“KEEP THEM ALIVE IN FAMINE” BIBLE STUDY DECEMBER 12, 2023

PSALM 33

18. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His mercy;

19. To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

DEFINITIONS

Eye -c) a fountain, as the eye of the landscape; look, countenance, presence.

This psalm begins with rejoicing, singing praises and giving thanks, playing skillfully with a loud and joyful sound. Then it tells how mighty the Lord is! It says how the thoughts and plans of the Lord are really the only thing that will stand. We get upset and worried if things come against us that are wrong. This says His counsel stands forever while He makes all others of no effect, (vs.9-11). We have nothing to worry about.

His eye is upon those who fear and worship Him. This is not saying that we should fear how fierce He is. But that we should acknowledge the fact that He is the One Who will judge all therefore we should fear offending Him in our behavior and life. We should not test the Lord meaning we do not keep doing our own will and see how much we can get away with. That is not worship. When you love Him, you want to please Him. Thoughts of self-die away and His take their place (vs. 18). His will becomes your will, and you love it to be so. It means you do your best even though at times you still mess up. But He is always there to help you find the way!

Then it says He will deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine (vs. 19). He will deliver us from death meaning separation from Him. That is what true death is. Then He protects our time left on this earth.

My Mother-in-law used to always talk about the depression back in the 30’s. She would go on and on about having no food and how she almost died. I had never heard anyone in my family ever talk about the depression. She asked me once, “Didn’t your mom ever tell you about the depression.” I said, “No.”

I asked my mom why she never talked about the depression. She said, “We lived on a farm. We had everything.”

I think of that every time I read Psalm 33:19. I know He kept my family alive and supplied their every need during a famine. My Grandmother’s dad and brothers were missionaries in China. I never met my grandmother. She died before I was born. But every time we visited my mom’s family, they always played hymns on a piano in the house and sang about Jesus.

That is not the way my mother-in-law’s family lived.

He looks from heaven and beholds all men. His eye becomes a fountain to those who fear and worship Him. He supplies their every need, and they are blessed and happy!

Psalm 33:15 He Who fashions the hearts of them all, Who considers all their doings.

🎶SONGS – JUST ONE GLIMPSE OF HIM – BEATITUDES – PHIL DRISCOLL