A Study by Scott Sperling Psalm 33 1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise Him. 2 Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to Him on the ten-stringed lyre. 3 Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.   4 For the word of the LORD is right and true; He is faithful in all He does. 5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His unfailing love.   6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of His mouth. 7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; He puts the deep into storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere Him. 9 For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm. 10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples. 11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.  12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He chose for His inheritance. 13 From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; 14 from His dwelling-place He watches all who live on earth-- 15 He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. 16 No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. 17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. 18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love, 19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.   20 We wait in hope for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. 21 In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. 22 May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in You.   This psalm is an exhortation to praise the Lord. The psalm begins with the exhortation (vss. 1-3), then goes on to enumerate the reasons why we should praise the Lord: because of the faithfulness and power of His word (vs. 4-9), because of His sovereignty (vss. 10-12), because of His personal concern (vss. 13-19). The psalm ends with a statement of trust in the Lord (vss. 20-22). Psalm 33:1-3 - Exhortation to Praise the Lord 1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise Him. 2 Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to Him on the ten-stringed lyre. 3 Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. David[8] begins with an exhortation to praise the Lord: "Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise Him" (vs. 1). Note that this exhortation is directed specifically to the "righteous". Now, in and of himself, no one is "righteous". As Paul reminds us: "[A]ll have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). However, God has provided a way that we may atone for our sins. In David's time, atonement for sins was achieved through obedience to the ritual sacrifices as spelled out in the law given to Moses. The purpose of these ritual sacrifices have since been fulfilled by the sacrifice of Christ. And so for us,"righteousness" can be achieved through belief in Christ, accepting His sacrifice. Thus, David's exhortation is directed to those who are obedient to God's requirements for atonement for sin. These are His true people. Given that "righteousness"  has been imputed to them, despite their sin, they have much to praise the Lord about. Certainly, as David says, "it is fitting for the upright to praise Him" (vs. 1). "Pious exultation, publicly expressed, with gratitude for mercies, becomes good men. If the upright refuse to praise the Lord, who shall extol Him?. . . [I]t is a great privilege [to praise the Lord], refreshing the heart, reviving the spirit and exciting others to the same blessed service. All the upright have countless reasons for praising God."[9] Possibly implicit in David's words is that it is not fitting for the unrighteous to praise the Lord. "Praise is not comely for any but the godly. A profane man stuck with God's praise is like a dunghill stuck with flowers."[10] Those who continue in a state of unrighteousness are those who have not been obedient to God. They have forsaken His great gift of salvation through His Son Jesus. Certainly, a life lived in obedience to God is the foundation of praise, and a minimum requirement in order that oral praise to be effective. Have you ever noticed how out of place statements of praise are when they come from the mouths of the ungodly? I recall an example of this in my own life. When I was in high school, I played sports. I remember that on our team was a locker room bully who would go out of his way to be cruel to his smaller teammates. One day, I went to an athletic event at a local church and this locker room bully was also there. He apparently was a member of that church, and held some respect as a youth leader. In that setting, he was full of praise for the Lord, often saying, "Oh, praise the Lord! Hallelujah! May God be praised!" etc. To those who knew him only in that setting, the praise of his lips was commendable. But to me, who knew his other side, his hypocrisy was a mockery of God. David continues: "Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to Him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy"  (vss. 2-3). In this verse, David enumerates some of the different ways to praise the Lord: "with the harp", "make music to Him", "sing to Him a new song", "play skillfully", and "shout for joy". There are many ways to praise the Lord. Some prefer one way, some prefer another. Some prefer loud music, some prefer organ music, some prefer no musical instruments, some prefer traditional hymns, some prefer a drum-kit to keep the beat, some prefer a choir with four-part harmony, etc. All of these are commendable to the extent that the Lord is praised through them. Psalm 33:4-9 - Reasons to Praise: His Word… 4 For the word of the LORD is right and true; He is faithful in all He does. 5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His unfailing love.   6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of His mouth. 