Psalm 33 — Rejoice in the Lord
Introduction: The subject of the chronologically previous MPN, Psalm 20 — May the LORD Hear & Answer, led me in part to Psalm 33, and after comparison among ten Bible versions I decided to use the Jewish Publication Society 1917 version rather than a composite paraphrase for Psalm 33 in this study. The other verses used herein are from the KJV. Research disclosed that the JPS 1917 version of the Old Testament was compiled by contemporary Jewish scholars using the Masoretic text, which itself was an earlier Jewish work from around the 10th century A.D.
Psalm 33:1–3 (JPS 1917)
1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous, praise is comely for the upright. 2 Give thanks unto the LORD with harp, sing praises unto Him with the psaltery of ten strings. 3 Sing unto Him a new song; play skillfully amid shouts of joy.
Comments: Praise of rejoicing to the LORD is indeed comely for the upright, since our right standing is a gift from our LORD, who is worthy to be praised. Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” Hebrews 13:15 “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Although there is no mention of musical instruments, the record of all three synoptic gospels indicates that Jesus sang with his disciples before he went to the cross. Matthew 26:30 “And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.” Paul and Silas demonstrate that their sure hope was not shaken by their temporal circumstance. Acts 16:25 “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” Ephesians 5 “19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rejoice in the LORD always, and again I say rejoice: and that can be with new songs as well as old, because His mercy is new every morning. Revelation 5:9 “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.”
Psalm 33:4–9 (JPS 1917)
4 For the word of the LORD is upright; and all His work is done in faithfulness. 5 He loveth righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD. 6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. 7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as a heap; He layeth up 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 was; He commanded, and it stood.
Comments: The written word, and the Living Word, are the firm foundation for our hope, and the reason for our praise. 1 Peter 1:25 “But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” Our LORD is the one who justifies, and his justice or judgment is righteous. Romans 3:24 “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Colossians 1:16 “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible: all things were created by him, and for him.” Both testaments instruct us regarding the matter of fearing the LORD. Hebrews 12:28 “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” Revelation 15 “3 Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? For thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee.”
Psalm 33:10–15 (JPS 1917)
10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the nations to nought; He maketh the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect. 11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations. 12 Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD; the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance. 13 The LORD looketh from heaven; He beholdeth all the sons of men; 14 From the place of His habitation He looketh intently upon all the inhabitants of the earth; 15 He that fashioneth the hearts of them all, that considereth all their doings.
Comments: Even that which could be rightly judged as correct counsel for man’s intended purpose, can be frustrated by the LORD, to fulfill his perfect purpose. Proverbs 21:30 “There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.” Isaiah 45:21 “There is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.” The LORD’s counsel emanates from judgment and justice which is pure, to all generations. Hebrews 6 “17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18 which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast.” This is a unique inheritance which is reciprocal between heir and ancestor. Romans 8 “16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” The creator fashions the hearts of men, and therefore knows intimately the content thereof. Jeremiah 31:33 “I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
Psalm 33:16–22 (JPS 1917)
16 A king is not saved by the multitude of a host; a mighty man is not delivered by great strength. 17 A horse is a vain thing for safety; neither doth it afford escape by its great strength. 18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is toward them that fear Him, toward them that wait for His mercy; 19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. 20 Our soul hath waited for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. 21 For in Him doth our heart rejoice, because we have trusted in His holy name. 22 Let Thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we have waited for Thee.
Comments: Zechariah 4:6 “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” God watches over in the present, those who wait for his eternal salvation. So, all of our days are determined, just as securely as is our eternity. Revelation 21:4 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Because we have waited, and trusted in the name of the LORD, we know with confidence, that we will receive his mercy. Deuteronomy 7:9 “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.” Ephesians 2 “4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace ye are saved.”
Reflections in Prayer
I will rejoice in you LORD with praise because of the righteousness you bestow, whether worshipping with word or song, with others, in solitude with recorded music, with personal music aloud, or with the music in my mind’s ear. In any of these times, may the melody in my heart be pleasing to you, my God and my redeemer. Your word is filled with your righteousness and just judgment. By your word you created all the vastness of the heavens, the steadfast dry land, and the great power of the moving seas, which are under your constant control. When I even begin to comprehend your unsurpassed power and majesty, I am astonished at the overwhelming concept of awe: for you simply spoke and it was; you commanded and it stood fast, to be unshakable until you remove it.
You LORD, bring the counsel of what appears as that of great nations, to nothing at all; and the individual thoughts of those who are contrary to you, to be utterly useless. However, your counsel is unchanging from generation to generation for the benefit of all who will receive it, as nations or individuals. You look down from your unequalled vantage point in heaven to see all that live and breathe on the place of habitation you created for them, and you look even inside the motivation of their thoughts. This is no challenge for you, who fashioned the hearts of them all.
Men who have power amassed in large numbers of those they control, or one who seems mighty on his own, or those who have any other form of apparent power, are all helpless to save themselves. The eye of the LORD is toward those who have understood that fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and wisdom reveals the abundance of the mercy of the LORD. That mercy delivers my soul from death, and sustains me in famine. My soul does wait for you LORD; you are my help and my shield. My heart does rejoice in you, because I have trusted in your holy name. Let your mercy, O LORD, be upon me, according as I have waited for you. Amen.
Published 3 June 2004, first issued 11 April 2003