Worship & Psalm 33, part 4
Here are two VERY important statements about worship:
Worship expresses gratitude when God saves us.
Worship expresses trust that God will save us.
In Exodus 15, the Israelites danced and worshiped on the far side of the Red Sea after God rescued them from Pharaoh. The Christians rejoiced and praised God after Peter and John were released in Act 4. These and many other examples demonstrate the truth of the first statement about worship. Humans rejoice and praise God when they believe He has done a mighty work.
In Joshua 5, the Israelites were preparing to possess the Promised Land. Their forefathers had balked when they saw the heavy fortifications and strong soldiers of Jericho and other cities. But these people worshiped in the hope that the God who saved them before would once again save them. In Acts 12, the Christians were worshiping and praying in the hopes that God would rescue Peter. They trusted in God and worshiped with the knowledge He had saved them in the past and might save Peter now. These stories and others demonstrate the second statement that worship expresses hope in God's deliverance.
Both concepts are closely related. One is a knowledge or experience of God's power to save. Experiencing God's salvation brings rejoicing. But equally important for worship is trust that God can once again save. In worship we recall God's mighty acts of salvation. And we lay our new need for salvation at His feet. We demonstrate our trust in Him and turn our problems over to Him.
Psalm 33 reminds us of God's power. It also reminds us to trust in Him rather than our own strength. Most people are tempted to trust their own resources. But the psalmist writes,
A king is not saved by his great army;
a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
The war horse is a vain hope for victory,
and by its great might it cannot save.
God alone has the power to save us from our darkest places. When it comes to deliverance, He does not discriminate between people. All are equal. His help, however, goes to those "who fear him, those who hope in his steadfast love."
Let your steadfast love be upon us, O Lord, even as we hope in you.
Worship expresses gratitude when God saves us.
Worship expresses trust that God will save us.
In Exodus 15, the Israelites danced and worshiped on the far side of the Red Sea after God rescued them from Pharaoh. The Christians rejoiced and praised God after Peter and John were released in Act 4. These and many other examples demonstrate the truth of the first statement about worship. Humans rejoice and praise God when they believe He has done a mighty work.
In Joshua 5, the Israelites were preparing to possess the Promised Land. Their forefathers had balked when they saw the heavy fortifications and strong soldiers of Jericho and other cities. But these people worshiped in the hope that the God who saved them before would once again save them. In Acts 12, the Christians were worshiping and praying in the hopes that God would rescue Peter. They trusted in God and worshiped with the knowledge He had saved them in the past and might save Peter now. These stories and others demonstrate the second statement that worship expresses hope in God's deliverance.
Both concepts are closely related. One is a knowledge or experience of God's power to save. Experiencing God's salvation brings rejoicing. But equally important for worship is trust that God can once again save. In worship we recall God's mighty acts of salvation. And we lay our new need for salvation at His feet. We demonstrate our trust in Him and turn our problems over to Him.
Psalm 33 reminds us of God's power. It also reminds us to trust in Him rather than our own strength. Most people are tempted to trust their own resources. But the psalmist writes,
A king is not saved by his great army;
a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
The war horse is a vain hope for victory,
and by its great might it cannot save.
God alone has the power to save us from our darkest places. When it comes to deliverance, He does not discriminate between people. All are equal. His help, however, goes to those "who fear him, those who hope in his steadfast love."
Let your steadfast love be upon us, O Lord, even as we hope in you.
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