Commentary on Psalms - Volume 3 - Bible Study Guides

Comm on Psalms (V3)John CalvinThe temple, indeed, in which God manifested himself was, as it were, a heaven on earth. 300 Itis now obvious that the meaning of the inspired writer is, that as at the commencement he haduttered distressing complaints, so now, having attained to a calm and settled state of mind, headmires and adores the high ways of God, and conscious of his own weakness, quietly and modestlykeeps himself within the bounds prescribed to him, not permitting himself to judge or pass sentenceupon the secret judgments of God according to the dictates of his carnal understanding. He thereforeimmediately after exclaims, Who is so great a God as our God? By this comparison, he does notmean that there are many gods, but he indirectly rebukes the deep infatuation of the world who,not contented with the only true God whose glory is so conspicuous, invent for themselves manygods. If men would look upon the works of God with pure eyes, they would be led without muchdifficulty to rest with satisfaction in him alone.14. Thou art the God that doest wonders. The Psalmist confirms the preceding sentence, provingthe greatness of God from the wonderful character of his works. He does not speak of the hiddenand mysterious essence of God which fills heaven and earth, but of the manifestations of his power,wisdom, goodness, and righteousness, which are clearly exhibited, although they are too vast forour limited understandings to comprehend. Literally, the words are, Thou art the God that doest aWonder; but the singular number is here evidently put for the plural, an instance of which we haveseen before. From this we learn that the glory of God is so near us, and that he has so openly andclearly unfolded himself, that we cannot justly pretend any excuse for ignorance. He, indeed, worksso wonderfully, that even the heathen nations are inexcusable for their blindness. For this reasonit is added, Thou hast made known thy strength among the peoples. This has an immediate referenceto the deliverance of the Church; but, at the same time, it shows that the glory of God, which hehad clearly and mightily displayed among the nations, could not be despised without the guilt ofgrievous impiety having been incurred.Psalm 77:15-2015. Thou hast redeemed thy people by thy arm, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah. 16. Thewaters saw thee, O God! the waters saw thee; they were afraid, yea even the deeps trembled. 17.The clouds poured out waters, the heavens [or skies] sent forth a sound: thy arrows also wentabroad. 18. The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven; the lightnings illumined the world: theearth trembled and shook. 19. Thy ways are in the sea, and thy paths in the great waters: and thyfootsteps are not known. 20. Thou didst lead thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses andAaron.15. Thou hast redeemed thy people by thy arm. The Psalmist here celebrates, above all the otherwonderful works of God, the redemption of the chosen people, to which the Holy Spirit everywherethroughout the Scriptures invites the attention of true believers, in order to encourage them tocherish the hope of their salvation. It is well known that the power of God was at that time manifested300 “Thy way, O God! is in the sanctuary; the temple, the Church of God, where he takes his walks and manifests himself, andwhere the reasons of his providence and dealings with his people are opened and made known unto them.” — Dr Gill.132