Chapter 33

Ps.33:1. Psalm to David, ever change your face before Abimelech, and let him go, and go away. David, fleeing from Saul, came to Abimelech, and when asked by Abimelech about the reason for his coming, he did not admit his flight, but said that he was sent by Saul to ask for the sword of Goliath. And since he spoke differently and thought differently, the inscription of the psalm says: “change your face.” He sings a psalm to this new people, teaching the doctrine of spiritual and evangelical service. Ps.33:2. I will bless the Lord at all times. Ps.33:3. My soul will glory in the Lord. If I turn out to be worthy of praise, because something good has been found in my deeds; then it should not be written down by me, but by God. He has made me famous, He will make me worthy of fame. Let the meek ones hear and rejoice. Let every righteous person rejoice when he hears about the salvation that the Lord has done for me; because He saves those who trust in Him. The psalmist is not content to sing songs alone, but makes those who share meekness also partakers of songs. Ps.33:4. Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. As if not having sufficient strength to proclaim the greatness of God, he asks that others also begin to do the same and assist him. Ps.33:6. Come to Him and be enlightened. Strengthened in hope by what he has already received, he leads others to the same. Ps.33:7. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard and... From what happened to me, learn to place your trust in the God of all; for I, who was an insignificant man and a shepherd of sheep, He honored with His providence and showed me as a conqueror of my enemies. Ps.33:8. The Angel of the Lord will encamp around those who fear Him and deliver them. This is in accordance with the words of the Apostle; for he says about the Angels: “Are not all souls of service sent into service for those who want to inherit salvation” (Heb. 1:14)? This is how blessed Jacob prays: “The angel who delivers me from all my evils” (Gen. 48:16). So the patriarch Abraham said to his wondrous servant: “The Lord God... will send His angel before you... and take a wife for my son Isaac from there” (Gen. 24:40). This is what blessed Zechariah says: “An angel speak in me” (Zechariah 2:3). Ps.33:9. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Taste, he says, the true bread that came down from heaven. Blessed is the man who trusts in Nan; because he will accept the future life. Ps.33:11. Wealth has become impoverished and hungry. Those who seek the Lord will not be deprived of any good, means another people from the pagans. Ps.33:12–14. Come, children, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord... and do not speak flattery in your mouth. He offers the pagans a teaching in which the first is to have the fear of God, the second is not to condemn a brother, the third is to keep your lips from all flattery, the fourth is to avoid all evil and strive for good in everything; and above all this, seek peace and adhere to it. The world is Christ; and taking care of all this is life and “good days.” Ps.33:15. Turn away from evil and do good: seek peace, and get married, and... What is said: “turn away from evil” is taught by fear; and to this: “do good” - love. And therefore, he who loves is superior to him who has fear. Ps.33:16. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are upon their prayer. For caring for virtue, he gives a great reward - to have God as an audience. Ps.33:21. The Lord protects all their bones. “Bones” he calls spiritual virtues—truth, temperance, piety and every virtue. Ps.33:22. The death of sinners is cruel; means spiritual death, which will be followed by eternal fire, pitch darkness, a never-ending worm, weeping and gnashing of teeth; for Gehenna and darkness await sinners. You might be interested in: