Psalm 33

"Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise Him."  Psalm 33:1

"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."  Psalm 33:20-21

Joy should be evident in the life of every child of God.  The Lord has given us so many blessings. Hence, our hearts and lips should burst out in song and praise to the Lord.  Psalm 33:1 says, "Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise Him."  The Lord has saved us by His grace.  The Lord's love and mercy to us is eternal. and He is always faithful. Therefore "it is is fitting for the upright to praise Him."

Everyday and always our praise for the Lord must be fresh and new.  Psalm 33:3 says, "Sing to Him a new song."  The Lord deserves our continual and daily praise, because as Psalm 33:4 promises, "the word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does."

The Lord deserves our praise, because He is awesome in His character.  The Lord also deserves our praise, because He displays power and glory in His creation.  Psalm 33:6 tells us, "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of His mouth."  God not only created this awesome universe, but He continues to maintain it in perfect order.  "For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm."  (Psalm 33:9)  Finally, Psalm 33:11 reminds us that the Lord is worthy of our praise; because "the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations."  Our God is a faithful God, and His plans will always remain firm and eternal.

Blessed and joyful is the nation or individual who has the Lord as their God, (Psalm 33:12).  He is our only sure foundation and refuge for time and for eternity.  Psalm 33:17 exhorts us that a dependence on the things or powers of this world for our safety and protection is "a vain hope for deliverance."  There is safety and protection for the child of God, however!  That safety and protection is found in the Lord!  Psalm 33:18 blesses us by saying, "The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love."

Thus, we must use our lips and lives to praise our awesome and faithful Lord.  For He alone is our faithful "help and our shield.  In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name." (Psalm 33:20b-21)  He alone is our joy and our unfailing source of security and love!  Praise His glorious and awesome name!