INTRODUCTION
For the past few decades, the Christian church has almost exclusively focused on how to apply what we believe. That is important. We have heard you do these three things, or today I want you to start practicing this or to grow closer to God, start doing these action steps. And that is all well and good. But in the midst of that application emphasis, we have overlooked the "Why" of what we believe. We have avoided theology and doctrine even though they are the why of what we believe. We need theology because “The Why” is the foundation for “What” we believe and “How” we apply it to our lives. Studying the theology of the Bible is crucial because it helps us understand the nature of God, His purposes, and our relationship with Him. Theology provides a framework for interpreting the Bible, allowing us to grasp its deeper meanings and apply its teachings to our lives. It shapes our worldview, guides how we perceive moral and ethical issues and influences our daily decisions.
Theology strengthens our faith by providing a solid foundation of truth. It helps us discern sound doctrine, protecting us from false teachings and misunderstandings. For example, the Prosperity Gospel has exploded in the past forty-five years because we have ignored church theology, and people can’t identify false teachings. Through theological study, we grow in our knowledge of God’s character, His redemptive plan, and the significance of Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. In turn, we understand what we believe and how to apply those beliefs to our daily lives more effectively. It's all built on theology and doctrine. Without theology, our faith has no foundation. Hence, today, we see church attendance across our country at all-time lows and people from church members to pastors deconstructing their faith. Even though it may sound a bit boring and tedious, theology and doctrine, the why of our beliefs, matter greatly.
Ultimately, theology enriches our spiritual life, deepening our worship and devotion. It equips us to share our faith more effectively, grounding our beliefs in the rich, historical truths of the Christian faith. Theology matters.
So, let’s discuss a cornerstone of our faith: God's sovereignty. Psalm 33 is a profound declaration of God's sovereignty, emphasizing His absolute authority, wisdom, and power over all creation. The psalmist invites us to behold the majesty of the Lord, who spoke the universe into existence by the sheer power of His word.
Psalm 33 ESV
Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous!
Praise befits the upright.
Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;
make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
For the word of the Lord is upright,
and all his work is done in faithfulness.
He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap;
he puts the deeps in storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the Lord;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.
The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
the plans of his heart to all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!
The Lord looks down from heaven;
he sees all the children of man;
from where he sits enthroned he looks out
on all the inhabitants of the earth,
he who fashions the hearts of them all
and observes all their deeds.
The king is not saved by his great army;
a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
The war horse is a false hope for salvation,
and by its great might it cannot rescue.
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,
that he may deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in famine.
Our soul waits for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
For our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.
Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.
SCRIPTURAL ANALYSIS
Psalm 33 is one of the orphan psalms. It has no Hebrew title, and its author is not named. The psalm moves from general theological claims about God to specific qualities he seeks from humans. Psalm 33 teaches one of the cardinal lessons Israel had to learn repeatedly throughout her long history with God: Deliverance belongs to God (3:8), and salvation comes to those who “wait hopefully” for God rather than those who trust in any form of human power.
Psalm 33 is a beautiful acknowledgment of God's sovereignty. God deserves worship and praise from His people because they can always count on His faithfulness, righteousness, justice, and love. He is the Creator who spoke the stars and heavens into existence.
Verses 1-5
The Hebrew phrase “sing to the Lord a new song” appears in this important Psalm's opening phrase and Psalms 96, 98, and 149. Outside the Psalms, the identical phrase occurs only in Revelation and Isaiah 42, introducing a song praising God’s “new” acts of deliverance. It does seem that a “new song” is a logical response to a “new act” of deliverance. The old expressions of joy just will not do for such new joy! New praise must find its way to be sung and played. It also seems understandable that by association, the ultimate eschatological act of deliverance requires the ultimate “new song,” as Revelation recounts in chapters 5 and 14. A ‘new’ song implies there are always fresh reasons for praising God.
The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.” An evil god who was eternal would inspire neither confidence nor trust, only fear. The God of Israel, however, is a God who “loves righteousness and justice.” God’s essential character is grounded in justice and righteousness; it is who he is at his core.
