Annotations Upon the Books of Poetry, Psalms · Psalm 33
PSALM XXXIII.
Verſ. 1. REjoyce in the Lord, O ye righteous, &c.] Thus as the foregoing Pſalm ended, ſo this begins: for praiſe is comely for the upright, to wit, in regard they above others have ſuch ſpeciall and abundant cauſe to praiſe God, ſo that no imployment is fitter for them; as likewiſe becauſe they alone do truly know God, and heartily deſire to glorifie his name, and ſo from them it is acceptable with God; whereas when wicked men, that have no taſt of Gods goodneſſe, do undertake to praiſe God, they do but profane Gods holy name, and therefore God abhors their praiſes: ſee Pſal. 50.16.
Verſ. 2. Praiſe the Lord with harp.] This Inſtrument is firſt mentioned, wherein David did much delight, and in the playing whereon he was eminently skilfull, 1 Sam. 16.18. It is called Pſal. 81.2. the pleaſant harp.
Verſ. 3. Sing unto him a new ſong.] This is required, either to imply, that to him that attentively conſiders the works of God, there will ſtill be occaſion of compoſing new ſongs of praiſe; or rather to imply with what fervency and chearfulneſſe of ſpirit he deſired they ſhould praiſe God, becauſe upon occaſions of unuſuall joy they were wont to compoſe new ſongs, and to fit them with ſome rare and exquiſite tune, and ſo they were ſung and heard with the more earneſtneſſe and delight. Yet ſome ſay, that by a new ſong is meant a ſong that ſhould never grow ſtale and out of date in the Church, where the people of God do continually enjoy manifold bleſſings conferred upon them in Chriſt.
Verſ. 4. For the word of the Lord is right, &c.] That is, All his commands concerning the government of the world are juſt and equall, every way right and unreprovable: and all his works are done in truth, that is, ſincerely, without any guile; and faithfully, according to what he hath promiſed or ſpoken to his people. Some indeed underſtand the firſt clauſe of the written word, to wit, that that word of the Lord is right, that is, that what he hath promiſed, yea all that he hath ſpoken therein, is faithfull and true, ſincere and without deceit, yea every way blameleſſe: of which ſee alſo the Note Pſal. 19.8. But the firſt Expoſition is the beſt, as agreeing with that which follows, verſ. 6, and 9.
Verſ. 5. He loveth righteouſneſſe and judgement.] That is, he loveth to do juſtice and judgement.
Verſ. 6. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, &c.] See the Notes Gen. 1.1, 2, 3, &c. and all the hoſt of them by the breath of his mouth, that is, by his command: ſee the Note alſo Gen. 2.1. Yet ſome conceive that the three perſons of the holy Trinity are here ſeverally mentioned.
Verſ. 7. He gathereth the waters of the ſea together, as an heap, &c.] This is meant of that gathering of the waters of the ſea together in the firſt creation, ſee the Note Gen. 1.9, and Job 38.8, 9, 10: yet becauſe they are ſtill kept in the hollow places of the earth by the ſame almighty power, by which they were at firſt diſpoſed of there, it is expreſſed in the preſent tenſe, He gathereth the waters, &c. he layeth up the depth in ſtore-houſes.
Verſ. 10. He maketh the devices of the people of none effect.] Though whole nations do combine together, and ſet themſelves to bring any thing to paſſe, God can eaſily croſſe them.
Verſ. 14. From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.] So he calleth the ſons of men, as by way of contempt, to imply the baſeneſſe even of the greateſt of them, in compariſon of the Lord, whoſe throne is in heaven.
Verſ. 15. He fashioneth their hearts alike, &c.] That is, all mens hearts, none excepted, one as well as another. And this is aſcribed to God, 1. becauſe he it is that createth the ſouls and ſpirits of men in their firſt conception, with all the ſeverall faculties thereof, ſee the Note Numb. 16.22; and 2. becauſe he ordereth and diſpoſeth of their hearts and all the motions thereof, as it is ſaid of the kings heart Prov. 21.1. he turneth it whitherſoever he will. And this is here expreſſed thus to imply, that therefore God muſt needs exactly know all men, they being his workmanſhip, yea even the thoughts and intentions of their hearts, and much more their works, which is expreſſed in the next clauſe, he conſidereth all their works.
Verſ. 18. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, &c.] See the Note Pſal. 11.7.
Verſ. 20. Our ſoul waiteth for the Lord, &c.] This he ſpeaks in the name of the whole Church, to wit, that they would with all their ſouls wait upon God for help in all their troubles.