Sovereignty is not God pushing His own way, but directing history to the blessing of all who trust Him.
Psalm 33 presents the review stand where the sovereign Lord sits in regal splendor. Can you hear the marching of feet and the horses’ hooves approaching in serried ranks? The conductor lifts his arms, and the instruments unite to play a song of praise to the King. “Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous!…Praise the Lord…Make melody to Him…Sing to Him a new song” (Ps 33:1-3). Then the herald lifts his golden voice and addresses the numberless spectators: “The word of the Lord is right, and all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord” (vv 4-5). First to appear in the grand parade is His vast creation—the rolling spheres (v 6), the pounding surf (v 7), the earth’s inhabitants, generation upon generation (v 8). “For He spoke, and it was done” (v 9). Imagine! All this spectacle, simply spoken into being! On their heels are the nations that have risen, flourished, and fallen throughout history (vv 10-11). See the Caesars with armor glinting in the sunlight, Attila astride an elephant, the Pharaohs decked in gold, the vast bureaucracies of the present day. They all give account to Him, now mere footnotes in history—with one exception. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance” (v 12). No one escapes His assessment. “The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men…He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works” (vv 13-15). The vaunted armies of men are “vain” (vv 16-17) without His permission, yet true strength, even over death, is available to His people (vv 18-19). That’s why we wait for Him, rejoice, trust, and hope in Him (vv 20-22). “He is our help and our shield” (v 20).