Psalms 33

Praise to the Creator

1 Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous ones; praise from the upright is beautiful.

2 Praise the Lord with the lyre; make music to Him with a ten-stringed harp.

3 Sing a new song to Him; play skillfully on the strings, with a joyful shout.

4 For the word of the Lord is right, and all His work is trustworthy.

5 He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the Lord's unfailing love.

6 The heavens were made by the word of the Lord, and all the stars, by the breath of His mouth.

7 He gathers the waters of the sea into a heap;^[a] He puts the depths into storehouses.

8 Let the whole earth tremble before the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

9 For He spoke, and it came into being; He commanded, and it came into existence.

10 The Lord frustrates the counsel of the nations; He thwarts the plans of the peoples.

11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation.

12 Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord- the people He has chosen to be His own possession!

13 The Lord looks down from heaven; He observes everyone.

14 He gazes on all the inhabitants of the earth from His dwelling place.

15 He alone crafts their hearts; He considers all their works.

16 A king is not saved by a large army; a warrior will not be delivered by great strength.

17 The horse is a false hope for safety; it provides no escape by its great power.

18 Now the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him- those who depend on His faithful love

19 to deliver them from death and to keep them alive in famine.

20 We wait for the Lord; He is our help and shield.

21 For our hearts rejoice in Him, because we trust in His holy name.

22 May Your faithful love rest on us, Lord, for we put our hope in You.

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. LXX, Tg, Syr, Vg, Jer read sea as in a bottle

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.