June 19, 2024
If you don't know God, you don't know power.
Psalm 33
Ray McGowan III
Big Book Idea
Thinking and feeling God's way.
Key Verse | Psalm 33:10
The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
Psalm 33
The Steadfast Love of the LORD
1
Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous!
Praise befits the upright.
2
Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre;
make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
3
Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
4
For the word of the LORD is upright,
and all his work is done in faithfulness.
5
He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.
6
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
7
He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap;
he puts 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 came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.
10
The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11
The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
the plans of his heart to all generations.
12
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!
13
The LORD looks down from heaven;
he sees all the children of man;
14
from where he sits enthroned he looks out
on all the inhabitants of the earth,
15
he who fashions the hearts of them all
and observes all their deeds.
16
The king is not saved by his great army;
a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
17
The war horse is a false hope for salvation,
and by its great might it cannot rescue.
18
Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19
that he may deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in famine.
20
Our soul waits for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
21
For our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.
22
Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.
Table of Contents
Introduction to The Psalms
Timeline
Author and Date
Individual psalms come from diverse periods of Israel’s history, but at every stage they served as the songbook of God’s people. David wrote about half of the Psalms. His role as king was more than that of a ruler. He was to represent and even embody the people, and their well-being was tied to his faithfulness. David, then, writes as a representative, and the readers must discern whether the emphasis of a psalm is more on his role as ruler or more on his role as ideal Israelite, in which he is an example for all. The historical occasions mentioned in the psalm titles help the reader see how faith applies to real-life situations.
Key Themes
The Psalter is fundamentally the hymnbook of God’s people. It takes the basic themes of OT theology and turns them into song:
- Monotheism. The one God, Maker and Ruler of all, will vindicate his goodness and justice in his own time. Everyone must know and love this God, whose purity, power, wisdom, faithfulness, and unceasing love are breathtakingly beautiful.
- Creation and fall. Though God made man with dignity and purpose, all people since the fall are beset with sins and weaknesses that only God’s grace can heal.
- Election and covenant. The one true God chose a people for himself and bound himself to them by his covenant. This covenant expressed God’s intention to save his people, and through them to bring light to the world.
- Covenant membership. In his covenant, God offers grace to his people: forgiveness of their sins, the shaping of their lives to reflect his own glory, and a part to play as light to the Gentiles. Each member of God’s people is responsible to believe God’s promises and to grow in obeying his commands. Those who do this enjoy the full benefits of God’s love and find delight in knowing him. The well-being of God’s people as a whole affects the well-being of each member. Each one shares the joys and sorrows of the others. When believers suffer, they should not seek revenge but should pray. They can be confident that God will make all things right in his own time.
- Eschatology. The story of God’s people is headed toward a glorious future, in which all kinds of people will come to know the Lord. The personal faithfulness of God’s people contributes to his ultimate purpose. The Messiah, the ultimate heir of David, will lead his people in the great task of bringing light to the Gentiles.
Types of Psalms
The Psalms can be identified according to some basic categories:
Laments, which lay a troubled situation before the Lord, asking him for help. There are community (Psalm 12) and individual (Psalm 13) laments. This category is the largest by far, including up to a third of all Psalms.
Hymns of praise, which call God’s people to admire his great attributes and deeds. Examples include Psalms 8; 93; and 145.
Hymns of thanksgiving. As with laments, there are community (Psalm 9) and individual (Psalm 30) thanksgiving psalms.
Hymns celebrating God’s law (Psalm 119).
Wisdom psalms (Psalms 1; 37), which reflect themes from the Wisdom Books (Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon).
Songs of confidence, which enable worshipers to deepen their trust in God amid difficult circumstances (Psalm 23).
Royal psalms, which present the Davidic monarchy as the vehicle of blessing for God’s people. Some of these are prayers (Psalm 20), some are thanksgivings (Psalm 21). All relate to the Messiah, the ultimate heir of David, either by setting a pattern (Psalms 20–21) or by portraying the king’s reign in such a way that only the Messiah can completely fulfill it (Psalms 2; 72), or by focusing on the future (Psalm 110).
Historical psalms, which take lessons from the history of God’s dealings with his people (Psalm 78).
Prophetic hymns, which echo the Prophets, calling people to covenant faithfulness (Psalm 81).
Structure
The standard Hebrew text divides the Psalms into five “books,” perhaps in imitation of the five books of the Pentateuch.
