Keil and Delitzsch Commentary - Psalms 33:12 - 33:12

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Keil and Delitzsch Commentary - Psalms 33:12 - 33:12


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Hence the call to praise God is supported (2) by a setting forth of that which His people possess in Him. This portion of the song is like a paraphrase of the אַֽשְׁרֵי in Deu 33:29. The theme in Psa 33:12 is proved in Psa 33:13 by the fact, that Jahve is the omniscient Ruler, because He is the Creator of men, without whose knowledge nothing is undertaken either secretly or openly, and especially if against His people. Then in Psa 33:16 it is supported by the fact, that His people have in Jahve a stronger defence than the greatest worldly power would be. Jahve is called the fashioner of all the hearts of men, as in Zec 12:1, cf. Pro 24:12, as being their Maker. As such He is also the observer of all the works of men; for His is acquainted with their origin in the laboratory of the heart, which He as Creator has formed. Hupfeld takes יַחַד as an equalisation (pariter ac) of the two appositions; but then it ought to be וּמֵבִין (cf. Psa 49:3, Psa 49:11). The lxx correctly renders it καταμόνας, singillatim. It is also needless to translate it, as Hupfeld does: He who formed, qui finxit; for the hearts of men were not from the very first created all at one time, but the primeval impartation of spirit-life is continued at every birth in some mysterious way. God is the Father of spirits, Heb 12:9. For this very reason everything that exists, even to the most hidden thing, is encompassed by His omniscience and omnipotence. He exercises an omniscient control over all things, and makes all things subservient to the designs of His plan of the universe, which, so far as His people are concerned, is the plan of salvation. Without Him nothing comes to pass; but through Him everything takes place. The victory of the king, and the safety of the warrior, are not their own works. Their great military power and bodily strength can accomplish nothing without God, who can also be mighty in the feeble. Even for purposes of victory (תְּשׁוּעָה, cf. יְשׁוּעָה, Psa 21:2) the war-horse is שֶׁקֶר, i.e., a thing that promises much, but can in reality do nothing; it is not its great strength, by which it enables the trooper to escape (יְמַלֵּט). “The horse,” says Solomon in Pro 21:31, “is equipped for the day of battle, but הַתְּשׁוּעָה לה, Jahve's is the victory,” He giveth it to whomsoever He will. The ultimate ends of all things that come to pass are in His hands, and - as Psa 33:18. say, directing special attention to this important truth by הִנֵּה - the eye of this God, that is to say the final aim of His government of the world, is directed towards them that fear Him, is pointed at them that hope in His mercy (לַֽמְיַֽחֲלִים). In Psa 33:19, the object, לְחַסְדֹּו, is expanded by way of example. From His mercy or loving-kindness, not from any acts of their own, conscious of their limited condition and feebleness, they look for protection in the midst of the greatest peril, and for the preservation of their life in famine. Psa 20:8 is very similar; but the one passage sounds as independent as the other.