Psalms 33:1-22
1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodnessa of the LORD.
6 By the word of the LORD 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 an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: 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 The LORD bringethb the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to allc generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
13 The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: 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 mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.
Psalms 33:2. The psaltery, a little harp of sweet sound, and very generally used in unison with the voice.
Psalms 33:6. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, as in Genesis 1. By the Word the christian fathers, Basil and Theodoret, understand Christ, the uncreated Word. This ever-living Word, as in all the Jewish Targums, is the glorious Person who inspired the prophets, reproved kings, and expostulated with Jonah: the Word of the Lord, made flesh for man. By the breath, they understand the Spirit of the Lord, which moved on the waters. See on Proverbs 8:22; Isaiah 49. and 63.
REFLECTIONS.
Ingratitude is a foul offence against the gracious Lord. The earth makes returns to the husbandman, and the beasts in their way are grateful for food. Surely then it becomes the just to be thankful. A nation saved by victory from captivity and the sword, should make the whole land resound with grateful hymns and obedient hearts.
This psalm celebrates the Creator in his providence; he gathers the waters of the sea by gravity, brings the counsel of the heathen to nought, and supersedes all their divinations, while the counsel of the Lord stands for ever.
It notices the happiness of a nation strictly religious, which trust in the Lord, and not in an arm of flesh, for no king is saved by the multitude of his infantry; neither is it safe to trust to his cavalry, the horse being a vain defence. Let thy mercy, oh Lord, ever be on us, as on David, and on his people.
This Psalm is an acrostic: the twenty two verses contain the exact number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet, and follow the same order. The sentiments are ardent, the language glowing; for the escape from danger when suspected of being a spy, made his soul overflow with gratitude.