“Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord; it is fitting for the pure to praise him. Praise the Lord with melodies on the lyre; make music for him on the ten-stringed harp. Sing a new song of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy. For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does. He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth. The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs. Let the whole world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of him. For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command. The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance. The Lord looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From his throne he observes all who live on the earth. He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do. The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior. Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory— for all its strength, it cannot save you. But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine. We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.”
Psalms 33:1-22 NLT
Hope is a curious thing. Even an irrational hope can drive people to do miraculous tasks. Even a kernel of it can take people from the depths of despair. Hope alone is worth having for its sheer utilitarian power to transform, even if it is wrong. But when that hope is paired with faith, it can blossom into something that builds legacy and sustains a multitude of people and generations to come. And when that faith is not an irrational faith, but a rational one, it is ironclad in its outworking. David’s faith was not an irrational faith. It was an acknowledgment of his place in the universe and in relationship to the supreme authority of it. It was a proven faith that was time tested and battle worn. And from this fruit of his faith he offers us a seed of hope that we are to plant and water and partake in as well. This is why his heart produces so much expression and content. It is because he cannot help but sing. Likewise, social media has taught us that we are all creatures of content, even if it is vapid. But it ought not to be. In our relationship with God, we have much to sing about. The way a child sings when they are happy and seem oblivious to shame and guilt and watchful eyes, we also ought to sing to our God, who is worthy to be praised.
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