Bible Commentaries
Psalms 33

Verses 1-22

Psalms 33

THE WORD AND EYES OF THE LORD

This Psalm calls the righteous to rejoice, praise, give thanks, sing praises, and play music unto the Lord. It is a General Psalm. addressed and applicable to the redeemed of all ages.

Verses 1-22:

Verse 1 calls upon the righteous, all the redeemed in general, who "fear the Lord," and hope in His mercy, and trust in His holy name, to rejoice in the Lord, v.18, 21; Philippians 4:4; Psalms 32:11; Psalms 97:12. For it is declared that such is becoming to the "upright," those whose God is the Lord, v.12, whom He has chosen in the Messiah as His heritage, Exodus 19:5; Numbers 23:10. To rejoice in the Lord is to make Him the central element and object of our joy.

Verses 2, 3 admonish "praise the lord ’with’ (in harmony with) the harp," a musical instrument. David added "sing unto him with, in harmony ’with’ the psaltery, even an instrument of ten strings," that touch the pitch and key of every emotion of human experience. He continued, "play skillfully, artistically, with a loud noise (of praise) for the word of the Lord is right and all His works are done in truth." The human voice, unaided, alone, is felt inadequate to do justice in raising praise to God. So the man after God’s own heart not only invented instruments of music, to praise the Lord therewith, but also called upon "the righteous" to use the harp and the psaltery of ten strings to praise and glorify the Lord in addition to, yet in harmony with singing to him a new song, the song of redemption by the blood, Revelation 5:9-10; See also Psalms 96:1; Psalms 98:1; Psalms 44:9; Psalms 149:1; Isaiah 42:10; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Revelation 14:3; 1 John 2:7-8; 1 Samuel 16:17.

Verse 4 asserts that the word of the Lord is right (upright) in all His promises, to all men in matters of redemption and Divine care. Psalms 105:42. What is more "all His works are done in truth" or in the area of His faithfulness who has promised, v.9; Numbers 23:19.

Verse 5 adds that "He continually loves righteousness and judgment," absolute attributes of His holy and just nature. He therefore will not permit sin and Satan to prevail upon His earth, among His people, Habakkuk 1:13. For the earth is full of His goodness, Psalms 119:64. Expressed in His people and His church, Matthew 5:13-16; Ephesians 3:21.

Verse 6 states that "by the word of the Lord the heavens were formed and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth," as recounted John 1:1-3; Hebrews 11:3; 2 Peter 3:5; Genesis 2:7; Job 26:13; Psalms 104:30. All creation’s existence is ascribed to the work of the Lord, merits praise from all creatures above, upon, and beneath the earth from which He shall one day receive it, Revelation 5:9-13. The Divine word and the Divine spirit worked cooperatively in creation of all things, inclusive of heaven’s host, of angels, the galaxies of stars, the sun, and the moon, Genesis 2:1: Isaiah 11:4; Job 33:4; Psalms 104:30; Hebrews 1:13-14. These existing hosts should still praise Him who daily sustains them for His own praise and glory, Psalms 8, 19.

Verses 7, 8 attribute to Him the gathering of the waters of the sea, in their own heap, and restricting them in their own storehouse, where they serve Him and humanity best, Exodus 15:8; Joshua 3:13. The seas are as safe in their caverns, from which they do his will, as treasures that men keep in a safe, till specially needed. All the earth’s inhabitants are called to stand in awe and "fear the Lord," Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

Verse 9 declares "He spake and it was done," came to become, to exist. He further commanded (mandated) and it (the creation)’ stood fast, fixed, set, or established, at His word, as described Genesis 1:1; Genesis 1:6-7; Genesis 1:9; Genesis 1:11; Genesis 1:14-15; Genesis 1:24; Genesis 1:29-30; Psalms 148:5; Psalms 119:90; Hebrews 11:3.

Verse 10 asserts that the Lord brings the counsel (collusion) of the wicked against His people to naught, makes them void, defeats them. It is added that he causes the devices or schemes of the heathen to be of none effect, Psalms 1:5-6.

Verse 11 extols the counsel of the Lord as standing forever; and the purposes of His heart continue to all generations as permanent and sustaining to the righteous; His Divine work in the righteous shall stand, attesting His omnipotence in redeeming man, even as it is in causing the universe to stand and to obey His voice, until the restitution of all things, Acts 3:20-21; Job 23:13; Proverbs 19:21; Isaiah 14:24; Isaiah 14:27; Isaiah 46:10; La 3:37; Ephesians 1:11. See also John 10:27-30; Philippians 1:6.

Verses 12 states that the nation is blessed whose God is the lord, and the people whom He has chosen for His own heritage, even as Jesus chose the church as His heritage, bride, etc. ; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 3:21; Ephesians 5:25; Revelation 19:7-8; 1 Peter 2:9; Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 7:6; Amos 3:2.

Verses 13, 14 declare that the Lord continually looks down from heaven, over His universe and His own, beholding, scrutinizing in particular, the sons of men, in all their habitations of the earth, because He cares for them all, Ezekiel 18:4; Acts 17:28; 2 Chronicles 16:9; Job 28:24; Psalms 11:4; Psalms 14:2; Proverbs 15:3.

Verse 15 states that the Lord "fashions their hearts alike; He considereth all their works or activities." All men are His: 1) by right of creation, 2) and by His daily care for them, and 3) His redemptive work for all as set forth, Ezekiel 18:4; Acts 17:26-28; La 3:20-23; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Romans 1:16. See also Proverbs 22:2; Ecclesiastes 7:29; La 64:8; Acts 17:26; Job 11:11; Job 34:21; Jeremiah 32:19; Hosea 7:2; 1 Corinthians 4:5.

Verses 16, 17 declare that there exists no king who is saved by the multitude of an host nor is any man of might saved by much strength, by arrayed warfare or any mighty warrior. It is added that war horses and chariots, forbidden by Mosaic, Divine law for Israel, were vain sources of strength or safety, Deuteronomy 17:16. So long as Israel had God for her strength and security, or any other nation, her strength and protection were adequate. Without Him, all else is vain, John 15:5; Proverbs 21:31.

Verses 18, 19 certify that the eye of the Lord is upon (overshadowing) those who fear Him, even over those who hope (confide) in His mercy, as set forth clearly Job 36:7; His (eye-care) follows them daily, "to deliver their soul from death, and to keep. them alive in famine," Psalms 34:15; Psalms 147:11; 1 Peter 3:12; Hebrews 13:5; Philippians 4:19.

Verses 20, 21 confide that the souls of David and his people, Israel waited for or upon the Lord as their help and shield from earthly foes, as Jacob waited on him, on his death bed, Genesis 49:18. Then it is added, "our heart shall rejoice in Him because we have trusted in His holy name," His holy character, power and authority, besides whom there is no true God or Savior, Psalms 115:4-9; Proverbs 3:3-5; Acts 4:12.

Verse 22 concludes this call to praise the Lord with a cry of absolute, unconditional trust in the Lord, "Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope (confide) in thee." The verse reminds one of our Lord’s words to the two blind men in Jericho, "according to your faith be it (it shall be) unto you," Matthew 9:29; La 3:22, 23.