Psalms 33:20

20 Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and shield.

Psalms 33:20 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 33:20

Our soul waiteth for the Lord
This, and what follows, are the words of the church, expressing her expectation, faith, and joy, by reason of what is suggested in the preceding verses. She signifies her expectation of good by waiting for the Lord; either for his coming in the flesh, and salvation by him; for which the patriarchs, prophets, and all the Old Testament saints, waited, ( Genesis 49:18 ) ( Isaiah 25:9 ) ; and so the Targum paraphrases it, "our soul waiteth for the redemption of the Lord"; or for his spiritual coming, his appearance to them, and gracious presence with them, he having been for some time absent; and it is right and good so to do, and in the issue proves advantageous, ( Isaiah 8:17 ) ( Lamentations 3:26 ) ; and this being soul waiting, it denotes the heartiness, sincerity, and earnestness of it;

he [is] our help and our shield;
the Lord is the help of his people in time of trouble, when none else is or can be; and he is a present one, and helps right early, and at the best season: and he is their shield, who encompasses them about with his love and favour, and keeps them by his power in the greatest safety; all which encourages their waiting upon him, and expectation of good things from him.

Psalms 33:20 In-Context

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

19 that he may deliver their soul from death, and keep them alive in famine.

20 Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and shield.

21 Yea, our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.

22 Let thy steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in thee.