Commentary on Psalms - Volume 3 - Bible Study Guides

Comm on Psalms (V3)John Calvinin the worship of God; showing, as he does, that no difficulties can put a stop to the ardent longingsof the godly, and prevent them from hastening with alacrity, yea, even though their way should bethrough dry and barren deserts, to meet together to solemnise the holy assemblies. As the Hebrewword , habbacha, when the final letter is , he, signifies tears, and when the final letter is , aleph,a mulberry tree, some here read valley of tears, and others, valley of the mulberry. The majority ofinterpreters adopt the first reading; but the other opinion is not destitute of probability. 465 There is,however, no doubt, that dry and barren deserts are here to be understood, in travelling throughwhich, much difficulty and privation must be endured, particularly from the want of water; drinkbeing of all other articles the most necessary to persons when travelling. David intended this as anargument to prove the steadfastness of the godly, whom the scarcity of water, which oftendiscourages travelers from prosecuting their journey, will not hinder from hastening to seek God,though their way should be through sandy and and vales. In these words, reproof is administeredto the slothfulness of those who will not submit to any inconvenience for the sake of being benefitedby the service of God. They indulge themselves in their own ease and pleasures, and allow nothingto interfere with these. They will, therefore, provided they are not required to make any exertionor sacrifice, readily profess themselves to be the servants of God; but they would not give a hairof their head, or make the smallest sacrifice, to obtain the liberty of hearing the gospel preached,and of enjoying the sacraments. This slothful spirit, as is evident from daily observation, keepsmultitudes fast bound to their nests, so that they cannot bear to forego in any degree their own easeand convenience. Yea, even in those places where they are summoned by the sound of the church-bellto public prayers 466 to hear the doctrine of salvation, or to partake of the holy mysteries, we seethat some give themselves to sleep, some think only of gain, some are entangled with the affairsof the world, and others are engaged in their amusements. It is therefore not surprising, if thosewho live at a distance, and who cannot enjoy these religious services and means of salvation, withoutmaking some sacrifice of their worldly substance, remain lolling at home. That such may not livesecure and self-satisfied in the enjoyment of outward prosperity, David declares, that those whohave true heart religion, and who sincerely serve God, direct their steps to the sanctuary of God,not only when the way is easy and cheerful, under the shade and through delightful paths, but alsowhen they must walk through rugged and barren deserts; and that they will rather make forthemselves cisterns with immense toil, than be prevented from prosecuting their journey by reasonof the drought of the country.7 They will go from strength to strength. In this verse the same sentiment is repeated. MountZion being the place where, according to the appointment of the law, the holy assemblies wereobserved, after the ark of the covenant was removed thither, it is said, that the people of God willcome to Zion in great numbers, provoking one another to this good work. 467 The word , chayil,465 “Ou la cloche sonnera pour appeler les gens aux prieres publiques.” — Fr.466 “Il dit que les fideles y viendront a grand foulle, et a l’envie l’un de l’autre, comme on dit.” — Fr.467 “Horsley reads, ‘from wall to wall;’ Merrick, ‘from station to station;’ others, ‘from virtue to virtue,’ in the military sense.All come to the same effect; they persevere through all difficulty or opposition, having their hearts set on reaching Zion’s hill.”— Williams. “I think with Gejerus that the Hebrew may be translated from strength to strength, (answerably to the words fromfaith to faith, Romans 1:17, and from glory to glory, 2 Corinthians 3:18,) and signify, that whereas other travelers grow moreand more weary as they travel, each of the pious persons here described shall, by the refreshments administered to them, proceedfrom one degree of strength to another, viresque acquiret eundo. As Jerusalem is represented in the New Testament as a type ofheaven, I see nothing irrational in supposing that the inspired writer might, in describing the ascent to Jerusalem, have in viewalso that spiritual progress which leads to the city which is above, the mother of us all. The words before us are certainly very217