7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; He puts the deep into storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere Him. 9 For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm. When praising the Lord, it is good to recall why you are praising Him. So, David now begins to enumerate some reasons to praise the Lord. David first points out the goodness of God's word: "For the word of the LORD is right and true; He is faithful in all He does. The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His unfailing love" (vss. 4-5). God is holy, and so His word is "right and true". You can be sure that the "word of the LORD" that you read in the Bible is the absolute truth and absolutely right, for "the LORD loves righteousness and justice" (vs. 5). Moreover, God is faithful to His word, "He is faithful in all He does". His faithfulness is everywhere seen: "the earth is full of His unfailing love". Not only is "the word of the Lord...right and true", it is also powerful: "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of His mouth" (vs. 6). Scientists and philosophers have long speculated on the origin of the universe, to little avail. David reveals this mystery succinctly and clearly. "How absurdly have the philosophers treated of the origin of the world! How few of them have reasoned conclusively on this important subject! Our prophet solves the important question by one single principle; and, what is more remarkable, this principle, which is nobly expressed, carries the clearest evidence with it. The principle is this: `By the word of the Lord were the heavens made.' This is the most rational account that was ever given of the creation of the world. The world is the work of a self-efficient will, and it is this principle alone that can account for its creation."[11] The Lord's power is displayed by His complete control over it: "He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; He puts the deep into storehouses" (vs. 7). Given that nothing and no one except God has such power, and given that God loves His people, what have we to fear? "Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere Him" (vs. 8). "Let them not fear another instead of Him. Doth a wild beast rage? Fear God. Doth a serpent lie in wait? Fear God. Doth man hate thee? Fear God. Doth the devil fight against thee? Fear God. For the whole creation is under Him whom thou art commanded to fear."[12] We have great reason to "revere Him", because of His faithfulness to His word: "For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm" (vs. 9). "There is no such distance betwixt God's saying and doing, as amongst men."[13] God's works and His word coincide. What He has promised, He will bring about. Where would we be if God was not faithful to His word? "A broad foundation for pious confidence is laid in the truth and excellence of God's word. If one precept, promise, doctrine, threatening, or prediction of God could fail, then indeed we would be undone. But that can never be."[14] Psalm 33:10-12 - …His Sovereignty 10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples. 11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.  12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He chose for His inheritance.   God is not only in control of the natural creation, but He also has complete control over all aspects of human society and interaction: "The LORD foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples"  (vs. 10). Certainly, God, who created all things, has the power to work His purpose through His creatures. Indeed, David confirms that God's will is being done, and has always been done: "But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations" (vs. 11). "Many causes make human plans and purposes feeble and uncertain; infinite perfections make God's plans and counsels immovable and infallible."[15]Given that "the plans of the LORD stand firm forever", it seems that national leaders would embrace the Lord, and encourage their people to turn to Him. For, certainly, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD the people He chose for His inheritance" (vs. 12). Sadly, most nations, even those founded upon godly principles, seem to do their best to distance themselves from God. Psalm 33:13-19 - …His Personal Concern   13 From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; 14 from His dwelling-place He watches all who live on earth-- 15 He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. 16 No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. 17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. 18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love, 19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.   Not only does the Lord direct events in society, He is concerned with each of us personally. In fact, "from heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from His dwelling-place He watches all who live on earth-- He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do" (vss. 13-15). Note the completeness of what David is saying: the Lord "sees all mankind", "watches all who live on earth", "forms the hearts of all", "considers everything they do". Those who do evil deny this. As David points out in another psalm, the evil one says to himself: "God has forgotten, He covers His face and never sees" (Ps. 10:11). They are wrong in this. God sees, and always has seen, all that we do. He keeps His omniscient eye on everyone. "Not one is above His ken, beneath His notice, or beyond His grasp."