Read Together: Psalm 33

On Sunday, Pastor Jerry reminded us that God’s power to answer prayer isn’t rooted in us and the strength of our faith, but in who he is as the Almighty God. Psalm 33 reflects this emphasis as a song of joyful praise and hopeful prayer that reminds us of God’s power and faithful love. It reminds us that we find a deeper joy, faith, and hope in prayer when we focus on God’s perfect character and his faithful love.

Psalm 33:21 captures the essence of the psalm: “For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.” We wait upon the Lord and find joy in him because we trust in his holy Name. Trusting in God’s “holy name” means we trust in his holy character. In Scripture, the Name of God refers to who he is.

Much of Psalm 33 is a joyful, hopeful declaration of who God is. He is the good and faithful God who fills the earth with his unfailing love (vv. 4–5). He created the world by the power of his Word (vv. 6–9). He rules over all things, and his plans stand while the plans of the peoples fall (vv. 10–12). He fashions our very hearts and sees everything we do (vv. 13–15). He alone is mighty to save, not the strength of man and his weapons (vv. 16–19). And so, we shout for joy in his salvation, and we trust in him to be our help and shield through the trials of life.

We can rejoice in the bright seasons and the dark seasons of life because we trust in the holy character of our God. He is the almighty Creator and King and our loving Father and Lord. Our faith is often imperfect, but his power and love never fail his people. No matter what you’re going through, Christian, God is with you and his perfect plans stand forever. So, bring your praise and prayer before him today with joyful, hopeful faith in who he is.

Discussion Questions

1. What does it mean to trust in God’s holy name?
2. What does this psalm teach us about who God is?
3. What are some ways this psalm motivates us to pray with more earnestness?

Ideas for Younger Kids

• Read “Knock Knock, Who’s There?” in The Biggest Story Bible Storybook (pages 472–75). Discuss with your kids how “our big God listens to prayers of small faith,” (474). Our God is powerful and loves us and can answer our prayers even when our faith is small.   

Memorization: “For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.” (Psalm 33:21)

Song: Listen to “Song of Moses” (Aaron Keyes).

Pray Together

• Praise God that his plans stand forever!
• Confess before God that our faith is often weak and imperfect and that we often neglect to pray with a deep faith and hope in who he is.
• Give thanks to God that in Christ God hears our prayers and that he is mighty to answer them!
• Pray that God would give us a deeper faith, hope and joy in his perfect power and unfailing love.

Go Together

• Write down a two or three ways Psalm 33 strengthens our praise and prayers to God. Then, take what you have written down and apply it to a prayer request (or praise) for someone in our church family. Consider praying through Psalm 33 and applying what it says about God to that situation. Commit to bring that prayer request (or praise) before God every day this week and send a card or text message or make a phone call to tell that person you are praying for them.