Psalm Thirty Three
by Dr. Henry M. Morris
(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)
Psalm 33:1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
Psalm 33:3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
new song. This is the first of nine references in Scripture to a “new song.” Appropriately, this song deals with the great event of creationthe first psalm to do so.
Psalm 33:4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
word of the Lord. What a testimony to God's Word and God's work! Whatever He says is true, and whatever He does is right and sure, by definition!
Psalm 33:5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
breath of his mouth. The vast spaces of the cosmos, with all their innumerable stars and galaxies, were called into existence instantaneously by the omnipotent Word of Christ (John 1:3). God did not use processes of stellar evolution for this purpose. If such processes could account for the universe, then God would be redundant. The Genesis account records seventeen occasions of God speaking. Note also Hebrews 11:3, 2 Peter 3:5, etc.
gathereth the waters. The all-pervasive waters in the initial created cosmos were “gathered together” (Genesis 1:9) into two great reservoirs, above and below the firmament of the atmosphere respectively (Genesis 1:7).
the depth. “Depth” is the same as “deep” (Genesis 1:2).
Psalm 33:9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
it was done. God did not take billions of years to accomplish His work of creation. There is no “process” of creation; each creative act is an instantaneous event not explainable by natural processes.
Psalm 33:11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Psalm 33:13 The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
Psalm 33:14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
he looketh upon all. God sees all; He is omnipresent.
Psalm 33:15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
he fashioneth. God fashions all; He is omnipotent.
he considereth. God understands all; He is omniscient.
Psalm 33:17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
eye of the Lord. Such references to the physical features of the Lord are not mere “anthropomorphisms,” for God is omnipotent and can certainly assume attributes of the bodies He has created when He so wills. “He that formed the eye, shall He not see?” (Psalm 94:9).
hope. Deliverance from evil does not come by military power (“the multitude of an host,” Psalm 33:16), manpower (“much strength,” Psalm 33:16), or horsepower (“a horse is a vain thing,” Psalm 33:17), but spiritual power.
Psalm 33:19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
Psalm 33:20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
Psalm 33:21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
Psalm 33:22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.