John Calvin Commentary Psalms 33:10

"Jehovah bringeth the counsel of the nations to nought; He maketh the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect." — Psalms 33:10 (ASV)

Jehovah scattereth the counsel of the nations. After briefly touching upon the creation of the world, the Psalmist returns to his former subject, namely, to show that the events that happen daily are undoubted proofs of the providence of God. And so that no one would be surprised that he exhibits God as an adversary to humankind—scattering their counsels rather than establishing them and bringing them to a successful outcome—he selects an instance that had the greatest power to comfort the saints.

We know how many things people continually undertake and devise against all law and justice, and how they endeavor by their schemes to turn the world upside down, so that they may tyrannically acquire power to trample upon the good and simple. What creatures, then, would be more miserable than we are, if people, possessing such a variety of wicked desires, were permitted to act with unrestrained recklessness towards us?

But when God declares from heaven to us that it is his work to shatter their schemes and bring their plans to nothing, there is no reason why we should not keep ourselves quiet, even when they act most tumultuously.

God is, therefore, said to overthrow the counsels of men, not because he openly delights in frustrating them, but to restrain their recklessness. For they would immediately throw all things into confusion if they were to succeed according to their wishes.

Indeed, since in violating justice and harassing the upright and innocent, they do not fail to fight against God himself, it is very necessary to consider that God’s power and protection are set in opposition to their fury.

And since the great majority of people, despising all modesty, rush headlong into unrestrained lawlessness, the prophet speaks not only of individuals but of whole nations. In other words, he affirms that however people may conspire among themselves and resolve to attempt this or that with great numbers, their purposes will still be brought to nothing, because it is as easy for God to scatter multitudes as to restrain a few.

But although it is God’s design in this passage to strengthen us with good hope against the audacity of the wicked, he warns us, at the same time, to undertake nothing without his command and guidance.