Commentary on Psalms - Volume 3 - Bible Study Guides

Comm on Psalms (V3)John Calvinaccount all other men as nothing in comparison of themselves; or rather persuade themselves thatmankind are born only for them? The source, then, and, as it were, the mother of all violence, ispride.7. Their eye goeth out for fatness. 167 He now adds, that it is not wonderful to see the ungodlybreaking forth with such violence and cruelty, since, by reason of fatness and pampering, their eyesare ready to start out of their heads. Some explain the words goeth out as meaning, that their eyesbeing covered and hidden with fat, were, so to speak, lost, and could not be perceived in theirsockets. But as fat causes the eyes to project from the head, I prefer retaining the proper meaningof the words. Let it, however, be observed, that David is not to be understood as speaking of thebodily countenance, but as expressing metaphorically the pride with which the ungodly are inflatedon account of the abundance which they possess. They so glut and intoxicate themselves with theirprosperity, that afterwards they are ready to burst with pride. The last clause of the verse is alsoexplained in two ways. Some think that by the verb , abar, which we have translated passedbeyond, is denoted unbridled presumption; 168 for the ungodly are not contented to keep themselveswithin ordinary bounds, but in their wild and extravagant projects mount above the clouds. Weknow, in fact, that they often deliberate with themselves how they may take possession of the wholeworld; yea, they would wish God to create new worlds for them. In short, being altogether insatiable,they pass beyond heaven and earth in their wild and unbounded desires. It would certainly not beinappropriate to explain the verb as meaning, that their foolish thoughts can be regulated by nolaw, nor kept within any bounds. But there is another exposition which is also very suitable, namely,that the prosperity and success which they meet with exceed all the flattering prospects which theyhad pictured in their imaginations. We certainly see some of them who obtain more than ever theyhad desired, as if, whilst they were asleep, Fortune laid nets and fished for them, 169 — the deviceunder which king Demetrius was in old time wittily painted, who had taken so many cities, althoughotherwise he was neither skillful nor vigilant, nor of great foresight. If we are inclined to take thisview of the words, this clause will be added by way of exposition, to teach us what is meant bythat fatness, spoken of before — that it means that God heaps upon the wicked, and fills them with,an abundance of all good things, beyond what they had ever either desired or thought of.8. They become insolent, and wickedly talk of extortion. Some take the verb , yamicu, in anactive transitive sense, and explain it as meaning, that the wicked soften, that is to say, render otherspusillanimous, or frighten and intimidate them. 170 But as the idiom of the language admits also ofits being understood in the neuter sense, I have adopted the interpretation which agreed best withthe scope of the passage, namely, that the wicked, forgetting themselves to be men, and by theirunbounded audacity trampling under foot all shame and honesty, dissemble not their wickedness,but, on the contrary, loudly boast of their extortion. And, indeed, we see that wicked men, afterhaving for some time got every thing to prosper according to their desires, cast off all sham and167 “Their eyes are starting out for fatness.” — Horsley. “Their eyes swell with fatness — this is a proverbial expression, usedto designate the opulent, who are very commonly given to sensuality: comp. Job 15:27; Psalm 17:10.” — Cresswell.168 “The fantasies of their minds run into excess; i.e., they suffer their imaginations to sway them.” — Cresswell.169 “Et pesche pour eux.” Fr.170 “Exposans que les meschans amolissent, c’est a dire, rendent lasches les autres, c’est a dire, les espouantent et intimident.”— Fr , yamicu, is rendered by Vatablus, Cocceius, Gejer, and Michaelis, “They cause to consume or melt away.” “They meltor dissolve others,” says Dr Gill, “they consume them, and waste their estates by their oppression and violence; they make theirhearts to melt with their threatening and terrifying words; or they make them dissolute in their lives by keeping them company.”Mudge reads, “They behave corruptly;” and Horsley, “They are in the last stage of degeneracy.”79