mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 33.xml

<div2 id="Ps.xxxiv" n="xxxiv" next="Ps.xxxv" prev="Ps.xxxiii" progress="32.09%" title="Chapter XXXIII">
<h2 id="Ps.xxxiv-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.xxxiv-p0.2">PSALM XXXIII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.xxxiv-p1">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, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.1-Ps.33.3" parsed="|Ps|33|1|33|3" passage="Ps 33:1-3">ver. 1-3</scripRef>. 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, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.4-Ps.33.5" parsed="|Ps|33|4|33|5" passage="Ps 33:4,5">ver. 4, 5</scripRef>. 2. For his power
appearing in the work of creation, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.6-Ps.33.9" parsed="|Ps|33|6|33|9" passage="Ps 33:6-9">ver. 6-9</scripRef>. 3. For the sovereignty of his
providence in the government of the world (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.10-Ps.33.11" parsed="|Ps|33|10|33|11" passage="Ps 33:10,11">ver. 10, 11</scripRef>) and again, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.13-Ps.33.17" parsed="|Ps|33|13|33|17" passage="Ps 33:13-17">ver. 13-17</scripRef>. 4. For the peculiar favour
which he bears to his own chosen people, which encourages them to
trust in him (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.12" parsed="|Ps|33|12|0|0" passage="Ps 33:12">ver. 12</scripRef>) and
again, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.18-Ps.33.22" parsed="|Ps|33|18|33|22" passage="Ps 33:18-22">ver. 18-22</scripRef>. 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.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.xxxiv-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33" parsed="|Ps|33|0|0|0" passage="Ps 33" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.xxxiv-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.1-Ps.33.11" parsed="|Ps|33|1|33|11" passage="Ps 33:1-11" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.33.1-Ps.33.11">
<h4 id="Ps.xxxiv-p1.10">An Exhortation to Praise
God.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xxxiv-p2">1 Rejoice in the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxiv-p2.1">Lord</span>, O ye righteous: <i>for</i> praise is
comely for the upright.   2 Praise the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxiv-p2.2">Lord</span> with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery
<i>and</i> an instrument of ten strings.   3 Sing unto him a
new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.   4 For the word
of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxiv-p2.3">Lord</span> <i>is</i> right; and all
his works <i>are done</i> in truth.   5 He loveth
righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxiv-p2.4">Lord</span>.   6 By the word of
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxiv-p2.5">Lord</span> were the heavens made; and
all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.   7 He
gathereth the waters of the sea together as a heap: he layeth up
the depth in storehouses.   8 Let all the earth fear the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxiv-p2.6">Lord</span>: let all the inhabitants of the world
stand in awe of him.   9 For he spake, and it was <i>done;</i>
he commanded, and it stood fast.   10 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxiv-p2.7">Lord</span> bringeth the counsel of the heathen to
nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.  
11 The counsel of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxiv-p2.8">Lord</span> standeth
for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxiv-p3">Four things the psalmist expresses in these
verses:</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxiv-p4">I. The great desire he had that God might
be praised. He did not think he did it so well himself, but that he
wished others also might be employed in this work; the more the
better, in this concert: it is the more like heaven. 1. Holy joy is
the heart and soul of praise, and that is here pressed upon all
good people (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.1" parsed="|Ps|33|1|0|0" passage="Ps 33:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>):
<i>Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous;</i> so the foregoing psalm
concluded and so this begins; for all our religious exercises
should both begin and end with a holy complacency and triumph in
God as the best of being and best of friends. 2. Thankful praise is
the breath and language of holy joy; and that also is here required
of us (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.2" parsed="|Ps|33|2|0|0" passage="Ps 33:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>):
"<i>Praise the Lord;</i> speak well of him, and give him the glory
due to his name." 3. Religious songs are the proper expressions of
thankful praise; those are here required (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.3" parsed="|Ps|33|3|0|0" passage="Ps 33:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>): "<i>Sing unto him a new
song,</i> the best you have, not that which by frequent use is
worn, thread-bare, but that which, being new, is most likely to
move the affections, a new song for new mercies and upon every new
occasion, for those compassions which are new every morning." Music
was then used, by the appointment of David, with the temple-songs,
that they might be the better sung; and this also is here called
for (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.2" parsed="|Ps|33|2|0|0" passage="Ps 33:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>): <i>Sing
unto him with the psaltery.</i> Here is, (1.) A good rule for this
duty: "Do it <i>skilfully,</i> and <i>with a loud noise;</i> let it
have the best both of head and heart; let it be done intelligently
and with a clear head, affectionately and with a warm heart." (2.)
