The Message of Praise

Read: Psalm 33

Psalm 33 KJV 1900

1 Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: For praise is comely for the upright. 2 Praise the Lord with harp: Sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. 3 Sing unto him a new song; Play skilfully with a loud noise. 4 For the word of the Lord is right; And all his works are done in truth. 5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. 6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; And all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: He layeth up the depth in storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the Lord: Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 9 For he spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. 10 The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: He maketh the devices of the people of none effect. 11 The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, The thoughts of his heart to all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; And the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. 13 The Lord looketh from heaven; He beholdeth all the sons of men. 14 From the place of his habitation he looketh Upon all the inhabitants of the earth. 15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; He considereth all their works. 16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: A mighty man is not delivered by much strength. 17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: Neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. 18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, Upon them that hope in his mercy; 19 To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine. 20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord: He is our help and our shield. 21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, Because we have trusted in his holy name. 22 Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, According as we hope in thee.

The psalmist praises the Lord for his attributes and his works.

I. The Methods of Praise (33:1–3)

A. With joy from our hearts (Psalm 33:1)

B. With songs from our harps (Psalm 33:2–3)

II. The Messages of Praise ( Psalm 33:4–22)

A. Praise God for his goodness (Psalm 33:4–5).

B. Praise God for his power over creation (Psalm 33:6–9): He simply spoke everything into existence.

C. Praise God for his sovereignty (Psalm 33:10–12): He is ultimately in charge of what happens on earth.

D. Praise God for his omniscience (Psalm 33:13–15): He knows every-one’s heart.

E. Praise God for his omnipotence (Psalm 33:16–17): Security is found in God, not in kings and armies.

F. Praise God for his protection (Psalm 33:18–22): God watches over those who fear him.

Psalm 33:22 is a benediction of sorts and where I really want to talk about tonight.

There are two main words I want us to notice:

MERCY: If you have another version it may say “lovingkindness” or “steadfast love” it is from the Hebrew word “hesed” and is used about 250 times in the OT

It means “loyal love” it is simply us not getting what we justly deserve.

That is the main difference between grace and mercy -

Grace is getting what we don’t deserve

Mercy is not getting what we do deserve

The Psalmist prays - “Let your mercy - steadfast love- be upon us.

Fanny Crosby the blind hymn writer asks, “Can I doubt His tender mercies, who through life has been my guide?”

Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations & Quotes The Water Will Boil

David Marks was one of the most powerful evangelists in early American history. He was born to godly Connecticut parents in 1805, and his awareness of God began early in life. The incident that started him thinking about the Savior was a day when he was watching some flax burn. He had heard of the fires of hell, and as he watched the flames, he thought how exceedingly dreadful even one moment in hell would be.

“What would I do if the wrath of God fell on the earth?” he asked himself. After serious thought, he decided that should the Day of Judgment come, he would descend into the well and hide there. Running to his mother, he shared his plan; but she replied, “Ah, my son, the water will boil and the earth will burn.”

He then told her that he would run to a spot he knew in the rocks where he could hide. She said, “But the rocks will melt.” He was so overwhelmed with dread that he told her he would just die and escape the wrath of God in the grave. But she replied, “My child, your hope is in vain; for the dead will awake and come out of their graves.”

Young David went outside and walked through the fields, pondering at length the reality of that coming day and his being unprepared for it. Putting his hand over his heart, he looked toward heaven and said, “God, be merciful to me a sinner.”*

The same words of the Publican in Jesus’ parable - He went home justified

The same attitude of the thief on the cross - who went home to paradise a few hours later

The same attitude and words of the Psalmist - “Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us” or around us or all over us.

The songwriter said, “Mercy there was great” I thank God for MERCY

2. HOPE:

Then the Psalmist says “according as (or even as) we hope in thee”

We must keep our “hope” in God

But this hope is so close to the concept of faith

it means to wait for or look forward to the arrival of something.

It’s not wishing for your suggestions on Christmas - it’s more like the anticipation of waiting for your package in the mail.

You know what you ordered or what someone ordered for you - but you have to wait until it arrives

The Psalmist says - we are “hoping” or “expecting” or in reality “receiving” our salvation, or deliverance, our eternal life from YOU