_REJOICE IN THE LORD, O YE RIGHTEOUS: FOR PRAISE IS COMELY FOR THE UPRIGHT._ Psalms 33:1.-Call to the righteous to praise God with a new song (Psalms 33:1); ground of praise: the truth, righteousness, grace, and creative, all-sustaining power of God (Psalms 33:4); blessedness of the elect, whose God... [ Continue Reading ]
_PRAISE THE LORD WITH HARP: SING UNTO HIM WITH THE PSALTERY AND AN INSTRUMENT OF TEN STRINGS._ Praise ... harp. The voice is felt inadequate to do justice to the glory of God: the aid of instruments is enlisted. THE PSALTERY (AND) AN INSTRUMENT OF TEN STRINGS - rather, as the old version all tran... [ Continue Reading ]
_SING UNTO HIM A NEW SONG; PLAY SKILFULLY WITH A LOUD NOISE._ Sing ... a new song - the song of redemption from all foes, and from the great adversary, especially at the crowning consummation (Psalms 40:3; Psalms 96:1; Psalms 98:1; Revelation 5:9, "They sung a new song ... Thou art worthy ... for t... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOR THE WORD OF THE LORD IS RIGHT; AND ALL HIS WORKS ARE DONE IN TRUTH._ The first part (Psalms 33:4) of the main body; reasons why God is so to be praised (Psalms 33:1) - namely, for His truth, righteousness, creating, sustaining, and all-controlling power. Foremost stands His truth, or faithfuln... [ Continue Reading ]
_HE LOVETH RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUDGMENT: THE EARTH IS FULL OF THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD._ He ... righteousness - the Church's ground of assurance that the Lord will not let the unrighteousness of her enemies prevail (Habakkuk 1:13). THE EARTH IS FULL ... If the goodness of God so richly manifests it... [ Continue Reading ]
_BY THE WORD OF THE LORD WERE THE HEAVENS MADE; AND ALL THE HOST OF THEM BY THE BREATH OF HIS MOUTH._ As heretofore David has dwelt on Yahweh's faithfulness, righteousness, and goodness, as proving that He is willing to help his people, so now David turns to the proofs that Yahweh is also able to s... [ Continue Reading ]
_HE GATHERETH THE WATERS OF THE SEA TOGETHER AS AN HEAP: HE LAYETH UP THE DEPTH IN STOREHOUSES._ He gathereth ... as an heap - a daily-recurring wonder. God gathereth the fluid mass as one would gather a solid heap, and prevents the waters spreading over the earth further than they did at the first... [ Continue Reading ]
_LET ALL THE EARTH FEAR THE LORD: LET ALL THE INHABITANTS OF THE WORLD STAND IN AWE OF HIM._ Let ... fear the Lord. Since God is the omnipotent Creator (Psalms 33:6; Psalms 33:8), how madly self-destroying are they who oppose themselves to His people, and so virtually to God Himself!... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOR HE SPAKE, AND IT WAS DONE; HE COMMANDED, AND IT STOOD FAST._ He spake ... done - (Genesis 1:6, Genesis 1:9, Genesis 1:11, Genesis 1:14, Genesis 1:24, Genesis 1:29,39 , "And God said ... and it was so.") HE COMMANDED ... At His word the thing spoken became an existing fact, (Psalms 119:90, ma... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE LORD BRINGETH THE COUNSEL OF THE HEATHEN TO NOUGHT: HE MAKETH THE DEVICES OF THE PEOPLE OF NONE EFFECT._ Counsel of the pagan - Hebrew, the nations; namely, their counsel against the Lord's people (Psalms 2:1). THE DEVICES OF THE PEOPLE - Hebrew, 'the peoples.'... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE COUNSEL OF THE LORD STANDETH FOR EVER, THE THOUGHTS OF HIS HEART TO ALL GENERATIONS._ The counsel ... standeth for ever - even as the earth at His bidding "stood fast" (Psalms 33:9). Omnipotent as His work of creation proves Him to be, it is easy for Him to "bring to nought the counsel of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_BLESSED IS THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD; AND THE PEOPLE WHOM HE HATH CHOSEN FOR HIS OWN INHERITANCE._ Second half of the main body (Psalms 33:12); the blessedness of the elect people whose God is the Lord; in Him they have a strength which multitudes of men and horses could not give. BLESSED... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE LORD LOOKETH FROM HEAVEN; HE BEHOLDETH ALL THE SONS OF MEN._ The Lord looketh - not as an idle spectator, but as a sovereign Judge, taking cognizance of everything.... [ Continue Reading ]
_FROM THE PLACE OF HIS HABITATION HE LOOKETH UPON ALL THE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH._ NO JFB COMMENTARY ON THIS VERSE.... [ Continue Reading ]
_HE FASHIONETH THEIR HEARTS ALIKE; HE CONSIDERETH ALL THEIR WORKS._ He fashioneth their hearts ... The heart is 'the workshop of thought' (Hengstenberg). As God is the Fashioner of the hearts of all alike, He both accurately seeth into, and hath under His control, the "devices" of the people (Psalm... [ Continue Reading ]
_THERE IS NO KING SAVED BY THE MULTITUDE OF AN HOST: A MIGHTY MAN IS NOT DELIVERED BY MUCH STRENGTH._ No king ... multitude of an host - or, 'by the greatness of (his warlike) might.' A MIGHTY MAN - a warrior.... [ Continue Reading ]
_AN HORSE IS A VAIN THING FOR SAFETY: NEITHER SHALL HE DELIVER ANY BY HIS GREAT STRENGTH._ An horse ... War-horses and chariots were forbidden to Israel (Deuteronomy 17:16); hence, in respect to this arm of strength, Israel might seem at a disadvantage in her conflict with the world-power. Moreover... [ Continue Reading ]
_BEHOLD, THE EYE OF THE LORD IS UPON THEM THAT FEAR HIM, UPON THEM THAT HOPE IN HIS MERCY;_ The eye ... fear him (Psalms 34:15) - "upon the righteous.... [ Continue Reading ]
_TO DELIVER THEIR SOUL FROM DEATH, AND TO KEEP THEM ALIVE IN FAMINE._ To deliver ... death. What wordly 'strength' cannot do-namely, "deliver" its possessor (Psalms 33:16) "from death," is done for Israel, who is destitute of worldly strength, by the love and omnipotence of Yahweh.... [ Continue Reading ]
_OUR SOUL WAITETH FOR THE LORD: HE IS OUR HELP AND OUR SHIELD._ Conclusion. Believers testify their joy and trust in the Lord as their 'help and shield,' and pray that Yahweh's "mercy" may be upon them, according as their "hope" is in Him. OUR SOUL WAITETH - with intent expectation, as the Hebrew... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOR OUR HEART SHALL REJOICE IN HIM, BECAUSE WE HAVE TRUSTED IN HIS HOLY NAME._ His holy name. His holiness is the center and source of His attributes-and His grace, truth, and faithfulness.... [ Continue Reading ]
_LET THY MERCY, O LORD, BE UPON US, ACCORDING AS WE HOPE IN THEE._ Let ... according ... Cf Matthew 9:29, Jesus' words to the two blind men at Jericho, "According to your faith be it unto you.... [ Continue Reading ]