Psalm 33

One of the things I enjoy about Israeli sites of antiquity is that they take the Biblical record as factual.  For example, at the Tower of David Museum, the history of Jerusalem begins with the record in Genesis 14 of the meeting between Abraham and Melchizedek, King of Salem.  The other day at Rimonim, a small community that overlooks Jericho and the plains of Moab in the distance, the voice recording at the viewpoint tells the story of Israel’s entrance into the land near Jericho and included the tragic story of Achan and Israel’s defeat at Ai.  Even at Caesarea there is a quote from Acts about Paul’s imprisonment there and the National Park at Capernaum includes several passages concerning Jesus.

Foundational to our faith and encouragement in this life is accepting the history of Scripture as factual.  As Paul said, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4).  

Many of the Psalms have historical events as the backdrop for the praise and petition of the hearts of the saints.  This is such a Psalm, although the specific historical situation that may have given rise to this song or which may be in the writer’s memory is not specified.  But here is the point: he knows he can hope in God’s mercy because of God’s faithfulness in the past.  Consider the Psalm!

·        V1-3: The saints are called to praise, musical praise, the kind that can be lifted by a community of God’s people.

·        V4: The reason is: For the word of the LORD is right, And all His work is done in truth.  To trust God’s word to do right, and to know that whatever God does will be consistent with His word is critical to our confidence.  He can be trusted to never get it wrong!  But how can we know this?

·        V5-9: The Psalmist gives the illustration of how God, through His word, created all things in such a way that “the earth is full of His goodness.”  There is no argument about evolution and creation or any discussion of the finer points of either.  He simply treats the Biblical account of creation as factual.  

·        V10-17: He then gives an illustration of how God has watched over His people throughout their history, even providentially protecting them from the evil plans of surrounding nations.  The point is that, “The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations” (v11).  Perhaps there was a recent event that demonstrated this, or perhaps the Psalmist has in mind the general history which his hearers would understand.  But what matters is that …

·        V18-22: God’s people can trust or hope in God’s mercy when they fear Him.  The current difficulty can be faced with confidence because they take seriously God’s recorded faithfulness from the past.  They are waiting on the Lord, meaning there is a current need; but they wait confidently!

There are a lot of fine Christian books available these days, written to help us with our personal struggles.  But I am wondering if we are availing ourselves of THE BOOK?  Are we taking it as fact when we read of God’s work in the past?  There may be no better encouragement to our faith in God today than to remember His work(s) in the past.