Psalms 33:20

Our soul waiteth - Our whole life is employed in this blessed work; we trust in nothing but him; neither in multitudes of armed men, nor in natural strength, nor in the fleetest animals, nor in any thing human: we trust in Him alone "who is our help and our shield."

Our soul waiteth for the Lord - This and the subsequent verses to the end of the psalm refer to the people of God, expressing their faith in him in view of the considerations suggested in the former part of the psalm. The language is expressive of the general character of piety. True piety leads people to wait on the Lord; to depend on Him; to look to His interposition in danger, sickness, poverty, want; to rely upon Him for all that is hoped for in this life, and for salvation in the life to come. Compare Psalm 62:1; Psalm 25:3.

He is our help - Our aid; our helper. Compare Psalm 10:14; Psalm 22:11; Psalm 30:10.

And our shield - See the notes at Psalm 5:12. That is, He will defend us from our enemies, as if He threw His shield between us and them.