Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:12

Blessed is the nation - O how happy is that nation which has יהוה Jehovah for its אלהים Elohim ; the self-existent and eternal Lord for its covenant God; one who should unite himself to it by connections and ties the most powerful and endearing! The word אלהים Elohim , which we translate God, refers to that economy in which God is manifested in the flesh. The people whom he hath chosen - The Jews, who were elected to be his heritage, whom he preserved as such for two thousand... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:8

Verse 8 8.Let all the earth fear Jehovah. The Psalmist concludes that there is just reason why the whole world should reverently submit itself to the government of God, who gave it being, and who also preserves it. To fear Jehovah, and to stand in awe of him, just means to do honor to, and to reverence his mighty power. It is a mark of great insensibility not to bow at God’s presence, from whom we have our being, and upon whom our condition depends. The prophet alludes to both these things,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:10

Verse 10 10.Jehovah scattereth the counsel of the nations. After briefly touching upon the creation of the world, the Psalmist returns to his former subject, namely, to show that the events which daily come to pass are undoubted proofs of the providence of God. And lest any man should be surprised, that he should exhibit God as an adversary to men, scattering their counsels rather than establishing and bringing them to a happy issue, he selects an instance which had the greatest power to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:11

Verse 11 11.The counsel of Jehovah. The prophet extols the infinite power of God in such a manner as that he may build up our faith in its greatness; for he does not here commend a counsel of God which is hidden in heaven, and which he would have us to honor and revere at a distance. But as the Lord everywhere in Scripture testifies that he loveth righteousness and truth; that he cares for the righteous and good; and that he is ever inclined to succor his servants when they are wrongfully... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:12

Verse 12 12.Blessed are the people whose God is Jehovah. This verse excellently agrees with the preceding, because it would profit us little to observe what is said of the stability of God’s counsel if that counsel referred not to us. The prophet, therefore, in proclaiming that they are blessed whom God receives into his protection, reminds us that the counsel which he had just mentioned is not a secret which remains always hidden in God, but is displayed in the existence and protection of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 33:1-11

A call to praise God. The psalm is anonymous, and was composed apparently to celebrate some deliverance of the nation from heathen oppression, resulting from God's interposition and without war. Psalms 33:1-3 are a summons to praise God, the song to be accompanied with instrumental music. God is to be praised— I. AS THE GOD OF REVELATION . ( Psalms 33:4 , Psalms 33:5 .) 1 . His Word is upright, always fulfilling itself. 2 . All his conduct is faithful and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 33:1-22

As a simple psalm of praise and thanksgiving, intended for the service of the temple, it is well worthy of admiration, being "singularly bright, and replete with beautiful imagery" ('Speaker's Commentary'). Metrically, it consists of six strophes, the first and last containing three verses each, and the intermediate ones each four verses. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 33:1-22

Joy in God. In this section of the Commentary we aim at discovering the unity of the psalm, and of dealing with it accordingly, reserving the treatment of specific verses as separate texts, for another department. This psalm has neither title nor author's name appended thereto. It is manifestly an outburst of glad and gladdening song from some Old Testament believer, and is a glorious anticipation of Philippians 4:4 . It is refreshing to the spirit to find that in the olden times there... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 33:1-22

This is a hymn of praise to God, as at once the Almighty Creator and Ruler of the world, and the Protector of his chosen people. Psalms 33:12 may he regarded as the pivot on which the whole psalm turns. What was true ideally, and in part of Israel, is true in fact and perfectly of God's people. "Blessed"— I. BECAUSE THE LORD IS THEIR GOD . The prophets delight to mark the contrast between the gods of the heathen and Jehovah ( Deuteronomy 32:31 ; Psalms 86:8 ; Isaiah... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 33:8

Let all the earth fear the Lord. The righteous alone have a right to "praise" God (see Psalms 33:1 ), but "all the earth"— i.e. all mankind—may be called upon to "fear" him. He is an object of awe and true "godly fear" to godly men; to the ungodly he is an object of terror and servile fear. Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. Here again, as so often, the second hemistich merely echoes the first. read more

Group of Brands