Psalm 33:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.

NIV: For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.

NASB: For the word of the Lord is right, And all His work is done in faithfulness.

CSB: For the word of the Lord is right, and all his work is trustworthy.

NLT: For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.

KJV: For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.

NKJV: For the word of the Lord is right, And all His work is done in truth.

The first two of several reasons for praising the Lord with joy appear in this verse. First, God's Word is true. When Jesus prayed to the Father in His High Priestly Prayer, He asked that believers be sanctified in the truth, adding, "your word is truth" (John 17:17). In his letter to Titus, Paul affirms that God is incapable of lying. He states categorically that God never lies (Titus 1:2). Psalm 119:142 declares that the Lord's law is true, and verse 160 affirms, "The sum of your word is truth."

According to this verse, everything God does is dependable. All the Lord's works are performed in faithfulness. Whatever the Lord does exhibits His unfailing care. This description comes from a Hebrew word which also refers to "trustworthiness" or "honesty." The Lord God makes no mistakes. We may trust Him, therefore, to orchestrate all the events in our lives for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28–30).

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 10:18:28 AM