Shout For Joy – Psalm 33

God doesn’t miss a beat.  Those whose hearts he fashioned, and that’s everyone, garner his attention and His attention is scrupulous.  He observes every one of our deeds.  What is He looking for, what does He want to see?  He wants to see that we recognize How amazing He is, how in control of all things He is, and that we therefore trust Him rather than our own might.  Trust like this, confidence in His goodness, brings out the song in us, a song of praise.

Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous!  Praise befits the upright.  Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him 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.

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.  He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!  For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.  The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.  The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.  The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.

Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.  For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.  Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.  (Psalm 33 ESV)

God is to be praised for His upright word, His faithful work, His righteousness, justice and love.  By His word He both made the heavens and earth and rules each nation on earth, having made one nation His inheritance, Israel, in order to bless all nations through her. 

He pays attention to all that goes on in the earth, moving in their hearts and holding them responsible for their deeds.  If a child of man depends on his own strength or the strength of his resources, he depends on them in vain.  Yahweh’s steadfast love is for those who trust in Him for deliverance.  We wait for you, O Yahweh, our help and shield, and are glad because you are holy.  Help us as we hope in You.