Pastor's Ponderings: Old Testament bible study of Psalm 33 (October 2, 2025)

October 2, 2025:  Thursday Bible Study on Old Testament of Psalm 33

Good morning. I am really happy to indicate that people we have been praying for are seeing the result of our prayers support in their lives. Larry, who had a tough time over back surgery, and an extended rehab stay, is now home. Jeff, who had surgery on this shoulder which involved some nerve bundles, had good surgery and is now recovering at home. Teri, who has been waiting for months to have a new type of hip replacement surgery, had successful surgery yesterday, and will be home in a couple of days to continue her recovery. Lisa in Hawaii has also had some really good news about one of her health concerns. Tests have shown health for her in this first round. So, we have plenty to thank God for this week, but of course we now need to pray for our federal workers who are jobless or working with no pay while congress and the president try to find some common ground on health care. Peace is a massive concern, with it looking like the Ukraine/Russian war may well expand in the Europe, with incursions over sovereign boundaries by Russia may cause tensions to get worse than they are already. Pray to for peace between the nation of Israel and the Palestinians. 66000 deaths in Gaza is too much! In fact, peace could have come at a much less costly past. Thank you for your prayers. They really help.

Today's Psalm study in chapter 33. This is a Psalm filled with praise for God, confidence in God's will to sustain and hold the Hebrews protected from their enemies, and God's power and might to deal with any enemy of David's. It seems a rather long Psalm for this small amount of information, but it is in this Psalm that we can begin to see a guide for how to give praise to God, and how to trust God when things are not going as Israel had hoped they would.  Like David we usually do a really good job of worshiping with joy and the celebration of God's benefits and victories that have already happened. The tougher one is to remember that same joy when things get tough remembering His faithfulness. Falling away from God is easy to do, in our world it seems easier to depend on money and power for our help, but these really do fail when we are not centered in Christ's presence. All those other "gods" cannot ultimately hold our physical issues as we near death. David knew that there was only one source of that kind of protection, and it is God. When everything seems out of control, we must remember that God is always in control, even when we think that God has done something less that necessary to keep safe. The simple fact is that God knows what's coming, and choices today, that we are guided through, or the ones that we make on our own, all must be made to fit into God's plan for His whole creation. God loves us, and He stays in control out of His love for us. You and I do not know how God will choose to move His creation closer its fulfillment. What we do know, along with David and the faithful Hebrews, is that God remains steadfast throughout this life, and into the next. How trusting are we today? We always need to allow God into every situation and circumstance.

Thanks for being with me this morning. With Love in Christ, Pastor Kim

There will be no Psalm Study next week. I am on vacation with my family. This Sunday is Gospel Music Sunday, and our Mexican carry-in dinner after worship.