God's Word For You is a free Bible Study site committed to bringing you studies firmly grounded in the Bible – the Word of God. Holding a reformed, conservative, evangelical perspective this site affirms that God has provided in Jesus Christ his eternal Son, a way of salvation in which we can live in his presence guilt free, acquitted and at peace.

 
 

THOUGHTS FROM THE PSALMS

A NEW SONG

As we come to the end of the old year and the beginning of the new, 'it is fitting', as the Psalm writer says, to sing joyfully to the Lord in a new song of praise [Psalm 33:1-3].

It is fitting.

For the Psalmist, it is fitting for several reasons [33:4-5]:

      • the Lord's word is right and true
      • the Lord is faithful in all he does
      • the Lord loves righteousenss and justice
      • the earth is full of the Lord's unfailing love.

These characteristics of God are backed up with reference to:

      • the creation of the universe by the power of God's word [33:6,9]
      • God's sovereign authority over the nations [33:10]
      • the certainty that God's purposes persist and prevail [33:11]

In contrast to this greatness and sovereignty of God mortal men are depicted as weak and helpless, powerless and vulnerable [33:12-19], dependent on God whether they acknowledge it or not.  But, in the midst of this human fragility, there are those who are called 'blessed' [33:12].

They are 'the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.' They are 'those who fear him' and 'those whose hope is in his unfailing love.' For the Psalm writer, this meant the nation of Israel. Since the coming of the Christ, this description embraces people from all nations who call upon his name. Those who believe in Jesus Christ are now the 'holy nation, a people belonging to God' [1 Peter 2:9]. Those who believe in Jesus Christ are 'those who fear him'. Those who believe in Jesus Christ are 'those whose hope is in his unfailing love'.

The Psalmist urged his hearers, these blessed people who know and fear the Lord, to sing joyfully to the Lord, to sing a new song to the Lord, to shout for joy. Even before the coming of the Christ such joy and such praise was 'fitting'.

How much more fitting now that the Christ has come!

How much more do we now know that his word is right and true!
How much more do we now know that he is faithful in all he does!
How much more do we now know that he loves righteousness and justice!
How much more to we now know that the earth is full of his unfailing love!
How much more certainly do we now hope in the Lord!
How much more do we now understand that he is our help and our shield!
How much more do we now have reason to trust in his holy name!
How much more do we now have confidence that his unfailing love rests upon us!
How much more confidently do we now put our hope in him!

How much more fitting that we, who know God by knowing Christ, should sing a new song of exuberant and inexpressible joy! [1 Peter 1:8-9]