Catholic Commentary on Psalm 33

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose as his inheritance." (Psalm 33:12)

Praise the Lord with a New Song

Psalm 33 is a hymn of communal praise without a superscription, flowing from the individual thanksgiving of Psalm 32 into the praise of the whole community. It begins with an exhortation that the Psalter repeats throughout: sing a new song to the Lord. The new song is new not because it replaces the old songs but because each encounter with God produces a freshness in praise. The God who acts in history always does something that calls for a new response. The praise that was adequate last year must be renewed in light of what God has done this year.

The grounds for praise are threefold in this psalm: the word of God by which the heavens were made, the steadfast love that fills the earth, and the sovereign care of the Lord over human history. Creation by word is the fundamental act: For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. The world exists because God spoke it. It continues to exist because he holds it in speech. The Catechism grounds creation's dependence on God precisely here: the world is not self-sustaining. It is spoken into being and sustained by the ongoing creative word (CCC 296).

The Eye of the Lord

The Lord looks down from heaven and sees all humanity. From his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth. He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. The omniscience of God is not described here as threatening but as caring: The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. Being seen by God is the condition of being delivered by God. The one who knows your heart is also the one who has all power to help it.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, we wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. Let your heart be glad in him. Let your trust rest on his unfailing love. And let the new song rise: not the stale repetition of a faith grown routine, but the fresh response to what the same faithful God has done today, in your life, in your community, in his world.

Prayer

Lord God, by your word the heavens were made. Your steadfast love fills the earth. Let us sing a new song to you, a new response to your faithful acts. Be our help and our shield. May your unfailing love rest on us as we put our hope in you. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

33
Praise to the Creator
(Psalms 148:1–14)
1 Rejoice in the LORD, O righteous ones;
it is fitting for the upright to praise Him.
2 Praise the LORD with the harp;
make music to Him with ten strings.
3 Sing to Him a new song;
play skillfully with a shout of joy.
 
4 For the word of the LORD is upright,
and all His work is trustworthy.
5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of His loving devotion.
 
6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
and all the stars by the breath of His mouth.
7 He piles up the waters of the sea;
He puts the depths into storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the people of the world revere Him.
9 For He spoke, and it came to be;
He commanded, and it stood firm.
 
10 The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations;
He thwarts the devices of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
the purposes of His heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people He has chosen as His inheritance!
 
13 The LORD looks down from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men.
14 From His dwelling place He gazes
on all who inhabit the earth.
15 He shapes the hearts of each;
He considers all their works.
16 No king is saved by his vast army;
no warrior is delivered by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for salvation;
even its great strength cannot save.
 
18 Surely the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him,
on those whose hope is in His loving devotion
19 to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.
 
20 Our soul waits for the LORD;
He is our help and our shield.
21 For our hearts rejoice in Him,
since we trust in His holy name.
22 May Your loving devotion rest on us, O LORD,
as we put our hope in You.

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