[16] What a blessing that "God does not show favoritism" (Rom. 2:11). He is concerned with all of us: not just kings and prophets, not just the rich and the famous, but all of us. God not only has His eyes on all of us, but also, just as He directs societal events, He also directs the events in our individual lives: "No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength"  (vs. 16). This may be disconcerting to those who trust in their own strength, but to those of us who see our own weakness, this is a comfort. I do not have to depend solely upon my limited abilities. God is with me working everything to His will. David continues: "A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save" (vs. 17). In those days, military strength in those days was seen as greatly dependent on the horse. Such confidence was misplaced, though. Interestingly, horses were forbidden to the army of Israel (see Deut. 17:16). God most likely wanted the Israelites to put their trust in Him, not in their horses. The world would see Israel as being at a disadvantage. On the contrary, though, they were in the best position as they depended on God's deliverance: "But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine" (vss. 18-19). Psalm 33:20-22 - …His Personal Concern   20 We wait in hope for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. 21 In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. 22 May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in You.   Given all this, David appropriately ends the psalm with a statement of trust in the Lord: "We wait in hope for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in You" (vss. 20-22). As David meditated upon God's sovereignty, he must have been encouraged in his faith. This is as it should be. As we praise the Lord, we should meditate upon His character and attributes. And as we meditate, our faith will be strengthened as we recognize God's love and providence in our own lives. ----------- Bibliography and Suggested Reading Alexander, Joseph Addison. The Psalms Translated and Explained.  Edinburgh: Andrew Elliot, 1864.  Anonymous.  A Plain Commentary on the Book of Psalms. Philadelphia:  Henry Hooker and Co., 1857. Barnes, Albert.  Notes on the Book of Psalms.  New York:  Harper & Brothers Publishing, 1871. Bonar, Andrew. Christ and His Church in the Book of Psalms.  New York:  Robert Carter & Brothers, 1860. Calvin, John.  A Commentary on the Book of Psalms.  3 Vols.  Oxford: D. A. Talboys, 1840. (Originally published in Latin in 1557).  Clarke, Adam. The Holy Bible with a Commentary and Critical Notes.  Vol. III.  London:  William Tegg & Co., 1854.  (Originally published in 1831).  Cowles, Henry.  The Psalms with Notes, Critical, Explanatory and Practical.  New York:  D. Appleton & Co., 1872. Darby, John Nelson.  Practical Reflections on the Psalms.  London:  Robert L. Allan, 1870. Delitzsch, Franz.  Biblical Commentary on the Psalms. Edinburgh:  T & T Clark, 1892. (Originally published in 1860). Dickson, David. An Explication of the Other Fifty Psalms, from Ps. 50 to Ps. 100. Cornhill, U.K.:  Ralph Smith, 1653.  Exell, Joseph S. and Henry Donald Spence-Jones, eds. The Pulpit Commentary. Vols. 17, 18, & 19. New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1884.  Hengstenberg, F. W.  Commentary on the Psalms.  Edinburgh:  T & T Clark, 1864. Henry, Matthew.  An Exposition of All the Books of the Old and New Testament.  Vol. II.  London: W. Baynes, 1806. (Originally published in 1710). Horne, George. A Commentary on the Book of Psalms.  New York:  Robert Carter & Brothers, 1854. Jamieson, Robert; Fausset, A. R.; Brown, David.  A Commentary: Critical, Experimental, and Practical on the Old and New Testaments.  Glasgow:  William Collins, Queen’s Printer, 1863. Kidner, Derek. Psalms (in 2 Vols.). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008 (first published in 1975). Kirkpatrick, A. F. The Book of Psalms with Introduction and Notes – Books II and III (from The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges). Cambridge, UK: University Press, 1895. Lange, John Peter, ed. and Philip Schaff, trans.  A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal, and Homiletical.  New York:  Charles Scribner & Co., 1865.  Maclaren, Alexander. The Psalms (in 3 Vols., from The Expositor’s Bible, ed. by W. R. Nicoll). New York: A. C. Armstrong and Son, 1901. Perowne, J. J. Stewart.  The Book of Psalms:  A New Translation with Explanatory Notes.  London:  George Bell & Sons, 1880. Plumer, William S.  Studies in the Book of Psalms.  Philadelphia:  J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1872. Scott, Thomas. Commentary on the Holy Bible, Vol. III. London: James Nisbet, 1866. Spurgeon, Charles.  The Treasury of David.  6 Vols.  London: Marshall Brothers, Ltd., 1885. Tholuck, Augustus.  A Translation and Commentary of the Book of Psalms.  Philadelphia:  Martien, 1858. Trapp, John.  A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments. Vol. II (Ezra to Psalms).  Edmonton, Canada: Still Waters Revival Books (www.PuritanDownloads.com). (Originally published c. 1660). VanGemeren, Willem A., (Gaebelein, Frank E., ed).  Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 5 – Psalms to Song of Songs.  Grand Rapids, MI:  Zondervan, 1991. -------- Many of these books (those in public domain) can be downloaded free of charge from:  http://www.ClassicChristianLibrary.com