Text: Psalm 33:1-21

“Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise. For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works. There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.”

Introduction: Are you a creature of habit? Do you like interruptions? We’ve had some lately…. What should our response be? During a national crisis, like ours today, the author David (or Asa, Jehoshaphat, or Josiah), inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet 1:19-21), gives us (4) REASONS to REJOICE in the LORD:

 

1. Because of WHO HE is! (Psa 33:1-5)
” Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright…Sing unto him a new song; ….For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth….the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.”
• REJOICE in the word of the Lord (v 4)
• REJOICE in the work of the Lord (v 4)

 

2. Because of WHAT HE has done! (Psa 33:6-9)
” By the word of the Lord the heavens were made… let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.”
• Creator God (v 6, 7)
• Sustainer God (v 8, 9)

 

3. Because of HOW HE is in CONTROL! (Psa 33:10-19)
” The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought… The counsel of the Lord standeth forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”
• “Counsel”- Heb, etsah-means advice (v 10)
• “Counsel of heathen nought”- God frustrates
• His “Counsel stands forever”- Heb-olam (v 11)
• His Heart to all “generations” (v 11)
• God BLESS AMERICA! – make her BLESSABLE! (v 12)

 

4. Because of WHY HE is our HELP! (Psa 33:20-22)
“Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and shield…our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.”
• Help us to wait (v 20)
• Help comes from the Lord (v 20)

 

Conclusion: Have you made a CHOICE to REJOICE? Or will you CHOOSE to LOSE? During this interruption, we are reminded that our GOD is still IN CONTROL even though it appears things are spinning OUT of CONTROL.
Yet, for the TRUE believer like David, in a time of trouble, we can find REASONS to REJOICE!

 

Will you?

Love y’all,

Dr. Randy Reese