What's in YOUR heart? (Psalm 33)

 

Hasn't been too long ago, there was a series of commercials that asked the viewer, "What's in YOUR wallet?" I think it was a credit card company that wanted everyone to have their card in their wallet. 

I would like to ask each of us, "What's in YOUR heart?" 

What in the world is Snoodles talking about, you may say . . . 

Let's read Psalm 33, shall we? (All twenty-two verses!)

Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;
    it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
 Praise the Lord with the harp;
    make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
 Sing to him a new song;
    play skillfully, and shout for joy.

 For the word of the Lord is right and true;
    he is faithful in all he does.
 The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
    the earth is full of his unfailing love.

 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
    their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars;
    he puts the deep into storehouses.
 Let all the earth fear the Lord;
    let all the people of the world revere him.
 For he spoke, and it came to be;
    he commanded, and it stood firm.

 The Lord foils the plans of the nations;
    he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
 But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,
    the purposes of his heart through all generations.

 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
    the people he chose for his inheritance.
 From heaven the Lord looks down
    and sees all mankind;
 from his dwelling place he watches
    all who live on earth—
 he who forms the hearts of all,
    who considers everything they do.

 No king is saved by the size of his army;
    no warrior escapes by his great strength.
 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
    despite all its great strength it cannot save.
 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,
    on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
 to deliver them from death
    and keep them alive in famine.

 We wait in hope for the Lord;
    he is our help and our shield.
 In him our hearts rejoice,
    for we trust in his holy name.
 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
    even as we put our hope in you. (Psalm 33)

Anybody want to say "hallelujah" with me? (Grin)

David is definitely having a praise and worship service here! 

I've often wondered about people who claim to be atheists . . . it must feel awfully empty to look around at the beauty of God's creation but not have Someone to thank. No One to praise for the awesome things we see, hear, taste, and feel. 

I think that is the whole point of this psalm. To encourage us to have thankful, worship-filled hearts. Paul tells us to give thanks in everything:

 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (I Thessalonians 5:18)

We're going to study this week about being genuinely thankful. What's wound up in that? I'm glad you asked! We'll explore it!

Do me a favor please? Make it a point to read and savor the psalm right now. Do it once more before you fall asleep tonight, and then once more when you wake . . . then we'll dig in to our studies!