The Book of Psalms

Psalm 33

Psalm XXXIII · Vol. II, pp. 1005–1006

1 God is to be praised for his goodness, 6 for his power, 12 and for his providence. 20 Confidence is therefore to be placed in God.

Margin referencesNotes ↓

1 Rejoice in^a the LORD, O ye righteous;¹ for praise ^bis comely for the upright.²

a Phi.4.4. Ps.32.11. Is.45.17,24,25; 61.10. Ro.5.2,11.

1 Those who have received the righteousness of God through faith, Ro.3.20-22; 4.3-5.—C.

b Ps.97.12; 147.1; 135.2; 92.1,2; 149.2.

2 A title taken from attitude—those who stand up without shame before Christ at his appearing, 1 Jn.2.28.—C.

2 Praise^c the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

c Ex.15.20. Ps.92.3; 98.4,5; 150.3-6. Re.14.2.

3 Sing^d unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

A.M. cir. 2959. B.C. cir. 1045.

d Ps.96.1; 98.1; 144.9; 149.1. Is.42.10. Re.5.9; 14.3. Ep.5.19. Col.3.16.

4 For^e the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

e Pr.30.5. Ps.19.8. Ge.24.27. Mi.7.20.

5 He^g loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is ^hfull of the goodness³ of the LORD.

g Ps.11.7; 45.7; 119.137. Re.16.5,6; 15.3.

h Ps.119.64. Mat.5.45. Ac.14.17.

3 Or, mercy.

6 Byⁱ the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.⁴

i Ge.1.1,6,7; 2.1. He.11.3. Jn.1.3. Ep.3.9. Job 26.13; 33.4.

4 All things were made by the eternal Word and Spirit, Jn.1.3. Job 26.13. Ps.104.30.—C.

7 He^j gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap:⁵ he layeth up the depth in storehouses.

j Ge.1.9. 2 Pe.3.5. Job 38.8-11; 26.10. Pr.8.29. Je.5.22.

5 The waters of the sea are always taking the form of 'an heap' in some part of the ocean, and never standing on a level. This fact is manifest in the tides, which are a literal heaping up of the waters successively in different places.—C.

8 Let^k all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him:

k Je.10.7. De.28.58,59. Ps.64.9. Ec.3.14. Je.5.22. Re.14.7; 15.4; 19.5.

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

l Ge.1.3-24. He.11.3. Ps.148.5,6.

10 Theⁿ LORD bringeth⁶ the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.

n Is.44.25; 19.3; 8.10. Job 5.12. 2 Sa. v. viii. x. xviii. xx. xxi.

6 Heb. maketh frustrate.

11 The^o counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.⁷

o Job 23.13. Da.4.35. Ep.1.11. Is.46.10; 14.24,27. Pr.10.21.

7 Heb. to generation and generation.

12 Blessed^p is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

p De.33.9,29. Ps.65.4; 144.15; 146.5; 135.4; 72.16,17. Tit.2.14. 1 Pe.2.9. Ex.19.5,6.

13 The^q LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.

q 2 Ch.16.9. Job 28.24. Ps.11.4. Pr.15.3. He.4.13.

14 From^r the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

r Ps.115.3; 2.4; 123.1; 103.19; 139.2; 102.19,20. Is.66.1. 1 Ki.8.27.

15 He^s fashioneth their hearts alike;⁸ he ^tconsidereth all their works.

s Pr.22.2. Is.64.8.

8 Gives them all originally similar capacities which they pervert, and alone creates any anew to love and good works, Ac.17.26. Ep.2.10.—C.

t Job 34.21. Je.32.19.

16 There^u is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

u Ex. xiv. Ps.44.3-7. Jos. x. xi. Ju. iii. iv. vii. 1 Sa. vii. xiv. xvii. 2 Sa. v. viii. x. 2 Ch. xiii. xiv. xx. xxxii.

17 An^v horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.

v Ps.20.7; 147.10. Pr.21.31. Ho.14.3.

18 Behold,^x the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

x 2 Ch.16.9. Job 36.7. Ps.34.15; 147.11; 16.1; 21.1. 1 Pe.3.12.

19 To^y deliver their soul from death, ^zand to keep them alive in famine.

y Job 5.19-22. Ps.34.17-19. Pr.10.3.

z Ps.37.19.

20 ^aOur⁹ soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.

a Ps.62.1,5; 130.5,6; 115.9-12. Is.40.31.

9 The grammar, by adopting the plural form, shows that the speaker is not one; not Christ alone, but the church. And the hope expressed in ver. 22, compared with Rom.8.24,25, shows that the psalm is provided for a glorious state of the church on earth, when faith, and not mere profession, will be completely nationalized. Lord, hasten the time!—C.

Vol. II, p. 1006

21 For^b our heart shall rejoice in him; ^cbecause we have trusted in his holy name.

A.M. cir. 2959. B.C. cir. 1045.

b Zec.10.7. Jn.16.22. Ps.13.5;28.7;118.5-14. 1 Ch.5.20. 1 Sa.30.6.

c Is.25.9.

22 Let^d thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

d Ps.5.12;32.10;119.41,49,76.77. 2 Sa.7.25. Mat.9.29.

Notes

Ver. 12. This is a national psalm, an expression of faith by an entire people. And though it be descriptive of a state never yet fully realized, the divine counsel will not be frustrated; and not merely individuals, but nations and peoples, shall yet be born of the Spirit to national salvation. Ro. 11. 7-26. C.

Reflections.—How great, glorious, and good is our God! and as extensive is the matter and reasonable the exercise of our praise. All that God is in himself, all that he hath declared in his word, all that he hath done in his works, is the matter of his gift and subject of our songs. Thrice happy are his faithful people, to whom he is their Portion, their kind Observer, their powerful Protector, their almighty Deliverer, their gracious Provider, and constant Preserver! The thoughts of his universal power, influence, and operations, and the vanity of all things beside him, should effectually engage us to contented resignation of ourselves and all that we have into his hand.