Commentary on Psalms - Volume 3 - Bible Study Guides

Comm on Psalms (V3)John Calvin22 The enemy shall not exact upon him. 540 Here it is declared in express terms, that althoughDavid may not be without enemies, the power of God will be always ready to maintain and defendhim, that he may not be oppressed with unrighteous violence. It is accordingly affirmed, that Davidwill not be tributary to his enemies, as he who is vanquished in battle is constrained to grant suchconditions of peace as his conqueror may dictate, however injurious to himself these may be. Whenhis enemies are called sons of iniquity, it is tacitly intimated, that this government will be so exemptfrom tyranny and extortion, that whoever shall attempt to overthrow it will be involved in theperpetration of wrong and wickedness. The amount is, that David and his successors will be sosecure and strongly fortified by the divine protection, that it will be impossible for their enemiesto treat them as they would wish. In regard to the fact, that God suffered this kingdom to be greatlyafflicted, so that David’s successors were constrained to pay a vast amount of tribute to foreignand heathen kings, it is not at variance with this promise; for, although the power of the kingdomwas reduced, it was enough that the root still remained, until Christ came, in whose hand the kingdomwas at length firmly established. As both the king and the people wickedly rejected this singularblessing of God, the kingdom was often shaken through their own default, afterwards impaired,and finally ruined. Yet God, to confirm his oracle concerning the perpetuity of this kingdom, ceasednot all along to cherish and preserve some hope, by contending against their ingratitude. Besides,when mention is made of David’s haters and oppressors, it is intimated, that this throne will notbe privileged with exemption from annoyances and troubles, inasmuch as there will be alwayssome who will rise up in hostility against it, unless God set himself in opposition to them.Psalm 89:24-2924. My truth and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted. 25.And I will set his hand in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. 541 26. He shall cry to me, Thouart my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation. 27. I will also make him my first-born, 542higher than the kings of the earth. 28. And I will keep my mercy for him for ever, and my covenantshall stand fast with him. 29. And I will establish his seed for ever, and his throne as the days ofheaven.24 My truth and my mercy shall be with him. God shows that he will continue to exercise withoutintermission that grace which he had manifested towards David at first. These words are as if hehad said, that to prove himself faithful to his word, he would be always gracious and bountiful.Thus We see that God, not only at the outset, furnished David with testimonies of his goodness,540 “Quum ultimus esset in rustico tugurio, et inter pecuarios.” — Lat. “Veu qu’il estoit le plus petit en la maison de son pere,et qu’en ce mesnage de village il estoit de ceux qui gardoyent les bestes.” — Fr.541 “The allusion appears to us to be made to a cruel and unjust creditor, who exacts not only his just debts, but some exaggerateddemand, with usurious interest, which was not permitted.” — Williams.542 This means, that David’s power should extend from the Mediterranean, or Great Sea, to the river Euphrates. Gejerus andLe Clerc have illustrated this passage from a speech addressed to Alexander by the Scythian ambassadors, in Q. Curtius, 50, 7.”Si Dii habitum corporis tui aviditati animi parem esse voluissent, orbis te non caperet; altera manu orientem, altera occidentemcontingeres.” “If the gods had given thee a body proportionable to thy insatiable mind, the world would not be able to containthee. Thou wouldst stretch forth one hand to the furthest extremities of the east, and the other to the utmost west.”262