PSALM XXXIII _The Lord is praised for his works of creation_, 1-9; _and for the stability of his own counsels_, 10, 11. _The blessedness of the people who have the knowledge of the_ _true God, his grace, and providence_, 12-15. _The vanity of all earthly dependence_, 16, 17. _The happiness of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 33:2. _PRAISE THE LORD WITH HARP_] כנור _kinnor_; probably something like our _harp_: but Calmet thinks it the ancient _testudo_, or lyre with three strings. _THE PSALTER_] נבל _nebel_. Our translation seems to make a _third_ instrument in this place, by rendering עשור _asor, an instru... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 33:3. _SING UNTO HIM A NEW SONG_] Do not wear out the old forms: fresh mercies call for new songs of praise and gratitude. _PLAY SKILFULLY WITH A LOUD NOISE._] Let _sense_ and _sound_ accompany each other; let the style of the music be suited to the words. This _skill_ is possessed by... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 33:4. _THE WORD OF THE LORD_ IS _RIGHT_] He is infinitely wise, and can make no mistakes; and all his works are done in truth. All the words, laws, promises, and threatenings of God are perfectly true and just. The dispensations of his providence and mercy are equally so. When he _rewar... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 33:5. _HE LOVETH RIGHTEOUSNESS_] What he delights in himself, he loves to see in his followers. _THE EARTH IS FULL OF THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD._] To hear its worthless inhabitants complain, one would think that God dispensed _evil_, not _good_. To examine the operation of his hand, eve... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 33:6. _BY THE WORD OF THE LORD WERE THE HEAVENS MADE_] This is illustrated in the Psalms 33:9 verse: "He spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast." This evidently refers to the account of the creation, as it stands in the Genesis 1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 33:7. _HE GATHERETH THE WATERS OF THE SEA TOGETHER_] He separated the _water_ from the _earth_ and, while the latter was collected into continents, islands, mountains, hills, and valleys, the former was collected into _one place_, and called _seas_; and by his all-controlling power and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 33:8. _LET ALL THE EARTH FEAR THE LORD_] He who has thus _bound_, can _unloose_; he who has _created_, can _destroy_. He has promised life and prosperity _only_ to the _godly_; let the _ungodly_ stand in awe of him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 33:10. _THE COUNSEL OF THE HEATHEN TO NAUGHT_] This appears to be similar to what is mentioned in the second _Psalm_; the useless attempts of the Gentiles to prevent the extension of the kingdom of Christ in the earth: and it may refer to similar attempts of ungodly nations or men to pr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 33:11. _THE COUNSEL OF THE LORD_] What he has determined shall be done. He determined to make a world, and he made it; to create man, and he created him. He determined that at a certain period God should be manifested in the flesh, and it was so; that he should taste death for every man... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 33:12. _BLESSED_ IS _THE NATION_] O how happy is that nation which has יהוה _Jehovah_ for its אלהים _Elohim_; the self-existent and eternal Lord for its covenant God; one who should unite himself to it by connections and ties the most powerful and endearing! The word אלהים _Elohim_, whi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 33:13. _THE LORD LOOKETH FROM HEAVEN_] This and the following verse seem to refer to God's _providence_. He sees all that is done in the earth, and his eye is on all the children of men.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 33:15. _HE FASHIONETH THEIR HEARTS ALIKE_] _He forms their_ _hearts in unity_; he has formed them _alike_; they are all the _works_ _of his hands_: and he has formed them with the same powers, faculties, passions, c. body and spirit having the same essential properties in every human be... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 33:16. _THERE IS NO KING SAVED BY THE MULTITUDE OF A HOST_] Even in the midst of the most _powerful_ and _numerous army_, no _king_ is in _safety_ unless he have God's protection. A king is but a _man_, and may as easily lose his life as one of his common soldiers. _A MIGHTY MAN IS NOT... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 33:17. _A HORSE_ IS _A VAIN THING FOR SAFETY_] Even the horse, with all his fleetness, is no sure means of escape from danger: the _lion_ or the _tiger_ can overtake him or he may stumble, fall, and destroy his rider.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 33:18. _BEHOLD, THE EYE OF THE LORD_] Though all the above are unavailing, yet here is one thing that can never fail; "the eye of the Lord"-the watchful providence of the Most High, "is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 33:19. _TO DELIVER THEIR SOUL FROWN DEATH_] To watch over and protect them in all sudden dangers and emergencies, so that they shall not _lose their LIVES by any accident_. _AND TO KEEP THEM ALIVE IN FAMINE._] Not only prevent _sudden death_ by an instantaneous interposition of my powe... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 33:20. _OUR SOUL WAITETH_] Our whole life is employed in this blessed work; we _trust_ in nothing but him; neither in multitudes of armed men, nor in natural strength, nor in the fleetest animals, nor in any thing human: we trust in Him alone "who is our help and our shield.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 33:21. _FOR OUR HEART SHALL REJOICE IN HIM_] Here is the fruit of our confidence: our souls are always _happy_, because we have taken God for our _portion_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 33:22. _LET THY MERCY, O LORD, BE UPON US_] We cannot abide in this state unless upheld by thee; and, as we disclaim all _merit_, we seek for a continuance of thy _mercy_, and this we cannot expect but in a continual dependence on thee. "Let thy mercy, O Lord be upon us, according as we... [ Continue Reading ]