Psalm 33:20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 33:12-22

We are here taught to give to God the glory, I. Of his common providence towards all the children of men. Though he has endued man with understanding and freedom of will, yet he reserves to himself the government of him, and even of those very faculties by which he is qualified to govern himself. 1. The children of men are all under his eye, even their hearts are so; and all the motions and operations of their souls, which none know but they themselves, he knows better than they themselves,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 33:20

Our soul waiteth for the Lord ,.... This, and what follows, are the words of the church, expressing her expectation, faith, and joy, by reason of what is suggested in the preceding verses. She signifies her expectation of good by waiting for the Lord; either for his coming in the flesh, and salvation by him; for which the patriarchs, prophets, and all the Old Testament saints, waited, Genesis 49:18 ; and so the Targum paraphrases it, "our soul waiteth for the redemption of the Lord"; or... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:20

Our soul waiteth - Our whole life is employed in this blessed work; we trust in nothing but him; neither in multitudes of armed men, nor in natural strength, nor in the fleetest animals, nor in any thing human: we trust in Him alone "who is our help and our shield." read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:20

Verse 20 20.Our soul waiteth upon Jehovah. What the Psalmist has hitherto spoken concerning God’s providence, and particularly concerning that faithful guardianship by which he protects his people, he has spoken not so much from himself as from the mouth of the Holy Spirit. He now, therefore, in the name of the whole Church, raises his song to declare that there is nothing better than to commit our welfare to God. Thus we see that the fruit of the preceding doctrine is set forth to all true... 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 33:12-22

What God's people possess in him. The call to praise God is supported by a setting forth of that which his people possess in him. The theme of this second part of the psalm is set forth in the twelfth verse, "Blessed is the nation whose God is Jehovah." I. BECAUSE GOD IS THE CREATOR HE HAS THE MOST PERFECT KNOWLEDGE . ( Psalms 33:13-15 .) He not only observes men's doings, but knows their hearts, as having created them. You cannot know a man perfectly from... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 33:20

Our soul waiteth for the Lord (comp. Psalms 25:21 ; Psalms 62:1 , Psalms 62:5 ; Psalms 130:5 , Psalms 130:6 , etc.). Confident in God's good will, and in his power to help us, we wait patiently and cheerfully for him to manifest himself in his own good time. He is our Help and our Shield . We trust in no one and nothing but him—not in armies ( Psalms 33:16 ), not in horses ( Psalms 33:17 ), not in our own strength ( Psalms 33:16 ). He alone is our dependence. (For the use... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 33:20-22

A brief address of the people to God, arising out of what has been declared concerning his goodness ( Psalms 33:4 , Psalms 33:5 , Psalms 33:12-19 ) and his power ( Psalms 33:6-11 ), which constitute a call upon them for praise and adoration. read more

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