Hello, my friend. This matter of singing is such a big thing in Scripture. We have reference to it in 44 of the 66 books, and the word or a related one, like music, instruments, choirs, occurs more than 500 times. Psalm 32 tells us, as we saw yesterday, that the Lord surrounds us with songs of deliverance (vs.7) and ends with that command, (vs.11), “Sing, all you who are upright in heart!” And here in PSALM 33, we are instructed how to praise God with singing.
First of all, we are told to sing joyfully (33:1). But can a person sing without doing it joyfully? Just watch a congregation on some Sunday morning, faces which are unsmiling, without expression, and often looking glum. So singing first of all comes from the heart, the seat of real joy. Then we are reminded that praising God is a prominent characteristic of those who trust in Him. And David says to bring along instruments in vs. 2, “Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to Him on the ten-stringed lyre (or twelve-string guitar!)” This gives many gifted people the opportunity of using their skills to praise the Lord.
Then notice in vs. 3 that we should sing to the Lord a new song. This doesn’t mean only that it should be a song previously unknown, but it should also come from the heart that has been made new in Christ. It may be true that we become so familiar with old songs that we no longer appreciate their words. On the other hand we may find new songs so unfamiliar that, unless they have substance and are musically pleasing, they may be just a repeated rattle of words, intended to display the singer more than declaring the Word of God. For a most important instruction in all these verses is that we are singing joyfully to the Lord, we are praising Him with the harp, we are singing to Him a new song. We don’t sing to people but to the Lord.
And I love how it says in vs. 3, “Play skillfully” which requires practice and dedication. We should shout for joy, reflecting the inner blessing of an overflowing heart. In verses 4 and 6 David connects all this with the Word of God, His unfailing love in vs. 5 and the plans of the Lord in vs.11. The Word of God is our source of knowledge, the Love of God is the source of wisdom and the Plans of God are the source of guidance. These three things are so valuable: we need to know the Word to understand God’s nature; we need to share His Love as He lives through us; we need to know His plans to be preserved from living over-burdened, over-stressed, over-active lives. In all we do, it is for the Lord and not for people as Colossians 3:23,24 tells us. It is the Lord we are serving and music is a gold thread woven into the fabric of our lives, for the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).
We are thankful, Lord, for this reminder, which can indeed lift our hearts. We’re thrilled to read here in vs. 18 that Your eyes are on those who fear you, whose hope is in Your unfailing love. We need forever to be reminded that blessed is the nation when you are its Lord, you whose eyes are on us all. We revel in your Word and Your love. Thank you, Lord!
May He bless your day, my friend. Cheerio!
These meditations on the Psalms were written by Village Schools of the Bible Founder, Monty Sholund and first published in book form as Monty’s Musings on the Psalms in 2000.
Village Schools of the Bible 