Psalmen 33:21 Kommentar

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.

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 answered; because we have trusted in his holy name; that is, in himself, who is holy, just, and good; and so faithful to every word of promise, to every engagement of his, and therefore to be trusted in: and hence it appears that the joy before spoken of is the joy of faith.

"For our heart shall rejoice in Him:" for not in ourselves, wherein without Him there is great need; but in Himself shall our heart rejoice. "And we have trusted in His holy Name" [Psalm 33:21]; and therefore have we trusted that we shall come to God, because unto us absent has He sent, through faith, His own Name.

The heart of the righteous does not delight in food and drink but in justice, knowledge and wisdom.

Even in this hour, we are hungry and thirsty and naked, yet our spirits act patiently and are not disturbed, for the Lord sustains us. He is our helper and protector, and, as it says in the heading of the psalm, we are commanded to “rejoice in the Lord, righteous ones, let your heart be joyful in him, and hope in his holy name.” He brings his mercy over us as we hope in him.

Then when he says, "Our soul," he shows what effect follows in these people from this consideration. And it is twofold. The first is the effect of hoping. The second, of praying, at "Let your mercy be upon us," and so on. Concerning the first he does two things. First, he shows how the effect of hope arises in them. Second, he assigns the reason, at "Because he is our helper." He says therefore: thus "the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him," and so on. And therefore "our soul waits for the Lord," that is, if any evils are sent upon us by God, let us endure them patiently. Jas. 5: "You have heard of the patience of Job." Likewise, awaiting his promises. He endures, therefore, both the one who punishes and the one who promises. And there is a twofold reason. One is because of the experience of benefits; the other because of the hope of future things. There: "In him our heart shall rejoice." The experience of benefits consists in the advancement of goods; hence he says, "Because he is our helper." Likewise, in protection from evils; and therefore he says, "And our protector." We hope, moreover, for future joy; hence he says, "In him our heart shall rejoice," that is, in his vision. Is. 66: "You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice." Job 22: "Then you shall abound in delights over the Almighty," and so on. And this joy is here imperfect, but there, in the homeland, it is perfect. And this because "in his holy name we have hoped." For "and" is used here in place of "because." His holy name is the name of his mercy; as if to say, therefore "we shall rejoice," because "we have hoped in his holy name," that is, in his goodness, or in his mercy, and not in our merits.

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.

his holy name--(Compare Psa 5:12; Psa 22:22; Psa 30:4). Our faith measures mercy (Mat 9:29); and if of grace, it is no more of debt (Rom 11:6). Next: Psalms Chapter 34