18 Lo, the eye of Jehovah `is' to those fearing Him, To those waiting for His kindness,
He withdraweth not from the righteous His eyes, And `from' kings on the throne, And causeth them to sit for ever, and they are high,
Jehovah is pleased with those fearing Him, With those waiting for His kindness.
And I, in Thy kindness I have trusted, Rejoice doth my heart in Thy salvation.
The eyes of Jehovah `are' unto the righteous, And His ears unto their cry. (The face of Jehovah `is' on doers of evil, To cut off from earth their memorial.) They cried, and Jehovah heard, And from all their distresses delivered them. Near `is' Jehovah to the broken of heart, And the bruised of spirit He saveth. Many `are' the evils of the righteous, Out of them all doth Jehovah deliver him. He is keeping all his bones, One of them hath not been broken.
that through two immutable things, in which `it is' impossible for God to lie, a strong comfort we may have who did flee for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before `us',
and to him who is working, the reward is not reckoned of grace, but of debt; and to him who is not working, and is believing upon Him who is declaring righteous the impious, his faith is reckoned -- to righteousness: even as David also doth speak of the happiness of the man to whom God doth reckon righteousness apart from works: `Happy they whose lawless acts were forgiven, and whose sins were covered; happy the man to whom the Lord may not reckon sin.'
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 33
Commentary on Psalms 33 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 33
Ps 33:1-22. A call to lively and joyous praise to God for His glorious attributes and works, as displayed in creation, and His general and special providence, in view of which, the Psalmist, for all the pious, professes trust and joy and invokes God's mercy.
1-3. The sentiment falls in with Ps 32:11 (compare 1Co 14:15). The instruments (Ps 92:3; 144:9) do not exclude the voice.
3. a new song—fresh, adapted to the occasion (Ps 40:3; 96:1).
play skilfully—(Compare 1Sa 16:17).
4-9. Reasons for praise: first, God's truth, faithfulness, and mercy, generally; then, His creative power which all must honor.
6. In "word" and "breath"—or, "spirit," there may be an allusion to the Son (Joh 1:1) and Holy Spirit.
9. he spake—literally, "said."
it was—The addition of "done" weakens the sense (compare Ge 1:3-10).
10, 11. In God's providence He thwarts men's purposes and executes His own.
heathen—literally, "nations."
12-19. The inference from the foregoing in Ps 33:12 is illustrated by God's special providence, underlying which is His minute knowledge of all men.
13. looketh—intently (Isa 14:16).
15. fashioneth—or, "forms," and hence knows and controls (Pr 21:1).
alike—without exception.
considereth—or, "understands"; God knows men's motives.
16, 17. Men's usual reliances in their greatest exigencies are, in themselves, useless.
17. On the war horse (compare Job 39:19-25).
a vain thing—a lie, which deceives us.
18, 19. Contrasted is God's guidance and power to save from the greatest earthly evil and its most painful precursor, and hence from all.
20-22. waiteth—in earnest expectation.
21. his holy name—(Compare Ps 5:12; 22:22; 30:4). Our faith measures mercy (Mt 9:29); and if of grace, it is no more of debt (Ro 11:6).