July 6, 2023 -- Psalm 33:1-5 -- The Psalm Series: Obeying Psalm 32's command to worship

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous!
Praise befits the upright.
Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre;
make melody with the harp of ten-strings!
Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully on the strings with loud shouts.
For the word of the LORD is upright,
and all his work is done in faithfulness.
He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.
Psalm 33:1-5 ESV

Psalm 32 ended with three commands: be glad in the LORD! Rejoice! Shout for joy! Psalm 33 is the response to those commands. It repeats the commands, expands on them, and gives more grounds for bringing music and then expresses worship to the LORD.

All the work of the LORD is done in faithfulness. That word faithfulness includes the meaning truth as well as something that is steady. You can fully rely on the work of the LORD. The fact is all the LORD's promises are “Yes” and “Amen” in Jesus Christ.

The earth is full of His steadfast love. This is a repetition from Psalm 32:10. The word steadfast-love is translated: goodness, lovingkindness, faithfulness, covenant love—in fact, it has more than 100 translations into English. It is the key concept of the Old Testament. His love that never changes and accomplishes its purpose for all those who take shelter in Him.

It is easy to look around and see trouble, hardship, problems, and wickedness. This Psalm is inviting you, reader, to avert your gaze, instead see that the earth is full, overflowingly, abundantly packed with His goodness, love, and covenant-faithfulness. Do you see it? As you see it, let your mouth praise Him, let your heart rejoice in Him, if you are skilled at music, play for Him. If you are good at building, work for His glory. Let the devotion times of praise spill over into the rest of your day so that your day and night echoes forth the praises of the Living God.

Our Father in heaven forever honoured and hallowed and blessed be Your Name. Great are You, LORD our God, and so worthy of praise. Spirit of God, do not let my devotion times become a matter of a quick read and prayer and then ticking of box signaling I have done my duty, one more thing crossed off my list. Instead, Spirit, lead me to contemplate the glory of God through-out all my day. Let such thoughts direct me to Jesus Christ, Who is the radiance of the Father's glory and the perfect revelation of the Father's covenant love. In You, Jesus, I begin to see with increasing clarity that the fullness of the Father's steadfast love surrounds me, fills the universe. Thinking such thoughts leads me to recall the promise You made, that the Spirit's power guards believers so that we are fit for eternity. Hallelujah! Blessed be Your Name, Triune God. Amen.

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