Psa 33:19 | KingComments | STEP | Compared to the power of God, the most powerful people like “the king” and “a warrior” are dwarfed ( ). They are powerless, even though they have a “mighty army” and “great strength”, to deliver themselves from an enemy or to save themselves from a threatening situation. If a man counts solely on the great strength of a horse for a victory or to escape defeat, he will be deceived ( ). His hope in it is false. Man is foolish and suffers from hopeless overconfidence if he boasts and relies on human strength for victory. Only the LORD can give victory, for He controls everything. In contrast to people who rely on the power of human resources, on the strength of a powerful ally, stand those who fear the LORD and hope for His lovingkindness ( ). They know that His eye is fixed on them in loving care and that He always sees them, which means that He is watching them in goodness ( ). This is very much better than relying on human resources. He delivers from death ( ). He also keeps alive in times of famine caused by the encirclement by an enemy (cf. ). In a famine, any appeal to a king, a warrior, or a horse is futile (cf. ; ). are, as it were, the response of the remnant to the call to praise of . Those who fear the LORD expect Him, that is, they look forward to what He is going to do ( ). They don’t take initiatives themselves, but leave it up to Him. What He determines is good. They boldly confess that He is their help and their shield (cf. ). He is their Helper and Protector. They declare that their hearts rejoice in Him ( ). The cause of this is their “trust in His holy name”. This means that they submit to Him, that is, they want God to be Who He is: God. His holy Name guarantees that He will work out all His plans to fulfill all His promises. When things go badly with Israel, the Name of the LORD is dishonored, and when things go well with Israel, the Name of the LORD is hallowed. When the Lord Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, the first thing He teaches them to say is: “Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name” ( ; cf. ). The prayer for blessing in is the expression of dependence on the lovingkindness of God. It is the desire that the promise of the covenant blessings be fulfilled by the LORD. By their expressed trust in and expectation of the LORD, the remnant may expect that the LORD will be faithful to His word and promise. The God-fearing ask for God’s lovingkindness upon them, meaning that it will guard over them, protect them, and guide them through life. They hope in Him and therefore all that He is, for He Himself is all they need to continue living their lives to His glory.

‏ Psalms 33:19

Our Help and Our Shield

Compared to the power of God, the most powerful people like “the king” and “a warrior” are dwarfed (Psa 33:16). They are powerless, even though they have a “mighty army” and “great strength”, to deliver themselves from an enemy or to save themselves from a threatening situation.

If a man counts solely on the great strength of a horse for a victory or to escape defeat, he will be deceived (Psa 33:17). His hope in it is false. Man is foolish and suffers from hopeless overconfidence if he boasts and relies on human strength for victory. Only the LORD can give victory, for He controls everything.

In contrast to people who rely on the power of human resources, on the strength of a powerful ally, stand those who fear the LORD and hope for His lovingkindness (Psa 33:18). They know that His eye is fixed on them in loving care and that He always sees them, which means that He is watching them in goodness (Job 36:7a). This is very much better than relying on human resources.

He delivers from death (Psa 33:19). He also keeps alive in times of famine caused by the encirclement by an enemy (cf. Isa 36:12b). In a famine, any appeal to a king, a warrior, or a horse is futile (cf. 2Kgs 6:25-27; Isa 36:9b).

Psa 33:20-21 are, as it were, the response of the remnant to the call to praise of Psa 33:1-3. Those who fear the LORD expect Him, that is, they look forward to what He is going to do (Psa 33:20). They don’t take initiatives themselves, but leave it up to Him. What He determines is good. They boldly confess that He is their help and their shield (cf. Psa 28:7). He is their Helper and Protector.

They declare that their hearts rejoice in Him (Psa 33:21). The cause of this is their “trust in His holy name”. This means that they submit to Him, that is, they want God to be Who He is: God. His holy Name guarantees that He will work out all His plans to fulfill all His promises. When things go badly with Israel, the Name of the LORD is dishonored, and when things go well with Israel, the Name of the LORD is hallowed. When the Lord Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, the first thing He teaches them to say is: “Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name” (Mt 6:9; cf. Isa 29:23 ; Isa 48:9-11).

The prayer for blessing in Psa 33:22 is the expression of dependence on the lovingkindness of God. It is the desire that the promise of the covenant blessings be fulfilled by the LORD. By their expressed trust in and expectation of the LORD, the remnant may expect that the LORD will be faithful to His word and promise. The God-fearing ask for God’s lovingkindness upon them, meaning that it will guard over them, protect them, and guide them through life. They hope in Him and therefore all that He is, for He Himself is all they need to continue living their lives to His glory.