Commentary on Psalms - Volume 3 - Bible Study Guides

Comm on Psalms (V3)John Calvinaccommodates his language to the unrefined apprehension of the common people: as if he had said,there is no part of the fabric of the world which does not reverence and honor its Creator. I alsoconnect with this the next verse, which affirms, that the arm of God is furnished with power, hishand with strength, and that his right hand is exalted Some resolve the two last clauses of the verseinto the form of a prayer, Strengthen thy hand, lift up thy right hand; but this seems too muchremoved from the mind of the prophet, who, with the simple view of encouraging all the godly,celebrates the inconceivable power of God.14. Righteousness and judgement are the place of thy throne. These encomiums serve moreeffectually to confirm the hope of true believers than if the Divine power alone had been presentedto our view. Whenever mention is made of God, it behoves us to apply our minds principally tothose attributes of his nature which are specially fitted for establishing our faith, that we may notlose ourselves by vainly indulging in subtile speculations, by which foolish men, although theymay minister to their own mental recreation, make no advances to the right understanding of whatGod really is. The prophet, therefore, in allusion to the insignia and pomp of kings, declares thatrighteousness and judgment are the pillars of the throne on which God sits conspicuous in sovereignstate, and that mercy and truth are, as it were, his pursuivants; as if he had said, “The ornamentswith which God is invested, instead of being a robe of purple, a diadem, or a scepter, are, that heis the righteous and impartial judge of the world, a merciful father, and a faithful protector of hispeople.” Earthly kings, from their having nothing in themselves to procure for them authority, andto give them dignity, 533 are under the necessity of borrowing elsewhere what will invest themtherewith; but God having in himself an all-sufficiency, and standing in no need of any other helps,exhibits to us the splendor of his own image in his righteousness, mercy, and truth.Psalm 89:15-1815. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound! 534 they shall walk, O Jehovah! in thebrightness of thy countenance. 16. In thy name shall they daily rejoice; and in thy righteousnessshall they glory. 17. For thou art the glory of their strength; and in thy favor shall our horn beexalted. 18. For to Jehovah 535 is our buckler; and our King is to the Holy One of Israel.15. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound. Here the same train of reflection concerningthe Church is pursued, not only because unbelievers are blind to the consideration of God’s works,533 Tabor is a mountain of Judea, and Hermon (Psalm 133:3) of Syria, the former to the west, and the latter to the east of theJordan; so that they may be considered as put for the East and the West. Accordingly, the Chaldee paraphrase is, “Thou hastcreated the desert of the north, and the inhabitants of the south; Tabor on the west, and Hermon on the east, sing praises to thyname.” “These mountains,” says Warner, “were at a considerable distance from each other. This indicates, that the most distantparts of the land shall be equally blessed; have a like cause of rejoicing.”534 “Pource qu’ils n’ont rien au dedans qui leur acquiere authorite et donne majeste.” — Fr.535 “O the blessednesses of the people that know the joyful sound; that are spared to hear the sound of the trumpet on themorning of the jubilee, which proclaims deliverance to the captives, and the restoration of all their forfeited estates!” — DrAdam Clarke. “But let us not forget,” says Dr Morison, “that the trumpet of jubilee was a type of the proclamation of peace andsalvation by Jesus Christ. How happy they who, when the gospel trumpet is blown by the heralds of salvation, are enabled torecognize its joyful sound.”258