Psalm 33:9-15 “No Need For A ‘Plan B’”

Translation & Sermon By Nate Wilson for Christ the Redeemer Church, Manhattan, KS, 18 Feb 2018

Removing greyed-out text brings presentation time down to 45 minutes.

INTRO:

v A recent Wall Street Journal carried an article by Steven Pinker which starts out, “For all their disagreements, the left and the right concur on one thing: The world is getting worse…”

v It’s very tempting to give in to that mentality, but Psalm 33 paints a very different picture – the picture of reality, the bigger picture.

v Last week we saw in the opening verses of Psalm 33 that God is worthy to make praise music to, and the Psalm specifically mentions God’s word and His works as being worthy of praise.

Ø His work of creation by means of His word was highlighted in verses 6 and following. Eight times in Genesis 1, we find the words, “then God said,” followed by the appearance of each successive order of creation.

Ø Psalm 33:8-9 “Let all the earth be respectful of Yahweh! Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him! For He is [the one who] spoke and it began to exist; He is [the one who] commanded and it stood.” (NAW)

Ø The word “He” is very emphatic in the Hebrew text of v.9, as is the word “LORD” in the beginning of v.10. The LORD is the one to pay attention to. He is the main actor in history; what He says goes, and what He does lasts (Eccl. 3:14, Ps. 119:91, Jer. 5:22). He is the one to keep your eyes on!

Ø Dr. James Boice, pastor for over 60 years of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, in his expositions on Psalm 33 wrote: “This is fiat creation, creation by the naked word of God, and it is entirely different from - and infinitely superior to - anything mere human beings can do… The second example of the unbreakable link between God’s word and God’s work is providence, the ordering of all things according to the secret counsels of God.”

v It is the providence of God which keeps us from falling into despair when we see terrible things going on around us, and it is to the providence of God that I want to turn your attention as we study the middle of Psalm 33 today, starting at verses...

v. 10-11 It is Yahweh who broke up the plan of nations - vetoed deliberations of peoples. It is the plan of Yahweh that will stand for ever; the deliberations of His heart for generation after generation!

v This has happened throughout history, for instance:

Ø When David’s son Absolom tried to pull off a coup in 2 Samuel 17:14, “So Absalom and all the men of Israel said, ‘The advice of Hushai the Archite [to gather a large army against David] is better than the advice of Ahithophel [to immediately dispatch what troops are ready against David].’ For the LORD had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring disaster on Absalom.” (NKJV)

Ø Isaiah prophecied ahead-of-time and chronicled afterward an event where the Assyrians conspired to conquer Jerusalem but got their siege plans providentially busted up. He prophecied: “Jehovah of hosts has sworn: ‘Just as I have thought, thus it will be, and just as I have purposed, it will stand firm, to shatter Assyria in my land… For Jehovah of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? And His hand is stretched out, so who will turn it back?” (14:24-27, NAW) “Consult a counselor and it will come to nothing. Speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us.” (8:10, NAW)

Ø A similar thing happened with Nehemaiah, when Sanballat and Tobias tried to get a bunch of Arabs and Canaanites to do a sneak attack against the Jews who had just returned to reconstruct the city of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. Nehemiah caught wind of it, providentially, and posted guards to pre-empt the sneak attack. “And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work.” (Nehemiah 4:15 NKJV)

Ø The word in the second half of v.10 maheshbowt, translated “devices/thoughts/plans/ purposes/deliberations” shows up in Esther 9:25, “but when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letter that this wicked plot [maheshba] which Haman had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.” (NKJV)

Ø The Apostles in the New Testament testified of another instance in their day: Acts 4:27-28 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.” (NKJV)

v Matthew Henry: “He over-rules all the counsels of men, and makes them, contrary to their intention, serviceable to His counsels. Come and see with an eye of faith God in the throne…”

Ø Cf. Proverbs 19:21 “There are many thoughts in a man's heart; but the counsel of the Lord abides for ever.” (Brenton)

