33:1 You godly ones, shout for joy because of the Lord! It is appropriate for the morally upright to offer him praise.
The author is not recorded, but the Septuagint recorded the author as David. The godly ones are those who believe in Jehovah. They were commanded to shout for joy, because of Jehovah. The morally upright are those who study and apply Bible doctrine. It is good for them to offer Him praise.
Only those who study and apply Bible doctrine at a deep level will praise Jehovah. Their praise is a result of their understanding of the mind of Christ. When one really understands the mind of Christ, then He will desire to praise the Lord Jesus Christ. The mind of Christ can only be understood from the written Scriptures.
33:2 Give thanks to the Lord with the harp! Sing to him to the accompaniment of a ten-stringed instrument!
The psalmist commanded that Jehovah be praised by harp and song. There are some church denominations who forbid the use of musical instruments in their worship. This is legalism. The Scriptures never forbid the use of musical instruments. This psalm (and others as well) commands that Jehovah be praised with musical instrument and song.
33:3 Sing to him a new song! Play skillfully as you shout out your praises to him!
The psalmist commands that the believers sing a “new song” to Jehovah. The new song is mentioned in Revelation 5:9, “And they sung a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals: for you were slain, and you have redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” The created beings in heaven will sing a new song when the Lord Jesus Christ opens the book which will start the Great Tribulation.
33:4 For the Lord’s decrees are just, and everything he does is fair.
When Jehovah makes a decree, then it is just and fair. If anyone disagrees with Jehovah, then they are wrong.
33:5 The Lord promotes equity and justice; the Lord’s faithfulness extends throughout the earth.
Jehovah was not like the pagan gods. The pagan gods had many sinful human qualities. For example, if humans woke them up, then the gods in heaven would flood the earth and kill all of the humans.
Jehovah promoted equity and justice among His people. He extended fairness not just to the Jews, but to the Gentiles as well.
33:6 By the Lord’s decree the heavens were made; by a mere word from his mouth all the stars in the sky were created.
The words of Jehovah can create a universe of stars, planets, people, angels, and demons.
33:7 He piles up the water of the sea; he puts the oceans in storehouses.
The thoughts of Jehovah control all of the oceans and all of the seas.
33:8 Let the whole earth fear the Lord! Let all who live in the world stand in awe of him!
The entire world has no one to fear except for Jehovah Himself. He is the one who decides who enters into heaven or hell. All of creation needs to stand in awe of Him.
33:9 For he spoke, and it came into existence, he issued the decree, and it stood firm.
God is omnipotent. His words turned nothing into everything.
33:10 The Lord frustrates the decisions of the nations; he nullifies the plans of the peoples.
God is sovereign over all of history. He did not wind up the universe like a great clock-maker and watch it happen. He wrote history in advance and planned out its every detail. World history is God’s story. World history is experiencing the mind of God.
33:11 The Lord’s decisions stand forever; his plans abide throughout the ages.
God’s decisions were made before the foundations of the world were created. No one told Him what to do. No one can change His plans.
33:12 How blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen to be his special possession.
Israel was chosen to become the special nation of God. They were to become priests to all of the nations. On their own, they have failed. With the help of God, they will succeed. During the Great Tribulation, Israel will become evangelists to every nation. During the Millennial Kingdom, Israel will become priests to all of the nations.
33:13 The Lord watches from heaven; he sees all people.
Jehovah sees everything that is going on earth. Evil men do not get away with their sin in darkness. God is there watching their every move and reading their every thought.
33:14 From the place where he lives he looks carefully at all the earth’s inhabitants.
God is omniscient. He can read the mind of every man in history all at one time. Before the foundations of the world were created, God already knew every thought of every man who would ever be born. Nothing takes God by surprise.
33:15 He is the one who forms every human heart, and takes note of all their actions.
The human heart is the intellect of man. God knows the thoughts of every man. He sees all of their actions. He takes notes of all of their actions. Evil men will be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment. They will be sent to the Lake of Fire. Believers will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ. They will gain or lose rewards (but they will not lose their eternal salvation).
33:16 No king is delivered by his vast army; a warrior is not saved by his great might.
Napoleon said that God is on the side of the greatest battalion. However, this is not true. Napoleon possessed the biggest army at the Battle of Waterloo and lost. Modern nations need to learn that God is not on the side of the nation who has the most nuclear bombs.
33:17 A horse disappoints those who trust in it for victory; despite its great strength, it cannot deliver.
Horses and chariots will not lead kings to victory. God has already decreed the rise and fall of nations.
33:18 Look, the Lord takes notice of his loyal followers, those who wait for him to demonstrate his faithfulness 33:19 by saving their lives from death and sustaining them during times of famine.
If a believer is serving the Lord, then God will provide all of his needs. All believers are promised food, clothing, and shelter, unless they are called to wear the martyrs crown.
33:20 We wait for the Lord; he is our deliverer and shield.
When a believer is in danger, then he needs to wait for Jehovah to deliver him. Jehovah is the deliverer and shield of all believers.
33:21 For our hearts rejoice in him, for we trust in his holy name.
Believers need to rejoice in Jehovah, because they can trust in Jehovah to take care of their needs. Those with strong Bible doctrine will trust in Jehovah. Those with weak Bible doctrine will make the mistake of trusting in themselves.
33:22 May we experience your faithfulness, O Lord, for we wait for you.
Those who study and apply strong Bible doctrine will experience Jehovah’s faithfulness. They will wait on Jehovah to deliver them from danger.