David delighted himself in the Lord. Why? Because he knew God personally. I believe David would wake up most mornings with these words on his heart, with instruments near by, and the desire for praise and worship on His heart.
Like all of us, David would have had bad days; mornings when he woke up not wanting to face what lay ahead. But David was a godly man - he knew God the Creator, God, his Faithful, Loving and Merciful Father. He knew, that even though God was the great Omnipotent and Omniscient One, he was also Omnipresent, always there by his side.
With these in mind, in this Psalm, David is calling on us to know this same God; to be filled with this same joy and to praise His name. For as Charles H Spurgeon says:
"Joy is the soul of praise, and we too should delight ourselves in the Lord."
The more we get to know God as David did, the more we will want to extol Him in praise and worship, the more we will face each day with a positive outlook.
1. Do you have days when you wake up unable to face the day? What do you do? What do you think David did on those days?
1. Do you have days when you wake up unable to face the day? What do you do? What do you think David did on those days?
PRAISING THE LORD - Read Psalm 33:1-3, 1 Chronicles 15:28 & 29.
At the end of Psalm 32, we find David with a heart of freedom and relief, ready again to give all glory to the Lord. So it is isn't surprising that we find Psalm 33 beginning with words of praise and worship.
We also know that David loved to use musical instruments, like the `lyre and harp', and he loved to dance, even though at times this may have upset members of his family.
"All Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord's Covenant with shouts of joy, the blowing of ram's horns and trumpets, the crashing of cymbals and loud playing on harps and lyres." 1 Chronicles 15:28 (NLV)
"As the Ark of the Lord's Covenant entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul looked down from her window. She saw David skipping about and laughing with joy, and he was filled with contempt for him." 1 Chronicles 15:29 (NLV)
This week in their `Music Lesson' I introduced `my girls' to to their first Hillsong music - two songs from the `Young and Free' album. They enjoyed watching the young ones sing, and to my surprise, weren't `filled with contempt' at their teacher's `dancing'. What surprised them most was the fact that `church music', could actually have a beat, great instrumentals and were fun to sing along to.
Charles H Spurgeon in his `Treasury of David' writings spoke of the music in his day. He said it was a "a little somber" and "worn out", nothing like the songs David wrote, "full of life, soul and heart". One thing is certain, David reminds us, no matter how we sing our praise and worship to the Lord, the Lord needs to be the centre of our thoughts and our hearts need to be filled with His joy.
"Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord; it is fitting for the Lord to praise Him. Praise the Lord with melodies on the lyre; make music for Him on the ten stringed harp. Sing a new song of praise to Him; play skilfully on the harp, and sing for joy." Psalm 33:1-3
2. Everyone praises and worships the Lord in a different way. How do you like to worship? What is your favourite `Church music'?
FAITHFUL & LOVING GOD - Read Psalm 33:4&5
We can praise God for His character, made up of righteousness and good judgement. His works are the overflow of His faithfulness.
"God writes with a pen that never blots, speaks with a tongue that never slips and acts with a hand that never fails" Charles H Spurgeon.
"For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does. He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth." Psalm 33:4&5
GOD - THE CREATOR - Read Psalm 33:6-12
God is not just a creator, He is a GREAT creator! We know by His goodness that He created the world. By His Word, the Heavens, the waters and earth were made. Yet, this Psalm tells us more about what God planned for His creation.
"For when He spoke, the world began! It appeared at His command. The Lord's plans stand firm forever; His intentions can never be shaken. What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people He has chosen as His inheritance." Psalm 33:9,11&12
God's plan for his creation is eternal. It is because of our God - the Creator, that we have victory through His Son Jesus Christ on the cross. This is the Creator's ultimate plan, and we as His chosen inheritance can have a part in this victory. Trust in the Lord - thank Him and sing His praises.
"But thanks be to God who always leads us in victory through Christ." 2 Corinthians 2:14
"But in all things we have full victory through God who showed His love for us." Romans 8:37
3.What is God's ultimate plan for his creation?
