Psalm 33
Israel’s Joy in the Millennium: the Nation Whose God is Jehovah
Israel’s Joy in the Millennium: the Nation Whose God is Jehovah
Psalm 33. This Psalm does not have a title, but it would seem that it is an appendix to the preceding Psalm, making it a Psalm of David. Prophetically, this Psalm gives us the praise of redeemed Israel for Jehovah their God, especially as Creator, but also as Israel’s Redeemer.
PSALM 33
1 Exult, ye righteous, in Jehovah: praise is comely for the upright.
2 Give thanks unto Jehovah with the harp; sing psalms unto him with the ten-stringed lute.
3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud sound.
4 For the word of Jehovah is right, and all his work is in faithfulness.
5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the loving-kindness of Jehovah.
vv.1-5 Praise for the manifest character of Jehovah. The righteous are called to praise, give thanks, and sing to Jehovah. The theme of the praise is the manifested character of Jehovah in His word and works, particularly in righteous judgment, and also in loving-kindness. His This is very different from Christian praise, as it is “with the harp” and “with the ten-stringed lute”. In the New Testament there is not one word about the Church’s worship that would indicate musical accompaniment. Playing “skilfully” can hardly be considered worship of “the Father in spirit and truth” (John 4:23). It isn’t that there cannot be music along with worship in the New Testament, but that it in itself doesn’t comprise the worship. In Christianity we are to make “melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19). But in the Millennium, Israel on earth will once again worship with musical instruments, and rightly so. Prophetically this Psalm would be placed at the beginning of the Millennium, when the righteous judgment of Jehovah is fresh in the minds of all, and also when the who earth is made to feel the loving-kindness of the Lord.
6 By the word of Jehovah 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 a heap; he layeth up the deeps in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear Jehovah; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
9 For “he” spoke, and it was done; “he” commanded, and it stood fast.
vv.6-9 Praise for Jehovah as Creator. The glory of Jehovah in creation is reviewed. The vast expanse of the universe, with its galaxies of stars, was made by the word of Jehovah. What power! Turning to the earth, the vast oceans and water reserves are also completely under the power of Jehovah. Because of this, Jehovah is worthy of glory from all the earth; “let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him”. If we read Genesis 1, we will see how creation was accomplished by the Word of God; “For he spoke, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.”
10 Jehovah frustrateth the counsel of the nations; he maketh the thoughts of the peoples of none effect.
11 The counsel of Jehovah standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart from generation to generation.
vv.10-11 His Omniscience or Divine Wisdom. We find that the purpose and counsel of Jehovah stands forever, in spite of the confederacies of men that plot against Him (Psa. 2:1-6).
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is Jehovah, the people that he hath chosen for his inheritance!
13 Jehovah looketh from the heavens; he beholdeth all the sons of men:
14 From the place of his habitation he looketh forth upon all the inhabitants of the earth;
15 He who fashioneth the hearts of them all, who considereth all their works.
16 The king is not saved by the multitude of his forces; a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
17 The horse is a vain thing for safety; neither doth he deliver by his great power.
18 Behold, the eye of Jehovah is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his loving-kindness,
19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
vv.12-19 Praise for Jehovah as Israel’s Redeemer. The song now takes up the national blessedness of Israel. The true source of their blessing is Jehovah, “Blessed is the nation whose God is Jehovah”. It isn’t Israel’s goodness or works, but the sovereign election of God, the people that He has chosen for His inheritance. In vv.13-14 we have the broad survey of Jehovah looking down from heaven, who sees all men and knows their hearts and their works. All salvation is attributed, not to man’s strength or to human agencies (horses), but only to the protection of Jehovah.
20 Our soul waiteth for Jehovah: he is our help and our shield.
21 For in him shall our heart rejoice, because we have confided in his holy name.
22 Let thy loving-kindness, O Jehovah, be upon us, according as we have hoped in thee.
vv.20-22 Confidence in Jehovah. The response of the faithful to the revealed character of Jehovah is to wait on Him and trust His protection. This enables the saints to rejoice at all times. The final prayer is that the loving-kindness of Jehovah would abide on them both individually and as a nation.