Worship & Psalm 33, part 1

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Differences in worship divide many Christians. The greatest schism in the history of Christianity ostensibly happened because of worship -- namely, whether or not images (icons) could be tools in helping believers worship. Many contemporary Christians choose their place of worship based upon style of worship. Other factors may be important to many people, but worship is clearly one of the most emotional, personal and divisive issues within Christianity today.

I'm going to take my time with this issue. For the foreseeable future, we'll look at worship through different lenses. Some will be personal. Others will be textual or historical. Please note that this is a very broad subject, and I hope some of you will feel free to comment and add your perspectives and thoughts to the conversation.

I'll start with a look at Psalm 33. This psalm from our Bible is all about worship. If we're going to learn about worship, we will do well to listen to the testimony of scripture. The Bible doesn't answer all our questions with black & white responses, but it does give us a glimpse of how faithful people respond to God.

A quick note about Psalm 33. I am grateful to Dr. John Willis for his teaching on this psalm. I have hastily written notes from his comments, so I am unsure what portions of the following material are from him and what are my own commentary on his thoughts. Regardless, I owe him a debt of gratitude for the commentary to follow in coming days.

Listen to the words of the psalmist (from the New Revised Standard Version):

Psalm 33

1 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous.
Praise befits the upright.
2 Praise the Lord with the lyre;
make melody to him with the harp of ten strings.
3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

4 For the word of the Lord is upright,
and all his work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.

6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
and all their host by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle;
he put the deeps in storehouses.

8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.

10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
12 Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.

13 The Lord looks down from heaven;
he sees all humankind.
14 From where he sits enthroned he watches
all the inhabitants of the earth--
15 he who fashions the hearts of them all,
and observes all their deeds.
16 A king is not saved by his great army;
a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The war horse is a vain hope for victory,
and by its great might it cannot save.

18 Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19 to deliver their soul from death,
and to keep them alive in famine.

20 Our soul waits for the Lord;
he is our help and shield.
21 Our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.

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