WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday January 1, 2017
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PRAISING GOD THE CREATOR
(Sing a new song of praise to GOD)
(Psalm 33)
In Psalm 33, the psalmist, who is likely King David (it is
ascribed to him by the Septuagint), calls on the Israelites and all those who
love the LORD, to praise HIM with song and instrumental music. He exhorts them
to praise HIM because of HIS Word, HIS promise of salvation, the hope HE brings
to our lives, HIS dependability, and, HIS righteousness.
“Spontaneous
praise” to GOD is something that should be common among our daily existence
because it is so fitting. It should be a natural response by all who benefit
from HIS wonderful blessings, which, quite frankly, includes all mankind, even
those individuals who don’t profess to be followers of CHRIST, and HIS
doctrine. Every individual on earth benefits from what we deem as “the LORD’s
general and ordinary grace and mercy (blessings)”. We all have the privilege,
for instance, of breathing HIS air, drinking HIS water, and ingesting HIS food
and nourishments.
New
daily mercies and grace that comes from GOD should always merit new praise and
worship to GOD, every day also. As Christians sincerely focus on GOD’s grace
and mercy, they should also focus on HIS Will and mission for their lives, and
then, appropriately, express to GOD, their love and affection for HIM.
This
hymn of praise may have been inspired by a victory by the Israelites over one
of their adversaries, however, there is no evidence as to which of their many
conquests it may have been. And even though we can’t be sure when it was
written, it strongly suggests that a significant event had just concluded. Verses
16-17, suggests that it may very well have been a major military victory that
was obviously accomplished by some miraculous act of GOD.
This psalm not only calls for us to worship
GOD, but it also tells us “who should worship GOD”, “how to worship GOD”, and “why
one should worship GOD”. First of all it is “fitting” that “the righteous
should worship GOD” for extending to them, righteousness through CHRIST JESUS. Righteousness
serves as an outward sign that one belongs to the LORD. When we praise HIM
openly, we give honor to the source of our righteousness, WHO is GOD, in the
presence of others (v.1).
Next,
Christians are given instructions on how to “worship GOD with music and singing”.
In verse 2 musicians are instructed to worship GOD with their skillfulness on their
musical instruments. Those who are blessed with singing talents should also praise
GOD with a loud voice (v.3). Their musical compositions should originate in the
Church, and not in the world. GOD despises the mixing of the holy with the
profane in music, and in every other aspect and area of our lives.
The
Word of the LORD is always right, and thus, all of HIS works are done in truth,
and are in harmony with reality. HE loves both “righteousness” and “judgment”
(v.5a), and the whole earth, despite the evilness that we bring to it, is full
of HIS goodness (v.5b). We should worship GOD because of HIS faithfulness to
uphold righteousness and goodness in a world, that, through the influence of
satan, we seem bent on destroying.
The
LORD “spoke into existence” all the things in Heaven, and everything that is “natural”
that we see here on earth. He gave the seas their boundaries, and told the sun
where to rise and set. He instructed the moon not to show itself until the
evening, and all of the stars HE knows by name. And so everyone should fear the
amazing GOD WHOSE plans are sovereign and will stand firm forever (Vs.6-11).
As
a nation, we seem to have forgotten, over time, what joy we experienced when
the overwhelming majority of us honored the LORD as our GOD. Nowadays, not even
the majority of the professed Christian Church shows, through their actions and
behavior, that they really honor the LORD, our CREATOR, FORGIVER, and GUIDE. The
LORD looks down upon us daily and sees the “degeneration” of the entire human
race that HE created, provides for, forgives, and desires to lead into all righteousness
(Vs.12-16).
The
best equipped army cannot save a king, apart from GOD. We cannot afford to rely
on our individual strength, nor our unified strength as a nation, to save us
from destruction. Only the GOD, WHO sees us, can rescue us from ourselves. We must
rely on HIM alone to save us, provide for us, and guide us with the wisdom that
we need to overcome this world, just as CHRIST did. And so, it is all mankind
who should “Praise the LORD!”
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
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