In today’s daily devotional, we will look at Psalms 33, 34, and 35—each offering invitations to praise the Lord. These psalms call us to reflect on the act of worship and praise, especially through the powerful verse, “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!” (Psalm 34:3). What does it mean to magnify and exalt the Lord? As we explore these psalms, I will share some of the verses I’ve underlined in my personal Bible. I encourage you to reflect on them and let their message draw you into deeper worship of our great God. To delve into if God can be angry and loving, read the daily devotional on Psalms 26-32.
Psalms 33-35 Commentary by Allen J. Huth
Today is day six in our journey through the 150 psalms and we will look at just three psalms. There are many invitations to praise the Lord in these three chapters. We will read or hear them all but focus on one, “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!” (34:3). Do you magnify the Lord and exalt His name? What do the terms mean? Please read or listen to Psalms 33-35.
Today, I am only going to share the verses I have underlined in my personal Bible in Psalms 33-35. They merit my attention. I hope by looking through them, they merit yours as well.
What Is the Meaning of Psalm 33?
Psalm 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!” Lord, may You be God over our nation.
Psalm 33:22, “Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” Yes, Lord, we hope in You, so let Your steadfast love be upon us.
What Scripture Says about Praising God with Your Mouth?
Psalm 34:1, “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Lord, I do bless You at all times, but I am not sure Your praise is always in my mouth.
Psalm 34:3, “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!” Yes, Lord, might we praise You.
Psalm 34:8, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” O, Lord, we thank You that You are good.
Psalm 34:10, “but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” May it be so for all of us who seek You.
Psalm 34:15, “The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous”. Through our righteousness in You, Lord, we pray that Your eyes are on us.
Psalm 35:1, “Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!” Yes, Lord, from time to time we have enemies. David had enemies. We thank You that You tell us You will fight against our enemies for us.
Those are the verses I have underlined in my personal Bible from Psalms 33-35. Maybe one of those verses was significant to you. Or maybe you will want to ponder or meditate on a different verse you read or heard today.
What Is the Meaning of Psalm 34:3?
I want to focus on Psalm 34:3, “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!” Do you take time to magnify the Lord and exalt His name? What do those terms mean? I asked the fount of all knowledge, Siri, on my smartphone. She says magnify means, “extol; glorify”. Exalt means, “hold (someone or something) in very high regard, think or speak very highly of . . . dignify”. Do you extol and glorify God? Do you hold Him in very high regard, do you dignify Him?
Have we lost our awe of a holy God? Do we see God as a five foot, eight inch, 170 pound “man” riding down from the skies on a white horse?
How Does Revelation 19 Describe Jesus’ Return?
Revelation 19:11-16 describe the scene a little differently:
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule] them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
May we never forget who He is. “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!” (34:3).
Prayer
Lord, we thank You for Your Word through the Psalms. Words that touch us and shape us. Words that can make us more like You. We bend the knee, and lift our heads and our hands, to magnify and exalt You. You alone are worthy of our praise. All glory to You Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.