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Matthew Henry

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 33:16

There is no king saved by the multitude of an host ,.... He may be at the head of a numerous army, and yet not get the victory over a lesser one, nor escape safe, but be taken by it: there have been such instances; and if he is saved, or gets the victory, it is not owing to the multitude with him, but to the Lord, that gives salvation to kings, Psalm 144:10 . Hence it appears that even such men need salvation themselves, and cannot save themselves, though they have ever so many at command,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 33:17

A horse is a vain thing for safety ,.... Though it is prepared for the day of battle, and is a very warlike creature, and of great service in war, yet safety only is of the Lord, Proverbs 21:31 ; this is put for all kinds of military preparations which men are apt to trust in, but should not, for they are "a lie" F9 שקר "mendacium", Pagninus, Montanus; "fallax", V. L. , as the horse is here said to be; that is, deceives and disappoints when trusted to; in like manner the olive is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 33:18

Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him ,.... Not with dread of his wrath, or distrust of his grace, or for sinister ends and selfish views, but with a godly fear; by which men hate evil, depart from it, are careful not to offend God by it, but to serve and worship him; on such is not only his eye of Providence to protect from danger, to supply with the necessaries of life, but of love and grace; he looks upon them with delight and pleasure; his eye is upon them to watch... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 33:19

To deliver their soul from death ,.... Not a corporeal death, for the soul dies not, and is never in any danger of death; and should life, or the whole man, be intended here, yet those that fear the Lord, and hope in his mercy, are not exempted and secured from a corporeal death, but die as other men; though sometimes indeed they are remarkably preserved from death, and even in a time of general calamity; but a spiritual death is meant, which, while in a state of nature, they are under; but,... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 33:21

For our heart shall rejoice in him ,.... Not in sin, nor in themselves and in their boastings, all such rejoicing is evil; but in the Lord, "in his Word"; as the Targum is, in the essential Word of God, Christ Jesus; in his person, righteousness, and salvation; and this joy is heart joy, inward joy, real joy, joy in the Holy Ghost; and is unspeakable and full of glory. This is what the psalmist calls upon the saints to do, in the beginning of the psalm; and so his end in composing it is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 33:22

Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us ,.... That is, an application of it in its effects: it is a prayer for a communication of grace and mercy to help in a time of need; and for a discovery of pardoning grace and mercy; and it is a prayer of faith; for the mercy of the Lord is upon his people in great plenty, and it continues; and they have reason to believe it ever will, Psalm 103:17 ; according as we hope in thee ; not according to any merits of theirs, but according to the measure of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:16

There is no king saved by the multitude of a host - Even in the midst of the most powerful and numerous army, no king is in safety unless he have God's protection. A king is but a man, and may as easily lose his life as one of his common soldiers. A mighty man is not delivered by much strength - There are times in which his might can be of no avail to him: and unless the mighty, the wise, the honorable, etc., have the protection of God, there is no time in which their might may not be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 33:17

A horse is a vain thing for safety - Even the horse, with all his fleetness, is no sure means of escape from danger: the lion or the tiger can overtake him or he may stumble, fall, and destroy his rider. read more

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