Psalm 33 is a hymn wherein a liturgist summons the congregation (v. 1) and the musicians (vv. 2–3) to perform their praise of God. The congregation is designated as the “righteous” and “upright,” that is, those admitted through the temple entry liturgy (see on Pss. 15 and 24). The chief quality sought in this liturgy is not moral blamelessness but loyalty to Yahweh (in 24:3–6 “righteousness” is received, not presupposed). The promise of deliverance from death and famine (v. 19), along with the mention of military forces (vv. 16–17), may imply that a situation of military siege underlies this psalm. The casual way 2 Samuel 11:1 mentions the regularity of war in the spring shows that the Israelites could not presume on their national security as we might today. But even if this psalm origina…