Commentary on Psalms - Volume 3 - Bible Study Guides

Comm on Psalms (V3)John CalvinThere is this difference, which is always to be remembered, that while other cities were foundedand built by the guidance and power of God, merely for the sake of civil government, Jerusalemwas his peculiar sanctuary, and his royal seat. Isaiah also uses a similar form of expression, (Isaiah14:32,) “The Lord hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it.” Besides, althoughthe whole country of Judea was consecrated to God, yet he is said to have rejected all the othercities, and to have chosen this one for himself in which to reign. Here the question is not aboutearthly polity, but spiritual government; for the pure religion, and the true worship of God, and thedoctrine of godliness, were at that time to be found nowhere but in Jerusalem.2 Jehovah loveth the gates of Zion above all the dwellings of Jacob. Here we are taught that allthe excellence of the holy city depended on the free choice which God had made of it. With thisagrees what is stated in Psalm 78:60, 67, that God rejected Shiloh, the tribe of Ephraim, and thetabernacle of Joseph, that he might dwell in Zion which he loved. The prophet then points out thecause why God preferred that one place before all others; and the cause which he assigns is, notthe worth of the place itself, but the free love of God. If it is demanded why Jerusalem was so highlydistinguished, let this short answer be deemed sufficient, Because it so pleased God. To this thedivine love is to be traced as its source; but the end of such a choice was, that there might be somefixed place in which the true religion should be preserved, and the unity of the faith maintained,until the advent of Christ, and from which it might afterwards flow into all the regions of the earth.This, then, explains why the prophet celebrates Jerusalem as possessing the high distinction ofhaving God for its master-builder, its founder and protector. Farther, he attributes to the divinefavor and adoption whatever excellence it possessed above other places. In putting Zion forJerusalem, and the gates for the whole compass of the city, there is a double synecdoche.3 Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God! The reading literally is, That which isspoken in thee are glorious things. We must consider the design of the prophet, or rather the objectof the Spirit of God, speaking by the mouth of the prophet. From the low and despised conditionof the whole people, from the many and terrible enemies who pressed hard upon them on all sides,from the small number who had sufficient courage to surmount the obstacles in their way, fromthe new and unlooked-for changes which were daily springing up, from the danger there was lestthe state of affairs gradually sinking more and more into decay, should at length become desperate,it was difficult to cherish the hope that the holy city would be restored. That despair might notovercome the hearts of the faithful, and cause them to fail, there is set before them the supportingand consolatory consideration, that the Lord hath spoken differently concerning the future conditionof the Church. Their attention, there can be no doubt, is called away from the present aspect ofthings, and directed to the promises which inspired them with the hope of the wonderful glory withwhich she should be adorned. Although, therefore, nothing appeared to the eye of sense and reason,calculated greatly to rejoice the heart, yet the prophet would have them encouraged by the word tostand as it were on a watch-tower, waiting patiently for the fulfillment of what God had promised.In this way they were admonished, first, to direct their attention to the ancient prophecies, and tokeep in remembrance, especially those which are contained in Isaiah from the fortieth chapter(Isaiah 40) to the end of the book; and, secondly, to give ear to the servants of God, who at thattime preached the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Whence it follows that a right judgment cannot beformed of the happiness of the Church, except when we estimate it according to the standard ofGod’s word.240