Psalms 33 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Psalm 33

The Steadfast Love of the Lord

33:1   Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous!
    Praise befits the upright.
2   Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre;
    make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
3   Sing to him a new song;
    play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
4   For the word of the LORD is upright,
    and all his work is done in faithfulness.
5   He loves righteousness and justice;
    the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.
6   By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
    and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
7   He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap;
    he puts the deeps 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 spoke, and it came to be;
    he commanded, and it stood firm.
10   The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
    he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11   The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
    the plans of his heart to all generations.
12   Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
    the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!
13   The LORD looks down from heaven;
    he sees all the children of man;
14   from where he sits enthroned he looks out
    on all the inhabitants of the earth,
15   he who fashions the hearts of them all
    and observes all their deeds.
16   The king is not saved by his great army;
    a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
17   The war horse is a false hope for salvation,
    and by its great might it cannot rescue.
18   Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,
    on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19   that he may deliver their soul from death
    and keep them alive in famine.
20   Our soul waits for the LORD;
    he is our help and our shield.
21   For our heart is glad in him,
    because we trust in his holy name.
22   Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,
    even as we hope in you.

Commentary

While other psalms speak of a personal response to God, this psalm declares His power in creation, and encourages a corporate response. Solely to praise God for what He has done for me misses out on the truths of this psalm.

v1-3: The call to the righteous to praise and rejoice in song; only from an upright heart is praise beautiful. Skill comes with prayer, practice, and perseverance.

v4-5: Praise to God for His word, His work, His character; He is righteous and just and good.

v6-9: Creation came into being simply by His word, John 1.1, 3, 14 links these words with the Lord Jesus, by Whom all things were made. We are in awe at such a great and powerful God.

He needed no 'raw materials' with which to create the world. There is a difference between creation and 'generation.' With generation, there is some matter to work with; in creation there was no pre-existent matter. He also needed no tools, except the tool of His word. All great human buildings require tools, and skill to use them, but creation remains unique in being made by the powerful word of God.

These words also confirm that creation is distinct from the Creator; He made everything. But the creation is not something which we must worship.

v10-15: The Lord's sovereignty over the nations; since nothing in done without Him, He will bring to nothing the plans of the wicked; He makes it clear that the Most High God rules in the kingdoms of men. Yet the Lord God has chosen the nation of Israel as His inheritance.

v16-17: Where is our trust placed? Recognise that all power belongs to God, therefore trust Him.

v18-22: Trusting in God together. There is joy and hope in Him; but that comes as we wait on Him and trust in Him.