Psalm 33:18 Komentář

This is a psalm of praise; it is probable that David was the penman of it, but we are not told so, because God would have us look above the penmen of sacred writ, to that blessed Spirit that moved and guided them. The psalmist, in this psalm, I. Calls upon the righteous to praise God (Psa 33:1-3). II. Furnishes us with matter for praise. We must praise God, 1. For his justice, goodness, and truth, appearing in his word, and in all his works (Psa 33:4, Psa 33:5). 2. For his power appearing in the work of creation (Psa 33:6-9). 3. For the sovereignty of his providence in the government of the world (Psa 33:10, Psa 33:11) and again (Psa 33:13-17). 4. For the peculiar favour which he bears to his own chosen people, which encourages them to trust in him (Psa 33:12) and again (Psa 33:18-22). We need not be at a loss for proper thoughts in singing this psalm, which so naturally expresses the pious affections of a devout soul towards God.

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 33 Though this psalm has no title to it, it seems to be a psalm of David, from the style and matter of it; and indeed begins with the same words with which the preceding psalm is ended. Theodoret is of opinion it was written by David as a prophecy concerning Hezekiah, as a song to be sung by the people after the destruction of the Assyrian army.

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 over them for good, to guard them from every enemy, and from all evil, and to communicate to them every needful measure of grace; upon them that hope in his mercy; not his absolute mercy, but his special mercy in Christ; which appears in the provision of him as a Saviour, in the mission of him into this world, and redemption by him; and is displayed in regeneration, the pardon of sin, and eternal life: and such that hope in it are they that see themselves miserable creatures, and in need of it; and who are encouraged to hope in it from the plenty and abundance of it in the heart of God; and from the many instances of it among men, and even some the chief of sinners; and they do hope in it for the forgiveness of their sins, and for salvation and eternal glory; and on these the eye of the Lord is, as before,

He who does not trust in his own good deeds or expect to be justified by his works has, as his only hope of salvation, the mercies of God. For, when he considers that the expression “Behold the Lord and his reward” refers to each according to his work, and when he ponders his own evil deeds, he fears the punishment and cowers beneath the threats. There is good hope that gazes steadfastly at the mercies and kindness of God lest it be swallowed up by grief. He hopes that his soul will be delivered from death and will be fed by him in famine.

"Behold, the Eyes of the Lord are upon them that fear Him:" because if you seek salvation, behold, the love of the Lord is upon them that fear Him. "Upon them that hope in His mercy" [Psalm 33:18]: that hope not in their own strength, but in His mercy.

For the eyes of the Lord are not looking on those trusting in their own strength but those hoping in his mercy. He will snatch their spirits from death and shelter them.

God is said to watch over the just, that he may maintain and protect them. Watchfulness by his gracious divinity is the function of his relationship with people.

Then when he says, "Behold, the eyes of the Lord," the efficacy of divine mercy for saving is shown. And first he sets forth the mercy that saves. Second, the disposition of the saints conceived from this consideration, at "Our soul." Concerning the first he does three things. First, he shows divine mercy. Second, in whom divine mercy has its effect, at "Upon those who fear him." Third, what effect it has, at "That he may deliver." He says therefore, "Behold, the eyes of the Lord." For he suggests divine mercy by the regard of God. Ps. 118: "Look upon me and have mercy on me." Upon whom he looks, he adds: "Upon those who fear him," and so on. Hab. 1: "Your eyes are too pure to behold evil, and you cannot look upon iniquity." Look therefore upon those who have both fear and hope. One without the other does not suffice, because fear without hope leads to despair, and hope without fear leads to presumption. Fear arises from the consideration of divine power. Jer. 10: "Who would not fear you, O King of nations?" Hope arises from God's mercy. From the first arises the flight from sin; from the second, the hope of pardon. He shows the effect of divine mercy when he says, "That he may deliver from death," and so on. Where he shows a twofold effect: he frees from evil, and as to this he says, "That he may deliver their souls from death." Likewise, he confirms in good; and as to this he says, "And that he may feed them." He says therefore, "That he may deliver their souls from death" -- from bodily death, and from the death of sin, and from the death of future damnation in the resurrection. Hos. 13: "I will deliver them out of the hand of death," and so on. He also confirms them in good; hence he says, "And that he may feed them in famine," that is, in necessity; and he speaks of bodily nourishment. Ps. 144: "The eyes of all hope in you, O Lord, and you give them food in due season." And of spiritual nourishment. Deut. 8: "Not by bread alone does man live, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." And of sacramental nourishment. Jn. 6: "My flesh is truly food." "In the place of pasture there he has placed me": Ps. 22.

A call to lively and joyous praise to God for His glorious attributes and works, as displayed in creation, and His general and special providence, in view of which, the Psalmist, for all the pious, professes trust and joy and invokes God's mercy. (Psa. 33:1-22) The sentiment falls in with Psa 32:11 (compare Co1 14:15). The instruments (Psa 92:3; Psa 144:9) do not exclude the voice.

Contrasted is God's guidance and power to save from the greatest earthly evil and its most painful precursor, and hence from all.