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Saturday, December 21st, 2024
the Third Week of Advent

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Bible Commentaries
Psalms 33

PsalmsPsa 25 PsalmsPsa PsalmsPsa 34

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Verses 1-22

Intro:
1. Show Psalms I’ve finished so far.
2. Some number this Psalm among the songs sung at the New Year Festival. (The Layman’s Bible Commentary, Psalms, Vol.9, pg.64)
  1. So, apropos for our New Year.
3. Outline: God’s Word in Worship. God’s Word in Creation. God’s Word in History. God’s Word in Your Life.
GOD’S WORD IN WORSHIP (1-5)
1. We dare not separate worship from the Word of God.
  1. Remember, Jesus said we must worship God in spirit & in truth. Jn.4:24
  2. The better we know the Scriptures, the better we will be able to praise Him.
    1. Col.3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
2. (3) Sing to Him a new song - chodash. A fresh song. Don’t let old songs get stale.
3. (4) Word & Work - For God to speak is for Him to accomplish. For God to work is for Him to speak.
4. (5) The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord - there is no spot on earth where there isn’t traces & footprints of God’s love. They may not always be seen, but they are there.
  1. Like when Forensic Science experts use the blue light to pick up trace-evidence of biological evidence/blood/body fluids.
  2. Maybe spiritually we’ll need to be like those Criminal Scene Investigators (like on CSI N.Y./L.V./Miami) analyzing every bit of trace-evidence to find it...but it’s there!
    1. The earth is packed full of the goodness of the Lord!
GOD’S WORD IN CREATION (6-9)
1. What a poetic reflection of Genesis 1.
2. God spoke the universe into existence & His Word controls it.
  1. Ps.147:15-17 nlt He sends his orders to the world - how swiftly his word flies! He sends the snow like white wool; he scatters frost upon the ground like ashes. He hurls the hail like stones. Who can stand against his freezing cold? Then, at his command, it all melts. He sends his winds, and the ice thaws.
    1. What a powerful Word it is.
GOD’S WORD IN HISTORY (10-17)
1. (10,11) God rules & overrules in individual & national affairs.
  1. How can we but love Him when He knows the numbers the very hairs of our heads, marks our path, and orders our ways?
2. The nations can confederate & rebel against God, but His Word will prevail.
  1. Ps.2 msg Why the big noise, nations? Why the mean plots, peoples? Earth-leaders push for position, Demagogues and delegates meet for summit talks, The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers: “Let’s get free of God! Cast loose from Messiah!” Heaven-throned God breaks out laughing. At first he’s amused at their presumption; Then he gets good and angry. Furiously, he shuts them up: “Don’t you know there’s a King in Zion? A coronation banquet Is spread for him on the holy summit.” Let me tell you what God said next. He said, “You’re my son, And today is your birthday. What do you want? Name it: Nations as a present? continents as a prize? You can command them all to dance for you, Or throw them out with tomorrow’s trash.” So, rebel-kings, use your heads; Upstart-judges, learn your lesson: Worship God in adoring embrace, Celebrate in trembling awe. Kiss Messiah! Your very lives are in danger, you know; His anger is about to explode, But if you make a run for God— you won’t regret it!
3. Military strength is no guarantee of success. [Paul to men of Athens re: the unknown god inscription]
  1. Acts 17:26-28 nlt From one man(Adam) he created all the nations throughout the whole earth(a blow to Athenian pride). He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries. His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him - though he is not far from any one of us. For in Him we live and move and exist.
4. (11) Never fear the will of God because it comes from the heart of God.
  1. His counsel stands because His heart has planned.
    1. So the will of God doesn’t come from some cosmic vending machine. Not from some automated heavenly will dispenser.
    2. He doesn’t have one plan for everyone’s life that He performs a Copy - Paste to all believer’s. Nope, it comes from His heart. It is tailored made for your life. And, His will last forever...unlike human plans.
  2. So, why we should never fear God’s will for your life?...because... The will of God is the expression of the love of God.
5. (12) Blessed is the nation - Are you the kind of person who is a blessing to your nation?
  1. God uses people to bless nations. Christians are to be good citizens, the kind of people He can use to strengthen a nation.
  2. Pray for your country & its leaders. Do your part to exercise your freedom you have to share the Word of God & be a witness for Him.
GOD’S WORD IN YOUR LIFE (18-22)
1. The Psalm begins on the note of joyous praise & ends on the note of joyous expectation.
2. The Word that created & controls the universe can also control your life.
  1. Do you believe that?
  2. When you trust His Word & obey it, all the universe works for you. When you abandon that Word, all the universe works against you...Just ask Jonah.
3. (20) He is our help & our shield - In himself man is weak & vulnerable, therefore he often needs a shield to protect him.
  1. When we are saved we may lay claim to this promise of our God being our shield.
  2. Nothing can touch us that is outside His perfect will.
    1. I was picturing Israel’s Iron Dome missile-defense shield.
    2. The system was employed during operation "Protective Edge" this last August 2014, intercepting rockets launched from Gaza towards southern, central and northern parts of Israel. During the 50 days of the conflict 4,594 rockets and mortars were fired at Israeli targets, Iron Dome systems intercepted 735 projectiles that it determined were threatening, achieving an intercept success rate of 90%.
    3. God’s success rate? 100% w/His Titanium Dome! [strongest metal, pure titanium]
  3. Nothing can touch us that is outside His perfect will.
    1. A lady in England tells of being awakened 1 morning by very strange noise. It sounded like the pecking of a bird. When she got up she saw a butterfly flying back and forth inside the window pane in great fright. Outside a sparrow was frantically pecking and trying to get in. The butterfly did not see the glass, and expected every moment to be caught; the sparrow did not see the window either and expected every minute to catch the butterfly. Yet all the while the butterfly was as safe as if it had been miles away, because of the glass which came between it and the sparrow.
      1. So it is with Christians who are abiding in Christ. His presence is between them & every danger.
      2. Ps.119:114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.
4. (21) Our heart shall rejoice in Him - Christians can rejoice even in the deepest distress; although trouble may surround them, they still sing; and, like many birds, they sing best in their cages. (Morning & Evening, Charles Spurgeon, Morning July 2nd.)
  1. Waves will roll over us, but our souls soon rise to the surface and see the light of God’s countenance. We have a buoyancy which keeps our heads above the water, and helps us to sing.
5. (22) Just as we hope in You - The ground of hope is the Sovereign Lord of worship, creation, history & your life...which leads us right back to Worshipping Him!!!