A good reason for this duty: <i>For praise is comely for the
upright.</i> It is well pleasing to God (the garments of praise add
much to the comeliness which God puts upon his people) and it is an
excellent ornament to our profession. <i>It becomes the
upright,</i> whom God has put so much honour upon, to give honour
to him. The upright praise God in a comely manner, for they praise
him with their hearts, that is praising him with their glory;
whereas the praises of hypocrites are awkward and uncomely, like
<i>a parable in the mouth of fools,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:Prov.26.7" parsed="|Prov|26|7|0|0" passage="Pr 26:7">Prov. xxvi. 7</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxiv-p5">II. The high thoughts he had of God, and of
his infinite perfections, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.4-Ps.33.5" parsed="|Ps|33|4|33|5" passage="Ps 33:4,5"><i>v.</i>
4, 5</scripRef>. God makes himself known to us, 1. In his
<i>word,</i> here put for all divine revelation, all that which God
at sundry times and in divers manners spoke to the children of men,
and that is all <i>right,</i> there is nothing amiss in it; his
commands exactly agree with the rules of equity and the eternal
reasons of good and evil. His promises are all wise and good and
inviolably sure, and there is no iniquity in his threatenings, but
even those are designed for our good, by deterring us from evil.
God's word is right, and therefore all our deviations from it are
wrong, and we are then in the right when we agree with it. 2. In
his <i>works,</i> and those are all <i>done in truth,</i> all
according to his counsels, which are called the <i>scriptures of
truth,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.21" parsed="|Dan|10|21|0|0" passage="Da 10:21">Dan. x. 21</scripRef>. The
copy in all God's works agrees exactly with the great original, the
plan laid in the Eternal Mind, and varies not in the least jot. God
has made it to appear in his works, (1.) That he is a God of
inflexible justice: <i>He loveth righteousness and judgment.</i>
There is nothing but righteousness in the sentence he passes and
judgment in the execution of it. He never did nor can do wrong to
any of his creatures, but is always ready to give redress to those
that are wronged, and does it with delight. He takes pleasure in
those that are righteous. He is himself the righteous Lord, and
therefore loveth righteousness. (2.) That he is a God of
inexhaustible bounty: <i>The earth is full of his goodness,</i>
that is, of the proofs and instances of it. The benign influences
which the earth receives from above, and the fruits it is thereby
enabled to produce, the provision that is made both for man and
beast, and the common blessings with which all the nations of the
earth are blessed, plainly declare that <i>the earth is full of his
goodness</i>—the darkest, the coldest, the hottest, and the most
dry and desert part of it not excepted. What a pity is it that this
earth, which is so full of God's goodness, should be so empty of
his praises, and that of the multitudes that live upon his bounty
there are so few that live to his glory!</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxiv-p6">III. The conviction he was under of the
almighty power of God, evidenced in the creation of the world. We
"believe in God," and therefore we praise him as "the Father
Almighty, maker of heaven and earth," so we are here taught to
praise him. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxiv-p7">1. How God made the world, and brought all
things into being. (1.) How easily: All things were made <i>by the
word of the Lord and by the breath of his mouth.</i> Christ is the
Word, the Spirit is the breath, so that God the Father made the
world, as he rules it and redeems it, by his Son and Spirit. <i>He
spoke, and he commanded</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.9" parsed="|Ps|33|9|0|0" passage="Ps 33:9"><i>v.</i>
9</scripRef>), and that was enough; there needed no more. With men
saying and doing are two things, but it is not so with God. By the
Word and Spirit of God as the world was made, so was man, that
little world. God said, <i>Let us make man,</i> and he <i>breathed
into him the breath of life.</i> By the Word and Spirit the church
is built, that new world, and grace wrought in the soul, that new
man, that new creation. What cannot that power do which with a word
made a world! (2.) How effectually it was done: <i>And it stood
fast.</i> What God does he does to purpose; he does it and it
stands fast. <i>Whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.3.14" parsed="|Eccl|3|14|0|0" passage="Ec 3:14">Eccl. iii. 14</scripRef>. It is by
virtue of that command to stand fast that things <i>continue to
this day according to God's ordinance,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.119.91" parsed="|Ps|119|91|0|0" passage="Ps 119:91">Ps. cxix. 91</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxiv-p8">2. What he made. He made all things, but
notice is here taken, (1.) of <i>the heavens, and the host of
them,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.6" parsed="|Ps|33|6|0|0" passage="Ps 33:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. The
visible heavens, and the sun, moon, and stars, their hosts—(2.)
