Rejoice And Praise The Lord

Rejoice and Praise the Lord

Psalm 33:1-22

Good News Christian Fellowship

BUCAS, Daraga Albay

July 14, 2007

Introduction

Ascribing to God His supreme worth - God who is the Omnipotent, the Omniscient, the gracious and merciful God, faithful and just God should be our unceasing and overflowing joy. Why is it the person who sees God in relation to man more likely to praise God?

Psalm 33 is a song of praise. However, there’s no particular identification who wrote this 33 Psalm. Some says it is David. But we are not sure of that. We also don’t know the event why this song of praise was written. But one thing for sure, this Psalm was altogether inspired of God. The praise of Jehovah is the subject of this sacred song. The upright or righteous are exhorted to praise Him, to rejoice in Him.

In our present context we are also exhorted to rejoice in Him and to praise Him. Often we focus on the preacher’s worth, the teacher’s worth, the music’s worth, the building’s worth! All of these are important. But too often, we stop there and fail to allow these elements to usher us into the very presence of God. Our tendency is to look at them instead of Him.

Central Truth : God, the mighty Creator, is the great deliverer of all who trust in Him.

I Praise God for His righteousness (v.1-5)

The psalmist say, “Rejoice in the Lord.” We are here exhorted to rejoice in the Lord. What is “rejoice”?

“Rejoice” means to shout (usually for joy): - aloud for joy, cry out, be joyful, (greatly, make to) rejoice, (cause to) shout (for joy), (cause to) sing (aloud, for joy, out), triumph.

(Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionary)

So when we rejoice it means we shout for Joy. It is natural for believers to do so. It is not something supernatural; it comes from the inner heart of the believer walking and fellowshipping with the Lord wherein he acknowledges God’s faithfulness and mercy.

Then the psalmist exhorts us to “Praise” God. We have to sing a song of praise to the Lord. The psalmist is calling for all of us. It doesn’t say, “if you fell like it,” but it say “praise the Lord.”

Man should praise God with their entire being or with enthusiasm. It also important to praise God “with uprightness” of heart (Psalm 119:7) The scriptures emphasize that we should praise God audibly, for we read: “My mouth shall show forth thy praise.” (Psalm 51:15)

Our praise to God should be also with joy (Psalm 63:5), and continually (Psalm 35:28).

Now, who is to praise God? Look at verse 1. Look up the words righteous and upright.

According to verse 1, it only those who are righteous in conduct and in character should praise the Lord. They are bound unto it by the mercies and favors they have received. Why?

“Praise is not comely from unpardoned professional singers; it is like a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout. Crooked hearts make crooked music, but the upright are the Lord’s delight. Praise is the dress of saints in heaven, it is meet that they should fit it on below.” (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David)

You can’t praise God with music that comes from the world. It is not possible. God will not and can’t accept the praise of unrepentant sinners and wayward saints.

Now, how we praise the Lord? Read verse 2.

We are told to praise God with musical instruments. We heard guitars. We heard tambourine. We heard piano, trumpets and other musical instruments. If we are using these for the glory of God, then it is appropriate.

In this Church we play musical instruments unto the Lord, not for ourselves. We are here not to put spotlight for ourselves but for God’s worth. We are here to sing a new song to the Lord spontaneously (verse 3). Sing a song that comes from the heart.

Why rejoice and praise God? Because he is worthy to be praise.

Christians of all people need to recognize that the word of God is sure and does not change. The Lord’s instruction to man’s nature does not change. What God declares will always come to pass. We are sure for that because God is just and faithful.

We have to recognize that “the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.” (verse 5)

“To hear its’ worthless inhabitants complain, one would think that God dispensed evil, not good. To examine the operation of His hand everything is marked with mercy and there is no place where His goodness does not appear.” (Adam Clarke)

Have we not seen the goodness of God in our life especially in times of trials and stressed? We have seen, isn’t? Some of you here received financial assistance for the construction of their home. Some of you here have been delivered from sickness. Some of our children here and even adults have been a recipient of expensive nutritious milk.