Commentary on Psalms - Volume 3 - Bible Study Guides

Comm on Psalms (V3)John Calvinturned their rage against the material temple or synagogues. The prophet simply complains thatthey were so intent upon blotting out the name of God, that they left not a single corner on whichthere was not the mark of the hand of violence. The Hebrew word , moadim, is commonly takenfor the sanctuary; but when we consider its etymology, it is not inappropriately applied to thoseplaces where the holy assemblies were wont to be held, not only for reading and expounding theprophets, but also for calling upon the name of God. The wicked, as if the prophet had said, havedone all in their power to extinguish and annihilate the worship of God in Judea.Psalm 74:9-129. We see not our signs: there is no longer a prophet, nor any with us that knoweth how long.10. How long, O God! shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name forever? 11. How long wilt thou withdraw thy hand, and thy right hand? in the midst of thy bosomconsume them. 226 12. But God is my King from the beginning, working deliverances in the midstof the earth.9. We see not our signs. Here the pious Jews show that their calamities were aggravated fromthe circumstance that they had no consolation by which to alleviate them. It is a powerful meansof encouraging the children of God, when he enables them to cherish the hope of his being reconciledto them, by promising, that even in the midst of his wrath he will remember his mercy. Some limitthe signs here spoken of to the miracles by which God had in the days of old testified, at the verytime when he was afflicting his people, that he would, notwithstanding, still continue to be graciousto them. But the faithful rather complain that he had removed from them the tokens of his favor,and had in a manner hidden his face from them. 227 We are overwhelmed with darkness, as if theprophet had said, because thou, O God! dost not make thy face to shine upon us as thou hast beenaccustomed to do. Thus it is common for us to speak of persons giving us signs either of their loveor of their hatred. In short, God’s people here complain not only that the time was cloudy and dark,but also that they were enveloped in darkness so thick, that there did not appear so much as a singleray of light. As to be assured by the prophets of future deliverance was one of the chief signs ofGod’s favor, they lament that there is no longer a prophet to foresee the end of their calamities.From this we learn that the office of imparting consolation was committed to the prophets, thatthey might lift up the hearts which were cast down with sorrow, by inspiring them with the hopeof Divine mercy. They were, it is true, heralds and witnesses of the wrath of God to drive theobstinate and rebellious to repentance by threatenings and terrors. But had they merely and withoutqualification denounced the vengeance of God, their doctrine, which was appointed and intendedfor the salvation of the people, would have only been the means of their destruction. Accordingly,the foretelling of the issue of calamities while yet hidden in the future, is ascribed to them as a partof their office; for temporary punishments are the fatherly chastisements of God, and the226 “We see not any token of thy Divine presence with us.” — Tremellius.227 The verb, which is, , kalleh, in Pihel conjugation, is from , kalah, consumptus est In Psalm 59:13, it is twice used,, kalleh bechemah kalleh, “consume them in wrath, consume them.” Consume, therefore, appears to be a preferable translationto pluck, which is that of our English version.102