God Has a Plan for the Nation’s: Psalm 33:8-12
“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 was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. 10) The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. 11) The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation. 12) Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.” Psalms‬ ‭33‬:‭8‬-‭12
David understood the supremacy of God. He recognized that He rules from heaven and that His counsel stands.
He can veto the plans of any nation and thwart the plots of the wicked. What God decrees comes to pass.
There are national blessing for following Him. Verse 12 was the cornerstone of David’s administration; “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.”
I believe this verse applies to any nation that acknowledges God and follows His ways. Every time Israel followed God, He honored and blessed them. Every time they strayed and turned away from Him, they were disciplined.
The Bible has two themes running through it. There is a battle for every human soul and there is a battle for every nation. Part of the chaos in our modern world is the unseen battle for nations.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
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The Importance of Singing, Worship and Praise: Psalm 33
“1) Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones; Praise is becoming to the upright. 2) Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings. 3) Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.” Psalms‬ ‭33‬:‭1‬-‭3‬
David understood the importance of music for worship. Many of the Psalms were written as songs. The Spirit of God constantly gives His people new songs of praise.
I enjoy a variety of worship songs. I enjoy psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. I enjoy old songs and new songs. I even enjoy entering into the spirit of worship in countries where I do not even know the words.
The very last Psalm is about praising God with loud music. Instruments include the trumpet, harp, lyre, timbrel, dancing, stringed instruments, the pipe, loud cymbals and resounding cymbals. (Psalm 150) Numerous other instruments are mentioned in the Bible.
There are texts with worship leaders, choirs, solo’s and singing without instruments. One text even talks about making a joyful noise unto the lord.
Because of my itinerant work around the world, I’ve heard worship music, singing and styles from many cultures. I enjoy it all. Some are very sober and solemn, while others are lively, loud and animated.
In my later years, I’ve become much more animated in my worship. I love raising my hands and basically dancing in the Spirit. I can fit into a verity of worship styles and contexts. I’m not a connoisseur of liturgy, but I do not degrade those who were raised that way.
I believe worship includes our entire being. It includes body, soul and spirit. As I gained more freedom from sin and bondage, my inhibitions in worship faded away. Jesus has set me free and it shows up in my worship. I enjoy being expressive in worship.
Worship is about lifting up, glorifying and praising God. It is an action verb and not an adjective. It’s engagement and not entertainment. It has participants and not an audience. Worshipping God will be a preoccupation in heaven.
The last verse in the book of Psalms says, ““Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!” As long as I have breath, I will praise the Lord!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
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The Healing Power of Confession and Forgiveness: Psalm 32
“1) How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! 2) How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit! 3)) When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. 4) For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah. 5) I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.” Psalms‬ ‭32‬:‭1‬-‭5‬
David understood the importance of confession and forgiveness. When he hid his sin, he was overcome with guilt and condemnation. His health was affected. His body wasted away.
As soon as he confessed his sin, he was forgiven and the load lifted. He was set free from inner guilt and torment. The inner war ended.
This principle is multiplied many times more in the New Testament because of the atonement of Jesus Christ for our sin. 1 John 1:8-2:2 presents this principle in a New Testament context.
When we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and clears us from all unrighteousness. Jesus then becomes our advocate and the payment for our sin.
Satan may still come as the accuser of the brethren, but Jesus openly defends us. We are not self righteous or legalistic, we are forgiven and set free by His grace. This is not a ticket for more sinful living, it is the inner strength to live holy lives with a clear conscience.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
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Genuine Trust in God Through the Trial. Psalm 31
“1) In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed; In Your righteousness deliver me. 2) Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly; Be to me a rock of strength, A stronghold to save me. 3) For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me. 4) You will pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, For You are my strength. 5) Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have ransomed me, O Lord, God of truth.” Psalms‬ ‭31‬:‭1‬-‭5‬
Altogether, this Psalm has twenty four verses. It was written during a time when many had plotted together to destroy David. He had several times like this such as in 1 Samual 15-18 when Absalom tried to steal the kingdom. During that time, many openly mocked and cursed David.
The first five verses of this Psalm shows David’s unwavering trust in the Lord. God was his refuge, rock of strength and stronghold. As this Psalm unfolds, David was genuine about his struggles, but had unwavering confidence in the Lord.
