Commentary on Psalms Volume 2 John Calvin (continued)
JOHN CALVIN
their bed invent various ways of doing evil; the latter are sedulously on their guard that they may not devise or stir up within themselves any sinful desire: the former indulge a deep and fixed contempt of God; the latter willingly cherish a constant displeasure at their sins.
Psalm 36:5-9
5. O Jehovah! thy mercy is unto the heavens, and thy truth even unto the clouds. 6. Thy righteousness is as the mountains of God; 4 thy judgments are a great deep: 5 O Jehovah! thou preservest man and beast. 7. O God! how excellent 6 is thy loving-kindness! therefore, the children of men shall trust in the shadow of thy wings. 8. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them to drink of the river of thy pleasures. 9. For with thee 7 is the fountain of life; and in thy light 8 shall we see light.
5. O Jehovah! thy mercy is unto the heavens. Commentators think that David, after having described the great corruption and depravity which every where prevail in the world, takes occasion from thence to extol in rapturous praises the wonderful forbearance of God, in not ceasing to manifest his favor and good-will towards men, even though they are sunk in iniquity and crime. But, as I have already observed, I am of a somewhat different opinion. After having spoken of the very great depravity of men, the prophet, afraid lest he should become infected by it, or be carried away by the example of the wicked, as by a flood, quits the subject, and recovers himself by reflecting on a different theme. It usually happens, that in condemning the wicked, the contagion of their malice insinuates itself into our minds when we are not conscious of it; and there is scarcely one in a hundred who, after having complained of the malice of others, keeps
In the French version it is, "Comme hautes montagnes;" — "as the high mountains;" and in the margin Calvin states that the Hebrew is, "Montagnes de Dieu;" — "Mountains of God." The Hebrews were accustomed to describe things eminent, as Calvin observes in his exposition of the verse, by adding to them the name of God; as, "river of God;" Psalm 65:9; "mount of God," Psalm 68:15; "cedars of God," Psalm 80:10; "the trees of the Lord," Psalm 104:16. "The mountains of God," therefore, here mean the highest mountain.
Lowth reads, "A vast abyss."
Heb. — how precious.
"En toy." — Fr. "In thee."
"Par ta clarte." — Fr. "By thy light."