From Psalms 32-35
Today’s Psalm describes several well known qualities about God and well known among the faithful in Israel. The goodness and faithfulness of god, the glory of god in creation, God’s all-embracing providence and God’s special care and mercy towards his people. The gospel says the same about Jesus.
This post is part of my bible in a year series.
Passage and Comments
As with many Psalms, the Psalmist begins with praise, music and song.
33 Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.
2 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. (Ps 33.1-3)
The Psalmist calls out to the righteous, the upright. He calls them to worship and praise. Something only God’s people do.
The Psalm is meant to be sung as a worship song in the tabernacle.
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 steadfast love 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 as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. (Ps 33.4-9)
The LORD creates by his mighty word. His word is described as ‘upright’. All his works are good and trustworthy.
For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
The LORD is righteous and just, that is why he loves these characteristics. He takes care of his creation and provides for it. Otherwise known as his steadfast love.
The world is described in three parts. ‘The heavens’, the ‘waters of the sea’ and the ‘earth’. This is ancient near eastern cosmology.
The scene now changes from creation to the nations of the earth.
10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! (Ps 33.10-12)
Whether they acknowledge him or not. The LORD rules over all the nations. He frustrates evil plans. Whereas his plans are fulfilled.
God’s people in particular among all the nations are blessed.
13 The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man;
14 from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.
16 The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.
18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19 that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. (Ps 33.13-19)
The LORD is always looking down on man, he cares enough to take note. He sits on a throne because he is king.
There are worldly kings of course. The Psalmist little values the ability of armies, human strength and war horses to save people from trouble and give them hope.
It’s the LORD who saves his people. Because of his steadfast love he delivers those who hope and trust in him.
20 Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you. (Ps 33.20-22)
The Psalmist closes the song drawing the community of the faithful together. They wait on the LORD, they rejoice and trust in him. They call out to him for his steadfast love.
Story of Israel
The Psalm describes several well known qualities about God well known among the faithful in Israel.
- The goodness and faithfulness of god.
- The glory of god in creation.
- God’s all-embracing providence.
- God’s special care and mercy towards his people.
Story of Jesus
The gospel proclaims Jesus as the word of God. As we see in the Psalm he too is given credit for his glory in creation. His all embracing providence and his special care for those who believe in his name, his people.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (Jn 1.1-14)
Jesus is good and faithful. Someone worthy of our hope and trust.
Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2016. All Rights Reserved.
