Psa 33:13-14 | KingComments | STEP | God’s supremacy concerns not only matter, but also “the counsel” and “the plans” of the nations and the peoples ( ). These are the immaterial things, the deliberations of the hearts of men. Those things, too, are in His power. He nullifies and frustrates those councils and plans. He will do this because the counsel and plans of the nations are directed against Him and against His people. That He nullifies and frustrates them shows His exaltation and their futility. God not only created the universe ( ), but He also directs the course of history and is able to overthrow the counsels of mighty kingdoms. In addition to the contrast between material and immaterial things, there is also a contrast between the past, creation, and the present, the history of mankind ( ). Opposite to the counsel and plans of the nations against Him and against His people are His counsel and the plans of His heart ( ). No one is able to change these, let alone nullify and frustrate them. His counsel “stands forever” (cf. ; ). The plans of His heart relate to His promises to the patriarchs. His plans of blessing to His people stand “from generation to generation”. Nothing is able to undo those plans. He keeps His promises throughout the generations and will fulfill them ( ). In , a “blessed” directs attention to a special people in the midst of all the nations. It is “the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance”. It can rightfully be said that a people is “blessed” when the God of that people is the God Who has been displayed in His exaltation in the previous verses. He has chosen Israel “for His own inheritance” ( ; ; cf. ). The God of this people “looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men; from His dwelling place He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth” ( ). His position in heaven, His exalted dwelling place, emphasizes His exaltation above all that is and is happening on earth and His untouchability to those who dwell on earth. He is not only the Almighty Who created everything and directs the course of history, He is also the Omniscient, Whose eyes are like a flame of fire ( ). He sees right through you. From Him nothing is hidden. “All things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” ( ). This does not mean that He is not intimately involved with the earth and its inhabitants. There is nothing that escapes Him. He not only sees everything that happens, but also “fashions the hearts of them all” ( ). Thus, as Creator, He also formed their bodies ( ). This means that He knows people’s hearts through and through. He knows all the deliberations that take place there, which are hidden from everyone. In this, He “understands all their works”. Both the inner considerations, the motives of men, and their outer deeds He knows. And not only that. Not only can man never thwart God’s plans, but God controls man and uses him against his will in order to work out His plans and achieve His goal. We see the same thing with the devil. This does not change the responsibility of man and the devil. They are held fully responsible for “all their works”. It only makes it clear that God is above everything and can use even man’s rebellion for His purpose.

‏ Psalms 33:13-14

The LORD Sees All People

God’s supremacy concerns not only matter, but also “the counsel” and “the plans” of the nations and the peoples (Psa 33:10). These are the immaterial things, the deliberations of the hearts of men. Those things, too, are in His power. He nullifies and frustrates those councils and plans. He will do this because the counsel and plans of the nations are directed against Him and against His people. That He nullifies and frustrates them shows His exaltation and their futility.

God not only created the universe (Psa 33:6-9), but He also directs the course of history and is able to overthrow the counsels of mighty kingdoms. In addition to the contrast between material and immaterial things, there is also a contrast between the past, creation, and the present, the history of mankind (Psa 33:10-15).

Opposite to the counsel and plans of the nations against Him and against His people are His counsel and the plans of His heart (Psa 33:11). No one is able to change these, let alone nullify and frustrate them. His counsel “stands forever” (cf. Pro 19:21; Isa 40:8). The plans of His heart relate to His promises to the patriarchs. His plans of blessing to His people stand “from generation to generation”. Nothing is able to undo those plans. He keeps His promises throughout the generations and will fulfill them (Psa 105:8-9).

In Psa 33:12, a “blessed” directs attention to a special people in the midst of all the nations. It is “the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance”. It can rightfully be said that a people is “blessed” when the God of that people is the God Who has been displayed in His exaltation in the previous verses. He has chosen Israel “for His own inheritance” (Exo 19:5; Deu 4:20 ; Deu 9:26 ; 29 ; Deu 32:9; cf. 1Pet 2:9).

The God of this people “looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men; from His dwelling place He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth” (Psa 33:13-14). His position in heaven, His exalted dwelling place, emphasizes His exaltation above all that is and is happening on earth and His untouchability to those who dwell on earth. He is not only the Almighty Who created everything and directs the course of history, He is also the Omniscient, Whose eyes are like a flame of fire (Rev 1:14b). He sees right through you. From Him nothing is hidden. “All things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Heb 4:13).

This does not mean that He is not intimately involved with the earth and its inhabitants. There is nothing that escapes Him. He not only sees everything that happens, but also “fashions the hearts of them all” (Psa 33:15). Thus, as Creator, He also formed their bodies (Gen 2:7). This means that He knows people’s hearts through and through. He knows all the deliberations that take place there, which are hidden from everyone.

In this, He “understands all their works”. Both the inner considerations, the motives of men, and their outer deeds He knows. And not only that. Not only can man never thwart God’s plans, but God controls man and uses him against his will in order to work out His plans and achieve His goal. We see the same thing with the devil. This does not change the responsibility of man and the devil. They are held fully responsible for “all their works”. It only makes it clear that God is above everything and can use even man’s rebellion for His purpose.