What does Psalm 33:5 mean?
ESV: He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.
NIV: The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.
NASB: He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
CSB: He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the Lord’s unfailing love.
NLT: He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth.
KJV: He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
NKJV: He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Verse Commentary:
This verse supplies additional reasons to praise the Lord joyfully with a new song (Psalm 33:1–4). Unlike imaginary pagan gods, the Lord is not fickle or malicious. He acts according to His perfect, unchanging nature, which means He approves of that which is correct and fitting. As the righteous judge, He never condones or excuses sin. He can forgive sin, but He does not excuse it. Nor does He render a false verdict. He is not only righteous and just but also replete in steadfast love. Believers may be certain that His love never weakens or retreats. It is unconditional. His love is universal. David writes that "the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD." Creation affirms the Lord's love. He has provided everything human beings need to live abundantly (Psalm 16:11; John 10:10).
In Psalm 145:17 David proclaims: "The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works." The apostle Paul also affirms the Lord's righteousness. In 2 Timothy 4:8 he refers to the Lord as "the righteous judge."
Verse Context:
Psalm 33:4–19 records David's reasons to praise the Lord. They include praise for God's Word, His creative power, His sovereignty over the nations, His all-seeing vision, His faithful works, and His deliverance of His people.
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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