Commentary on Psalms - Volume 3 - Bible Study Guides

Comm on Psalms (V3)John Calvinmighty, to be a proper name, as if the correct translation were rivers of Ethan; but this interpretationis altogether without foundation.16. The day is thine, the night also is thine. The prophet now descends to the consideration ofthe divine benefits which are extended in common to all mankind. Having commenced with thespecial blessings by which God manifested himself to be the Father of his chosen people, he nowaptly declares that God exercises his beneficence towards the whole human family. He teaches us,that it is not by chance that the days and nights succeed each other in regular succession, but thatthis order was established by the appointment of God. The secondary cause of these phenomena isadded, being that arrangement by which God has invested the sun with the power and office ofilluminating the earth; for after having spoken of the light he adds the sun, as the principal meansof communicating it, and, so to speak, the chariot in which it is brought when it comes to showitself to men. 240 As then the incomparable goodness of God towards the human race clearly shinesforth in this beautiful arrangement, the prophet justly derives from it an argument for strengtheningand establishing his trust in God.17. Thou hast fixed 241 all the boundaries of the earth. What is here stated concerning theboundaries or limits assigned to the earth, and concerning the regular and successive recurrence ofsummer and winter every year, is to the same effect as the preceding verse. It is doubtful whetherthe prophet means the uttermost ends of the world, or whether he speaks of the particular boundariesby which countries are separate from each other. Although the latter are often disturbed by theviolence of men, whose insatiable cupidity and ambition cannot be restrained by any of the linesof demarcation which exist in the world, but are always endeavoring to break through them; 242 yetGod manifests his singular goodness in assigning to each nation its own territory upon which todwell. I am, however, rather of opinion, that the clause is to be understood of those bounds whichcannot be confounded at the will of men, and consider the meaning to be, that God has allotted tomen as much space of earth as he has seen to be sufficient for them to dwell upon. Farther, the wellregulated successions of summer and winter clearly indicate with what care and benignity God hasprovided for the necessities of the human family. From this, the prophet justly concludes, thatnothing is more improbable than that God should neglect to act the part of a father towards his ownflock and household.Psalm 74:18-2318. Remember this: the adversary hath blasphemed Jehovah: and a worthless people hath donedespite to thy name. 19. Give not to the beast the soul of thy turtle dove: forget not the congregationof thy poor ones for ever. 20. Have regard to thy covenant: for the dark places of the earth are fullof the habitations of violence. 21. Let not him who is oppressed [or afflicted] return ashamed: letthe poor and needy one praise thy name. 22. Arise, O God! Plead thy cause: remember thy reproach,240 “Comme le principal instrument d’icelle, et par maniere de dire, le chariot auquel elle est apportee, quand elle se vientmonstrer aux hommes.” — Fr.241 The original word implies “to settle, to place steadily in a certain situation or place.” See Parkhurst’s Lexicon on242 “Entant que leur cupidite et ambition insatiable ne pent estre retenue par quelque separation qu’il y ait, mais tasche tousjoursd’enjamber par dessus.” — Fr.107