Psalm 33: Hoping in the Word
AFTER MY CONVERSION I was shocked at what happened when I picked up the Bible. I found myself enticed, confronted, spoken to and challenged. I couldn't get enough of it. Now almost thirty years later, I still can't get enough. The words that God has spoken are never outdated. In this psalm David meditates on the powerful Word of God by which he creates and sustains his world. Because of the nature of God's Word, we need to open our ears to hear as we read to understand.
Warming Up to God
In order to spend time with God today—stop! Don't try to run your own life, and don't tell God what to do. Present your life to God. Ask God to bring in his order.
Read Psalm 33. »
Discovering the Word
- What is the emotional tone of this psalm?
- The word of the Lord is one of the themes of this psalm. What can you learn about God's word from verses 1-11?
- This psalm gives a big picture of God. Other nations thought of their god as a national deity with a limited realm of authority. Over what things does Israel's God have power (vv. 6-11)?
- According to verses 12-22, what is God's relationship to the world he created?
- What is his special relationship with "those who fear him" (vv. 18-22)?
Applying the Word
- Imagine that God watched you conduct your day from beginning to end. What would he see about your actions?
- How do they express your priorities, values and commitments?
- What hopes for success do you have that are misdirected? (Consider whether you are trusting in your skills, your background, your education, your intelligence, your money, your influence, your friends . . . or a thousand other things.)
Responding in Prayer
After you have identified your false hopes, turn them over to God. Ask him to take them from you.
For Further Study
Hope Has Its Reasons by Rebecca Manley Pippert