Ø The wicked think that their plans will last “throughout all generations” (Psalm 10:6, 49:11), but it is actually God’s lovingkindness that will stand for generation after generation (Ps. 79:13, 89:2, 102:12, 106:31, 119:90)

v The verb in the second half of v.10 is fairly specialized with only seven other instances in the Bible, and every one of them a situation where an authority figure says “No” to a plan that came up from an inferior. Like anyone at the top of a decision-making chain, God can veto anything He doesn’t like, and unlike the President, God’s veto can’t be overruled by a supermajority!

v Calvin: “We know how many things men continually venture upon and contrive against all law and justice, and how they endeavor by their devices to turn the world upside down, that they may tyrannically acquire power to trample upon the good and simple. What creatures then would be more miserable than we, if men, possessed of such a variety of wicked affections, were permitted to act with unlicensed wantonness towards us? But when God declares from heaven to us, that it is his work to dash in pieces their devices, and to bring their determinations to nought, there is no reason why we should disquiet ourselves, even when they bestir themselves most tumultuously… it is very necessary to consider that God’s power and protection is set in opposition to their fury. And … the prophet speaks not only of individual men, but of whole nations… however men may conspire among themselves, and determine to attempt this or that with great hosts, yet shall their purposes be brought to nought, because it is as easy for God to scatter multitudes as to restrain a few… [L]et us learn to look at God’s counsel in the glass of his word… The Holy Spirit unquestionably intended to have our faith exercised in this practical knowledge… when we shall have once persuaded ourselves of this, that God will defend his servants who call upon his name, and rid them of all dangers; whatever mischief the wicked may practice against them, their endeavors and attempts shall in nowise terrify us... [T]his counsel is displayed in the existence and protection of the Church, and may there be beheld… For when God condescends to undertake the care of our salvation, to cherish us under his wings, to provide for our necessities, to aid us in all our dangers, all this depends on our adoption by him.”

v Plumer[1]: “No weapon formed against Zion shall prosper. If plans and plots, counsels and devices, the most cunning and the most cruel, could have injured the church of God, there had not been left even a small remnant. Long, long ago the enemy hoped to make a full end of the worship and service of God on earth; but he has failed, and shall ever fail… Because He is God, and all His enemies worms, He shall establish all His thoughts.”

v Boice: “[M]any deliverances are probably unknown to us because they are turned back before they even come within our vision… let us not forget to thank God for the things we do not have, the things we are spared because of His faithful and effective care… Have we been spared severe sickness… serious accidents? …Have we been delivered from people who would harm us…? Not everyone has been. If we have been spared, we should thank God for it… And what about temptations? The Bible tells us that ‘God … will not let ‘[us] be tempted beyond what [we] can bear’ (1 Cor. 10:13). This implies that there are temptations that God turns aside before they can reach us.”

v I’m reminded of a song by Amy Grant that was popular when I was in High School, “God only knows the times my life was threatened just today. A reckless car ran out of gas before it ran my way. Near misses all around me. Accidents unknown. What I never see with human eye is the hands that lead me home. But I know they’re all around me, all day and through the night. When the enemy is closing in I know sometimes they fight to keep my feet from falling so I’ll never turn away. If you ask me what’s protecting me, you’re gonna hear me say, ‘He’s got His angels watching over me, every step I take…’”

v The doctrine of God’s providence - His unstoppable, sovereign will - leads us to praise Him! It certainly led David to exclaim over the blessedness of being the object of such a God’s love…

v. 12 Oh the blessings of the nation where Yahweh is its God, the people He chose for an inheritance for Himself.

v Obviously the original application of this blessed people and nation was the Jews[2], but in the New Testament this is extended to the church:

Ø Ephesians 1:4 “…He chose [εξελεξατο] us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love” (NKJV)

Ø 2 Thessalonians 2:13 “…God from the beginning chose [ειλετο] you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth” (NKJV) – Thessalonica was a gentile town. Peter also wrote to Gentiles in modern-day Turkey, saying:.

