Psalm 33:12-22 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 33:12-22 on biblegateway.com
Verse 12Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.
Verse 13The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all humankind.
Verse 14From where he sits enthroned he watches all the inhabitants of the earth-
Verse 15he who fashions the hearts of them all, and observes all their deeds.
Verse 16A king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
Verse 17The war horse is a vain hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save.
Verse 18Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,
Verse 19to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
Verse 20Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and shield.
Verse 21Our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.
Verse 22Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
Devotion
Stars, too numerous to count! Yet God knows each and every one. Psalm 33 reverses the direction: God in heaven looks down and sees all humankind; too numerous for us to count. Yet God knows each and every one. All were created to love God, as they are loved by God.
Sin gets in the way, messing things up. War, contempt of God, famine, death; all these things plague humanity. We all are in need of the good news of Jesus Christ. The psalmist places trust in the confidence that God knows all those who fear God. In the midst of distress, there is trust for God’s deliverance that includes physical, spiritual, emotional, and social dimensions of life.
Our soul waits for the Lord, our help and shield. This waiting is both quiet, resting in God’s presence, and active in serving our neighbors. Our faith is in Jesus Christ, and our heart is glad.
Prayer
Most holy and loving God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit: In this world with devils filled, our cups overflow with your grace. Help me this day to share beyond the overflow, even to the emptying of the cup itself, for you are always ready to fill again. In Jesus’ beautiful name. Amen.
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