Psalm 33

“Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous!  For praise from the upright is beautiful.  Praise the Lord with the harp; make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.  Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy.”  Psalm 33:1-2 (NKJV)

While this psalm begins with a praise band and songwriting, it is primarily a tribute to the Word of the Lord.  And that really is the major role that music plays within a church service: to serve & support the preaching of God’s Word.  In the words of Martin Luther, “Music is the handmaiden of theology.”

Being a songwriter myself, I pay particular attention to the term “Sing to Him a new song.” Whenever I teach a songwriting course at a university or a conference, I almost always get this question: "Which comes first, the melody or the lyrics?”  Concerning Psalm 33, David would say his new song sprang forth from seeing God’s Word fulfilled.  And doesn’t that happen to us whenever we read the Bible and God reveals something to us that constitutes a paradigm shift, a significant change in how we now view the world through the lens of Scripture?  You may not play an instrument, but doesn’t your heart burst forth in song as you ponder what He has revealed to you, how, as you committed to studying His Word, He responded by meeting you and revealing His truth?  If you have had that experience, surely you can resonate with David’s words!  If not, keep reading the Bible because God delights to reveal His Word to those who diligently seek Him in Bible study!

So, what else can we learn today from Psalm 33?  Have you noticed how David goes on and on about the Word of the Lord and how everything was made by God’s word?

“For the word of the Lord is right, and all His work is done in truth.  He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.  By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.  He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deep in storehouses.” Psalm 33:4-7 (NKJV)

Now consider Psalm 33 in light of John, chapter 1, where we learn that the “Word of the Lord” is Messiah, Jesus.  That’s right before He was born as a baby and before we knew Him as “Jesus.”  He is “The Word” existing before creation, from eternity past.  (Micah 5:3)

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men - And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” John 1:1-4; 14 (NKJV)

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”  Micah 5:2 (NKJV)