Of the waters, and the treasures of them, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.7" parsed="|Ps|33|7|0|0" passage="Ps 33:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. The earth was at first covered
with the water, and, being heavier, must of course subside and sink
under it; but, to show from the very first that the God of nature
is not tied to the ordinary method of nature, and the usual
operations of his powers, with a word's speaking <i>he gathered the
waters together on a heap,</i> that the dry land might appear, yet
left them not to continue on a heap, but <i>laid up the depth in
store-houses,</i> not only in the flats where the seas make their
beds, and in which they are locked up by the sand on the shore as
in storehouses, but in secret subterraneous caverns, where they are
hidden from the eyes of all living, but were reserved as in a
store-house for that day when those fountains of the great deep
were to be broken up; and they are still laid up there in store,
for which use the great Master of the house knows best.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxiv-p9">3. What use is to be made of this
(<scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.8" parsed="|Ps|33|8|0|0" passage="Ps 33:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>): <i>Let all
the earth fear the Lord,</i> and <i>stand in awe of him;</i> that
is, let all the children of men worship him and give glory to him,
<scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.95.5-Ps.95.6" parsed="|Ps|95|5|95|6" passage="Ps 95:5,6">Ps. xc. 5, 6</scripRef>. The
everlasting gospel gives this as the reason why we must worship
God, because he made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea,
<scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.6-Rev.14.7" parsed="|Rev|14|6|14|7" passage="Re 14:6,7">Rev. xiv. 6, 7</scripRef>. Let us all
fear him, that is, dread his wrath and displeasure, and be afraid
of having him our enemy and of standing it out against him. Let us
not dare to offend him who having this power no doubt has all power
in his hand. It is dangerous being at war with him who has the host
of heaven for his armies and the depths of the sea for his
magazines, and therefore it is wisdom to desire conditions of
peace, see <scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.5.22" parsed="|Jer|5|22|0|0" passage="Jer 5:22">Jer. v. 22</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxiv-p10">IV. The satisfaction he had of God's
sovereignty and dominion, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.10-Ps.33.11" parsed="|Ps|33|10|33|11" passage="Ps 33:10,11"><i>v.</i>
10, 11</scripRef>. He over-rules all the counsels of men, and makes
them, contrary to their intention, serviceable to his counsels.