Ø 1 Peter 2:9 Y’all, however, are a chosen [εκλεκτον] kind, a priestly royalty, a holy ethnicity, a people made to be around [Him] in such a way that y’all might extol His virtues…” (NAW)

v The word “chosen” indicates that God is the initiator in our salvation:

Ø “men [won’t] choose God for their inheritance… we have no interest in him at all unless he precedes us by his grace.” ~John Calvin

Ø “It is a rich mercy that God makes the first motion towards the salvation of men!” ~Plumer

v The word “chose” also indicates that God has a plan that He is bringing to fruition. The next verses build the case that God’s plan is backed by His omniscience:

v. 13 From the heavens, Yahweh has been making observations; He has seen all the children of mankind. 14 From where He sits He has checked out all the inhabitants of the earth.

v In verses 13-14, every verb is a synonym for “seeing,” emphasizing God’s watchful eye which is part of His omniscience.

Ø In v. 13 we have the verb hibiyt, from the root nabat, “to look/perceive;” I tried to bring across the causative Hiphil spelling of this verb here by translating it “make observations.”

Ø The next verb is ra’ah, which is the generic verb for “seeing”

Ø Then in v.14, the verb is Hishgiykha = Looks [out/intently]/watches/checks out. This verb has only 2 other occurrences in the OT:

§ Canticles 2:9, where Solomon is standing outside Shulamith’s house, trying to catch a glimpse of her through the windows – checking her out.

§ The same action is also in Isaiah 14:16, where the world’s population is looking around the ruins of Babylon, checking it out, saying, “Wow, God sure brought justice on them!”

§ God is in heaven where we can’t see Him, but that doesn’t mean He doesn’t see us. He is checking us out like boy with a crush on a girl, but with those He hates, is also checking through their affairs with a fine-toothed comb, like a careful prosecuting attorney looking to nail them for everything they’ve ever done wrong.

v All three verbs are in the Perfect tense, indicating either God’s full oversight throughout past history (as the old versions render it), or indicating the completeness of God’s customary and current oversight over all things (as modern versions render it).

v Throughout scripture, we see the pictures painted of the Lord on the throne which He has established[3] in heaven, sovereignly ruling mankind:

Ø For instance this word for “habitation/dwelling” which we find at the beginning of v.14 is in Psalm 2: “What have the nations clamored for and peoples vainly meditate for? Kings of the earth set themselves up, and distinguished men establish unity against Yahweh and against His Anointed One… The one sitting/dwelling in the heavens laughs, the master mocks at them... You will break them with a rod of iron; like a potter’s vessel you will shatter them…”

Ø The only other place in the Bible we find this phrase macon shibet “dwelling place”/ “establishment of Him to sit [as king]” is the three times Solomon said it in his prayer dedicating the temple; Solomon picked up on his dad’s wording and called “heaven” the “dwelling place” of God (1 Kings 8:39,43,49; 2 Chronicles 6:30,33,39). By the way, your children will pick up on how you talk about God, too, so be intentional in what you say about God!

v Plumer: “This providence the wicked often deny (Ps. 10:11). But here we are told God does see, look, behold all the sons of men, all the inhabitants of the earth. Not one is above his ken, beneath his notice, or beyond his grasp. He looks not as an idle spectator, but as a Judge and Governor… In all the vast extent of creation, nothing is hid from the observation of the Almighty. If anything could escape his notice, or elude his grasp, that might be fatal to his plans and to the salvation of his people. Unless he controls all causes, that one, which he does not control, may do untold mischief. He, that made the hearts of all men, cannot but know them, and understand all their operations, This proves that he is God, that he can fully save his people from their sins, and that the wicked shall not gain an advantage over God's people.”

v Calvin: “Now he here commends God’s inspection of all things, that we on our part may learn to behold, and to contemplate with the eye of faith, his invisible providence. There are, no doubt, evident proofs of it continually before our eyes; but the great majority of men, notwithstanding, see nothing of them, and, in their blindness, imagine that all things are under the conduct of a blind fortune. Nay, the more plenteously and abundantly that he sheds his goodness upon us, the less do we raise our thoughts to him, but preposterously settle them down immovably on the external circumstances which surround us. The prophet here rebukes this base conduct, because no greater affront can be offered to God than to shut him up in heaven in a state of idleness… Under the term throne, too, the sacred writer shows… that heaven is … a royal court, from which he exercises his government over all parts of the world.”

v.15 [He is] the One who is forming together their heart - the One who has insight into all their doings.

v This verse literally says “the one forming one heart of them; the one understanding to all their doings.” It’s a little challenging to translate, and, throughout history, there have been a variety of interpretations, but they’re all generally within the theme of what David has been saying already.

v The word yachad literally means “one,” but it is translated “alike” by the KJV, “all” by the NASB & NIV, and “individually” by the NKJV.