| Book 1 | Psalms 1–41 | Psalms 1–2 provide an introduction to the Psalms as a whole. Except for Psalms 10 and 33, the remaining psalms of Book 1 are psalms of David. Most of them are prayers of distress. Others are statements of confidence in the God who alone can save (e.g., 9; 11; 16; 18), striking the note that concludes the book (40–41). Reflections on ethics and worship are found in Psalms 1; 14–15; 19; 24; and 26. |
| Book 2 | Psalms 42–72 | Book 2 introduces the first group of psalms by the “sons of Korah” (42; 44–49; 50). There are also more psalms of David (51–65; 68–69), including most of the “historical” psalms (51–52; 54; 56–57; 59–60; 63). Once again, lament and distress dominate these prayers, which now also include a communal voice (e.g., 44; compare 67; 68). The lone psalm attributed to Solomon concludes Book 2 with a look at God’s ideal for Israel’s kings—ultimately pointing to Christ as the final great King of God’s people. |
| Book 3 | Psalms 73–89 | The tone darkens further in Book 3. The opening Psalm 73 starkly questions the justice of God before seeing light in God’s presence. That light has almost escaped the psalmist in Psalm 88, the bleakest of all psalms. Book 2 ended with the high point of royal aspirations; Book 3 concludes in Psalm 89 with these expectations badly threatened. Sharp rays of hope occasionally pierce the darkness (e.g., 75; 85; 87). The brief third book contains most of the psalms of Asaph (73–83), as well as another set of Korah psalms (84–85; 87–88). |
| Book 4 | Psalms 90–106 | Psalm 90 opens the fourth book of the psalms. It may be seen as the first response to the problems raised by Book 3. Psalm 90, attributed to Moses, reminds the worshiper that God was active on Israel’s behalf long before David. This theme is taken up in Psalms 103–106, which summarize God’s dealings with his people before any kings reigned. In between there is a group of psalms (93–100) characterized by the refrain “The LORD reigns.” This truth refutes the doubts of Psalm 89. |
| Book 5 | Psalms 107–150 | The structure of Book 5 reflects the closing petition of Book 4 in 106:47. It declares that God does answer prayer (107) and concludes with five Hallelujah psalms (146–150). In between there are several psalms affirming the validity of the promises to David (110; 132; 144), two collections of Davidic psalms (108–110; 138–145); the longest psalm, celebrating the value of God’s law (119); and 15 psalms of ascent for use by pilgrims to Jerusalem (120–134). |
Fact: What was the main purpose of the Psalms for the people of God?
What was the main purpose of the Psalms for the people of God? The Psalms were the songbook of the people of God when they gathered for worship.
Fact: What is a psalm of lament?
What is a psalm of lament? The main purpose of a psalm of lament is to tell the Lord about a difficult situation, to ask him for his help, and to praise him for helping. Some laments are community, congregational psalms. Others are individual, personal laments. One third of all the Psalms are psalms of lament.
Fact: What defined someone as an “enemy” of the people of Israel?
What defined someone as an “enemy” of the people of Israel? The “enemies” mentioned in the Psalms (e.g., 18:17) were people hostile to the faith of God’s people. Sometimes they expressed their hatred by physically attacking the people of Israel, while other times they merely rejoiced when Israel faced misfortunes.
Fact: Selah
What does Selah mean? Although the word Selah is found 39 times in the book of Psalms, its exact meaning is uncertain. Most scholars believe it is a musical term or a term to be used by a worship leader, possibly to mark a pause.
Fact: Snares
Snares (38:12) were traps used to catch birds and animals. Some snares used ropes or nets that would be triggered as soon as the bait was touched. Pits disguised with sticks and leaves were also used as snares. In the Psalms, snares serve as symbols of danger or death at the hands of the wicked.
Fact: A helpful guide
A helpful guide. The writers of the Psalms understood the importance of constant communication with God. They knew that God would hear their prayers, and they trusted him to act on their behalf. Believers today can benefit greatly by patterning their prayers after specific psalms.
Fact: A harp or a lyre?
A harp or a lyre? Both harps and lyres were hand-held stringed instruments with wooden frames. (See 33:2.)
Structure of Psalms
The standard Hebrew text divides the Psalms into five “books,” perhaps in imitation of the five books of the Pentateuch.
| Book 1 | Psalms 1–41 | Psalms 1–2 provide an introduction to the Psalms as a whole. Except for Psalms 10 and 33, the remaining psalms of Book 1 are psalms of David. Most of them are prayers of distress. Others are statements of confidence in the God who alone can save (e.g., 9; 11; 16; 18), striking the note that concludes the book (40–41). Reflections on ethics and worship are found in Psalms 1; 14–15; 19; 24; and 26. |
| Book 2 | Psalms 42–72 | Book 2 introduces the first group of psalms by the “sons of Korah” (42; 44–49; 50). There are also more psalms of David (51–65; 68–69), including most of the “historical” psalms (51–52; 54; 56–57; 59–60; 63). Once again, lament and distress dominate these prayers, which now also include a communal voice (e.g., 44; compare 67; 68). The lone psalm attributed to Solomon concludes Book 2 with a look at God’s ideal for Israel’s kings—ultimately pointing to Christ as the final great King of God’s people. |
| Book 3 | Psalms 73–89 | The tone darkens further in Book 3. The opening Psalm 73 starkly questions the justice of God before seeing light in God’s presence. That light has almost escaped the psalmist in Psalm 88, the bleakest of all psalms. Book 2 ended with the high point of royal aspirations; Book 3 concludes in Psalm 89 with these expectations badly threatened. Sharp rays of hope occasionally pierce the darkness (e.g., 75; 85; 87). The brief third book contains most of the psalms of Asaph (73–83), as well as another set of Korah psalms (84–85; 87–88). |
