What does Psalm 33:22 mean?
ESV: Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
NIV: May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.
NASB: Let Your favor, Lord, be upon us, Just as we have waited for You.
CSB: May your faithful love rest on us, Lord, for we put our hope in you.
NLT: Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.
KJV: Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.
NKJV: Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, Just as we hope in You.
Verse Commentary:
The concluding verse of Psalm 33 is a prayer in which the worshipers ask God to continue showing His consistent lovingkindness to them. Genuine worship may make a worshipper feel good, but most important is what it accomplishes in his heart. It produces faith, hope, and love. The worshipers in this psalm ask the Lord to set His unfailing love upon them, but New Testament believers receive His love in them. Romans 5:5 reveals that "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." God's love poured into us should pour through us to others (see Luke 10:25–28; 1 John 3:23).

The psalm fittingly ends with the affirmation of faith (Psalm 33:20), hope, and love (Psalm 33:22). Paul writes: "So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Verse Context:
Psalm 33:20–22 completes David's song with an expression of faith in the Lord. The congregation and choir, having recounted the many reasons to praise the Lord, confess their peace, hope, and trust in God. They ask Him to place His steadfast love upon them.
Chapter Summary:
David summons the worshipers of Israel to be joyful as they praise God. The psalm celebrates God's creative power, sovereignty, and faithfulness. Rather than relying on earthly strength, the Lord's people can trust in His omnipotent power. This results in a collective praise for God and His unfailing love for those who trust and hope in Him.
Chapter Context:
The Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, attributes this psalm to David. It is a psalm that encourages worshipers to praise the Lord. It may have been written after Israel experienced a victory over an enemy. Because the verbs in this psalm are plural, it features the worship leader's call to worship and the worshipers' response.
Book Summary:
The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.
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