Ø It could legitimately be translated as the subject of the verb “form/fashion,” which would emphasize the uniqueness of God as THE ONLY ONE who makes hearts, and that fits with the rest of Scripture and with David’s theme here, but I haven’t found anybody who has translated it as the subject.

Ø All the translations I researched rendered this word “one” in connection with the verb “formed,” in other words, God is forming every one of the hearts of men[4], so He knows each person’s thinking inside-out. The parallel statement in the second half of v.15 about “understanding/ considering/having insight into all their doings” seems to support this[5].

Ø Psalm 139:16 “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.” (NKJV)

Ø Henry: “…as the wheels of a watch, though of different shapes, sizes, and motions, are yet all put together, to serve one and the same purpose, so the hearts of men and their dispositions, however varying from each other and seeming to contradict one another, are yet all overruled to serve the divine purpose, which is one.”

Ø This fashioning also works positively. Isaiah 43:1 describes this: “But now, thus says Jehovah, creating you and forming you, Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you belong to me…. 7. Yes, it was for my glory I created him, I formed him, and I made him… 21. This people I formed for myself will recount my praise.” (NAW) This is God working out His plan positively!

Ø And, in the New Testament, the Holy Spirit continues to progressively sanctify the hearts of the people He is forming for Himself. (Gal 4:6, Rom 2:29)

v Note that “forming/fashioning” is a participle, and participles are the way the present tense is expressed in Hebrew. In other words, God is still shaping the thinking of every human being. He doesn’t quit.

Ø Proverbs 21:1 “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.” (NKJV)

§ The LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Ex. 14:8) in order to get more glory for Himself,

§ He hardened the heart of Sihon king of Heshbon (Deut. 2:30) and had him overthrown,

§ But the Lord turned the heart of pagan Persian kings Cyrus, Darius, and Artexerxes to positively bring Him glory by helping rebuild the temple of the LORD (Ezra 6& 7).

Ø If God controls the hearts of monarchs like that, He certainly extends His sovereign control over the hearts of the rest of mankind.

v Plumer: “He is equally the former of their heart. God is the maker of all hearts and turns them as he will. God's providence embraces the free acts of rational creatures.”

v Calvin: “there is a wonderful diversity of different minds in this respect, and this great variety creates a most confounding obscurity; yet the eyes of God cannot be dazzled and darkened, so that he may not be a competent judge and take cognisance of his own work. By the adverb together, therefore… he means that… all of them were fashioned even to one, and without a single exception; so that those manifest great folly who attempt to hide, or to withdraw the knowledge of their hearts from him who framed them. The discourse may also be understood as meaning, that men cannot, by the erring devices of their own thoughts, diminish the authority of God over them...”

v Augustine noted that this includes the distribution of spiritual gifts: “He giveth spiritually to their hearts their proper gifts, so that neither the whole body may be eye, nor the whole hearing; but that one in this manner, another in that manner, may be incorporated with Christ.”

God’s Plan in the NT

G1012 = βουλή = counsel

Luke 7:30 “But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John.” (NASB)

Acts 2:22-23 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death” (NKJV)

Acts 4:27-28 "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.” (NKJV)

Acts 13:36 "For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay” (NASB)

Acts 20:27 “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.” (NKJV)

Hebrews 6:17-18 “Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.” (NKJV)

G4286 = πρόθεσις = purpose

Romans 8:28-30 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” (NKJV)

Romans 9:11 “for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls” (NKJV)

Ephesians 3:8-11 “...this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.. that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known... according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord...” (NKJV)

2 Timothy 1:9 “God who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (NKJV)

BOTH words are found in Ephesians 1:11-13, “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation…” (NKJV)

Conclusion

v The Wall Street Journal article that I started the sermon out with actually contradicts its own opening statement. The world is not all getting worse, as some media outlets would have us believe.

