Worship fits us. Trusting God is our hope for finding strength
By Dean Collins
Have you ever tried to calculate how much time you’ve spent looking for the right fit? I seem to be a size just in between. A large is sometimes too large and a medium is sometimes too small. And when shopping for shoes, I think if I could find just a quarter-inch difference instead of the standard half-inch size break, the shoes would be perfect. I will not even begin to describe the overheard discussions of females as they look for jeans or the perfect purse for an occasion!
‘Praise fits the upright’
Believe it or not, the Bible talks about finding the right fit. Psalm 33 tells us that “praise fits the upright.” So as believers, we can be sure when we lift our hearts and voices in worship we have found a perfect fit and stance with the Lord.
I don’t want to run down a rabbit hole, but I have certainly heard dozens, maybe hundreds, of conversations that sounded like complaints about not getting to enjoy their preferred style of worship music. I suspect those who complain the most about next Sunday’s music would prefer that no one did any shouting during the worship time. David apparently disagrees, based on his opening line of this psalm: “Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.” And he went on to name a few stringed instruments that should be played skillfully. But then he ended his sentence with “loud shouts,” which I suspect many would say don’t fit the idea of skillfully played worship music.
‘He is our help and shield’
As we continue through this wonderful psalm of praise, we find in verses 6-9 that David calls for the earth and all that live on the earth to declare praise. God is the Creator of the earth and everything in it, and all of his creation is called to praise him. If the apostle Paul is right that the earth groans as it waits for Christ’s return (Romans 8:22), then David’s words about the earth declaring praise shouldn’t be a stretch for our imaginations!
In verses 13-22 we find another spiritual principle: Where we place our trust will determine what and who we praise and worship. Verse 13 tells us that God is looking down from the heavens and watching. On one hand, we usually take comfort that God is always watching out for us. Knowing God is watching over us increases our confidence that he will also intervene on our behalf. In verses 13-22, however, it seems that God is watching to see where we put our trust and confidence.
Today’s news seems to show that all over the world we’re trusting in military strength. Military preparedness will be an issue in the next round of national elections in the United States. As we listen to the debates, we will do well to consider David’s words of warning: “The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.”
In order to worship in a “fitting” way, then, we must choose to place all of our hope and trust in the God of Heaven. He alone is our source of strength. He alone loves us fully. And it is in his steadfast love that we can trust. Consider how David ends this wonderful psalm of praise:
“Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.”
Lord, forgive us when we thoughtlessly place our hope and our trust anywhere but in you! We acknowledge that no human leader can save us. We choose to place all of our hope and trust in your steadfast love. You are our hope and our source of strength. With the psalmist of old today, we will worship with shouts and songs of praise. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your time with God’s Word
Psalm 33 ESV
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
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