Commentary on Psalms - Volume 3 - Bible Study Guides

Comm on Psalms (V3)John Calvinhimself. 131 The preservation of mutual equity among men is an inestimable blessing; but the serviceof God is well worthy of being preferred even to this. David, therefore, very properly commendsto us the blessed fruits of a holy and righteous government, by telling us that it will draw in its traintrue religion and the fear of God. And Paul, when enjoining us in 1 Timothy 2:2, to pray for kings,expressly mentions what we ought to have in view in our prayers, which is, “that we may lead aquiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” As there is no small danger, were civilgovernment overthrown, of religion being destroyed, and the worship of God annihilated, Davidbeseeches God to have respect to his own name and glory in preserving the king. By this argumenthe at once reminds kings of their duty, and stirs up the people to prayer; for we cannot be betteremployed than in directing all our desires and prayers to the advancement of the service and honorof God. When we come to Christ, this is far more truly applicable to him, true religion beingestablished in his kingdom and nowhere else. And certainly David, in describing the worship orservice of God as continuing to the end of the world, intimates by the way that he ascends in thoughtto that everlasting kingdom which God had promised: They shall fear thee with the sun; andgeneration of generations shall fear thee in the presence of the moon. 1326. He shall descend as the rain upon the mown grass. This comparison may seem at first sightto be somewhat harsh; but it elegantly and appositely expresses the great advantage which is derivedby all from the good and equitable constitution of a kingdom. Meadows, we know, are cut in thebeginning of summer when the heat prevails; and did not the earth imbibe new moisture by thefalling rain, even the very roots of the herbage would wither by reason of the barren and parchedstate of the soil. David, therefore, teaches us that as God defends the earth from the heat of the sunby watering it, so he in like manner provides for the welfare of his Church, and defends it underthe government of the king. But this prediction has received its highest fulfillment in Christ, who,by distilling upon the Church his secret grace, renders her fruitful.Psalm 72:7-117. In his days shall the righteous flourish; and there shall be abundance of peace, so long asthe moon endureth. 133 8. He shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends131 “The poet in this clause addresses God; not the king, of whom he speaks always in the third person. The sense is, This kingshall establish and preserve among his subjects the true religion, — the uncorrupted worship of God. Michaelis, on this passage,justly remarks that this could not, without extreme flattery, be predicated of Solomon.” — Dathe.132 “With the sun,” and “in the presence of the moon,” are Hebrew idioms, designating the eternity of the Messiah’s kingdom.“‘They shall venerate thee with the sun, and in presence of the moon;’ that is, as long as the sun shines, and is succeeded by themoon, or while the sun and moon continue to give light, — in a word, for ever. Compare verse seventh, where the same idea isexpressed, only in a slightly different manner, — until there be no moon Psalm 89:37 — ‘His throne shall be as the sun beforeme, as the moon it shall be established for ever.’ The word , [translated in presence of,] in this passage, is to be understoodin the same sense as in Genesis 11:28, Mortuus est Haran, - ,coram facie Terah; ‘And Haran died before the face of Terah,’that is, while Terah still survived. Hence, in Psalm 102:28, where , coram te, ‘before thee,’ is used in reference to God, —the Alexandrine version gives εἰς αἰω̑νας ‘for ever.’ Here the sense is given in the words immediately following, , generatiogenerationum, ‘a generation of generations’ shall venerate thee; — in other words, throughout all generations, or during acontinual series of years, men shall celebrate thy happy and glorious reign.” — Rosenmüller Calvin also reads , “generationof generations,” in the nominative case. The translators of our English Bible supply the preposition , lamed, thus making it,“throughout all generations.” But in either case the meaning is the same.133 Literally, “till there be no moon;” till the end of the world — for ever.65