Psalm 33:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

NIV: Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.

NASB: Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen for His own inheritance.

CSB: Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord — the people he has chosen to be his own possession!

NLT: What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.

KJV: Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

NKJV: Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.

This verse holds a great promise for the nation that honors God as its God (Proverbs 14:34). David rejoiced that Israel's God was the true God. He refers to Israel as "blessed," meaning "spiritually prosperous" or "happy." In Deuteronomy 4:20 we learn that the Lord chose Israel. Addressing Israel, Moses announces: "But the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of his own inheritance, as you are this day."

Whether the literal nation of Israel, or those who come to faith in Christ, the people of God have no reason to boast about their special relationship to God. The relationship is not rooted in human merit but in divine mercy. Today, Christians are God's people by grace. Ephesians 2:8–9 makes it clear that salvation is entirely a work of divine grace, not of works, so no one can boast. Reflecting on Christians' relationship to God, the apostle John writes: "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are" (1 John 3:1).

Psalm 33:4–19 records David's reasons to praise the Lord. They include praise for God's Word, His creative power, His sovereignty over the nations, His all-seeing vision, His faithful works, and His deliverance of His people.

David summons the worshipers of Israel to be joyful as they praise God. The psalm celebrates God's creative power, sovereignty, and faithfulness. Rather than relying on earthly strength, the Lord's people can trust in His omnipotent power. This results in a collective praise for God and His unfailing love for those who trust and hope in Him.

The Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, attributes this psalm to David. It is a psalm that encourages worshipers to praise the Lord. It may have been written after Israel experienced a victory over an enemy. Because the verbs in this psalm are plural, it features the worship leader's call to worship and the worshipers' response.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 12/18/2024 9:55:53 AM