Come and see with an eye of faith God in the throne, 1. Frustrating
the devices of his enemies: <i>He bringeth the counsel of the
heathen to nought,</i> so that what they imagine against him and
his kingdom proves <i>a vain thing</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.2.1" parsed="|Ps|2|1|0|0" passage="Ps 2:1">Ps. ii. 1</scripRef>); the counsel of Ahithophel is turned
into foolishness; Haman's plot is baffled. Though the design be
laid ever so deep, and the hopes raised upon it ever so high, yet,
if God says it <i>shall not stand, neither shall it come to
pass;</i> it is all to no purpose. 2. Fulfilling his own decrees:
<i>The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever.</i> It is immutable
in itself, <i>for he is in one mind, and who can turn him?</i> The
execution of it may be opposed, but cannot in the least be
obstructed by any created power. Through all the revolutions of
time God never changed his measures, but in every event, even that
which to us is most surprising, the eternal counsel of God is
fulfilled, nor can any thing prevent its being accomplished in its
time. With what pleasure to ourselves may we in singing this give
praise to God! How easy may this thought make us at all times, that
God governs the world, that he did it in infinite wisdom before we
were born, and will do it when we are silent in the dust!</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.xxxiv-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.12-Ps.33.22" parsed="|Ps|33|12|33|22" passage="Ps 33:12-22" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.33.12-Ps.33.22">
<h4 id="Ps.xxxiv-p10.4">God's Sovereign Power.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xxxiv-p11">12 Blessed <i>is</i> the nation whose God
<i>is</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxiv-p11.1">Lord</span>; <i>and</i> the
people <i>whom</i> he hath chosen for his own inheritance.  
13 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxiv-p11.2">Lord</span> looketh from heaven; he
beholdeth all the sons of men.   14 From the place of his
habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.  
15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their
works.   16 There is no king saved by the multitude of a host:
a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.   17 A horse
<i>is</i> a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver
<i>any</i> by his great strength.   18 Behold, the eye of the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxiv-p11.3">Lord</span> <i>is</i> upon them that fear
him, upon them that hope in his mercy;   19 To deliver their
soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.   20 Our
soul waiteth for the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxiv-p11.4">Lord</span>: he
<i>is</i> our help and our shield.   21 For our heart shall
rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.   22
Let thy mercy, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxiv-p11.5">O Lord</span>, be upon us,
according as we hope in thee.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxiv-p12">We are here taught to give to God the
glory,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxiv-p13">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, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.13-Ps.33.14" parsed="|Ps|33|13|33|14" passage="Ps 33:13,14"><i>v.</i> 13,
14</scripRef>. Though the residence of God's glory is in the
highest heavens, yet thence he not only has a prospect of all the
earth, but a particular inspection of all the inhabitants of the
earth. He not only beholds them, but he <i>looks upon them;</i> he
looks narrowly upon them (so the word here used is sometimes
rendered), so narrowly that not the least thought can escape his
observation. Atheists think that, because he dwells above in
heaven, he cannot, or will not, take notice of what is done here in
this lower world; but thence, high as it is, he sees us all, and
all persons and things are naked and open before him. 2. Their
hearts, as well as their times, are all in his hand: <i>He fashions
their hearts.</i> He made them at first, formed the spirit of each
man within him, then when he brought him into being. Hence he is
called <i>the Father of spirits:</i> and this is a good argument to
prove that he perfectly knows them. The artist that made the clock,
can account for the motions of every wheel. David uses this
argument with application to himself, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.139.1 Bible:Ps.139.14" parsed="|Ps|139|1|0|0;|Ps|139|14|0|0" passage="Ps 139:1,14">Ps. cxxxix. 1, 14</scripRef>. He still moulds the
hearts of men, turns them as the rivers of water, which way soever
he pleases, to serve his own purposes, darkens or enlightens men's
understandings, stiffens or bows their wills, according as he is
pleased to make use of them. He that fashions men's hearts fashions
them alike. It is in hearts as in faces, though there is a great
difference, and such a variety as that no two faces are exactly of
the same features, nor any two hearts exactly of the same temper,
yet there is such a similitude that, in some things, all faces and
all hearts agree, <i>as in water face answers to face,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Prov.27.19" parsed="|Prov|27|19|0|0" passage="Pr 27:19">Prov. xxvii. 19</scripRef>. He
<i>fashions them together</i> (so some read it); as the wheels of a
watch, though of different shapes, sizes, and motions, are yet all
put together, to serve one and the same purpose, so the hearts of
men and their dispositions, however varying from each other and
seeming to contradict one another, are yet all overruled to serve
the divine purpose, which is one. 3. They, and all they do, are
obnoxious to his judgment; <i>for he considers all their works,</i>
not only knows them, but weighs them, that he may render to every
man according to his works, in the day, in the world, of
retribution, in the judgment, and to eternity. 4. All the powers of
the creature have a dependence upon him, and are of no account, of
no avail at all, without him, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.16-Ps.33.17" parsed="|Ps|33|16|33|17" passage="Ps 33:16,17"><i>v.</i> 16, 17</scripRef>. It is much for the
honour of God that not only no force can prevail in opposition to
him, but that no force can act but in dependence on him and by a
power derived from him. (1.) The strength of a king is nothing
without God. No king is sacred by his royal prerogatives, or the
authority with which he is invested; for the powers that are, of
that kind, are ordained of God, and are what he makes them, and no
more. David was a king, and a man of war from his youth, and yet
acknowledged God to be his only protector and Saviour. (2.) The
strength of an army is nothing without God. <i>The multitude of a
host</i> cannot secure those under whose command they act, unless
God make them a security to them. A great army cannot be sure of
victory; for, when God pleases, one shall chase a thousand. (3.)