GOD - OMNIPOTENT, OMNISCIENT, OMNIPRESENT
Read Psalm 33:13-19
"He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do." Psalm 33:15
"But the Lord watches over those who fear Him, those who rely on His unfailing love."
Psalm 33:18
Sometimes the thought that God is all powerful, that he knows all about you and is watching over you can be a little scary. We think maybe God is out of our reach, but this is so far from the truth.
The thought that God understands and watches over everything we do is comforting and assuring. We can place our fears and cares in His loving arms, and put all our hope in Him.
4. How can the thought that God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent be comforting and assuring for you?
CONCLUSION - Psalm 33:20-22
As usual, David concludes with a fervent expression of confidence and hope. It is an earnest prayer to a living God in whom He trusts. We are encouraged to wait on the Lord in quiet expectation, to trust in Him, to persevere and triumph with a glad heart full of PRAISE AND WORSHIP - these are the greatest attainments of Christian discipleship.
"The root of faith in due time bears the flower of rejoicing." Charles H Spurgeon.
"We put our hope in the Lord. He is our hope and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is you alone."
Psalm 33:20-22
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 1996, Tyndale Publishers.
Devotional Bible, New Century Version, 2003, Thomas Nelson
"The Treasury of David", Charles H Spurgeon
New Matthew Henry Commentary.
2. Everyone praises and worships the Lord in a different way. How do you like to worship? What is your favourite `Church music'?
FAITHFUL & LOVING GOD - Read Psalm 33:4&5
We can praise God for His character, made up of righteousness and good judgement. His works are the overflow of His faithfulness.
"God writes with a pen that never blots, speaks with a tongue that never slips and acts with a hand that never fails" Charles H Spurgeon.
"For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does. He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth." Psalm 33:4&5
GOD - THE CREATOR - Read Psalm 33:6-12
God is not just a creator, He is a GREAT creator! We know by His goodness that He created the world. By His Word, the Heavens, the waters and earth were made. Yet, this Psalm tells us more about what God planned for His creation.
"For when He spoke, the world began! It appeared at His command. The Lord's plans stand firm forever; His intentions can never be shaken. What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people He has chosen as His inheritance." Psalm 33:9,11&12
God's plan for his creation is eternal. It is because of our God - the Creator, that we have victory through His Son Jesus Christ on the cross. This is the Creator's ultimate plan, and we as His chosen inheritance can have a part in this victory. Trust in the Lord - thank Him and sing His praises.
"But thanks be to God who always leads us in victory through Christ." 2 Corinthians 2:14
"But in all things we have full victory through God who showed His love for us." Romans 8:37
3.What is God's ultimate plan for his creation?
GOD - OMNIPOTENT, OMNISCIENT, OMNIPRESENT
Read Psalm 33:13-19
"He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do." Psalm 33:15
"But the Lord watches over those who fear Him, those who rely on His unfailing love."
Psalm 33:18
Sometimes the thought that God is all powerful, that he knows all about you and is watching over you can be a little scary. We think maybe God is out of our reach, but this is so far from the truth.
The thought that God understands and watches over everything we do is comforting and assuring. We can place our fears and cares in His loving arms, and put all our hope in Him.
4. How can the thought that God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent be comforting and assuring for you?
CONCLUSION - Psalm 33:20-22
As usual, David concludes with a fervent expression of confidence and hope. It is an earnest prayer to a living God in whom He trusts. We are encouraged to wait on the Lord in quiet expectation, to trust in Him, to persevere and triumph with a glad heart full of PRAISE AND WORSHIP - these are the greatest attainments of Christian discipleship.
"The root of faith in due time bears the flower of rejoicing." Charles H Spurgeon.
"We put our hope in the Lord. He is our hope and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is you alone."
Psalm 33:20-22
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 1996, Tyndale Publishers.
Devotional Bible, New Century Version, 2003, Thomas Nelson
"The Treasury of David", Charles H Spurgeon
New Matthew Henry Commentary.
