Psalm 33 - A Psalm of Praise (Orientation)
by Pastor Paul Dugan
Try entering into praise with this three-part rhythm:
Part 1
Become present to the presence of God:
Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend. (Psalm 5:3 The Message).
Pause in silence before God. Practice breathing slowly and deeply. As you inhale, invite the Holy Spirit to fill every part of your being. As you exhale, release any burdens you are carrying into this time of prayer. Repeat this breathing prayer until you have brought your whole self -‘as is’ -before the presence of God.
Optional prayer of approach: “Father, you are the God of seeing. No creature is hidden from your sight; all are naked and exposed before you. Every life is precious in your eyes- a painting in progress; a song to be sung. In your mercy, you lead us to the wells of salvation… Your joy is an ambling brook; a river of gladness streaming from your throne. My soul finds rest in its waters. I delight in trusting you.” (Sheltering Mercy, by Ryan Whitaker Smith and Dan Wilt: Psalm 33).
Part 2
Slowly read Psalm 33 (ESV) out loud: (for audio versions click here)
1 Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.
2 Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;
make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
4 For the word of the Lord is upright,
and all his work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.
6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.
10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!
13 The Lord looks down from heaven;
he sees all the children of man;
14 from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 he who fashions the hearts of them all
and observes all their deeds.
16 The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.
18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19 that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
Part 3
Use your own words to pray Psalm 33 back to God:
Begin by personalizing the pronouns in the psalm, turning the words about God into a prayer directly to God. For example, v. 4 (‘For the word of the Lord is upright and all his work is done in faithfulness’) becomes ‘YOUR Word is upright, and all YOUR work is done in faithfulness.’ Pray your way through the psalm in this way.
Then gather these thoughts into your own psalm of praise and thanksgiving:
“Lord God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit- I praise you, for you are…
“I praise you for what you have done. Specifically, I thank you for…
The psalms were originally written as lyrics, as prayers set to music. Throughout the history of Israel and the church, the people of God have sung the psalms. Song invites us to internalize the Word of God with the whole self- body, mind, imagination, emotions and affections. Take time to listen to a version of Psalm 33 set to music. Try taking the psalm song with you into your day.
From the album Wilderness Songs (2021) by Albert Keever. albertkeever.com