Commentary on Psalms Volume 2 John Calvin (continued)
JOHN CALVIN
foolish sick persons, who are anxious to have merely the symptoms of their disease removed, and make no account of being delivered from the source and cause of it. With respect to the word,כפרchapper, 857 which expositors translate, Be merciful, or propitious, I have had an opportunity of speaking in another place. It properly signifies to cleanse, or expiate, and is applied to sacrifices. Whenever, therefore, we desire to obtain the favor of God, let us call to remembrance the death of Christ; for "without shedding of blood is no remissions" (Hebrews 9:22.)
Psalm 79:10-13
10. Why should the heathen say, where is their God? Let the avenging of the blood of thy servants, which has been shed, be made known among the heathen in our sight. 11. Let the sighing [or groaning] of the prisoner 858 come before thee, [or into thy presence:] and, according to the greatness of thy arm, reserve the children of death: 859 12. And recompense our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom 860 their reproach with which they have reproached thee, O Jehovah! 13. And we thy people, and the sheep of thy pasture, will confess to thee 861 for ever; declaring thy praise from generation to generation.
10. Why should the heathen say, Where is their God? Here the people of God, in urging his name as a plea at the throne of grace: do so in a different sense from that in which they had urged it before. He extends his compassion towards us for his own name's sake; for, as he is merciful, and
be propitiated, or receive an atonement (,הטאתינו עלal chatoteinu) on account of our sins." — Dr Adam Clarke
Horsley, who guesses that this psalm was composed during the distresses of Manasseh's reign, supposes "the prisoner" to mean Manasseh.
"C'est, les condamnez a mort." — Fr. marg. "That is, those who are condemned to death." "Sons of death, either those who were condemned to death because of their crimes, or condemned to be destroyed by their oppressors. Both these senses apply to the Israelites: they were sons of death, i.e., worthy of death because of their sins against God. They were condemned to death, or utter destruction, by their Babylonish enemies." — Dr Adam Clarke.
"Sevenfold, i.e., in excessively great measure, — (comp. Genesis 4:15, 24; 1 Samuel 2:5,) — into their bosom. This is an allusion to the custom of folding the loose garment worn by the natives of Eastern countries, so as to make it a recipient of gifts. Comp. Psalm 35:13; Isaiah 65:6; Jeremiah 32:18; Luke 6:38." — Cresswell.
"C'est, te rendrons graces." — Fr. marg. "That is, will give thee thanks."