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NOTES for Psa 33

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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.
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The soul that abides in unity with the Lord pours forth a joyful hymn. Yet from his very first words, the psalmist observes that fitting praise—that is, the moral right to praise the Lord—belongs to those called upright, those who have been justified before God and walk before Him. Nevertheless, we are all called to be thus justified, and therefore each of us may join in the joy of unity with the Creator of the universe, the Source of truth and mercy.

The psalm glorifies the Lord for His works, beginning with the creation of the world. (Incidentally, the sixth verse can be understood as an allusion to the actions of the Persons of the Trinity being revealed: both the Word of the Lord and the breath of His mouth take part in creation.) The Lord continues to act even now, not only destroying the evil that possesses the nations but also discerning the thoughts in the hearts of all who live.

Neither strength nor military might will help those who put their trust in them. But hope in the Lord will not disappoint, and therefore joyful are those who trust in Him!

Other notes

 
For Psa 33:1-22
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.
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David composed this psalm in difficult circumstances, when the contempt of those around him was added to all the afflictions he had already endured...  Read more

David composed this psalm in difficult circumstances, when the contempt of those around him was added to all the afflictions he had already endured. And it was precisely then that praise poured out from David's heart.

Often, after receiving from the Lord everything we asked for and even more, we become ungrateful and begin to forget from whom we received it all. At the height of his earthly power, David too did not escape sin. Yet in years of hardship and trial—not only when he had to oppose his enemies with weapons, but also when daily and constant humiliations wore him down—he remained with the Lord.

Apparently, in those days it was revealed to the psalmist that it is not the Lord who will punish the sinner: his own evil will kill him. What the one walking the path of evil has sown will return to him. The righteous, however, has many afflictions, but it is precisely for this reason that the Lord will deliver him from them.

To praise the Lord at every time and in all circumstances—this is the important lesson David learned during his wanderings and bequeathed to us.

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