Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 33:11

"The counsel of Jehovah standeth fast for ever, The thoughts of his heart to all generations." — Psalms 33:11 (ASV)

The counsel of the Lord - The purpose of the Lord.

Stands for ever - It will be carried out. It will never be changed. There can be no “superior” counsel or will to change it, as is the case with the plans of men; and no purposes of any beings “inferior” to himself—angels, men, or devils—can affect, defeat, or modify his eternal plans. No changes in human affairs can impede his plans; no opposition can defeat them; no progress can supersede them.

The thoughts of his heart - The things which he has “designed,” or which he intends will be accomplished.

To all generations - Margin, as in Hebrew, “to generation and generation.” That is, from one generation of men to another; or, to all time. The plans of God are not changed by the passing of one generation and the arrival of another, by new dynasties of kings, or by the revolutions that may occur in states and empires.

Men can seldom cause their plans to be carried forward beyond the generation in which they live, and they can have no security that coming generations, with their own plans, will not abolish or change all that has been devised or purposed before. No man can make it certain that his own will, even in regard to “property,” will be carried out in the generation that succeeds him. No monarch can make it certain that his plans will be perfected by his successors.

Schemes devised with the most profound care and the highest wisdom may be set aside by those who are next in power.

No individual can hope that coming ages will feel sufficient interest in him or his memory to carry on his plans. Who feels now any obligation to carry out the projects of Caesar or Alexander? How long ago did all their plans pass away! So it will be with all who are now playing their parts on the earth!

But none of these things affect the purposes of Him who will continue to live and to carry out His own designs when all the generations of human beings shall have passed away.