Psalm 33
This Psalm seems perfectly positioned as a follow-on to the great gospel message which has just preceded it. We are reminded, at least in the spirit of it, of Paul’s comments after having laid out the great doctrine of Justification by Faith.
Rom 5:1-2
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Redemption which has resulted in Justification can be reasonably met by no other response than Worship, and that is exactly where we find ourselves in this Psalm.
1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
The “comely” rejoice, which is the only appropriate reaction for those who have been made “upright” by the Mighty Working of the Spirit of God in applying the Mighty Work of the Redeemer. “I once was blind but now I see.”
But the observation must be made in light of the Great Prostitution of Worship which exists in this early part of the 21st century, that this “praise” must be doctrinally driven and directed. It must be carried out to the
mutual edification of the church body (provided the church body is an actual New Testament church) and so it must be done “decently and in order.” The admonition to “praise” does not create free license to behave as one wants and call it “worship.”
Reasonable behavior for saints is to worship God in both heartfelt praise and a dignified manner. Both of those things can be done at the same time. Praise must be defined as David, Jesus and Paul would have defined it, not as the rabblerousers and manipulators do.
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.
The joining of instrument and voice in songs of worship is not merely a suggestion, it is a duty, a profound duty of those who have the conscious awareness of His Greatness. But the introduction of the instrument does not change the biblical format.
And, why do they worship? What is the driving reality that has seized their minds and pushed them, then, emotionally to a place to exult in Him?
4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
Just this, that everything He does is right.
Rom 3:24-26
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness
for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which
believeth in Jesus.
He was right to condemn us for our sins and He has created a Way whereby He might Justify those who (truly) believe and still maintain His Own Holiness. He has Redeemed us without compromising Himself.
Praise His Holy Name!
5 He loveth righteousness and judgment:
I have ended this stanza here because it seems to me that a new subject takes up in the last half of this verse.
It is undoubtedly impossible for a human mind to conceive that which inseparably joins the Lord to the principles of Righteousness and Justice. They are such an essential element of His character that to separate His Essence from them would be to destroy Him, to make Him that which He is not. And, of course, that could never be. One must never do that in his mind else he creates a false god, one that can never save.
The point is that the soul that would ever hope to have a relationship with Him must recognize, embrace and fully agree with Him concerning all that He has declared and revealed concerning those two massive topics. He loves Righteousness and if you would love and worship Him, you must love what He loves.
This means that you turn from all of your arguments with Him concerning what sin is, that you repent of all that He has declared Unrighteous and embrace all that He has defined as Righteous.
Do you love Him?
— May 19, 2020