Psalm 109

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:12

Verse 12 12Let there be none prolonging mercy to him. To continue to show humanity and mercy is, according to the Hebrew idiom, equivalent to constant and successive acts of kindness; and it also sometimes denotes pity, or the being moved to sympathy, when, through the lapse of years, anger is appeased, and even one’s calamity melts the heart of the man who bore hatred towards him. (309) Accordingly, there are some who understand this clause to mean, that there will be none to show kindness to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:13

Verse 13 13.Let his posterity be cut off. This is a continuation of the same subject, upon the consideration of which the prophet had just now entered, that God would visit the iniquities of the fathers upon their children. And as he had to deal with the whole court of Saul, and not with any single individual, he here employs the plural number. But as in deeds of wickedness, there are always some who are the prime movers, and act as the ringleaders of others, we need not be surprised that... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:14

Verse 14 And as the destruction which he denounces against the houses and families of the wicked is so extensive, that God punishes them in the person of their posterity, so he desires that God may remember the iniquities of their fathers and mothers, in order that their condemnation may be complete; and this is a principle in perfect accordance with the commonly received doctrine of Scripture. God, out of regard to his covenant, which is in force to a thousand generations, extends and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:16

Verse 16 16.Because he forgot to show mercy The prophet comes now to show that he had good reason for desiring such awful and direful calamities to be inflicted upon his enemies, whose thirst for cruelty was insatiable, and who were transported with rage, no less cruel than obstinate, against the afflicted and poor man, persecuting him with as little scruple as if they were attacking a dead dog. Even philosophers look upon cruelty, directed against the helpless and miserable, as an act worthy... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:17

Verse 17 17As he loved cursing David still continues to enumerate the sins of his adversaries, and is thus severe in his treatment of them, in order to render it more apparent, that he is strictly conforming to the judgment of God. For as often as we draw near to the tribunal of God, we must take care that the equity of our cause may be so sure and evident as to secure for it and us a favorable reception from him. Fortified by the testimony of an approving conscience, David here declares his... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:18

Verse 18 Not a few interpreters translate the next two verses in the past form, he clothed himself with cursing, etc., which would be tantamount to saying that the enemy was as fond of cursing as of costly apparel, or that he clothed himself with it as with a garment, and that, like an inveterate disease, it was deeply seated in the marrow of his bones. The other interpretation is more simple, That cursing should cleave to the wicked, that it should envelop him like a cloak, gird him about as... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:20

Verse 20 20Let this be the work from Jehovah. That is, let the gain or reward of the work be from God. In pointing out the work as proceeding immediately from God, he intends to show that, though deprived of all human aid, he yet entertained the hope that God would grant him deliverance, and avenge the injuries of his servant. From this verse we learn that David did not rashly, or unadvisedly, utter curses against his enemies, but strictly adhered to what the Spirit dictated. I acknowledge,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:21

Verse 21 21And thou, O Jehovah my Lord! From the pouring out of complaints and imprecations against his enemies, the Psalmist passes to prayers; or rather, after having betaken himself to God as his guardian and deliverer, he appears to take occasion, from this circumstance, to encourage himself in prayer; even as all the pious reflections by which the faithful exercise and strengthen their faith, stimulate them to call upon the name of God. At the same time, he does not pique himself upon any... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:23

Verse 23 23I walk about as a shadow. These are two very appropriate similitudes: to the first of them I formerly adverted in Psalms 102:12; namely, that the afflicted person, and he who is almost lifeless, is very fitly compared to the shadow of the evening. At sunrise, or when he is shining in noon-day brightness, the constant shifting of the shadow is not so perceptible; but, towards sunset, the shadow flits before us during every moment that passes. By the other similitude, the transitory... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:24

Verse 24 24My knees are become feeble. Though David had the necessaries of life, yet he emaciated himself by voluntary abstinence, to which, as well as to prayer, he gave himself, and therefore we may regard this verse as expressive of his sorrow and sadness. We may also understand it as expressive of his having no relish for meat or drink, knowing, as we do, that persons who are in sorrow and sadness have no appetite for food; even life itself is burdensome to them. Should any one prefer... read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:13

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:14

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:16

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:17

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:18

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:20

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:23

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:24

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