Minimizing Problems By Maximizing Praise

Minimizing Problems by Maximizing Praise

Introduction:

A man was feeling overwhelmed by his lengthy to-do list. Instead of complaining about it, he praised God for the things he had accomplished already. With each task he celebrated, his burdens felt lighter, and he realized his problems were not as significant as he believed. Focusing on gratitude helped him find joy in the mundane. Like King David, who sang praises despite his struggles, we can shift our perspective and minimize our problems through appreciation.

 Psalm 33 is a special Psalm. It is one of only four Psalms that lacks a title. The others are Psalm 1; 2, and 10. All the other Psalms have some sort of title. Many commentators believe that this Psalm is linked to Psalm 32. In that Psalm, David praises the Lord for forgiving his sins. Psalm 32 closes with a command to rejoice, v. 11. Psalm 33 opens with the same command.

There are some basic differences between the two psalms, but the organic link between them is real.

Psalm 32 is impassioned, Psalm 33 is impersonal;

Psalm 32 is emotional, Psalm 33 is logical;

Psalm 32 is experiential, Psalm 33 is expositional;

Psalm 32 deals with God’s pardon, Psalm 33 with God’s power;

Psalm 32 shows us the throne of God’s grace, Psalm 33 the throne of God’s government;

Psalm 32 deals with the heart, Psalm 33 deals with Heaven.

Here, then, is the vital connection between the two psalms. We can ring out our joy in Psalm 32 because our sins are forgiven. But sin contaminates the whole universe. We can ring out our joy in Psalm 33 because the God who forgives our sins in Psalm 32 is the God who controls the factors of space and time. No wonder we can praise Him thankfully.

I. Embrace Joyful Praise

Psalm 33:1-3

•   Verse 1 also tells us that “praise is comely for the upright”. The word “comely” means “beautiful”. Many emotions can grip our hearts. We can be overcome with pride, hate, malice, anger, envy, unforgiveness, and other harmful emotions. No emotion is as elegant, beneficial, or beautiful as a heart filled with praise for the Lord.

A. Thankfully (33:1)

“Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.” It is here that the structural link with the preceding psalm is evident. It is not so evident perhaps in the King James text, but it is evident when we get behind the English translation to the Hebrew. Rotherham translates the very last line of Psalm 32: “Ring out your joy all ye upright in heart.” He translates the opening line: “Ring out your joy ye righteous in Jehovah,” one psalm leading to the other.

Illustration:

     A father and son were watching a football game when their team was losing badly. The father began to cheer for the good plays, even if they were few and far between. Soon, the son noticed how focusing on the positives made them enjoy the game more, despite the score. Similarly, when we maximize our praise in tough times, we find joy amid hardship—just as Paul encouraged the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord, we are invited to choose praise over despair.

•   Verse 2 calls on us to use our musical skills to praise Him. When instruments are played for His glory, it honors Him because music is another form of praise to the Lord.

B. Thoroughly (33:2)

“Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto Him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.” Tune up the orchestra! Pull out the stops! Bring all your musical skills and use them to sound forth the praises of our God. God is not displeased with instrumental music in our meetings. In the Old Testament, it was commanded again and again. In the New Testament, music begins in the heart, but it can be expressed with the hands as well as with the voice. We are to praise Him thoroughly.

•   Verse 3 calls us to “sing unto Him a new song”. The idea of a “new song” means that we are to be thoughtful and exercise our minds to find new ways to praise Him. When you consider the fact that Lam. 3:22–23 says, “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

C. Thoughtfully (33:3)

“Sing unto Him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.” A new song but an old theme! A new song calls for thought and exercise, for skill and careful composition. There are seven new songs in the Old Testament—six of them are in the Psalms (Psalms 33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9; 149:1) and one in Isaiah 42:10. The word for “a new song” in the original text suggests a song never heard before. That calls for thought. Our thoughts about God should ever be exploring new frontiers of wonder and awe and should ever be expressing themselves in new paeans of praise. The psalm begins with the Lord and his praise.

It should be clear that we have ample reason every day to exalt Him for His grace, His blessings and His goodness to us.

•   Verse 3 also calls on us to praise Him so others hear us. That does not mean we are to praise Him so that others will see us, but we are to praise Him so that others will be aware of Who He is and what He has done for His people.

Now, having commanded us to praise the Lord, the Psalmist gives us the reasons why we should praise Him.

II.    Encounter Divine Faithfulness

v. 4–9 WE SHOULD REJOICE IN HIS WORD

A. v. 4a His Word Is Precious—The word “right” means “upright, straight, correct”. This word reminds us that God’s Word sets the standard for righteousness and morality. The Word of God is like a compass that guides the people of God through the desert of this world.

All around us we see the results of abandoning the Word of God. Our society has been cast adrift upon the sea of time without a rudder. Our nation, and the world, have abandoned the Ten Commandments, the Great Commandment, and every other precept of God. The apparent result of sinful man’s foolish decision to abandon the Word of God is rampant immorality, wickedness, and evil in the world.

Illustration:

A young girl once received a four-balloon for her birthday. During a storm, her balloon got caught in a tree, and she was devastated. Instead of dwelling on her loss, she recounted all the fantastic gifts she received that day. With every grateful thought, her smile returned, proving that her sadness diminished when she lifted up her praise. Much like the Apostle Paul encouraging us to rejoice always, this young girl showed that praise can lighten our burdens.

Those who read the Word, honor the Word and live by the Word, know how precious the Word of God is. They can say with the Psalmist,

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path,” Psa. 119:105.

They also know the truth of Pro. 6:23, which says, “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.”

The saints of God have a rudder as they sail the uncertain seas of life. We have a pattern after which we can live our lives. From His Word, we can discern His will for the course of our lives, and we can find out how we are to live day by day.

His Word is precious. We should praise Him for that!

B. v. 4b–5 His Word Is Personal—In His Word we learn about the Lord Himself. His Word is His revelation of Himself to the world. We learn that He does everything He does in “truth”, v. 4. That word carries the idea of “steadfastness”. We learn in verse 5 that He “loveth righteousness” and judgment”. This reminds us that He will bless those who honor His Word and He will judge those who abandon His Word. Verse 5 also teaches us that God’s goodness can be seen in all the word around us.

All these truths teach us that the Word of God is a revelation of the Person of God. How else could a holy, transcendent, eternal God reveal Himself to man? It would be like us trying to communicate with the ants in an anthill. We are so removed from their experience that we could not possibly communicate with them on our level. God so longed to reveal Himself to humanity that He condescended to reveal Himself in the pages of a Book. Not just any book! God has chosen to reveal Himself in the pages of the Word of God, John 5:39. We should praise Him for His Word because it reveals the nature of God to us!

III. Experience God’s Majesty

v. 6–9 His Word Is Powerful—In these verses, the Psalmist reminds us that everything we see around us was created by the Word of God. Everything visible, invisible, large, small, near, and far came into existence through the Word of God.

In Gen. 1:3, God speaks for the first time. When He speaks, light appears out of the darkness. All through Genesis 1, God keeps speaking, and great things keep appearing. His Word had power then, and His Word still has power today. Every promise will be fulfilled. Our actions will be judged based on His commands. The Word of God is filled with power, glory, and hope.

Listen to the testimony of His Word about His Word.

•   “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart,” Heb. 4:12.

•   “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven,” Psa 119:89.

•   “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works,” 2 Tim. 3:16–17.

We should praise Him for His Word because it is infused with divine power! It will stand, though the entire world stand against it, Isa. 55:11