"God answers my prayers everywhere except on the golf-course."
Psalm 33 Part 2
We wait in hope for the LORD Psalm 33:20In a turbulent world it is a real encouragement to know that God is in control and that his plans are secure
One question is how are we to respond to this or rather how are we to respond to God. In three ways I would suggest
1 Worship
Verses 2-3 ask us to sing, praise, make music, play and shout. But as sportspeople we will want to worship God as much on the field or track as on the as in a church. In words attributed to Eric Liddell “God made me fast and when I run I feel his pleasure”.
2 Fear him
There are two references to fearing the Lord: “Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him” (V8) and “But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him”. Fearing God is a difficult concept to understand and express. We are to reverence and respect God but not fear him in the sense you would fear a lion if it cornered you. God is our friend but he is also the awesome all powerful creator of the world – we need to get the balance.
3 Hope
Three times the Psalm refers to hope
But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love V 18
We wait in hope for the LORD (V20)
we put our hope in you (22)
In the midst of pressure, uncertainty, bad performances, shock defeats, illness, injuries, not being selected, it is reassuring to be able to put out hope in the Lord.