Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord
Psalms 33:12 - It is through His sacrifice that we receive the promise of our inheritance, open to all who believe regardless of ethnicity or nationality.
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“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.”
Psalms 33:12 NIV
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Psalm 33 is devoted to one thing; praising God.
British biblical scholar Derek Kidner, cited in Enduring Word, said of Psalm 33 that “If the purest form of a hymn is praise to God for what He is and does, this is a fine example.”
The blessing in this verse was directed to Israel, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They were chosen by God about 4,000 years ago to be His people, and established as a nation approximately 3,500 years ago during the Exodus. However, God’s blessing is applicable to anyone — and any nation — that places trust in Him, a guarantee of inheriting His blessings through faith.
What does it mean to be “blessed”? Looking at the ancient Hebrew for this verse, the word is אֶשֶׁר ('ešer), and the Strong’s definition is “how happy!” That perfectly describes the feeling of experiencing God’s gifts of well-being and prosperity!
In this verse, we see the fruit of the covenant relationship with God. Those with belief in the Lord as their God belong to Him, and receive spiritual (and sometimes material) blessings in accordance with His will. While the psalm specifically targeted the Jewish believers of the time, we have become inheritors of the blessings by our faith in Christ. This is the message found in Romans 11:17-18, where we read:
“If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.”
We, as Christians, are a branch of God’s family tree! Aligning with God’s will and commands brings peace and prosperity to those individuals and nations that trust in Him.
The latter part of the verse is all about the distinct status of being God’s chosen people, those singled out to receive His inheritance. Being inheritors had great meaning to the people of ancient Israel, as for the firstborn son of a family knew that he had a future promise of property and wealth, a hope in the future. Using the term “he chose for his inheritance” speaks of that same type of promise for all, not just firstborn males.
The New Testament describes those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior as a chosen people and a royal priesthood (see 1 Peter 2:9), bringing the inheritance into the modern age. It is through His sacrifice that we receive the promise of our inheritance, open to all who believe regardless of ethnicity or nationality.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Father in Heaven, I come before You with gratitude for Your presence in our nation and in a multitude of other nations on this planet. I know that my true happiness and abundant blessings come from recognizing You as my Lord. Guide the leaders of this country and my fellow citizens to seek Your will in all they do. May Your people honor You and live in accordance with Your Word, so that we may all embrace the blessings that come from being Your chosen people. AMEN.