Commentary on Psalms - Volume 3 - Bible Study Guides

Comm on Psalms (V3)John Calvinaccording to the common order of nature. Since, however, this royal throne was shaken in the timeof Rehoboam, as we have before had occasion to remark, and afterwards broken down andoverthrown, it follows that this prophecy cannot be limited to David. For although at length theoutward majesty of this kingdom was put an end to without hope of being re-established, the sunceased not to shine by day, nor the moon by night. Accordingly, until we come to Christ, God mightseem to be unfaithful to his promises. But in the branch which sprung from the root of Jesse, thesewords were fulfilled in their fullest sense. 552Psalm 89:38-4538. But thou hast abhorred and rejected him; thou hast been angry against thy anointed. 39.Thou hast made the covenant of thy servant to cease; 553 thou hast profaned his crown to the earth.40. Thou hast broken down all his walls; thou hast made his fortresses a ruin. 41. All who pass bythe way have spoiled him: he has been a reproach to his neighbors. 42. Thou hast exalted the righthand of his oppressors; thou hast caused all his enemies to rejoice. 43. Thou hast also blunted theedge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in battle. 44. Thou hast effaced his splendor,and cast his throne to the ground. 45. Thou hast shortened the days of his youth; thou hast coveredhim with shame. Selah.38. But thou hast abhorred and rejected him. Here the prophet complains that in consequenceof the decayed state of the kingdom, the prophecy appeared to have failed of its accomplishment.Not that he accuses God of falsehood; but he speaks in this manner, that he may with all freedomcast his cares and griefs into the bosom of God, who permits us to deal thus familiarly with him.It doubtless becomes us to frame our desires according to the divine will; but that person cannotbe said to pass beyond due bounds who humbly laments that he is deprived of the tokens of thedivine favor, provided be does not despair, or rebelliously murmur against God; and we shallafterwards see that the prophet, when he blesses God at the close of the psalm, affords a proof oftranquil submission, by which he corrects or qualifies his complaints. Whoever, therefore, thatRabbin was who maintained that it is unlawful to recite this psalm, he was led by a foolish andimpious peevishness to condemn what God bears with in his children. In taking this liberty ofexpostulating with God, the prophet had no other object in view than that he might the moreeffectually resist distrust and impatience, by unburdening himself in the divine presence. Farther,552 “Once. Emphatic. It needs not to be repeated: nor will be.” — Walford.553 “There is a very obvious and important observation to be made on the description of the apparent change that had takenplace in the conduct of God towards the family and descendants of David. The extraordinary promises which had been given tothat prince were certainly not accomplished in the fortunes of his descendants, the kings of Judah; nor shall we be able to discoverhow the truth of these promises is to be sustained without an admission of their being given in reference to the Messiah, thatspiritual king, who ‘was born of the seed of David, according to the flesh.’ When we take the assurances which were made toDavid, and which pledged to him the perpetuity of his kingdom, in this sense, the mystery is disclosed, and the difficulty iscompletely removed: ‘the loving-kindness of God has not been withdrawn from him, nor has his faithfulness failed.’ David hasstill a royal successor, though the genealogy of his posterity is lost upon earth; a successor who will endure for ever, and whosethrone will be perpetuated in glory, not merely as long as the sun and the moon continue, but will still be rising in splendor,when those lights of heaven shall be extinguished, and the new heaven and the new earth shall witness the imperishable gloriesof the Son of God.” — Walford.269