Verses 6-12
The Psalmist praises God concerning Creation and the parting of the Red Sea. First, the psalmist spoke of the power of the word of the Lord in Creation (vv. 6-9). Because God spoke, Creation came into existence. What God decrees happens. Therefore, all people in the world should worship Him. Then, the psalmist spoke of the power of the Lord in history. His purposes are sustained, no matter what people endeavor to do. Indeed, a God with such powerful words and works should be praised.
Just as God spoke to create the universe, His word continues to have power. People should respond with deep reverence as they comprehend God's unlimited power (33:8–9).
In verse 12, the Psalmist praises God for Israel's unique role in God's plans and purposes. The psalmist expresses joy over being part of God’s elect people, recipients of His loyal love.
Verses 13-17
Rather than resisting God, it is far better to yield to Him and receive His blessing. God sees all. The Creator is aware of the actions and inner thoughts of those He created (33:13–15). Only God is capable of sure protection and safety, even though the people of the time looked to other things for security (33:16–17).
Verses 18-22
In a setting of frequent wars and famines, God is a constant hope for those who trust Him. Because He sees all, He does not miss the faith and prayers of the righteous. He is a shield against calamity. They can learn to rejoice and receive His unfailing love, knowing they will receive His help whenever needed.
The conclusion of the psalm is a reassertion of faith in the Lord. God’s people demonstrate their faith in three ways. First, they wait in hope. Second, they rejoice in Him whom they trust. Third, they pray for His unfailing love to rest on them. So they are confident (hope) that He will consummate His salvation plan. All of this points to the coming Messiah promised to humanity and the Israelites. Once again, this shows God is in control.
TODAY’S KEY TRUTH
Surrendering to God Shows Our Belief in God’s Power.
APPLICATION
This psalm explores God’s sovereignty by summoning his people to praise his person, word, and works. Psalm 33 highlights that all things came into being through His command, showcasing His creative authority and the ease with which He governs the cosmos.
The sovereignty of God is illustrated in His governance over human affairs. Psalm 33 contrasts nations' fleeting plans with the Lord's enduring purposes, affirming that no scheme or strategy can thwart His divine will. This underscores the reality that God is not a passive observer but an active ruler, guiding history according to His perfect plan. The psalmist expresses his sense of security and comfort found in God’s sovereignty. Therefore, God's sovereignty is not just a doctrine of power but also a source of hope, inviting us to trust in His merciful control over all things.
God’s sovereign rule guarantees the world's stability against all the forces of chaos. It confirms the trustworthiness of all God’s words and directives and calls for honoring Him by His people. The whole psalm expresses joy, hope, and confidence in God's sovereignty.
A power and majesty that belongs to God is depicted here. It’s an absolute power. It’s an inescapable power. You notice it says, “For he spoke, and it came to be … But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever …” Unlike us, there is no disparity between his desires and actions, between his intentions and plans. He speaks, and it is. Not just that, he intends, and it is. I speak, and not even my dogs listen much less the universe.
There is no disparity between what God wants and what he can have. There is a disparity between what we want and what we can have, and we hate that. The ultimate problem we all have is we want what God alone has and only he can have. There is no disparity between what he wants and what he can effect. We want that absolute power. Listen, you have not understood the message of the Scripture unless you understand sin is not just falling short of this or that standard; sin is always, always, always a power play against God.
At the root, when we get mad at God (which happens often), when we get frustrated and upset with ourselves, it’s not the job, it’s not the career, it’s not the money, it’s not the sickness, it’s not the relationship. It’s not the thing we’re so upset about. Underneath the issue is always power. “Who really has the power over my world? Who really has the final say? Who ultimately should be in control? God or me?”
The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche saw that the ultimate human drive is to gain power. He said that drive is underneath everything we do. He says that underneath artistic, professional, intimate, and even religious endeavors, ultimately, what you’re after is power. Biblically, unless the Holy Spirit changes your heart, he’s right because deep in the heart is the original lie that came in and was embedded in our hearts in the Garden of Eden, and it has never left us. That lie is, “I cannot be happy unless I have the power of the Creator. I cannot be happy without power even if I have Paradise.”
