COMMENTARY ON 2215-2 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. BY JOHN CALVIN. TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL LATIN, AND COLLATED BY THE REV. JAMES ANDERSON. VOLUME FOURTH. EDINBURGH: PRINTED FOR THE CALVIN TRANSLATION SOCIETY. M.DCCC.XLVII. COMMENTARY UPON THE BOOK OF PSALMS. PSALM XCIII. The psalm commences with the celebration of the infinite glory of God. It is then declared that such is his faithfulness that he never deceives his own people, who, embracing his promises, wait with tranquil minds for their salvation amidst all the tempests and agitations of the world. 1. Jehovah hath reigned, he hath clothed himself with majesty ;1 Jehovah hath clothed himself with strength, he hath girded himself: he hath also established the world, it shall not be moved. 1 Horsley translates, "Jehovah is King, Jehovah is gorgeously arrayed." And, on the second line, he has the following note:-"The construction of the original is doubtful, though the sense be obvious. The text may be expounded in either of these two ways; n (Jehovah) was (hath (majesty of dress) גאות לבש majesty of dress ;) or) גאות לבש (put on [is] was (the dress) mm (of Jehovah.)" See vol. ii. p. 455, note 2. Bishop Lowth supposes that here, as well as in that passage, there is an allusion to the precious and magnificent ornaments of the priests' attire. 66 "Such," says he, was the gracefulness, such the magnificence of the sacerdotal vestments, especially those of the High Priest; so adapted were they, as Moses says, (Exod. xxviii. 2,) to the expression of glory and beauty, that to those who were impressed with an equal opinion of the sanctity of the wearer, nothing could possibly appear more venerable and sublime. To these, therefore, we find frequent allusions in the Hebrew poets, when they have occasion to describe extraordinary beauty or comeliness, or to delineate the perfect 2. Thy throne is stable ;' from then, from everlasting art thou. 1. Jehovah hath reigned. We here see what I have lately adverted to, that in the power of God there is exhibited to us matter of confidence; for our not investing God with the power which belongs to him, as we ought to do, and thus wickedly despoiling him of his authority, is the source of that fear and trembling which we very often experience. This, it is true, we dare not do openly, but were we well persuaded of his invincible power, that would be to us an invincible support against all the assaults of temptation. All admit in word what the prophet here teaches, That God reigns; but how few are there who oppose this shield to the hostile powers of the world, as it becomes them to do, that they may fear nothing however terrible? In this then consists the glory of God, that he governs mankind according to his will. It is said that he clothes himself with majesty and strength; not that we ought to imagine that there is any thing in him which is derived from another, but it is intended by the effect and indubitable experience to show his wisdom and righteousness in the government of mankind. The Psalmist proves that God will not neglect or abandon the world, from the fact that he created it. A simple survey of the world should of itself suffice to attest a Divine Providence. The heavens revolve daily, and, immense as is their fabric, form of supreme Majesty. The elegant Isaiah (chap. Ixi. 10) has a most beautiful idea of this kind when he describes, in his own peculiar manner, (that is, most magnificently,) the exultation and glory of the Church, after its triumphal restoration. Pursuing the allusion, he decorates her with the vestments of salvation, and clothes her in a robe of righteousness. He afterwards compares the Church to a bridegroom dressed for the marriage, to which comparison incredible dignity is added by the word Ikohen, a metaphor plainly taken from the apparel of the priests, the force of which, therefore, no modern language can express. No imagery, indeed, which the Hebrew writers could employ, was equally adapted with this to the display (as far as the human powers can conceive or depict the subject) of the infinite majesty of God, Jehovah' is therefore introduced by the Psalmist as clothed with glory and with strength,’(Psalm xciii. 1,) he is girded with power,' (Psalm lxv. 7;) which are the very terms appropriated to the describing of the dress and ornaments of the priests."Lectures on the Sacred Poetry of the Hebrews, vol. i. pp. 174, 175. "Ou, preparé."-Fr. marg. "Or, prepared." ་ |