The Message Bible

1–3 Good people, cheer God! Right-living people sound best when praising. Use guitars to reinforce your Hallelujahs! Play his praise on a grand piano! Invent your own new song to him; give him a trumpet fanfare.

4–5 For God’s Word is solid to the core; everything he makes is sound inside and out. He loves it when everything fits, when his world is in plumb-line true.Earth is drenched in God’s affectionate satisfaction.

6–7 The skies were made by God’s command;he breathed the word and the stars popped out. He scooped Sea into his jug, put Ocean in his keg.

8–9 Earth-creatures, bow before God; world-dwellers—down on your knees! Here’s why: he spoke and there it was, in place the moment he said so.

10–12 God takes the wind out of Babel pretense, he shoots down the world’s power-schemes.God’s plan for the world stands up, all his designs are made to last.Blessed is the country with God for God; blessed are the people he’s put in his will.

13–15 From high in the skies God looks around, he sees all Adam’s brood.From where he sits he overlooks all us earth-dwellers.He has shaped each person in turn; now he watches everything we do.
16–17 No king succeeds with a big army alone, no warrior wins by brute strength.Horsepower is not the answer; no one gets by on muscle alone.

18–19 Watch this: God’s eye is on those who respect him, the ones who are looking for his love. He’s ready to come to their rescue in bad times; in lean times he keeps body and soul together.

20–22 We’re depending on God; he’s everything we need.What’s more, our hearts brim with joy since we’ve taken for our own his holy name. Love us, God, with all you’ve got - that’s what we’re depending on.

