1. Sing joyfully to the LORD! (1-3)

Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.  

2. The LORD…

a. As the Creator of all (4-7)

For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.  The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.  By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.  He gathers the waters of the sea into jars ; he puts the deep into storehouses.  

b. As the ruler of the universe (8-11)

Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. 
For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. 
The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. 
But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.  

c. As merciful God(12-15)

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. 
From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth– he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. 

3. The only hope is in the LORD’s unfailing love(16-19)

16 No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. 
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. 
18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, 
19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.  

4. Our despair turns to hope by Jesus (21-25)

20 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. 
21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 
22 May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

Summary

Psalms are worship songs. And so those are not only for reading and understanding but for singing to God. The Bible tells us about the only God and we call him “the Lord” with trust. The Lord is the God of compassion who creates everything and rules everything. As the result of human beings turned their backs on God and continued their selfish ways of living, there are still miserable situations in the world. But those who believe in the Lord can wait for him with joy and trust, no matter what happens.

For Discussion

1) What is the Lord like?
2) Why can we wait for the Lord with rejoicing and trusting?