Psalm 33:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,

NIV: But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

NASB: Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who wait for His faithfulness,

CSB: But look, the Lord keeps his eye on those who fear him -- those who depend on his faithful love

NLT: But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love.

KJV: Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

NKJV: Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy,

This verse affirms that those who have a reverent, submissive "fear" of God (Proverbs 1:7) are kept under His sovereign control. God's care is described using the Hebrew term hesed, sometimes translated as "lovingkindness" or "steadfast love." In this context, the fact that God's eye is on His people means more than simple awareness. This statement implies that He safeguards those who love Him (John 10:11). This concept is often misunderstood but is a crucial aspect of God's nature.

The Lord keeps watch over those who love and submit to Him (Romans 8:18, 37–39). Those who hope in His unfailing love are guaranteed victory in eternity (John 3:36). Jesus taught that believers have no reason to panic, because the Father knows all their needs and promises to meet them (Matthew 6:31–33). This does not mean life is always easy, or without tragedy, for those who love God (John 16:33). Yet nothing escapes God's eyes. He sees everything that occurs in His child's life, and He cares (Psalm 56:8; Hebrews 4:14–16; 1 Peter 5:7). First Corinthians 10:13 promises: "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." When a believer experiences a trial, he can understand that His heavenly Father is simply testing his faith and preparing him for the crown of life (James 1:2–4, 12; 1 Peter 1:3–9).

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.

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.

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.