Psalm 73

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:1

Verse 1 As to the author of this psalm, I am not disposed to contend very strongly, although I think it probable that the name of Asaph was prefixed to it because the charge of singing it was committed to him, while the name of David, its author, was omitted, just as it is usual for us, when things are well known of themselves, not to be at the trouble of stating them. How much profit we may derive from meditation upon the doctrine contained in this psalm, it is easy to discover from the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:2

Verse 2 2.As for me, etc. Literally, it is, And I: which ought to be read with emphasis; for David means that those temptations, which cast an affront upon the honor of God, and overwhelm faith, not only assail the common class of men, or those who are endued only with some small measure of the fear of God, but that he himself, who ought to have profited above all others in the school of God, had experienced his own share of them. By thus setting himself forth as an example, he designed the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:3

Verse 3 3.For I envied the foolish (154) Here he declares the nature of the temptation with which he was assailed. It consisted in this, that when he saw the present prosperous state of the wicked, and from it judged them to be happy, he had envied their condition. We are certainly under a grievous and a dangerous temptation, when we not only, in our own minds, quarrel with God for not setting matters in due order, but also when we give ourselves loose reins, boldly to commit iniquity, because... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:4

Verse 4 4For there are no bands to their death. The Psalmist describes the comforts and advantages of the ungodly, which are as it were so many temptations to shake the faith of the people of God. He begins with the good health which they enjoy, telling us, that they are robust and vigorous, and have not to draw their breath with difficulty through continual sicknesses, as will often be the case with regard to true believers. (161) Some explain bands to death, as meaning delays, viewing the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:5

Verse 5 5.They are not in the trouble that is common to man. Here it is declared that the wicked enjoy a delightful repose, and are as it were by special privilege exempted from the miseries to which mankind in general are subject. They also are no doubt involved in afflictions as well as the good, and God often executes his judgments upon them; but, for the express purpose of trying our faith, he always places some of them as it were upon an elevated stage, who appear to be privileged to live... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:6

Verse 6 6.Therefore pride compasseth them as a chain. This complaint proceeds farther than the preceding; for we are here told that although God sees the ungodly shamefully and wickedly abusing his kindness and clemency, he notwithstanding bears with their ingratitude and rebellion. The Psalmist employs a similitude taken from the dress and attire of the body, to show that such persons glory in their evil deeds. The verb ענק, anak, which we have rendered, encompasseth them as a chain, comes... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:7

Verse 7 7.Their eye goeth out for fatness. (167) He now adds, that it is not wonderful to see the ungodly breaking forth with such violence and cruelty, since, by reason of fatness and pampering, their eyes are ready to start out of their heads. Some explain the words goeth out as meaning, that their eyes being covered and hidden with fat, were, so to speak, lost, and could not be perceived in their sockets. But as fat causes the eyes to project from the head, I prefer retaining the proper... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:8

Verse 8 8.They become insolent, and wickedly talk of extortion. Some take the verb ימיקו, yamicu, in an active transitive sense, and explain it as meaning, that the wicked soften, that is to say, render others pusillanimous, or frighten and intimidate them. (170) But as the idiom of the language admits also of its being understood in the neuter sense, I have adopted the interpretation which agreed best with the scope of the passage, namely, that the wicked, forgetting themselves to be men, and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:9

Verse 9 9.They have set their mouth against the heavens. Here it is declared that they utter their contumelious speeches as well against God as against men; for they imagine that nothing is too arduous for them to attempt, and flatter themselves that heaven and earth are subject to them. If any should endeavor to alarm them by setting before them the power of God, they audaciously break through this barrier; and, with respect to men, they have no idea of any difficulty arising from such a... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:10

Verse 10 10.On this account his people will return hither. Commentators wrest this sentence into a variety of meanings. In the first place, as the relative his is used, without an antecedent indicating whose people are spoken of, some understand it simply of the ungodly, as if it had been said, That the ungodly always fall back upon this reflection: and they view the word people as denoting a great troop or band; for as soon as a wicked man raises his standard, he always succeeds in drawing a... read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:7

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 73:10

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