Commentary on Psalms - Volume 3 - Bible Study Guides

Comm on Psalms (V3)John Calvinendeavor to deprive the common people of divine truth and its ministers. In short, they think thatthere can be no sovereignty unless where uncontrolled license is enjoyed. But let this principle beonce established, “That God rules among them,” and then a way is opened up for the admission ofdivine truth. Accordingly, the prophet, after having thus laid a foundation for his authority, freelyinveighs against princes, and reproves the very gross vice of selling themselves to those whounrighteously oppress the poor, and of being gained by bribes to pervert in their administrationevery principle of justice. He expressly names the wicked; for good men will never attempt tocorrupt judges. Moreover, there is a certain devilish frenzy which infatuates the princes of theworld, and leads them voluntarily to pay greater respect to wicked men than to the simple andinnocent. Even supposing that the wicked continue inactive, and use no endeavors to obtain forthemselves favor either by flattery, fraud, bribery, or other artifices; yet those who bear rule are forthe most part inclined of themselves to the bad side. The reason why the prophet upbraids them is,that wicked men find more favor at their hands than the good and conscientious.3 Determine the cause of the poor and the orphan. We are here briefly taught that a just andwell-regulated government will be distinguished for maintaining the rights of the poor and afflicted.By the figure synecdoche, one part of equitable administration is put for the whole; for it cannotbe doubted that rulers are bound to observe justice towards all men without distinction. But theprophet, with much propriety, represents them as appointed to be the defenders of the miserableand oppressed, both because such persons stand in need of the assistance of others, and becausethey can only obtain this where rulers are free from avarice, ambition, and other vices. The end,therefore, for which judges bear the sword is to restrain the wicked, and thus to prevent violencefrom prevailing among men, who are so much disposed to become disorderly and outrageous.According as men increase in strength, they become proportionally audacious in oppressing theweak; and hence it is that rich men seldom resort to magistrates for help, except when they happento fall out among themselves. From these remarks, it is very obvious why the cause of the poor andneedy is here chiefly commended to rulers; for those who are exposed an easy prey to the crueltyand wrongs of the rich have no less need of the assistance and protection of magistrates than thesick have of the aid of the physician. Were the truth deeply fixed in the minds of kings and otherjudges, that they are appointed to be the guardians of the poor, and that a special part of this dutylies in resisting the wrongs which are done to them, and in repressing all unrighteous violence,perfect righteousness would become triumphant through the whole world. Whoever thinks it notbeneath him to defend the poor, instead of allowing himself to be carried hither and thither by favor,will have a regard only to what is right. We may farther learn from this passage, that althoughmagistrates may not be solicited for succor, they are accounted guilty before God of negligence, ifthey do not, of their own accord, succor those who stand in need of their interference. When iniquityopenly prevails, and when, on account of it, sighs and lamentations are everywhere heard, it is invain for them to pretend that they cannot redress wrongs, unless complaints are addressed to them.Oppression utters a sufficiently loud cry of itself; and if the judge, sitting on a high watch-tower,seems to take no notice of it, he is here plainly warned, that such connivance shall not escape withimpunity.199