I know Adam and Eve are related to me because it turned out that one tree was the one thing they couldn’t do without. The one thing God said, “No,” was the one thing that bothered them. They had to have that tree, and they ate of that tree. Do you see it? The issue was not the tree. The issue was power. They didn’t need that tree. They lived in paradise. They wanted power. In other words, the issue was, “Does God say or do I say? Am I following God’s will or my will? Does God’s word or my desires define the ruling reality of the world and the universe?”
Underneath everything, the marriage problems are power problems. The work problems are power problems. The relationship problems are power problems. I want to be in control, not God. Sin is always a power play against God.
Surrendering to God Shows Our Belief in God’s Power.
CONCLUSION
We often struggle with trying to control everything in our lives, but true freedom comes when we acknowledge God’s sovereignty. You can either give God power and obey him or foolishly attempt to grab power and disobey him. You can either give God control over you or try to grab his power away from him and say, “No. Right now, my desires will be the ruling reality in my life.”
The text says that God becomes your shield, and you get joy if you trust in his unfailing love. If you want to understand the Old Testament, its here in these words. The words, unfailing love, are unique words that mean God’s covenant love. Whenever you see, “We trust in your unfailing love,” in the Old Testament, they are saying, “We trust in the covenant God made to bring about salvation. We trust in the covenant God made to bring about the gospel.”
Do you know what the gospel is? The gospel is the message of the Bible that says, “While men and women have put themselves in God’s place and tried to take power that only God deserves, God in his infinite love and grace has put himself in our place and taken upon himself the punishment which only we deserve. We tried to be God, and we have failed. God sought to become human, and he succeeded. He became human. He was born here. He was Jesus Christ, and he died on the cross to pay the penalty for our power grabbing.”
A Christian is not just somebody who says, “Oh, how I wish I could be a better person. I’m a sinner.” A Christian is somebody who begins to realize the root of all of their problems has been their power-grabbing against God. A Christian is somebody who looks into the heart of God through the gospel. The gospel is that he died for you and that he’s committed to you. That’s his unfailing love. A Christian looks into the heart of God through the gospel and realizes that all of your life, you really expected he has his power over you to make you miserable and a slave. You believed that all along, so you tried to take His power. But through the gospel, you look into the heart of God expecting to see an enemy's frown; instead, you see a friend's tears and smile. At that moment, you can finally say, “I want to give you the power over me.” How ironic, when you give him power over your life, His power flows through your life.
Surrendering to God Shows Our Belief in God’s Power.
The word sovereignty means principal, chief, and supreme. It speaks of the first position. Someone has to be in the first position of your life. Do we need to review the track record of our lives when we try to seize power to control our lives? How poorly has that gone?
And here is the irony of all this. Every time you honor him and give him power, it creates power, courage, and vision within you. What made Paul sing in prison? What made Esther say, “If I perish, I perish.” What made all but one of the disciple's willing martyrs? The power that came through surrendering to God.
Surrendering to God Shows Our Belief in God’s Power.
Initially, we discussed that action steps don’t sustain or secure our faith. Understanding theology and doctrine will drive our minds and actions more toward God. The doctrine of God’s sovereignty is foundational to what we believe and how we live it out.
When we surrender our will to God, we find peace amidst chaos, purpose in uncertainty, and strength in vulnerability. It's counterintuitive but liberating: the more we surrender, the more empowered we become.
If we surrender our lives and will to God, we no longer have to worry about tomorrow. The political, economic, and security concerns currently consuming our country do not have to hold us captive if we focus on God’s plan and will for our lives. Then, we can find peace knowing that He will use us for His glory and kingdom. In a world obsessed with control, true power comes from letting go. We find purpose and peace in God’s greatness and sovereignty.
Surrendering to God Shows Our Belief in God’s Power.
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