Psalms 33

1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.

2 Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.

3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.

4 For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.

5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.

6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.

7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars^[a] ; he puts the deep into storehouses.

8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him.

9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.

11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.

13 From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind;

14 from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth—

15 he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.

16 No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.

17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.

18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

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

20 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.

21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.

22 May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

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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.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Cross References 44

1. S Psalms 5:11; S Psalms 101:1
2. Psalms 147:1
3. Psalms 11:7; Psalms 32:11
4. S Genesis 4:21; 1 Corinthians 14:7; Revelation 5:8
5. Psalms 92:3; Psalms 144:9
6. Psalms 40:3; Isaiah 42:10; S Revelation 5:9; Psalms 96:1
7. S Job 3:7; Psalms 35:27; Psalms 47:1
8. S Psalms 19:8
9. Psalms 119:142; Revelation 19:9; Revelation 22:6
10. Psalms 18:25; Psalms 25:10
11. Psalms 11:7
12. Psalms 6:4; Psalms 119:64
13. S Genesis 1:3; Hebrews 11:3
14. S Exodus 8:19; S 2 Chronicles 2:12
15. S Genesis 1:16
16. S Genesis 1:10
17. S Joshua 3:16
18. S Deuteronomy 6:13; Psalms 2:11
19. Psalms 49:1; Isaiah 18:3; Micah 1:2
20. S Deuteronomy 14:23; Psalms 67:7; Psalms 96:9
21. Genesis 1:3; Psalms 148:5
22. Isaiah 44:25
23. S Job 5:12
24. Psalms 2:1; Isaiah 8:10
25. S Numbers 23:19
26. Jeremiah 51:12,29; Job 23:13
27. Psalms 144:15
28. S Exodus 8:22; Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 7:6; Psalms 4:3; Psalms 65:4; Psalms 84:4
29. S Exodus 34:9
30. Psalms 53:2; Psalms 102:19
31. Job 28:24; Psalms 11:4; Psalms 14:2; S Hebrews 4:13
32. S Leviticus 15:31; 1 Kings 8:39
33. Job 10:8; Psalms 119:73
34. S Job 10:4; Jeremiah 32:19
35. 1 Samuel 14:6; Psalms 44:6
36. S Psalms 20:7; Proverbs 21:31
37. S Exodus 3:16; S Psalms 11:4; 1 Peter 3:12; Job 36:7; Psalms 34:15
38. S Psalms 6:4; Psalms 147:11
39. Psalms 56:13; Acts 12:11
40. S Job 5:20
41. S Psalms 27:14; Psalms 130:6
42. S 1 Samuel 2:1; S Joel 2:23; Zechariah 10:7; John 16:22
43. S Psalms 30:4; S Psalms 99:3
44. Psalms 6:4

Footnotes 1

[a]. Or "sea as into a heap"

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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible