Commentary on Psalms Volume 1 John Calvin (continued)
COMMENTARY ON PSALMS
reading, is more emphatic. The import of it is this: God at length has assumed the character of judge, and is gone up into his judgment-seat to execute the office of judge. On this account he glories in having law and right on his side, and declares that God was the maintainer of his right and cause. What follows in the next verse, Thou hast destroyed [or discomfited,] the wicked, belongs also to the same subject. When he beholds his enemies overthrown, he does not rejoice in their destruction, considered simply in itself; but in condemning them on account of their unrighteousness, he says that they have received the punishment which they deserved. Under the name of nations he means, that it was not a small number of ungodly persons who were destroyed, but great armies, yea, even all who had risen up against him from different quarters. And the goodness of God shines forth the brighter in this, that, on account of the favor which he bare to one of his servants, he spared not even whole nations. When he says, Thou hast blotted out their name for ever, it may be understood as meaning, that they were destroyed without any hope of ever being able to rise again, and devoted to everlasting shame. We could not otherwise discern how God buries the name of the ungodly with themselves, did we not hear him declare that the memory of the righteous shall be for ever blessed, (Proverbs 10:7.)
Psalm 9:6-8
6. O thou enemy, desolations are come to an end for ever; and thou hast destroyed [or demolished 169 ] cities; their memory has perished with them. 7. And Jehovah sitteth for ever, he hath prepared his throne for judgment. 8. And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall judge the nations in uprightness.
6. O thou enemy, desolations are come to an end for ever. This sixth verse is explained in different ways. Some read it interrogatively, viewing the letter,הas a mark of interrogation, as if David, addressing his discourse to his enemies, asked whether they had completed their work of devastation, even as they had resolved to destroy every thing; for the verb,תמםtamam, signifies sometimes to complete, and sometimes to put an end to any thing. And if we here take it in this sense, David, in the language of sarcasm or irony, rebukes the foolish confidence of his enemies. Others, reading
"J'ay mieux aime traduire, Tu t'es assis juste juge; que, O juste juge tu t'es assis." — Fr.
"Demolished. The Hebrew word expresses the tearing up of the foundations of the buildings." —Horsley.