\\INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 33\\

Though this psalm has no title to it, it seems to be
a psalm of David, from the style and matter of it; and
indeed begins with the same words with which the
preceding psalm is ended. Theodoret is of opinion it
was written by David as a prophecy concerning Hezekiah,
as a song to be sung by the people after the
destruction of the Assyrian army.

\*Ver. 1. \\Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous\\, &c.]
\*\\See Gill on "Ps 32:11"\\;
\*\\[for] praise is comely for
the upright\\; it becomes them; it is their duty; they
are bound unto it by the mercies and favours they
have received; should they not, give praise to God, the
stones of the wall would cry out, and rebuke them for
their ingratitude: it is beautiful, and looks lovely in
them; it is an ornament to them, and is, in the sight
of God, of great esteem: it is very acceptable to him,
and when grace is in exercise, and their hearts in tune,
being sensibly touched and impressed with the goodness
of God, it is desirable by them, and is pleasant and
delightful to them.

\*Ver. 2. \\Praise the Lord with harp\\, &c.] An instrument
David was well-skilled in the use of, the inventor
of which was Jubal, \\#Ge 4:21\\;
\*\\sing unto, him with the psaltery\\;
the name of this instrument is in the Hebrew
language %nebel%: the account which Josephus {w}
gives of this, and of the former, is,
\*"the harp is extended with ten strings, and is stricken with a quill;
"the %nabla%, or psaltery, has twelve sounds, and is
"played upon with the fingers;"\*
\*some make this and the next to be the same:
\*\\[and] an instrument often strings\\;
and read them together thus, %with the psaltery of ten
strings%: and so the Targum, Septuagint, and other
versions {x}: but it seems from Josephus that it was not
a stringed instrument, but had holes, and those twelve;
and besides is distinguished from the instrument of ten
strings, \\#Ps 92:3\\; it was in the form of a bottle,
from whence it had its name.

\*Ver. 3. \\Sing unto him a new song\\, &c.] One newly
composed on account of late mercies received; and as
the mercies of God are new every morning, there ought
to be a daily song of praise to him; and so a new song
is a continual song, as Christ is called the %new and
living way%, \\#Heb 10:20\\; because he is the everliving
way; or the constant and only one, which always was,
is, and will be. Or it may denote some famous and
excellent song, as a new name is an excellent name, an
unknown and unspeakable one; see \\#Re 2:17\\; compared
with \\#Re 14:2,3\\; or respect may be had to
the New Testament dispensation, in which old things
are passed away, and all things become new; a new
covenant is exhibited, a new and living way opened,
and new ordinances instituted, and at the end of it
there will be new heavens and a new earth; and so
here is a new song made mention of, as suited to it;
\*\\play skilfully with a loud voice\\: either with the quill
upon the harp, and the instrument of ten strings; or
with the fingers upon the psaltery, at the same time,
vocally, and aloud, expressing the new song.

\*Ver. 4. \\For the word of the Lord [is] right\\, &c.] The
revealed word of God: the law of God is right; its
precepts are holy, just, and good; its sanction or penalty
is righteous; it is impartial unto all; it is just
in condemning the wicked, and in acquitting believers
on the account of Christ's perfect righteousness, by
which it is magnified and made honourable: the Gospel
part of the word is right; it publishes right and
good things; it directs to the right way, to heaven and
happiness; it makes men right when it works effectually
in them; it engages them to walk in right ways;
and its doctrines are right or plain to them that have a
spiritual understanding given them; and all this is
matter of joy and praise;
\*\\and all his works [are done]
in truth\\; his works of creation are done in the truth
of things, with the utmost exactness and accuracy, and

are a wonderful display of his power, wisdom, and
goodness: his works of providence are according to the
counsel of his own will, and are done in the wisest
and best manner; and his work of redemption is a
proof of his veracity and faithfulness to his covenant
oath and promise; and his work of grace upon the
hearts of his people is truth in the inward parts; and
which, as he has promised to carry on and finish, he
is faithful and will do it; in short, his way of acting
both towards the godly and ungodly agrees with his
promises to the one and his threatenings to the other,
and so is in truth; and the whole of this is a reason
why the saints should praise the Lord.

{w} Antiqu. l. 7. c. 12. s. 3.
{x} Vid. Jarchium in loc. & R. Mosem in Aben Ezra in loc.