Commentary on Psalms - Volume 3 - Bible Study Guides

Comm on Psalms (V3)John Calvin“Come let us persecute him, for God hath forsaken him;for there is none to deliver him,” (Psalm 71:11.)But I am rather of opinion that the Psalmist applies the term smitten to the man whom Godintended to humble as one of his own children; so that in the very chastisement or correction, therewas engraven a mark of God’s paternal love. And he employs the expression, the wounded of God,almost in the same sense in which Isaiah 26:19 speaks of the dead of God, the prophet therebydenoting those who continue under the Divine guardianship, even in death itself. This cannot beextended to all men in general, but is exclusively applicable to true believers, whose obedienceGod puts to the test by means of afflictions. If from this the wicked take occasion to persecute therighteous with greater severity, it is not to be wondered at if they involve themselves in heavierdamnation. Upon seeing such examples set before them, the manner in which they should havereasoned with themselves is this,“If these things are done in a green tree,what shall be done in the dry?” (Luke 23:31.)But from their becoming more and more hardened, it is evident that the pride and insolencewhich they manifest against the children of God proceed from contempt and hatred of true religion.The Hebrew word , yesapperu, which is usually translated they will recount, I would interpretdifferently. It properly signifies to number, and may, therefore, be properly enough translated toadd to or increase, 90 giving here the meaning, That the persons spoken of, by adding misery tomisery, raised grief to its utmost height.27. Add iniquity to their iniquity. As the Hebrew word , avon, signifies at times guilt as wellas iniquity, some translate the verse thus, Add thou, that is, thou, O God! punishment to theirpunishment Others extend it yet further, regarding it as a prayer that wicked men might punishthem for their wickedness. But it is abundantly evident, from the second clause, that what Davidprays for rather is, as is almost universally admitted, that God, taking his Spirit altogether from thewicked, would give them over to a reprobate mind, that they might never seek or have any desireto be brought to genuine repentance and amendment. Some interpret the phrase to come intorighteousness as meaning to be absolved or acquitted; 91 but it seems to want the spirit of thelanguage here used, by which David intends to express much more. Accordingly, the words oughtto be expounded thus: Let their wickedness increase more and more, and let them turn away withabhorrence from all thought of amendment, to make it manifest that they are utterly alienated fromGod. 92 As this form of expression is familiar to the Sacred Writings, and every where to be metwith, we ought not to think it harsh; and to wrest it, as some do, for the sake of avoiding what mayhave the appearance of absurdity, is ridiculous. The explanation they give of it is, That God addssins to sins by permitting them; 93 and they defend such an exposition by asserting that this is an90This is the translation given by the LXX., who read, προσέθηκαν, “they added to;” and similar is that of the Syriac, Vulgate,Arabic, and Æthiopic versions, and of the learned Castellio, who reads, “Sauciorum tuorum numerum adaugentes,” “increasingthe number of thy wounded.” “ ,” says Hammond, “signifies to number, and of that we know addition is one sort.”91 This is the idea attached to it by Horsley, who translates the verse thus: “Give them punishment upon punishment, andadmit them not to thy justification.” Cresswell explains it thus: “Let them not be restored to thy favor, nor experience thyclemency.”92 “Qu’ils sont alienez et bannis de la presence de Dieu.” — Fr. “That they are alienated and banished from the presence ofGod.”93 This is the explanation given by Hammond. The Hebrew word , nathan, here rendered add, he translates give or permit,which he supports in the following note. “That , to give, signifies also to permit, appears by Esther 9:13, , ‘let it be given to43