Let all the earth - All the inhabitants of the earth.Fear the Lord - Worship and adore a Being of so great power. See the notes at Psalms 5:7.Let all the inhabitants of the world - The power displayed in the works of creation appeals to all alike.Stand in awe of him - Reverence or adore him. The expression is equivalent to “worship,” fear or reverence entering essentially into the idea of worship. read more
For he spake, and it was done - The word “done,” introduced here by our translators, enfeebles the sentence. It would be made more expressive and sublime as it is in the original: “He spake, and it was.” That is, Its existence depended on his word; the universe sprang into being at his command; he had only to speak, and it arose in all its grandeur where before there was nothing. There is here an undoubted allusion to the account in Genesis of the work of creation - where the statement is that... read more
The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought - Margin: “maketh frustrate.” The Hebrew word means to “break,” or to “annul.” The word here rendered “heathen” means “nations;” and the idea is that God, by his own overruling purpose and providence, frustrates the designs of the nations of the earth; that he carries forward his own designs and purposes in spite of theirs; that their plans avail nothing when they come in competition with his. their purposes must yield to His purpose.... read more
The counsel of the Lord - The purpose of the Lord.Standeth for ever - It will be carried out. It will never be changed. There can be no “superior” counsel or will to change it, as is the case with the plans of men; and no purposes of any beings “inferior” to himself - angels, men, or devils - can affect, defeat, or modify his eternal plans. No changes in human affairs can impede his plans; no opposition can defeat them; no progress can supersede them.The thoughts of his heart - The things which... read more
Psalms 33:8-9. Let the earth fear the Lord All the people of the earth, as the next clause expounds this; not only Jews, but also Gentiles, who equally enjoy the benefit of this great and glorious work of God. For he spake, and it was done The work mentioned Psalms 33:6-7. He commanded, and it stood fast Hebrew יעמד , jagnamad, it stood forth, as a servant at his master’s command, prepared to do his will, and to execute his pleasure. read more
Psalms 33:10-11. The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen, or, of the nations to naught Though nations combine themselves and their counsels together, yet he defeats them when he pleases. Thus he passes from the work of creation to the works of providence, and from the instances of his power, in senseless and irrational creatures, to his power in overruling the thoughts, and wills, and actions of men, whether single or united. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever All his... read more
Psalms 33:0 Rejoicing in GodIsrael’s musicians and singers are called to unite in joyous praise to God (1-3). He is worthy of people’s praise because of his faithfulness, seen in all his righteous works (4-5); because of his power, seen in creation and in his irresistible word (6-9); and because of his sovereign control, seen in the history of world events (10-12). God, being perfect in knowledge, sees the uselessness of all those achievements in which people put their trust (13-17).Above all,... read more
world = world (as inhabited). Hebrew. tebel, read more
spake. Referring to the one act. was done = it became. Refers to the permanent fact. commanded. Refers to the one act. stood fast. Refers to the abiding fact. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 33:11
Permanence of Divine purpose. "The counsel … for ever." In this world of change what is there that abides. Can we count on anything as unchangeable;? One generation passeth away, and another cometh. Laws, customs, lances, empires, races, decay and perish. Even "the everlasting mountains" are so only by comparison. "The waters wear the stones." "The mountain falling cometh to nought." The answer which our modern science gives to this question is summed up in the word "evolution;" i.e.... read more