Psalms 33

1 Rejoice in Jehovah, O ye righteous: Praise is comely for the upright.

2 Give thanks unto Jehovah with the harp: Sing praises unto him with the psaltery of ten strings.

3 Sing unto him a new song; Play skilfully with a loud noise.

4 For the word of Jehovah is right; And all his work is [done] in faithfulness.

5 He loveth righteousness and justice: The earth is full of the lovingkindness of Jehovah.

6 By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made, And all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as a heap: He layeth up the deeps in store-houses.

8 Let all the earth fear Jehovah: Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

9 For he spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.

10 Jehovah bringeth the counsel of the nations to nought; He maketh the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect.

11 The counsel of Jehovah standeth fast for ever, The thoughts of his heart to all generations.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is Jehovah, The people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

13 Jehovah looketh from heaven; He beholdeth all the sons of men;

14 From the place of his habitation he looketh forth Upon all the inhabitants of the earth,

15 He that fashioneth the hearts of them all, That considereth all their works.

16 There is no king saved by the multitude of a host: A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.

17 A horse is a vain thing for safety; Neither doth he deliver any by his great power.

18 Behold, the eye of Jehovah is upon them that fear him, Upon them that hope in his lovingkindness;

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

20 Our soul hath waited for Jehovah: He is our help and our shield.

21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, Because we have trusted in his holy name.

22 Let thy lovingkindness, O Jehovah, be upon us, According as we have hoped in thee.

Psalms 33 Commentary

Chapter 33

God to be praised. (1-11) His people encouraged by his power. (12-22)

Verses 1-11 Holy joy is the heart and soul of praise, and that is here pressed upon the righteous. Thankful praise is the breath and language of holy joy. Religious songs are proper expressions of thankful praise. Every endowment we possess, should be employed with all our skill and earnestness in God's service. His promises are all wise and good. His word is right, and therefore we are only in the right when we agree with it. His works are all done in truth. He is the righteous Lord, therefore loveth righteousness. What a pity it is that this earth, which is so full of the proofs and instances of God's goodness, should be so empty of his praises; and that of the multitudes who live upon his bounty, there are so few who live to his glory! What the Lord does, he does to purpose; it stands fast. He overrules all the counsels of men, and makes them serve his counsels; even that is fulfilled, which to us is most surprising, the eternal counsel of God, nor can any thing prevent its coming to pass.

Verses 12-22 All the motions and operations of the souls of men, which no mortals know but themselves, God knows better than they do. Their hearts, as well as their times, are all in his hand; he formed the spirit of each man within him. All the powers of the creature depend upon him, and are of no account, of no avail at all, without him. If we make God's favour sure towards us, then we need not fear whatever is against us. We are to give to him the glory of his special grace. All human devices for the salvation of our souls are vain; but the Lord's watchful eye is over those whose conscientious fear of his name proceeds from a believing hope in his mercy. In difficulties they shall be helped; in dangers they shall not receive any real damage. Those that fear God and his wrath, must hope in God and his mercy; for there is no flying from him, but by flying to him. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us; let us always have the comfort and benefit, not according to our merits, but according to the promise which thou hast in thy word given to us, and according to the faith thou hast by thy Spirit and grace wrought in us.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 33

Though this psalm has no title to it, it seems to be a psalm of David, from the style and matter of it; and indeed begins with the same words with which the preceding psalm is ended. Theodoret is of opinion it was written by David as a prophecy concerning Hezekiah, as a song to be sung by the people after the destruction of the Assyrian army.