The strength of a giant is nothing without God. <i>A mighty
man,</i> such as Goliath was, <i>is not delivered by</i> his
<i>much strength,</i> when his day comes to fall. Neither the
firmness and activity of his body nor the stoutness and resolution
of his mind will stand him in any stead, any further than God is
pleased to give him success. <i>Let not the strong man</i> then
<i>glory in his strength,</i> but let us all strengthen ourselves
in the Lord our God, go forth, and go on, in his strength. (4.) The
strength of a horse is nothing without God (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p13.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.17" parsed="|Ps|33|17|0|0" passage="Ps 33:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>): <i>A horse is a vain thing for
safety.</i> In war horses were then so highly accounted of, and so
much depended on, that God forbade the kings of Israel to
<i>multiply horses</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p13.6" osisRef="Bible:Deut.17.16" parsed="|Deut|17|16|0|0" passage="De 17:16">Deut. xvii.
16</scripRef>), lest they should be tempted to trust to them and
their confidence should thereby be taken off from God. David
houghed the horses of the Syrians (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p13.7" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.8.4" parsed="|2Sam|8|4|0|0" passage="2Sa 8:4">2
Sam. viii. 4</scripRef>); here he houghs all the horses in the
world, by pronouncing a horse a vain thing for safety in the day of
battle. If the war-horse be unruly and ill-managed, he may hurry
his rider into danger instead of carrying him out of danger. If he
be killed under him, he may be his death, instead of saving his
life. It is therefore our interest to make sure God's favour
towards us, and then we may be sure of his power engaged for us,
and need not fear whatever is against us.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxiv-p14">II. We are to give God the glory of his
special grace. In the midst of his acknowledgments of God's
providence he pronounces those blessed that have Jehovah for their
God, who governs the world, and has wherewithal to help them in
every time of need, while those were miserable who had this and the
other Baal for their god, which was so far from being able to hear
and help them that is was itself senseless and helpless (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.12" parsed="|Ps|33|12|0|0" passage="Ps 33:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>): <i>Blessed is the
nation whose God is the Lord,</i> even Israel, who had the
knowledge of the true God and were taken into covenant with him,
and all others who own God for theirs and are owned by him; for
they also, whatever nation they are of, are of the spiritual seed
of Abraham. 1. It is their wisdom that they take the Lord for their
God, that they direct their homage and adoration there where it is
due and where the payment of it will not be in vain. 2. It is their
happiness that they are the people whom God has chosen for his own
inheritance, whom he is pleased with, and honoured in, and whom he
protects and takes care of, whom he cultivates and improves as a
man does his inheritance, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.32.9" parsed="|Deut|32|9|0|0" passage="De 32:9">Deut. xxxii.