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Verses 1-22

Intro:
1. Show Psalms I’ve finished so far.
2. Some number this Psalm among the songs sung at the New Year Festival. (The Layman’s Bible Commentary, Psalms, Vol.9, pg.64)
  1. So, apropos for our New Year.
3. Outline: God’s Word in Worship. God’s Word in Creation. God’s Word in History. God’s Word in Your Life.
GOD’S WORD IN WORSHIP (1-5)
1. We dare not separate worship from the Word of God.
  1. Remember, Jesus said we must worship God in spirit & in truth. Jn.4:24
  2. The better we know the Scriptures, the better we will be able to praise Him.
    1. Col.3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
2. (3) Sing to Him a new song - chodash. A fresh song. Don’t let old songs get stale.
3. (4) Word & Work - For God to speak is for Him to accomplish. For God to work is for Him to speak.
4. (5) The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord - there is no spot on earth where there isn’t traces & footprints of God’s love. They may not always be seen, but they are there.
  1. Like when Forensic Science experts use the blue light to pick up trace-evidence of biological evidence/blood/body fluids.
  2. Maybe spiritually we’ll need to be like those Criminal Scene Investigators (like on CSI N.Y./L.V./Miami) analyzing every bit of trace-evidence to find it...but it’s there!
    1. The earth is packed full of the goodness of the Lord!
GOD’S WORD IN CREATION (6-9)
1. What a poetic reflection of Genesis 1.
2. God spoke the universe into existence & His Word controls it.
  1. Ps.147:15-17 nlt He sends his orders to the world - how swiftly his word flies! He sends the snow like white wool; he scatters frost upon the ground like ashes. He hurls the hail like stones. Who can stand against his freezing cold? Then, at his command, it all melts. He sends his winds, and the ice thaws.
    1. What a powerful Word it is.
GOD’S WORD IN HISTORY (10-17)
1. (10,11) God rules & overrules in individual & national affairs.
  1. How can we but love Him when He knows the numbers the very hairs of our heads, marks our path, and orders our ways?
2. The nations can confederate & rebel against God, but His Word will prevail.
  1. Ps.2 msg Why the big noise, nations? Why the mean plots, peoples? Earth-leaders push for position, Demagogues and delegates meet for summit talks, The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers: “Let’s get free of God! Cast loose from Messiah!” Heaven-throned God breaks out laughing. At first he’s amused at their presumption; Then he gets good and angry. Furiously, he shuts them up: “Don’t you know there’s a King in Zion? A coronation banquet Is spread for him on the holy summit.” Let me tell you what God said next. He said, “You’re my son, And today is your birthday. What do you want? Name it: Nations as a present? continents as a prize? You can command them all to dance for you, Or throw them out with tomorrow’s trash.” So, rebel-kings, use your heads; Upstart-judges, learn your lesson: Worship God in adoring embrace, Celebrate in trembling awe. Kiss Messiah! Your very lives are in danger, you know; His anger is about to explode, But if you make a run for God— you won’t regret it!
3. Military strength is no guarantee of success. [Paul to men of Athens re: the unknown god inscription]
  1. Acts 17:26-28 nlt From one man(Adam) he created all the nations throughout the whole earth(a blow to Athenian pride). He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries. His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him - though he is not far from any one of us. For in Him we live and move and exist.
4. (11) Never fear the will of God because it comes from the heart of God.
  1. His counsel stands because His heart has planned.
    1. So the will of God doesn’t come from some cosmic vending machine. Not from some automated heavenly will dispenser.
    2. He doesn’t have one plan for everyone’s life that He performs a Copy - Paste to all believer’s. Nope, it comes from His heart. It is tailored made for your life. And, His will last forever...unlike human plans.
  2. So, why we should never fear God’s will for your life?...because... The will of God is the expression of the love of God.
5. (12) Blessed is the nation - Are you the kind of person who is a blessing to your nation?
  1. God uses people to bless nations. Christians are to be good citizens, the kind of people He can use to strengthen a nation.
  2. Pray for your country & its leaders. Do your part to exercise your freedom you have to share the Word of God & be a witness for Him.
GOD’S WORD IN YOUR LIFE (18-22)
1. The Psalm begins on the note of joyous praise & ends on the note of joyous expectation.
2. The Word that created & controls the universe can also control your life.
  1. Do you believe that?
  2. When you trust His Word & obey it, all the universe works for you. When you abandon that Word, all the universe works against you...Just ask Jonah.
3. (20) He is our help & our shield - In himself man is weak & vulnerable, therefore he often needs a shield to protect him.
  1. When we are saved we may lay claim to this promise of our God being our shield.
  2. Nothing can touch us that is outside His perfect will.
    1. I was picturing Israel’s Iron Dome missile-defense shield.
    2. The system was employed during operation "Protective Edge" this last August 2014, intercepting rockets launched from Gaza towards southern, central and northern parts of Israel. During the 50 days of the conflict 4,594 rockets and mortars were fired at Israeli targets, Iron Dome systems intercepted 735 projectiles that it determined were threatening, achieving an intercept success rate of 90%.
    3. God’s success rate? 100% w/His Titanium Dome! [strongest metal, pure titanium]
  3. Nothing can touch us that is outside His perfect will.
    1. A lady in England tells of being awakened 1 morning by very strange noise. It sounded like the pecking of a bird. When she got up she saw a butterfly flying back and forth inside the window pane in great fright. Outside a sparrow was frantically pecking and trying to get in. The butterfly did not see the glass, and expected every moment to be caught; the sparrow did not see the window either and expected every minute to catch the butterfly. Yet all the while the butterfly was as safe as if it had been miles away, because of the glass which came between it and the sparrow.
      1. So it is with Christians who are abiding in Christ. His presence is between them & every danger.
      2. Ps.119:114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.
4. (21) Our heart shall rejoice in Him - Christians can rejoice even in the deepest distress; although trouble may surround them, they still sing; and, like many birds, they sing best in their cages. (Morning & Evening, Charles Spurgeon, Morning July 2nd.)
  1. Waves will roll over us, but our souls soon rise to the surface and see the light of God’s countenance. We have a buoyancy which keeps our heads above the water, and helps us to sing.
5. (22) Just as we hope in You - The ground of hope is the Sovereign Lord of worship, creation, history & your life...which leads us right back to Worshipping Him!!!

The Message Bible

6–7 The skies were made by God’s command;he breathed the word and the stars popped out. He scooped Sea into his jug, put Ocean in his keg.

8–9 Earth-creatures, bow before God; world-dwellers—down on your knees! Here’s why: he spoke and there it was, in place the moment he said so.

18–19 Watch this: God’s eye is on those who respect him, the ones who are looking for his love. He’s ready to come to their rescue in bad times; in lean times he keeps body and soul together.

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PsalmsPsa 25 PsalmsPsa PsalmsPsa 34

Copyright Statement
These files are the property of Brian Bell.
Text Courtesy of Calvary Chapel of Murrieta. Used by Permission.

Bibliographical Information
Bell, Brian. "Commentary on Psalms 33". "Bell's Commentary". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/cbb/psalms-33.html. 2017.

Bible CommentariesPsalms 33

Bell's Commentary on the BibleBell's Commentary

Verses 1-22

Verses 1-22

Bible Commentaries
Psalms 33