For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Psalm 33

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 skilfully, 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;
    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 for ever,
    the purposes of his heart through all generations.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
    the people he chose for his inheritance.
13 From heaven the Lord looks down
    and sees all mankind;
14 from his dwelling-place he watches
    all who live on earth –
15 he who forms the hearts of all,
    who considers everything they do.

16 No king is saved by the size of his army;
    no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
    despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,
    on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death
    and keep them alive in famine.

20 We wait in hope for the Lord;
    he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
    for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
    even as we put our hope in you.

A. Find Out:

1. What does the psalmist exhort us to do? v.1-3
2. Why? v.4,5
3. What has the Lord done? v.6-9
4. What does the psalmist say about the Lord’s plans? v.10,11
5. What does God do (v.13-15), so what follows? v.16-19
6. So what is the psalmist’s position? v.20-22

B. Think:

1. How is the Lord first shown to be almighty?
2. How is He then, secondly, shown to be almighty?
3. What effect should this have on our lives?

C. Comment:

  The psalmist is aware of the greatness of God and the effect that that knowledge should have on our lives.

  After some introductory words about the word of the Lord, the psalmist focuses on the Lord’s creative activity. He is the One who spoke and the world came into being. This is the God with whom we have dealings, this is the God with whom we dare to have a relationship.

  But then he moves on. This God has plans and purposes and all of the shouting of men will not deflect Him from working those out. He watches over mankind and works for the good of His people. These are vital truths we must understand.

  Now these truths should have effect upon us mere humans. First, they should create within us a fear or awesome respect for God (v.8). Is it there?

  Second, they should bring us to a place of resting in the will of God, free from all striving for personal ambition, as we hope in Him (v.20-22). Are we doing that?

  Third, it should bring us joy (v.1-3,21) as we realise the greatness of God and that that greatness is working for our blessing (v.18,19,22) . Is it there?

D. Application:

1. God is creator-sustainer of this world. Worship Him.
2. God is in control of this world. Rest in His love.