Psalms 33:22

Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us,.... That is, an application of it in its effects: it is a prayer for a communication of grace and mercy to help in a time of need; and for a discovery of pardoning

Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. Let ... according ... Cf Matthew 9:29, Jesus' words to the two blind men at Jericho, "According to your faith be it unto you."

Psalms 33:22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.Ver. 22. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee] Not that we would have no more mercy than we have trust; but we would show that our trust is bottomed upon thy promises, and that we humbly expect the full accomplishment of the same, in due time.

(20-22) Hope—wait—trust.—The Hebrew language was naturally rich in words expressive of that attitude of expectancy which was characteristic of a nation whose golden age was not in the past, but in the future—a nation for which its great ancestor left in his dying words so suitable a motto— “I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord,” and which, while itself held back outside the promised land of the hope of immortality, was to be the birth-race of the great and consoling doctrine that alone could satisfy the natural craving expressed by the moralist in the well-known line— “Man never is, but always to be, blest;” and by the Christian apostle— “For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.”

Verse 22. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us] We cannot abide in this state unless upheld by thee; and, as we disclaim all merit, we seek for a continuance of thy mercy, and this we cannot expect but in a continual dependence on thee. "Let thy mercy, O Lord be upon us, according as we hope in thee." ANALYSIS OF THE THIRTY-THIRD PSALM This Psalm is eucharistic: the contents are - I. An exhortation to praise God, Psalms 33:1-3. II. The arguments he uses to enforce the duty, Psalms 33:4-19. III. The confidence of God's people in his name. Their happiness, and petition, Psalms 33:20-22. I. In the three first verses he exhorts men to praise God: but whom? 1. The upright; those who are not upright, cannot praise God. 2. That it be done with zeal and affection; with singing, with voice, and the instruments then in use; with some new song, composed on the occasion, for some new mercy; and that the whole be skilfully expressed. II. This he urges on several good grounds: - 1. The first argument, in general drawn from the truth, the faithfulness, the justice, and goodness of God: 1. "For the word of the Lord is right." 2. "All his works are done in truth." 3. "He loveth righteousness and judgment." 4. "The earth is full of his goodness." 2. His second argument is drawn from God's power in the creation of all things, and that by his word alone, Psalms 33:6-9; and upon it introduces, "Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him." 3. His third argument is drawn from God's providence in governing the world, which may easily be discerned by those who will diligently consider his ways and proceedings, both to other people and to his Church. 1. He makes void all enterprises undertaken against his will, not only of single men, but of whole nations. "The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to naught; he maketh the devices of the people of none effect." 2. Whereas, on the contrary, what he hath decreed shall be done. "The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever; the thoughts of his heart to all generations." On the consideration of which he breaks out into this epiphonema, or joyous reflection: "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord! and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance!" After which he returns to his discourse on God's providence, and by a hypotyposis, or splendid imagery, amplifies his former argument. For he sets God before us, as some great king on his throne, providing for all the parts of his empire, examining all causes, and doing justice to every one. 1. "The Lord looks from heaven, and beholds all the sons of men." 2. "From the place of his habitation he looks upon all the inhabitants of the earth." 3.

22. Let thy lovingkindness (Psalms 33:5; Psalms 33:18), O Lord, be upon us, According as we have hoped in thee (or, waited for thee). Comp. Psalms 31:1; Psalms 31:24; Romans 5:4-5.

Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us - Let us find or obtain thy mercy or thy favor.

20-22. From the retrospections already given the psalmist renews the national profession of trust in Jehovah as their only protector, and of joyful fealty to his holy name.