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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 33:1-11

Four things the psalmist expresses in these verses: I. The great desire he had that God might be praised. He did not think he did it so well himself, but that he wished others also might be employed in this work; the more the better, in this concert: it is the more like heaven. 1. Holy joy is the heart and soul of praise, and that is here pressed upon all good people (Ps. 33:1): Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous; so the foregoing psalm concluded and so this begins; for all our religious... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 33:7

He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap ,.... Which was done on the third day of the creation, by means of which the dry land appeared, Genesis 1:9 ; when the waters of the sea were piled up as an heap, and stood higher than the earth, as they now do; and which is a wonderful instance of the power and providence of God, to bound them, and preserve the earth from being overflowed by them, Job 38:9 ; he layeth up the depth in storehouses ; that is, large quantities of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:7

He gathereth the waters of the sea together - He separated the water from the earth and, while the latter was collected into continents, islands, mountains, hills, and valleys, the former was collected into one place, and called seas; and by his all-controlling power and providence the waters have been retained in their place, so that they have not returned to drown the earth: and he has so adapted the solar and sonar influence exerted on the waters, that the tides are only raised to certain... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:7

Verse 7 7.He gathered together the waters of the sea as into a heap. (676) Here the Psalmist does not speak of all that might have been said of every part of the world, but under one department he comprehends all the rest. He celebrates, however, a signal and remarkable miracle which we see in looking on the surface of the earth; namely, that God gathers together the element of water, fluid and unstable as it is, into a solid heap, and holds it so at his pleasure. Natural philosophers confess,... 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 33:7

He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap . An allusion to Genesis 1:8 , but with a glance also at Exodus 15:8 and Joshua 3:13-16 ; as if the original gathering, and continued retention, of the sea in one convex mass were as great a proof of omnipotence as the miracles related in those passages. Nes ( נֵס ), "a heap" occurs only in the places cited, here, and in Psalms 78:13 . He layeth up the depth in storehouses ; literally, the deeps. The waters of the great... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 33:7

He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap - The Hebrew word here rendered “gathereth” is a participle; “gathering.” The design is to represent this as a continuous act; an act not merely of the original creation, but constantly occurring. The reference is to the power by which the waters are gathered and kept together; the continual power which prevents their overspreading the earth. The word rendered “heap” - נד nêd - means properly a heap or “mound,” and is applied to the waves... read more

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