Psalm 140:9-13
‘O God…, the Strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle!… As for the head of those that compass me about — let the mischief of their own lips cover them! Let burning coals fall on them! Let them be cast into the fire, into deep pits — so that they do not rise up again!… I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted!… Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name! The upright shall dwell in Your presence!’ Psalm 140:7-13.
Calvin comments: “Some read the words in the future tense — ‘You will cover my head in the day of battle.’ But it is evident David speaks of protection formerly experienced from the hand of God…. He comes forth…as a soldier, well tried in previous engagements…. David is to be considered as censuring the security of his enemies….
“‘As for the head (of those that compass me about — let the mischief of their own lips cover them)’!… There follows an imprecation upon the whole company of his enemies…. ‘May coals fall upon them’ — alluding to the awful fate of Sodom and Gomorrha!
“We find this…set forth by the Spirit of God, as an example of divine vengeance to terrify the wicked…. God testified by this example of everlasting significance, that He would be the Judge of all the ungodly….
“‘You will cast them down by fire’ or ‘with fire’ — as God sent it forth against Sodom and Gomorrha. He prays they may be sunk into ‘deep pits’ — when they may never rise!… David cuts off the reprobate from the hope of pardon, as knowing them to be beyond recovery….
“‘I have know that God (will maintain the cause of the afflicted)!… David here seals or corroborates his prayers, by turning his thoughts and discourse to the providential judgements of God….
“God cannot but deliver the afflicted…. He says in express words that He will be ‘the Judge of the poor and the afflicted.’ In this way, does he (David) encourage both others and himself under continued troubles — till the time proper for deliverance arrives….
“He infers…that the righteous would give thanks to God, and be safe under His help…. The godly…, David expresses…, would speedily be restored…. We must endeavour…to rise to a confident persuasion that however low they may be brought, the Lord’s people will be restored to prosperity!”
Calvin also says in his Institutes II:10:16: “Nor can those things…said as to the prosperous success of believers, be understood in any other sense than as referring to the manifestation of celestial glory…. ‘Surely, the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence!’ (Psalm 140:13).”
God maintains the afflicted and the upright in His presence! And you?
