Alexander says, “the Hebrew verb...originally means to dance for joy, and is therefore a very strong expression for the liveliest exultation.”
Prince of preachers, Spurgeon says, “To rejoice in temporal comforts is dangerous, to rejoice in self is foolish, to rejoice in sinis fatal, but to rejoice in God is heavenly. He who would have a double heaven must begin below to rejoice like those above.”
“Righteous ones” reminds us of Hab. 2:4, "Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith." This the same term.
Cloth yourself with praise, the clothes of the righteous: 1b Praise is becoming to the upright. (Heb. yasar, Gr. euthus) “the straight and narrow.”
The Psalmsist appreciates the use of musical instruments in praise: 2 Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; Sing praises (PLAY / MAKE MUSIC) to Him with a harp of ten strings.
The verb [rmz] "make , music, melody." We are called here to learn new praise: 3 Sing to Him a new song. Joseph A. Alexander again says, “A new song implies the continual recurrence of fresh reasons and occasions for the praise of God, and also the spontaneous ebullition of devout and thoukful feelings in the hearts of those by whom the praise is offered.”
Don Wyrtzen, a contemporary Christian composer and commentator on Psalms says, “The very nature of music is to change — and true artists, by definition, grow steadily, change constantly, and create regularly.”
Moreover, we are to "Praise skillfully" - 3b Play skillfully with a shout of joy. An example of this is 1Sam 16:17, David played “well."
Knowing truth brings praise to the heart. The knowledge of God is the air that the worshiper must breath.
2. The Reason of Praise to the Sovereign Covenant Lord from all World (4-7)
4 For the word of the LORD is upright; And all His work is done in faithfulness. 5 He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD. 6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host. 7 He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deeps in storehouses.
God Is a Covenant Keeping God Who Made the Cosmos
See verse 4 - For the word of the LORD is upright [straight];
Eugene Peterson paraphrases this as, “For Yahweh’s Word is solid to the core.”
Because 4b And all His work is done in faithfulness. Because 5 He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD. The Hebrew word, hesed, for lovingkindness (NASB) is a word that denotes "covenant loyalty."
AUGUSTINE reminds us that, "lest any think that by the merit of works he hath arrived at faith, when in faith are done all the works which God Himself loveth."
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host.
This reflects the Genesis account,
Gen. 1:3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. . . .Then God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters. . .Then God said, "Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place. ..Then God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with seed in them, on the earth . . ..
And on and on, it is God’s "saying" - God’s very word.
WHAT MAKES THE WORLD TURN, then? The Bible represents God’s relationship to nature as faithfulness to His Word, His Oath. So far from the evolutionary and secular concept of natural law is this idea — it is God’s faithfulness which keeps the world turning.
Heb. 11:3 says, "By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible."
- Heb. 1:3 says, "And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high."
- Col. 1: 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created by Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
The Psalmist describes the illustrative power of water in v. 7: He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deeps in storehouses.
I love the ocean and love to sit near it. The power of God is seen in the awesome nature of the sea.
3. The Resolution of Praise from the Nations because of the Sovereign Covenant Lord (8-17)
All the nations are resolve to fear God: 8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. Because His Word comes to pass, this points to Christ: 9 For He spoke (amar) and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. The Scriptures over and over attribute the cosmic order to the Word of God.
His counsel cancels out the schemes of empires: 10 The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
His plans are eternally coming to pass: 11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation.
The nations are fully under God’s control:
- Pro. 19:21 Many are the plans in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the LORD, it will stand.
- Pro. 21:30 There is no wisdom and no understanding And no counsel against the LORD.
-Isa 8:10 "Devise a plan but it will be thwarted; State a proposal, but it will not stand, For God is with us."
- Isa 19:17 And the land of Judah will become a terror to Egypt; everyone to whom it is mentioned will be in dread of it, because of the purpose of the LORD of hosts which He is purposing against them.
- Isa 46:9 "Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ’My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure.
Therefore, let a nation call God their God, just as Israel should have: 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance. We should be reminded of how in Exodus 19, Israel was to be a royal nation. And now the church has been called this:
1Pe. 2:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Because God sees all, nations and men. He knows the secrets of all hearts. Verse13, The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men; 14 From His dwelling place He looks out On all the inhabitants of the earth.
He not only sees them all, He made them all and understands their works: 15 He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works.
Salvation, therefore, is not in earthly power: 16 The king is not saved by a mighty army; A warrior is not delivered by great strength. 17 A horse is a false hope for victory; Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.
Just as the hymn, "HALLELUJAH, PRAISE JEHOVAH" From Psalm 146, says,
HALLELUJAH, PRAISE JEHOVAH, O MY SOUL JEHOVAH PRAISE;
I WILL SING THE GLORIOUS PRAISES OF MY GOD THROUGH ALL MY DAYS.
PUT NO CONFIDENCE IN PRINCES, NOR FOR HELP ON MAN DEPEND.
HE SHALL DIE TO DUST RETURNING, AND HIS PURPOSES SHALL END.
4. The Rejoicing of the Hopeful in the Sovereign Covenant Lord (18-22)
18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness, 19 To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine. 20 Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. 21 For our heart rejoices in Him, Because we trust in His holy name. 22 Let Thy lovingkindness, O LORD, be upon us, According as we have hoped in Thee.
The conclusion of the Psalm is again the note of praise, but very intimate for the believer. God has a special care and love for those who hope in Him: 18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness.
On those who trust in Him for life and death: 19 To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine.
Again the wonderful Psalm (146), again says,
FOOD HE DAILY GIVES THE HUNGRY, SETS THE MOURNING PRIS’NER FREE,
RAISES THOSE BOWED DOWN WITH ANGUISH, MAKES THE SIGHTLESS EYES TO SEE.
WELL JEHOVAH LOVES THE RIGHTEOUS, AND THE STRANGER HE BEFRIENDS,
HELPS THE FATHERLESS AND WIDOW, JUDGMENT ON HE WICKED SENDS.
Because of our Covenant Lord’s care and all-knowing view, what should our response be? Wait on Him in the very depths of your soul: 20 Our soul waits for the LORD. Let Him be your help 20b He is our help and our shield. Rejoice in Him as you trust in Him: 21 For our heart rejoices in Him, Because we trust in His holy name. Spurgeon says, “The root of faith in due time bears the flower of rejoicing."
The Psalmist calls for His blessing according to our trust: 22 Let Thy lovingkindness, O LORD, be upon us, According as we have hoped in Thee. Does not the Lord promise - (Exodus 34:6ff) "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations."
It is the Covenant Lord (Deut. 7:9) who "keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments."
How do we apply this? As E. M. Bounds (in The Necessity of Prayer) tells us: “Trust grows nowhere so readily and richly as in the prayer-chamber. Its unfolding and development are rapid and wholesome when they are regularly and well kept. When these engagements are hearty and full and free, trust flourishes exceedingly. The eye and presence of God give vigorous life to trust, just as the eye and the presence of the sun make fruit and flower to grow, and all things glad and bright with fuller life.” We must trust Him and grow in that trust, not only in prayer but in all of life, Coram Deo!
His kingdom cannot fail,
He rules o’er earth and heaven,
The keys of death and hell
Are to our Jesus given;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice.
Charles Wesley, 1744
