THE PLANS OF THE LORD STAND FOREVER

Passage: Psalm 33:1-22

Key verse: 11

NIV

Psalm 33

1 Sing joyfully(A) to the Lord, you righteous;
    it is fitting(B) for the upright(C) to praise him.
2 Praise the Lord with the harp;(D)
    make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.(E)
3 Sing to him a new song;(F)
    play skillfully, and shout for joy.(G)

4 For the word of the Lord is right(H) and true;(I)
    he is faithful(J) in all he does.
5 The Lord loves righteousness and justice;(K)
    the earth is full of his unfailing love.(L)

6 By the word(M) of the Lord the heavens were made,(N)
    their starry host(O) by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathers the waters(P) of the sea into jars[a];(Q)
    he puts the deep into storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;(R)
    let all the people of the world(S) revere him.(T)
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
    he commanded,(U) and it stood firm.

10 The Lord foils(V) the plans(W) of the nations;(X)
    he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the Lord stand firm(Y) forever,
    the purposes(Z) of his heart through all generations.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,(AA)
    the people he chose(AB) for his inheritance.(AC)
13 From heaven the Lord looks down(AD)
    and sees all mankind;(AE)
14 from his dwelling place(AF) he watches
    all who live on earth—
15 he who forms(AG) the hearts of all,
    who considers everything they do.(AH)

16 No king is saved by the size of his army;(AI)
    no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse(AJ) is a vain hope for deliverance;
    despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes(AK) of the Lord are on those who fear him,
    on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,(AL)
19 to deliver them from death(AM)
    and keep them alive in famine.(AN)

20 We wait(AO) in hope for the Lord;
    he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,(AP)
    for we trust in his holy name.(AQ)
22 May your unfailing love(AR) be with us, Lord,
    even as we put our hope in you.

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 33:7 Or sea as into a heap
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Steadfast Love of the Lord

33 (A)Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous!
    (B)Praise befits the upright.
2 Give thanks to the Lord with the (C)lyre;
    make melody to him with (D)the harp of (E)ten strings!
3 Sing to him (F)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 (G)faithfulness.
5 He (H)loves righteousness and justice;
    (I)the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.

6 By (J)the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
    and by (K)the breath of his mouth all (L)their host.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea as (M)a heap;
    he (N)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 (O)he spoke, and it came to be;
    he commanded, and it stood firm.

10 The Lord (P)brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
    he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 (Q)The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
    the plans of his heart to all generations.
12 (R)Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
    the people whom he has (S)chosen as his heritage!

13 The Lord (T)looks down from heaven;
    he sees all the children of man;
14 from (U)where he sits enthroned he (V)looks out
    on all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 he who fashions the hearts of them all
    and observes all their deeds.
16 (W)The king is not saved by his great army;
    a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
17 (X)The war horse is a false hope for salvation,
    and by its great might it cannot rescue.

18 Behold, (Y)the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
    (Z)on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19 that he may (AA)deliver their soul from death
    and keep them alive in (AB)famine.

20 Our soul (AC)waits for the Lord;
    he is our (AD)help and (AE)our shield.
21 For our heart is (AF)glad in him,
    because we (AG)trust in his holy name.
22 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
    even as we hope in you.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

The Psalmist invites us to sing joyfully to the LORD, to praise him, and to make music to him because God’s word is right and true. God’s word created the heavens and the stars. When God commands, creation and all things come into being. All things stand firm by God’s word.

God, who created by his word, also rules over history and plans. Nations and people chart their own courses. It may seem that nations with various kinds of power control their own destinies. We may be tempted to feel helpless before earthly thrones. But only the LORD’s plans stand firm forever. A nation that honors God is blessed. God sees all mankind. God forms hearts and knows all our motives. The rulers of the world take pride in the size of their military or other forms of strength. But such power cannot thwart God’s plans. Only those who hope in the LORD can be delivered and kept alive in famine. Let us trust in God’s holy name and in his unfailing love for his people.

In whom or in what do you trust? Is it your own abilities and plans? God’s plans stand forever. He is our help and shield. Surrender your plans to God and put your hope in his unfailing love.

Prayer: Father, your word and your plans stand forever. Make your plans to be my plans.

One Word: Trust God’s plans for your life