Psalm 33:1-6 NIV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:4

The word of the Lord is right - He is infinitely wise, and can make no mistakes; and all his works are done in truth. All the words, laws, promises, and threatenings of God are perfectly true and just. The dispensations of his providence and mercy are equally so. When he rewards or punishes, it is according to truth and justice. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:5

He loveth righteousness - What he delights in himself, he loves to see in his followers. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord - To hear its worthless inhabitants complain, one would think that God dispensed evil, not good. To examine the operation of his hand, every thing is marked with mercy and there is no place where his goodness does not appear. The overflowing kindness of God fills the earth. Even the iniquities of men are rarely a bar to his goodness: he causes his sun to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:6

By the word of the Lord were the heavens made - This is illustrated in the Psalm 33:9 ; verse: "He spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast." This evidently refers to the account of the creation, as it stands in the first chapter of Genesis. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:1

Verse 1 1.Rejoice in Jehovah, ye righteous. Here the inspired writer addresses believers or the righteous by name, because they alone are capable of proclaiming the glory of God. Unbelievers, who have never tasted his goodness, cannot praise him from the heart, and God has no pleasure in his name being pronounced by their unholy tongues. But the context shows more distinctly why this exhortation is suitable for believers only. Many, accordingly, expound the latter clause, Praise is comely for... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:2

Verse 2 2.Praise Jehovah upon the harp. It is evident that the Psalmist here expresses the vehement and ardent affection which the faithful ought to have in praising God, when he enjoins musical instruments to be employed for this purpose. He would have nothing omitted by believers which tends to animate the minds and feelings of men in singing God’s praises. The name of God, no doubt, can, properly speaking, be celebrated only by the articulate voice; but it is not without reason that David... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:3

Verse 3 3.Sing unto him a new song. As the Psalmist afterwards treats of the mighty works of God, and particularly concerning the preservation of the Church, it is not wonderful that he exhorts the righteous to sing a new, that is, a rare and choice song. The more closely and diligently that believers consider the works of God, the more will they exert themselves in his praises. It is no common song, therefore, which he exhorts them to sing, but a song corresponding to the magnificence of the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:4

Verse 4 4.For the word of Jehovah is right. As I have just remarked, the Psalmist first sets forth God’s general providence by which he governs the whole world; and he tells us that he so exerts his power in the whole course of his operations, that the most perfect equity and faithfulness shine forth everywhere. Some will have the terms word and work to be synonymous; but I think there is a distinction, and that word means the same thing as counsel or ordinance, while work signifies the effect... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:5

Verse 5 5.He loveth righteousness and judgment. This is a confirmation of the preceding verse, and intimates to us that God of his own nature loves righteousness and equity. It therefore follows, that froward affections cannot hurry him, after the manner of men, to evil devices. At first sight, indeed, this appears but a common commendation of God, and of small importance, because all confess that he observes the most perfect rule of righteousness in all his works. Why then, may some one say,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:6

Verse 6 6.By the word of Jehovah. That he may stir us up to think more closely of God’s works, he brings before us the creation of the world itself; for until God be acknowledged as the Creator and Framer of the world, who will believe that he attends to the affairs of men, and that the state of the world is controlled by his wisdom and power? But the creation of the world leads us by direct consequence to the providence of God. Not that all men reason so justly, or are endued with so sound a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 33:1

Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous (see the first clause of Psalms 32:11 , of which this is almost a repetition; and comp. also Psalms 68:3 ; Psalms 97:12 ). For praise is comely for the upright. The Prayer-book Version gives the meaning, less literally, but in more idiomatic English, "For it becometh well the just to be thankful." read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 33:1

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