I especially like verse three, “3) For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.” David recognized that God put His own name at stake for the outcome. The outcome was not about David, it was about God. He said the same thing in Psalm 23:3.
God put’s His name at stake for those who order their life according to His ways. He upholds His word in our lives to prove His faithfulness.
In the case of Absalom, God was openly disciplining David because of his sin with Bathsheba, yet the outcome displayed God’s compassion, grace and faithfulness. That’s why David put his trust in God despite all odds being stacked against Him.
God is greater than our sin, failure and weakness. He determines the outcome. He paints His grace, mercy and love on the canvas of life for those who genuinely love and seek Him.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global

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Gods Presence Through Our Trials: Psalm 30
“1) I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my enemies rejoice over me. 2) O Lord my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me. 3) O Lord, You have brought up my soul from Sheol; You have kept me alive, that I would not go down to the pit. 4) Sing praise to the Lord, you His godly ones, And give thanks to His holy name. 5) For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning. 6) Now as for me, I said in my prosperity, “I will never be moved.” 7) O Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain to stand strong; You hid Your face, I was dismayed.” Psalms‬ ‭30‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭
Being a follower of God is not an exception from trails or struggles in life, but we go through them differently than unbelievers. God is an ever present help for the believer. He gives grace, strength and deliverance from the onslaught of the evil one.
Even when we sin and our trials are self induced, God as a loving Father will discipline us until we repent, but His forgiveness and total restoration comes quickly. As verse five says; “5) For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.”
The enemy can and does attack. We can be marked out for ridicule or persecution because of our faith, but God is there to be our protection and defense. Verses 10-12 close this Psalm with amazing promises; ““10) Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me; O Lord, be my helper.” 11) You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, 12) That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.” ‭ This has been my experience many times over the years. Taking my trials and struggles to God has often turned the tide from sorrow to dancing. I rejoice in the nearness of my God! The trials of the enemy have pushed me deeper into the arms of my loving Savior. I will sing praise to Him and give thanks forever and ever.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
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Ascribe to the Lord the Glory Due His Name: Psalm 29
“1) Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of the mighty, Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 2) Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in holy array. 3) The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; The God of glory thunders, The Lord is over many waters. 4) The voice of the Lord is powerful, The voice of the Lord is majestic.
10) The Lord sat as King at the flood; Yes, the Lord sits as King forever. 11) The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭29‬:‭1‬-‭4‬, ‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭
This Psalm presents the majesty of God. David calls us to ascribe to God the glory due His name. He placed His God in a category far above the gods of the surrounding nations.
Keep in mind, the name of his God was the primary weapon he used when fighting Goliath. (See 1 Samuel 17:45-47) There’s something about not only His name, but also the realization David had that his God was God almighty.
But there’s more in this Psalm. David reference a significant fact of history. Look at verse 10; “The Lord sat as King at the flood; Yes, the Lord sits as King forever.” David looked back at the flood of Noah’s day as a fact of history! He viewed it as a profound historical event that separated the God of Israel from all other God’s.
He not only sat as King at the flood; He sits as King forever! He is! He is powerful. He commands ultimate authority. When He speaks… it happens! He not only sat as King at the flood, He spoke the universe into existence.
When you get hold of what David is saying in this Psalm and start worshipping and ascribing to the Lord the glory due His name; then you will gain strength. Then you will be ready to slay giants, face any enemy, put foreign armies to flight and live at peace.
You need to understand that the Bible is not just a story book, it is an accurate history book that puts the LORD on the throne. History tells “His Story.”
From our vantage point, we can see much more than David could. We can see the active hand of God through the rest of the Old Testament. We can see Him in the four Gospels sending His Son. We can see Him through the book of Acts and the whole New Testament.
We can also see Him through the past 2,000 years of human history. The New Testament concludes with the book of Revelation and Jesus preparing to come back as King of Kings. (Revelation 19:11-16)
Now the secret of David’s walk with God comes into focus. He ascribed the glory to God due to His name, because His name is higher than any other.
Let me conclude by quoting Isaiah 9:6 that relates all of this to Jesus Christ; “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” Compare this to Philippians 2:9-11.
No wonder David engaged in such dynamic worship and extraordinary living! We can do the same and much more through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
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