9</scripRef>. Now let us observe here, to the honour of divine
grace, (1.) The regard which God has to his people, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.18-Ps.33.19" parsed="|Ps|33|18|33|19" passage="Ps 33:18,19"><i>v.</i> 18, 19</scripRef>. God beholds all
the sons of men with an eye of observation, but his eye of favour
and complacency is upon those that fear him. He looks upon them
with delight, as the father on his children, as the bridegroom on
his spouse, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p14.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.62.5" parsed="|Isa|62|5|0|0" passage="Isa 62:5">Isa. lxii. 5</scripRef>.
While those that depend on arms and armies, on chariots and horses,
perish in the disappointment of their expectations, God's people,
under his protection, are safe, for he shall deliver their soul
from death when there seems to be but a step between them and it.
If he do not deliver the body from temporal death, yet he will
deliver the soul from spiritual and eternal death. Their souls,
whatever happens, shall live and praise him, either in this world
or in a better. From his bounty they shall be supplied with all
necessaries. He shall <i>keep them alive in famine;</i> when others
die for want, they shall live, which shall make it a distinguishing
mercy. When visible means fail, God will find out some way or other
to supply them. He does not say that he will give them abundance
(they have no reason either to desire it or to expect it), but he
will keep them alive; they shall not starve; and, when destroying
judgments are abroad, it ought to be reckoned a great favour, for
it is a very striking one, and lays us under peculiar obligations,
to have our lives given us for a prey. Those that have the Lord for
their God shall find him their help and their shield, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p14.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.20" parsed="|Ps|33|20|0|0" passage="Ps 33:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>. In their difficulties
he will assist them; they shall be helped over them, helped through
them. In their dangers he will secure them; they shall be helped
over them, helped through them. In their dangers he will secure
them, so that they shall not receive any real damage. (2.) The
regard which God's people have to him and which we ought to have in
consideration of this. [1.] We must wait for God. We must attend
the motions of his providence, and accommodate ourselves to them,
and patiently accommodate ourselves to them, and patiently expect
the issue of them. Our souls must wait for him, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p14.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.20" parsed="|Ps|33|20|0|0" passage="Ps 33:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>. We must not only in word and
tongue profess a believing regard to God, but it must be inward and
sincere, a secret and silent attendance on him. [2.] We must rely
on God, <i>hope in his mercy,</i> in the goodness of his nature,
though we have not an express promise to depend upon. Those that
fear God and his wrath must hope in God and his mercy; for there is
no flying from God, but by flying to him. These pious dispositions
will not only consist together, but befriend each other, a holy
fear of God and yet at the same time a hope in his mercy. This is
<i>trusting in his holy name</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p14.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.21" parsed="|Ps|33|21|0|0" passage="Ps 33:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>), in all that whereby he has
made known himself to us, for our encouragement to serve him. [3.]
We must rejoice in God, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p14.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.21" parsed="|Ps|33|21|0|0" passage="Ps 33:21"><i>v.</i>
21</scripRef>. Those do not truly rest in God, or do not know the
unspeakable advantage they have by so doing, who do not rejoice in
him at all times; because those that hope in God hope for an
eternal fulness of joy in his presence. [4.] We must seek to him
for that mercy which we hope in, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p14.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.22" parsed="|Ps|33|22|0|0" passage="Ps 33:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>. Our expectations from God are
not to supersede, but to quicken and encourage, our applications to
him; he will be sought unto for that which he has promised, and
therefore the psalm concludes with a short but comprehensive
prayer, "<i>Let thy mercy, O Lord! be upon us;</i> let us always
have the comfort and benefit of it, not according as we merit from
thee, but <i>according as we hope in thee,</i> that is, according
to the promise which thou hast in thy word given to us and
according to the faith which thou hast by thy Spirit and grace
wrought in us." If, in singing <scripRef id="Ps.xxxiv-p14.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.33.12-Ps.33.22" parsed="|Ps|33|12|33|22" passage="Ps 33:12-22">these verses</scripRef>, we put forth a dependence
upon God, and let out our desires towards him, we make melody with
our hearts to the Lord.</p>
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