Ø In the last 30 years, the annual homicide rate in the USA has dropped by over a third, and the poverty rate has dropped by two thirds!

Ø Things like air conditioners, automobiles, computers, and portable phones that used to only be affordable to the very wealthy have become commonplace.

Ø Obesity used to only be a problem among the wealthy, but food is far more accessible now.

Ø And war within countries is absent from five-sixths of the world.

v The title of the WSJ article was “The Enlightenment Is Working.” Perhaps it could have been better titled, “God is Working.”

v “The whole history of the world is the uninterrupted carrying out of a divine plan of salvation, the primary object of which is His people, but in and with these are included humanity at large.” ~Keil & Delitzsch

v Can you imagine what it would be like to believe that history is pointless and is not going anywhere but is rather whipped around by whatever tyrant wants to take the bull by the horns. Praise God that we live in a world that has a history governed by a consistent purpose.

v What is God’s plan? It has not changed essentially over the millenia: He chooses to bless a certain people, and spreads His kingdom through them to all the nations so that they worship Him.

Psalm 33:9-15[A]

Vaticanus	Brenton (LXX)	Douay-Rheims (Vulgate)	KJV	NAW	MT
32:8 φοβηθήτω τὸν κύριον πᾶσα ἡ γῆ, ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ δὲ σαλευθήτωσαν πάντες οἱ κατοικοῦντες τὴν οἰ κουμένην·	8 Let all the earth fear the Lord; and let all that dwell in the world be moved because of him.	8 Let all the earth fear the Lord, and let all the inhabitants of the world be in awe of him.	8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.	8 Let all the earth be respectful of Yahweh! Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him!	ח יִירְאוּ מֵיְהוָה כָּל הָאָרֶץ מִמֶּנּוּ יָגוּרוּ[B] כָּל יֹשְׁבֵי תֵבֵל.
32:9 ὅτι αὐτὸς εἶπεν, καὶ ἐγενήθ~~ησαν~~[C]~~~~, αὐτὸς ἐνετείλατο, καὶ ἐκτίσθ~~ησαν~~.	9 For he spoke, and ~~they~~ were made; he commanded, and ~~they~~ were created.	9 For he spoke and ~~they~~ were made: he commanded and ~~they~~ were created.	9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.	9 For He is [the one who] spoke and it began to exist; He is [the one who] commanded and it stood.	ט כִּי הוּא אָמַר וַיֶּהִי הוּא צִוָּה וַיַּעֲמֹד.
32:10 κύριος διασκεδάζει βουλὰς ἐθνῶν, ἀθετεῖ[D] δὲ λογισμοὺς λαῶν [καὶ ἀθετεῖ βουλὰς ἀρχόντων·[E]]	10 The Lord frustrates the counsels of the nations; he brings to nought also the reasonings of the peoples, [and brings to nought the counsels of princes].	10 The Lord bringeth to nought the counsel[s] of nations; and he rejecteth the devices of people, [and casteth away the counsels of princes].	10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.	10 It is Yahweh who broke up the plan of nations - vetoed deliberations of peoples.	י יְהוָה הֵפִיר עֲצַת[F] גּוֹיִם הֵנִיא מַחְשְׁבוֹת[G] עַמִּים.
32:11 ἡ [δὲ] βουλὴ τοῦ κυρίου εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα μένει[H], λογισμοὶ τῆς καρδίας αὐτοῦ εἰς γενεὰν καὶ γενεάν.	11 But the counsel of the Lord endures for ever, the thoughts of his heart from generation to generation.	11[But] the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever: the thoughts of his heart to ~~all~~ generation[s].	11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to ~~all~~ generation[s].	11 It is the plan of Yahweh that will stand for ever - the deliberations of His heart for generation after generation!	יא עֲצַת יְהוָה לְעוֹלָם תַּעֲמֹד מַחְשְׁבוֹת לִבּוֹ לְדֹר וָדֹר[I].
32:12 μακάριον τὸ ἔθνος, οὗ ἐστιν κύριος ὁ θεὸς αὐτοῦ, X λαός, [ὃν] ἐξελέξατο εἰς κληρονομίαν ἑαυτῷ.	12 Blessed is the nation X whose God is the Lord; the people whom he has chosen for his own X inheritance.	12 Blessed is the nation X whose God is the Lord: the people [whom] he hath chosen for his X inheritance.	12 Blessed is the nation X whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own X inheritance.	12 Oh the blessings of the nation where Yahweh is its God, the people group He chose for an inheritance for Himself!	יב אַשְׁרֵי הַגּוֹי אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה[J] אֱלֹהָיו הָעָם בָּחַר לְנַחֲלָה לוֹ.
32:13 ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ἐπέβλεψεν ὁ κύριος, εἶδεν πάντας τοὺς υἱοὺς τῶν ἀνθρώπων·	13 The Lord looks out of heaven; he beholds all the sons of men.	13 The Lord hath looked from heaven: he hath beheld all the sons of men.	13 The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.	13 From the heavens, Yahweh has been making observations; He has seen all the children of mankind.	יג מִשָּׁמַיִם הִבִּיט[K] יְהוָה רָאָה אֶת כָּל בְּנֵי הָאָדָם.
32:14 ἐξ ἑτοίμου κατοικητηρίου αὐτοῦ ἐπέβλεψεν ἐπὶ πάντας τοὺς κατοικοῦντας τὴν γῆν,	14 He looks from his prepared habitation on all the dwellers on the earth;	14 From his habitation which he hath prepared, he hath looked upon all that dwell on the earth.	14 From the place of his habitation^{^[L]} he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.	14 From where He sits He has checked out all the inhabitants of the earth.	יד מִמְּכוֹן שִׁבְתּוֹ הִשְׁגִּיחַ אֶל כָּל יֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ[M].
32:15 ὁ πλάσας κατὰ μόνας[N] τὰς καρδίας αὐτῶν, ὁ συνιεὶς εἰς πάντα τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν.	15 who fashioned their hearts X alone; who understands X all their works.	15 He who hath made the heart[s] of [every] one of them: who understandeth all their works.	15 He fashioneth X their heart[s] alike; he considereth X all their works^{^[O]}.	15 [He is] the One who is forming together their heart - the One who has insight into all their doings.	טו הַיֹּצֵר יַחַד לִבָּם הַמֵּבִין אֶל כָּל מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם.

