Reflections on Psalm 33: Part s 1 & 2

Part 1

This is truly a beautiful psalm; it is the song of the saints. It begins with a high note of praise, that runs into 3 full verses (1-3). We are told that praise is fitting for the upright (the saints). Yes, Christians should bless the Lord at all times; and this we should do so boldly by faith, trusting in His everlasting word.

The reason is given in verse 4. 'For the word of the Lord is right, and all His works are done in truth.' The section 33:4-9 speaks of the power of His word. He spoke, and it was done, 33:9. When God speaks, when we hear His voice, we can take it that the work is done (the need is met, the problem is solved). He commanded, and the work was established, 33:9b. There is power in the spoken word of God. Has God spoken to you recently? When He speaks, it is done! It is finished! His promise is as good as His performance. Have His promises ever failed? For God there is no past, present & future. So when He speaks, it is done! But for us, when God speaks, we have to wait. And it is in the waiting that our faith is tried or tested. Ps 105:19 says, 'The word of the Lord tried him (Joseph).' It was many years before the promises that came to Joseph were fulfilled. When God gave Joseph his dreams as a young man, in God's eyes the thing was as good as done. Joseph had to wait many years, and yet when he became ruler in Egypt at the age of 30, he was still a young man. Marvelous and inexplicable are the ways of God.

We are told that 'by the word of the Lord the heavens were made', 33:6. Yes, the Lord created everything by His word: 'Let there be...', 'Let there be...' Gen 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26.

But in 33:7, we see that redemption also was effected by His word. 'He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap'. Exod 15:8, Ps 78:13. Moses lifted up his rod and parted the Red Sea. That was the rod of divine authority. The Lord Himself says in John 14:14, 'If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.' There is the power of His word, and the authority of His name; and in Psalm 138:2b, we find His word equated with His name. Though many translations have it: 'You have magnified Your word above all Your name.'

In 33:7b, we read: 'He lays up the deep in storehouses'. That reminds us of the Flood, the judgment that came upon the earth during Noah's time. The Lord of creation, the Lord of redemption, is also the Lord of judgment. And so, in 33:8, we are told, 'Let all the earth fear the Lord...and stand in awe of Him.'

All the works of creation, redemption, judgment are performed by the power of His spoken word. He spoke, and it was done! Praise God for His word! Living word; faithful word; infallible, inerrant, everlasting word! A word that will surely be fulfilled.

Part 2

We have already spoken of the power of God's word. The next thought that comes up in Psalm 33 is the counsel of the Lord, 33:10-12.

The counsel of the Lord is the purpose and plan of the Lord. Behind His word, we have His thought. And where God is concerned, the thought is complete: God has decided. The thought and the decision make up God's will. What has God planned and purposed? The purpose is seen in Psalm 33:12. 'Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.'

God is calling out a people to Himself. He has chosen a people to dwell among. This is His plan and purpose. 1 Pet 2:9 says: "You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people. You have been chosen to show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light." The Immanuel God wants to dwell among us. Rev 21:3 shows the purpose of the Lord fulfilled in time. 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.'

God dwells in each of us, individually. John 14:23: 'We will come to him, and make our abode with him.' But God also dwells within His church, the 'holy nation', the 'peculiar people' of the Lord. Israel was chosen for that purpose (Exod 19:6), but Israel failed. Now God is calling out a 'holy nation' from among the nations.

Here is a picture of that holy nation drawn out from all the nations of the earth. 'Behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands', Rev 7:9. The universal church of God worshipping the Lord in glory!

© Roland N Oliver/Pratonix