Psalm 33

The righteous who know the goodness of God should never be empty of His praises.
Though the residence of God’s glory is in the highest heavens,
yet His eye is upon every inhabitant of earth and no detail of their lives escapes His observation.

1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.

2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth 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 spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.

11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

13 The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.

14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.

16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.

18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.

21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.

22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

Psalm 33:1-12 – ​“The Word of Jehovah”

   This psalm is eminently calculated to incite praise. Let us note the subjects which are touched upon, in the hope that presently one may strike a spark at which our cold hearts shall flame up.
   The words and works of Jehovah are the first to pass in review, Psalm 33:4. Let us never forget that nothing was made apart from our Lord Jesus. He is emphatically the Word through whom the creative fiat went forth, John 1:3; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2. It is good, as we contemplate the beauties and wonders of creation, to turn in praise to Him, whose parables disclose the secrets which be hid in the works of His hands. If creation proceeded by the stages of evolution, it was due to His initiative and under His superintendence.
   Note the vivid touches with which the work of creation is described in Psalm 33:6-9. Then turn to the description of God’s providential government, Psalm 33:10-12. We are said to be God’s inheritance. See Psalm 33:12. Ephesians 1:11 also tells us that we inherit Him, and Psalm 33:18 that He inherits us. Bring every inch of us under thy tillage, Great Occupier! —Through the Bible Day by Day

Psalm 33:5—The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

​   The Psalmist means that there is no spot in it where the traces and footprints of God’s love may not be discerned, if only the eyes and the heart are opened. Just as every corner of a room which faces the south is filled with the morning sunlight, unless artificial and violent means are adopted to keep it out, so every part of human life is full of God’s loving-kindness, unless it is blocked out by sin. You think that your lot is absolutely destitute of God’s loving-kindness; but may not your eyes be blinded? May there not be more than you suppose? May you not be so occupied with the one irksome thing in it as to be oblivious to ten thousand marks of tender compassion and unobtrusive mercy?
   Your chamber is very bare and comfortless; but it is part of the earth, and it is therefore full of God’s loving-kindness: look around for it. Your home seems uncongenial and trying; but it must be full to the brim of loving kindness. Your daily life is hard and difficult; but there is as much lovingkindness in it as if it were easy and prosperous. There is indeed more loving-kindness in these trying and difficult surroundings than in happier ones. It costs God more to give us pain. We need more love, and we get it. We should rejoice in it if our eyes were opened.
   The loveless heart can detect nothing but disappointment and unkindness. But the heart that loves, and sings, and rejoices in the Lord, detects the evident tokens of God’s love; just as the child of nature knows when friend or foe has passed through the forest-glade, by indications which would be unintelligible to our unpracticed eye. Echo always answers in the same key in which we address her! —Our Daily Homily

Psalm 33:13-22 – ​“The Eye of Jehovah”

   The comprehensiveness of God’s providence, Psalm 33:13-15. No one, however lowly or abject, is beneath notice. It is not that all hearts are alike in their aptitudes or intensity, but that there is not one that does not bear some trace, however defaced, of His image and superscription.
   God’s watchfulness, Psalm 33:16-19. The preparations that men make against peril and poverty often fail them. A horse is a vain thing for safety. If God is not with you, His fleet foot will not deliver you in the day of battle, when the enemy bears down on you in force. But God’s unslumbering eye watches over them that fear Him, especially if they are not possessed of horses; and at the moment when He can help them best, He will intervene to deliver. Remember Psalm 20:7.
   The certainty of God’s help, Psalm 33:20-22. Let us await His time to act. Trust is certain to bear fruit in joy. They that hope in God shall have abundant cause to praise Him. Be of good cheer! Even now you can hear the footfall of the advancing angel-host! Get ready to praise Him! —Through the Bible Day by Day