Psalms 33:17

_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, in other resources she wee not a match for her powerful enemies; but as everything depends on the power of God, and nothing is effected by mere earthly strength, Israel, so long as she has the Lord for her God, has everything to hope and nothing to fear (cf. Proverbs 21:31)....

17._A horse is a deceitful thing for safety. _In this verse, the Psalmist, by the figure synecdoche under the name of _horse, _is to be understood as meaning any kind of help. The sense is, that in general those who conceive that their life is well protected by earthly means, are commonly disappointed at the very crisis of danger, and are miserably beguiled to their utter undoing, so that God therein clearly shows them their folly. It is true, that kings are not armed with the sword in vain, nor is the use of horses superfluous, nor are the treasures and resources which God furnishes to defend men’s lives unnecessary, provided a right method of employing them be observed. But as the greater part of men the more they are surrounded with human defences, withdraw themselves the farther from God, and by a false imagination persuade themselves that they are in a haven safe from all disturbanc...

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 upo...

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....

AN HORSE - The reference here is undoubtedly to the war-horse. See the notes at Psalms 20:7. IS A VAIN THING - literally, is a “lie.” That is, he cannot be confided in. FOR SAFETY - For securing safety in battle. He is liable to be stricken down, or to become wild and furious so as to be beyond the control of his rider; and however strong or fleet he may be, or however well he may be “broken,” yet none of these things make it certain that the rider will be safe. God is the only being in whom perfect confidence can be reposed. NEITHER SHALL HE DELIVER ANY BY HIS GREAT STRENGTH - Safety cannot be found in his mere “strength,” however great that may be. These illustrations are all designed to lead the mind to the great idea that safety is

EXPOSITION THIS psalm has no title in the Hebrew, and in some manuscripts it is joined on to the preceding psalm, and forms one with it. But the difference of subject-matter and of tone render it highly improbable that that arrangement is the correct one. The two psalms are best regarded as wholly separate compositions, though the writer of the present one took for his key-note the last verse of Psalms 32:1. The Septuagint makes David the author, but with no support from the Hebrew. An author in the reign of Asa or Jehoshaphat, and again one in the reign of Josiah, has been suggested, but the psalm itself scarcely gives a hint towards fixing the date. As a simple psalm of praise and thanksgiving, intended for the service of the temple, it is well worthy of admiration, being "singularly bright, and replete with beautiful imagery" ('Speaker's Commentary')

A HORSE [IS] A VAIN THING FOR SAFETY,.... Though it is prepared for the day of battle, and is a very warlike creature, and of great service in war, yet safety only is of the Lord, Proverbs 21:31; this is put for all kinds of military preparations which men are apt to trust in, but should not, for they are "a lie" i, as the horse is here said to be; that is, deceives and disappoints when trusted to; in like manner the olive is said "to lie", Habakkuk 3:17; when hope of fruit from it is disappointed; so "fundus mendax" in Horace k; NEITHER SHALL HE DELIVER [ANY] BY HIS GREAT STRENGTH; in the time of battle; either by fighting for him, or fleeing with him. i שקר "mendacium", Pagninus, Montanus; "fallax", V. L. k Epod. l. 1. Ode 16. ver. 45. Carmin. l. 3. Ode 1. v. 30. "Spe

Psalms 33:1. _Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright._ False gods were worshipped with dolorous sounds, accompanied by cutting with knives and with lancets; but our God is the happy God, and he would have his people happy. «Rejoice in Jehovah, O ye righteous.» The praises of God are very beautiful when they are sung by holy people: «for praise is comely for the upright.» But the praises of God on the lips of godless men are altogether out of place. I wonder how Christians can allow those to lead their praises in the sanctuary who never can from their hearts praise God. They who sing to the worldling all the week should not be employed to sing to the God of the holy on the Sabbath, surely. «Praise is comely for the upright.» Hymns and psalms sung by the ungodly are but as sweet spices laid upon a dunghill; but «praise is comely for the upright.»...

Psalms 33 The Future Praise of Jehovah _ 1. The call to praise Jehovah (Psalms 33:1)_ 2. His praise as the Creator (Psalms 33:4) 3. His praise of His governmental dealings (Psalms 33:10) 4. His praise as the Keeper and Deliverer of the Righteous (Psalms 33:18) What the last verse of the preceding Psalm exhorts to shout for joy, is in this Psalm more fully unfolded. Such praise the Lord has not yet received, it looks forward to millennial times when all earth fears the Lord and all the inhabitants stand in awe of Hi

XXXIII. A SONG OF PRAISE. This Ps. has no title in MT. It may have been added at a later time to an older collection, probably Psalms 33:3. The LXX prefix, By David, when he changed his face before Abimelech (_sic_) and he loosed him and he went away. The Ps. is an invitation to praise Yahweh as the Creator and for His care of Israel throughout its history. Yahweh alone can save His people, and for that salvation the Psalmist will wait....