The word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. Psalm 33:4
When Xavier was an elementary student, I drove him to and from school. One day, things didn’t go according to plan. I was late to pick him up. I parked the car, praying frantically as I ran toward his classroom. I found him hugging his backpack as he sat on a bench next to a teacher. “I’m so sorry, Mijo. Are you okay?” He sighed. “I’m fine, but I’m mad at you for being late.” How could I blame him? I was mad at myself too. I loved my son, but I knew there would be many times when I’d disappoint him. I also knew he might feel disappointed with God one day. So I worked hard to teach him that God never has and never will break a promise.
Psalm 33 encourages us to celebrate God’s faithfulness with joyful praises (vv. 1–3) because “the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does” (v. 4). Using the world God created as tangible proof of His power and dependability (vv. 5–7), the psalmist calls on the “people of the world” to worship God (v. 8).
When plans fail or people let us down, we can be tempted to be disappointed in God. However, we can rely on God’s trustworthiness because His plans “stand firm forever” (v. 11). We can praise God, even when things go wrong because our loving Creator sustains everything and everyone. God is forever faithful.
1 Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
2 Praise the Lord with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.
4 For the word of the Lord is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.
5 The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love.
6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars[a];
he puts the deep into storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;
let all the people of the world revere him.
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.
10 The Lord foils the plans of the nations;
he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.
INSIGHT
- Why is it hard to praise God when your plans fail or people disappoint you?
- How has He used the world He created to prove His enduring trustworthiness?
Psalm 33 is an anonymous psalm that praises God and calls listeners to join in the praise (vv. 1–3). Specifically, we’re to praise Him for His matchless character (vv. 4–5), for His acts of creation and deliverance, and for His power and love (vv. 6–19). The song concludes with an affirmation of trust in God and an appeal to Him for ongoing expressions of His lovingkindness (vv. 20–22). This structure, as one commentator wrote, “clarifies the movement of the psalm from praise to hope, which when fulfilled leads into a new chorus of similar praise.” Take a few moments and reflect on how you’ve experienced God’s character, creation, and love, and give Him praise for all His “unfailing love” (v. 22). As the old gospel song says, “Count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done!”
PRAYER
Dear God, please remind me of Your past faithfulness as I walk by faith today. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen!!
Read: PSALM 33:1-11 (NIV) | Bible in a Year: PSALMS 84-86; ROMANS 12
