In the 33rd Psalm, the author firmly establishes the idea that God is the de facto power in the universe. This power, this greatness, is worthy of praise. The upright nation, whose God is the LORD, is fit to praise God. And this praise is to be done skillfully. It is not enough to just kind of slouch through the act of worship. Worship is always purposeful, intentional. Play skillfully, the psalmist says.
The God who is to be praised is the Creator. The one who by His words spoke everything into being and holds power over it. By him everything that lives stays alive (v. 19). It is God who holds the power over life and death.
There's a part in there talking about "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD (v. 12)." I've seen that often applied to the country in which I live, the United States. However, I wonder how often the second part of that couplet is missed or just glossed over. You know, the part that says "the people He chose for His inheritance." I believe this verse speaks more about Israel, the people God chose, than it does about any nation who happens to have a lot of God-followers in it. The emphasis I think is on the nation, not whose God is the LORD. And to apply it to the US is ridiculous, because as a nation (politically speaking) in general, I don't believe God is our LORD. Money is probably first, with government second. Israel is the nation whose God is the LORD. Their God is not Molech or Baal, so that comparison may come in to play as well.
That is why we praise. This Psalm is a list of reasons to praise God, and to reduce ourselves in the equation. Its all about what God does, not the size of a king's army.
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