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Text: Psalm 33
This psalm is the second half of Psalm 32.
The psalm is prophetic and speaking of the soon return of the Lord. The believers among the nation of Israel are the upright in 32:11 and those preparing to rejoice in the Lord. We’ll be able to gain some instruction from this, but the context are the believers in the nation of Israel when the Lord returns.
The new song occurs 9 times in the Bible. You might remember it from the book of Revelation where a new song is sung around the throne. Then the 144,000 sing a new song that no one knew but them.
Praise fits the upright
- …praise is comely for the upright… (vs 1)
- Comely means it fits. It goes well together. It’s a beautiful match.
- The psalm will describe things that the upright in heart will find praiseworthy in the Lord.
- Verse 4 his words and the truth
- Verse 5 he loves righteousness and earth full of his goodness
- Verses 6-9 his creation
- Verses 10-12 his counsel
- Praising the Lord doesn’t fit the world
- Philosophy of evangelism through music isn’t God’s way.
- Philosophy of bringing in the lost through music isn’t God’s way.
Praise will reflect the new nature in Jesus Christ
- …sing unto him a new song… (vs 3)
- Now I realize we are in the Old Testament before the Lord Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, but the idea of a new song fits the redemption of the body.
- Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
- Music can be aimed at many things.
- Sometimes it’s aimed at hooking your emotions or lusts so it can get hold of your wallet.
- Sometimes music can be aimed at unclean spirits.
- Sometimes music can be aimed at getting people in the church building.
- Bach said, “The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.”
- Proverbs 25:20 As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
- It should direct your thoughts toward Godliness
- Music that is instructive to the new man and aimed at the Lord
- Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16 – teaching one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
- dark sayings are opened on the harp – Psalm 49:4
- a minstrel played and the hand of the Lord was on Elisha – 2 Kings 3:1
- spiritual music accompanied prophecy – book of Psalms, 1 Chronicles 25:1-3, 1 Samuel 10:5-6
- Music that is principally sung if it is going to direct your thoughts toward God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- It won’t be a stumbling block to others. It shouldn’t confuse people on what it is.
- People should say they’ve been with Jesus, not that they’ve been to the bar or a rock n roll concert
- 1 Samuel 16:14-23 – In other words, spiritual music will clear out evil spirits and assist the preaching of the words of God. Haven’t you listened to a good hymn, played skillfully and it just lifted your spirit and you got to thinking about how good God is. What happened is that music just cleaned house. Flushed out the spirit that was there and introduced the Holy Spirit
- Alternative is seen in Exodus 32, a degeneration in the music – the worship started with a demand to cater to the desires of the people
Praising the Lord fitting for you?
- If praise fits the upright and you claim to be upright, why is it so difficult for you to praise the Lord?
- Look at verse 21, there is rejoicing because there is trust in the Lord.
- Is it because you haven’t trusted him and you really don’t see anything praiseworthy?
- Does it matter to you that his word is right and his work is truth?
- Does it make any difference that to you that the Lord loves righteousness?
- How about that the Lord’s counsel is the only thing left standing? Does that make any difference?
- Convey truth the way it’s affected you. Be joyful.
