Commentary on Psalms Volume 1 John Calvin
COMMENTARY ON PSALMS
manner, by what wonderful displays of the power of God he had formerly been delivered from the violence and power of his enemies. It is therefore a mistake to limit to one victory this thanksgiving, in which he intended to comprehend many deliverances.
Psalm 9:1-3
1. I will praise Jehovah with my whole heart; I will tell of thy marvellous works. 2. I will rejoice and exult 156 in thee; yea, I will celebrate in songs thy name, O thou Most High. 3. When my enemies are turned back, they fall down, and are put to flight 157 at thy presence.
1. I will praise the Lord. David begins the psalm in this way, to induce God to succor him in the calamities with which he was now afflicted. As God continues his favor towards his own people without intermission, all the good he has hitherto done to us should serve to inspire us with confidence and hope, that he will be gracious and merciful to us in the time to come. 158 There is, indeed, in these words a profession of gratitude for the favors which he has received from God; 159 but, in remembering his past mercies, he encourages himself to expect succor and aid in future emergencies; and by this means he opens the gate of prayer. The whole heart is taken for an upright or sincere heart, which is opposed to a double heart. Thus he distinguishes himself not only from gross hypocrites, who praise God only with their lips outwardly, without having their hearts in any way affected, but also acknowledges that whatever he had hitherto done which was commendable, proceeded entirely from the pure grace of God. Even irreligious men, I admit, when they have obtained some memorable victory, are ashamed to defraud God of the praise which is due to him; but we see that as soon as they have uttered a single expression in acknowledgement of the assistance God has afforded them, they immediately begin to boast
Or, leap for joy. This is the precise meaning of the Hebrew wordאעלצהThe Septuagint render it ἀγαλλιάσομαι, which means the same thing.
"Et sont ruinez devant ta face." — Fr. "And are overthrown before thy face."
"Doit servir pour nous asseurer et faire esperer qu'il nous sera propice et debonnaire, l'advenir." — Fr.
"De la faveur qu'il a receu, de Dieu." — Fr.