John Calvin Commentary Psalms 33:5

"He loveth righteousness and justice: The earth is full of the lovingkindness of Jehovah." — Psalms 33:5 (ASV)

He loveth righteousness and judgment. This is a confirmation of the preceding verse and indicates to us that God by His own nature loves righteousness and equity. It therefore follows that perverse desires cannot hurry Him, in the way of men, to evil schemes. Indeed, at first glance, this appears to be only a common commendation of God, and of little importance, because all confess that He observes the most perfect rule of righteousness in all His works.

Why then, someone may say, has a new song just been mentioned, as if it concerned some unusual matter? We answer, first, because it is all too obvious how wickedly a great part of the world shuts its eyes to God’s righteousness, while they either carelessly overlook innumerable proofs of His providence or imagine that these things happen by chance.

But there is often a worse fault than this: namely, that if our wishes are not gratified, we instantly murmur against God’s righteousness. And although the maxim, “God does all things righteously,” is on everyone’s lips, yet scarcely one in a hundred firmly believes it in his heart. Otherwise, as soon as this truth is pronounced, “Thus it pleases God,” everyone would obediently submit himself to God’s will.

Now, since people in adversity are brought with the utmost difficulty to this point—to acknowledge that God is just—and since in prosperity they soon fall from acknowledging it, it is not surprising that the prophet, to persuade people that God is an upright governor, affirms that He loves righteousness. Therefore, whoever has thoroughly embraced this doctrine should know that he has profited greatly.

Others explain this to mean that God loves righteousness in people. This, indeed, is true, but it is far from the meaning of the text, because the design of the Holy Spirit here is to maintain the glory of God against the poison of ungodliness, which is deeply seated in many hearts.

In the second clause of the verse, the Psalmist commends another part of God’s excellence, namely, that the earth is full of his goodness. The righteousness of God ought justly to incite us to praise Him, but His goodness is a more powerful motive, because the more experience anyone has of His beneficence and mercy, the more strongly he is influenced to worship Him.

Furthermore, the discussion still concerns all the benefits of God which He scatters over the whole human race. These, the inspired writer declares, meet us wherever we turn our eyes.