Psalm 33 covers a lot of territory.  It starts out with an encouragement to praise the Lord.  We are told to sing and not just to sing, but to sing joyfully!  It is such a great exercise to praise that it not only requires the instrument of our voices, but any other musical instrument that you have handy: “Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. (v2)”

The psalmist reminds us to praise the Lord for His word is true. When one starts to praise the Lord you never run out of material.  As the writer of this psalm reminds us, “He spoke and the world was created.” 

Then we are given a helpful reminder: 

“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.”

So many of the things that we believe bring us security are at best illusory.  “If I only had enough money in the bank, that dream job, a proper education then my problems will be behind me.”  Only to discover that everything we hope for cannot bring us peace.  Living in a world where might is thought to bring right.  These verses remind us that it is not the size of the army or one’s great strength not even how much horsepower we have behind us, anything other than the Lord, offers nothing more than a false sense of security.  All of life can be dedicated and determined to build things that cannot last or give security.  Regardless of the strength of our earthly possessions they cannot save us.

“But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,
    on those whose hope is in his unfailing love” (v.18)  In the Bible we are told that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”  Having an appropriate respect and perspective on God allows His wisdom to flow in our lives.  The promise is the Lord always has His eye on those folks.   In what have you placed your hope today?  This psalm tell us to place our hope in His unfailing love.  Nearly everyone and everything will fail us in this world.  God and His love never fails!

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.

Today we wait, but not just any kind of waiting, we are waiting in hope for the Lord!  He is our help, and He is our protection and our shield.  My heart is rejoicing for I have a hope and He is the Lord.  My trust is in Him.   His unfailing love is with us right now and our hope is not in earthly kingdom and armies are hope is in the Lord.

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