May 15, 2023 - Psalms 33-37

The words of the psalmist: “Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. . . . the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord” (33:1-5). Indeed, the earth is full of his steadfast love; Jesus teaches us that “he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). All people everywhere have good reason to give thanks to God but we even more. David tells us, “The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned” (34:22) & “The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him” (37:39-40).

Now thank we all our God

with heart and hands and voices,

who wondrous things has done,

in whom his world rejoices;

who from our mothers’ arms

has blessed us on our way

with countless gifts of love,

and still is ours today. --Martin Rinkart (1636)