| Book 4 | Psalms 90–106 | Psalm 90 opens the fourth book of the psalms. It may be seen as the first response to the problems raised by Book 3. Psalm 90, attributed to Moses, reminds the worshiper that God was active on Israel’s behalf long before David. This theme is taken up in Psalms 103–106, which summarize God’s dealings with his people before any kings reigned. In between there is a group of psalms (93–100) characterized by the refrain “The LORD reigns.” This truth refutes the doubts of Psalm 89. |
| Book 5 | Psalms 107–150 | The structure of Book 5 reflects the closing petition of Book 4 in 106:47. It declares that God does answer prayer (107) and concludes with five Hallelujah psalms (146–150). In between there are several psalms affirming the validity of the promises to David (110; 132; 144), two collections of Davidic psalms (108–110; 138–145); the longest psalm, celebrating the value of God’s law (119); and 15 psalms of ascent for use by pilgrims to Jerusalem (120–134). |
OT Testimony that All Are under Sin (3:9)
| Romans 3 | OT Reference |
|---|---|
| Sinful Condition | |
| v. 10, none is righteous | Ps. 14:3/53:3; Eccles. 7:20 |
| v. 11a, no one understands | Ps. 14:2/53:2 |
| v. 11b, no one seeks for God | Ps. 14:2/53:2 |
| v. 12, all have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one | Ps. 14:3/53:3 |
| Sinful Speech (note progression from throat to tongue to lips) | |
| v. 13a, b, their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive | Ps. 5:10, Septuagint (English, 5:9) |
| v. 13c, the venom of asps is under their lips | Ps. 140:3 |
| v. 14, their mouth is full of curses and bitterness | Ps. 10:7 |
| Sinful Action | |
| v. 15, their feet are swift to shed blood | Prov. 1:16/Isa. 59:7 |
| v. 16, in their paths are ruin and misery | Isa. 59:7 |
| v. 17, and the way of peace they have not known | Isa. 59:8 |
| Summary Statement | |
| v. 18, there is no fear of God before their eyes | Ps. 36:1 |
Fact: A harp or a lyre?
A harp or a lyre? Both harps and lyres were hand-held stringed instruments with wooden frames. (See 33:2.)
Ps. 33:1–3 The new song (see 40:3; 98:1; Isa. 42:10; Rev. 5:9) may describe a response to a new experience of God’s grace.
Ps. 33:4–9 The first reason for praise is God’s word (vv. 4, 6, 9). It is upright, expressing God’s righteous motives (vv. 4–5), and it is spoken by the God who made everything (vv. 6–9). See Gen. 1:1–2:3, where each time God spoke, what he commanded came to be.
Ps. 33:10–12 The second reason for praise is that no power can oppose God successfully, because they all derive their being and power from God. people whom he has chosen as his heritage. The descendants of Abraham have been called by God to teach the whole world about him (Gen. 12:1–3). Blessed by God, thus they bless.
Psalm Ps. 33. This is a hymn of praise to the God who made all things, who rules all things for his own purposes, and who has chosen a people to be his own and to bless the whole world. Many of its themes come from Genesis. The psalm flows from a call to praise God, to several reasons for praise, to a closing filled with glad and peaceful hope.
Ps. 33:20–22 As the faithful understand the greatness and wonder of God, they are strengthened to rest their souls on the Lord. They are confident that God’s plans will succeed.
S3:119 Psalm 33
Listen NowDive Deeper | Psalm 33
Have you ever tried to make plans that just seem to fall through?
As I get older and older, I find myself having more and more trouble trying to make plans, especially with some of my close friends. Life gets so busy and goes by so fast for everyone that it seems almost impossible to find a time to make plans when everyone is free. Imagine if whatever plans you say or speak of come into fruition. Crazy, right? For us, it may seem crazy, but that is exactly what the Lord does.
The Lord is so powerful that whatever he speaks comes to be no matter what anyone else says or does. We see this perfectly laid out in Psalm 33:9-12. God not only speaks things that come to be, but He commands them, and it stands firm. This may seem like the first time we have realized this, but it's been this way since Genesis 1! We see over and over "God said," to the point that it is stated nine times in Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26, 29). God is so powerful that He commands things into existence, and they will stand firm.
God's plans will come into existence regardless of the plans of the people or the nations. God's word can bring nations to nothing and destroy the plans we have made when they are not according to His will. This may seem scary, but it is something to rejoice in! For in Psalm 33:13-19, we see how God looks after those who are fearful of the Lord. We are children of God and are under His steadfast love and care.
Knowing all this, knowing that God is all-powerful, we can view the Lord as our protector and someone we place our trust in. While our plans may fall through, the plans that the Lord has made will stand forever.
This month's memory verse
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
– Matthew 28:18-20
Discussion Questions
1. What are some of the plans that you have made recently that have fallen through?
2. Have you ever trusted in the Lord when making a decision, whether big or small? When was it? How did your plans work out?
3. God is all-loving and all-powerful. Have there been times in your life when you have seen God show those characteristics? If so, when?
4. What are some areas in your life in which you can put more trust in the Lord?
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