[1] Studies in the Book of Psalms, 1866 commentary by William Plumer of Philadelphia

[2] Acts 13:17 NKJV The God of this people Israel chose [εξελεξατο] our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it.

[3] The Septuagint (followed by the Vulgate) translated mecon (place, establishment, foundation) as etoimou (preparation), and I think that let Augustine a little off track in his commentary, although it is not an altogether inappropriate application of the idea of this Psalm: “‘From His prepared habitation’ [means] from His habitation of assumed Humanity, which He prepared for Himself.” (cf. Hebrews 10:5, “a body you have prepared [κατηρτισω] for me,” speaking of Jesus.)

[4] cf. Zec. 12:1 “…the LORD… who forms the spirit of man…” and Heb. 12:9 “…submit to the Father of spirits…” K&D: “ He is also the observer of all the works of men; for His is acquainted with their origin in the laboratory of the heart, which He as Creator has formed.”

Cohen focused on the aspect of accountability here: “As the Creator of all men and their hearts which dispose their actions, he takes note of how they deploy the powers with which He has endowed them.”

[5] The incongruity between the singular “heart” and the singular “one” and the plural “them/their” could lead to another legitimate translation that God fashioned human hearts into a unified way of thinking (The Hebrew word for heart never refers to the organ that pumps blood but always refers to thinking, and the Hebrew word for “one” is translated “unity” in Strong’s lexicon and “unitedness” in Brown, Driver and Briggs’ Lexicon.) But this passage doesn’t seem to be emphasizing the unity of people in any particular purpose, so I’m not advocating this possible interpretation.