Commentary on Psalms - Volume 3 - Bible Study Guides

Comm on Psalms (V3)John CalvinPsalm 69:10-1310. And I wept, my soul fasted; and that was laid to me as a reproach. 11. I also made sackclothmy clothing: and I became a proverb to them. 12. They who sit in the gate defame me: and I amthe song of those who drink intoxicating liquor. 13. But as for me, my prayer is to thee, O Jehovah!in a time of thy favor, [or good-will,] O God: answer me in the multitude of thy mercy, in the truthof thy salvation.10. And I wept, my soul fasted David here proves, by the signs or effects, that his efforts topromote the Divine glory proceeded from a pure and well-regulated zeal, inasmuch as he was notimpelled or inflamed by the impetuosity of the flesh, but rather humbly abased himself before God,choosing him to be the witness of his sorrow. By this he shows the more evidently the incorrigibleperversity of his enemies. It frequently happens, that those who set themselves boldly for thevindication of the glory of God, provoke and exasperate the wicked to a higher pitch by opposingthem contentiously and without moderation. But David’s zeal was so tempered that it ought to havesoftened even the hardness of steel. By this circumstance he, however, intended to show that hewas oppressed with such violence by the frowardness of his enemies, that he dared not even openhis mouth to speak a single word in defense of the cause of God, and no other means were left himof defending it but tears and mourning. He was deprived, as we know, of the liberty of givingutterance to the sentiments of his heart, or rather his words, as being those of a condemned person,would have been repelled with cruel reproaches. It was a proof of the greater constancy when insuch circumstances he continued to burn with a zeal as unabated as ever, and persevered in thevoluntary sorrow which he had engaged to exercise with the view of maintaining the honor andglory of God. He accordingly declares, that he wept and that his soul fasted, and that he was clothedwith sackcloth; which were the tokens of mourning among the Jews. But his enemies turned allthese things into mockery and jesting; 77 from which it is manifest that they were carried away withthe fury of demons. It is of importance for us to be fortified with such an example, that in the presentday we may not be discouraged when we meet with the same perversity by which the enemies ofthe Gospel prove themselves to be rather devils than men. We must, however, beware of pouringoil upon the fire which is already burning too fiercely, and should rather imitate David and Lot,who, although they had not liberty to rebuke the wicked, were yet deeply grieved in their hearts.And even when the wicked are constrained to hear us, mildness and humility will be a powerfulmeans, or rather will be the best seasoning, for tempering holy zeal. Those who conceive of Davidas intimating that he resigned himself to suffer punishment in the room or stead of his enemies,attempt to confirm their opinion from his having clothed himself in sackcloth. But I take it moresimply as meaning, that when he saw things in such a state of confusion, he voluntarily engagedin this sorrowful exercise to testify that nothing was more grievous to him than to witness the sacredname of God exposed to contumely.12. They who sit in the gate defame me Had David been molested only by vulgar buffoons andthe refuse of the people, it would have been more easily endured; for it is not surprising that meanpersons, who have no regard to what is becoming and honorable, degrade themselves by indulging77 “That was turned to my reproach; i.e., it was made a subject of reproach to me.” — Cresswell.35