465_Rejoice in the Lord at all times

Psalm 33:1-12 Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous!
Praise befits the upright.
2 Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;
make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
3 Sing to him 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 faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.

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

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

Several years ago, a well-known Christian musician was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. At the height of her career, with awards, albums, and a loving family, it would have made sense if despair had taken hold. But what struck everyone around her was the consistent joy in her voice—not just on stage, but in her hospital room, in her journal entries, and in every interview she gave. When asked how she could be so joyful in the midst of suffering, she replied, “Joy isn’t tied to what’s happening to me. It’s tied to the One who holds me.”

This is the heart of Psalm 33. It’s not a psalm attributed to any particular author, but its message is unmistakably clear: God’s people are called to rejoice—not just occasionally or when everything is going well, but at all times. The opening lines are not a gentle suggestion; they are a call to action: “Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.”

To rejoice in the Lord is not merely a response to favorable circumstances—it is the posture of the faithful heart. The psalmist makes it clear that praise is fitting for the upright. In other words, it is the most natural and proper thing for someone who knows the Lord. This joy is not rooted in the temporary comforts of life, but in the eternal character of God. Charles Spurgeon once wisely said, “To rejoice in temporal comforts is dangerous, to rejoice in self is foolish, to rejoice in sin is fatal, but to rejoice in God is heavenly.” True joy—unchanging and resilient—flows from a relationship with the living God.

In the New Testament, Paul echoes this idea repeatedly, saying in Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice.” This is not a pep talk—it’s a reminder of a reality that doesn’t change with the weather or the news headlines. Joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit, something that wells up in us when our hearts are surrendered to God. It’s a joy that sings even in the night. In fact, Psalm 33 continues in the spirit of temple worship—inviting us to sing a new song to the Lord, using instruments, making melody. And what is this “new song”? It is the fresh praise that rises from every new experience of God’s mercy, every new testimony of His grace.

The psalmist doesn’t leave us to rejoice blindly. He gives us solid, eternal reasons to lift our voices. In verse 4, he declares: “For the word of the Lord is upright, and all His work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.” What a foundation for joy! God’s Word is right, His works are faithful, and His love fills the earth. The Hebrew word used for “steadfast love” is chesed—a rich word denoting covenant loyalty, mercy, and unfailing love. It’s the kind of love you can build your life on.

He then shifts the focus to creation itself, declaring that God not only spoke the world into being, but sustains it by that same powerful word. From the vast galaxies to the rhythm of the tides, all creation testifies to a God of order, majesty, and purpose. The God who crafted the universe is not distant; He is involved in the affairs of men. And not just involved—He is sovereign. “The plans of the Lord stand forever,” says verse 11, “but the plans of the peoples He frustrates.” This is both humbling and comforting. We make plans, we draw maps, but only God’s purposes prevail.

The psalmist then makes a bold claim: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His heritage.” It’s a reminder that blessing does not come from economic might, military strength, or political stability. In verses 16 and 17, the psalmist says plainly: “The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a false hope for salvation.” For an ancient world that placed its hope in chariots and horses, this was a radical statement. And for us today—with our modern technologies, wealth, and resources—it’s no less countercultural. Salvation does not come from human power, but from divine mercy.

“The eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His steadfast love,” the psalmist says in verse 18. What a comfort to know that the God who made the stars also watches over those who revere Him. He is not a distant observer; He is our Savior and our Shield. He delivers from death, He sustains in famine, and He surrounds His people with His love.

This is why, even when life is uncertain and the world feels unstable, we can still rejoice in the Lord. Because our joy is not anchored in the headlines—it is anchored in His holy name. The psalm ends with the same tone it began: “For our heart is glad in Him, because we trust in His holy name. Let Your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in You.”

What a beautiful way to live—with a heart glad in God, a mouth filled with praise, and a soul anchored in hope. In a world full of sorrow, Psalm 33 gives us every reason to sing. And we don’t sing because we’re blind to the pain around us. We sing because we see the One who is above it all.

Think of the early church singing hymns in prison cells. Think of modern believers singing quietly in underground churches. Think of the widowed mother, exhausted but singing her child to sleep with a song of faith. These are not songs born of comfort—they are songs born of conviction. Songs that declare, “God is still good. He is still faithful. He is still worthy of praise.”

So how do we apply this in our daily lives?

We start by choosing joy. It may not be a feeling at first—it may simply be a decision to trust in God’s character rather than our circumstances. Begin your day not with worry, but with worship. Reflect on His Word, and let His promises shape your perspective. Sing a new song—not necessarily a literal melody, but a fresh testimony, a new declaration of how you’ve seen His hand at work, even in the mundane.

If you are walking through a season of waiting, or facing loss or hardship, remember that joy is not the absence of sorrow—it is the presence of God in the midst of it. Let your heart be glad in Him. And let your life be a living psalm, pointing others to the hope that can only be found in Jesus.

As we close, let these words echo in your heart: “The Lord is our help and our shield.” No matter what lies ahead, He remains the same—yesterday, today, and forever. Let us rejoice in the Lord at all times. Not because everything is perfect, but because He is perfect. Not because life is predictable, but because He is faithful. God bless.