Psalm Reflections - Week 5

Psalm 33

Among the psalms we chose for reflection last summer was Psalm 32. Psalm 32 is one of the 7 Penitential Psalms. It ends with the imperative:

"Rejoice in the Lord, exult you righteous!

Ring out your joy, all you upright of heart!"

Notice how Psalm 33 begins -- with a similar invitation:

"Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you righteous:

For praise is fitting for the upright"

Many who study the Psalms suggest that Psalm 33, in its original context, is linked with Psalm 32, perhaps as a continuation of a penitential liturgy. If we consider the flow of the two psalms, we might observe that true repentance begins with the humble acknowledgement of human weakness and our need to rely on the very nature of our God to be merciful. This is being in right relationship with God. This is what opens the human heart to uprightness and to the true joy that is to be found in God as Psalm 32 states at the end and is to be found in the thoughts of Psalm 33.

It may serve us well to pause over the word "righteousness" or uprightness. Sometimes this word is translated "justice". We diminish the richness of the meaning of this word by merely thinking in terms of legal justice. Often the word "justice" is applied to God. When we speak of God's "justice" or righteousness, it is generally not intended in the juridical sense of God as a demanding judge. Rather, it implies that God is faithful with regard to the covenant demands. God does justice and is therefore faithful to his promise to be "gracious and merciful, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity". When human beings act uprightly, justly, or are described as righteous, they are in right relationship with the covenant demands placed on them to be a people, holy as God is holy, people called to act with mercy and compassion, to love tenderly and walk in the ways of God, reflecting the image of God to the world in which we live. This understanding is firmly grounded in the bond that exists between God and the people, the bond of covenant.

Psalm 33, vs 1-3 are the summons to praise. What might strike us in praying this is the call to sing God a "new" song! What might be the substance of this "new song"? It reminds us of the often mentioned "newness" of the eschatological age when God will make all things new. Is this then, a song that God places within us? Is it a song that wells up from a world where righteousness is firmly established? Perhaps it is the renewing grace of God that is realized as living and active among us. It is the newness of the freedom of one who is in right relationship with God. This is filled with hope!

The motivation for such praise to God is to be placed in God's word and God's works. Both are powerful to accomplish all things (vs 4). In meditating on the words of this psalm, one returns to the mystery of creation (works accomplished by God's word-See also Genesis 1, Ps 8, 147, 148). There are many references to God's creation that invite us to think how truly God's ways are above our ways. Take time to ponder how God's word and works have created and recreated life. See Isaiah Ch 55 where again we have an insight into the mystery of God's ways and the power of God's word to accomplish its purpose. As humans, we are only capable of such a limited perspective while God has the wide view of all time and space. This psalm leads us to the realization that we who live on planet earth must live in hope, placing our trust in God whose steadfast love endures forever.

This is a perfect psalm for summer. Those of us living in proximity to the lakes must have often stood in wonder at their changing moods and the ever flowing waves and the mystery of the deeps and the boundary beyond which the sea shall not pass as determined by God. We take note of the beauty of the stars. We are also made aware of the 'plans of nations' and the great emphasis our culture places on passing stars…more so than the awe that the stars of heaven should draw forth from us. All comes into being by the breath of God. And we stand in wonder! Especially we bow before this God who knows the hearts of all the dwellers of the earth for he has shaped the hearts of all and knows them.

There is wisdom to be found in praying with this psalm. It draws on traditional wisdom themes of creation and order and right relationship. The truly wise person is one who understands the limits of the human condition as this is set alongside the enormous love and faithfulness of God who wishes for us to delight in our humanity and his wondrous creation.