Commentary on Psalms Volume 1 John Calvin
JOHN CALVIN
of our hearts may answer for us before God. And whenever Satan attempts to dislodge faith from our minds, by biting detraction and cruel derision, let this be our sacred anchors — to call upon God to witness it, and that, beholding it, he may be pleased to show his righteousness in maintaining our right, since his holy name cannot be branded with viler blasphemy than to say that those who put their trust in him are puffed up with vain confidence, and that those who persuade themselves that God loves them deceive themselves with a groundless fancy. As the Son of God was assailed with the same weapon, it is certain that Satan will not be more sparing of true believers who are his members than of him. They ought, therefore, to defend themselves from this consideration - that although men may regard them as in a desperate condition, yet, if they commit to God both themselves and all their affairs, their prayers will not be in vain. By the verb,,גל gol, which is rendered to commit, the nature and efficacy of faith are very well expressed, which, reposing itself upon the providence of God, relieves our minds from the burdens of the cares and troubles with which they are agitated.
Psalm 22:9-11
9. Surely thou didst draw me forth from the womb, and thou didst cause me to confide upon the breasts of my mother. 509 10. I was cast upon thee 510 from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly. 11. Depart not far from me, for distress is near, and there is none to help me.
9. Surely thou. David again here raises a new fortress, in order to withstand and repel the machinations of Satan. He briefly enumerates the benefits which God had bestowed upon him, by which he had long since learned that he was his father. Yea, he declares that even before he was born God had shown towards him such evidence of his fatherly love, that although now overwhelmed with the darkness of death, he might upon good ground venture to hope for life from him. And it is the Holy Spirit who teaches the faithful the wisdom to collect together, when they are brought into circumstances of fear and trouble, the evidences of the goodness of God,
"Qui m'as donne asseurance, lorsque je suchoye les mammelles de ma mere." — Note, Fr. marg. "That is, thou gavest me confidence whilst I sucked the breasts of my mother."
"Abandonne entre tes mains." — Note, Fr. marg. "That is, left among thy hands." Poole, applying this to Christ says, "I was like one, forsaken by his parent, and cast wholly upon thy providence. I had no father upon earth; and my mother was poor and helpless."