psalm-78:68-72,-proverbs-20:7-11

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:68

Verse 68 68.But he chose the tribe of Judah. The meaning is, that God preferred the tribe of Judah to all the rest of the people, and chose from it a king, whom he might set over all the Israelites as well as the Jews. And he chose the mountain of Zion, appointing a certain spot upon it to be the seat of his sanctuary. That the cause of this choice might not be sought any where else but in God, it is particularly stated that the preferring of mount Zion to all other places, and the enriching of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:69

Verse 69 69.And built his sanctuary like high places. (368) In this verse, what is intimated is simply this, that Mount Zion was singularly beautified; which, however, ought to be referred to the heavenly pattern. It was not the will of God that the minds of his people should be entirely engrossed with the magnificence of the building, or with the pomp of outward ceremonies; but that they should be elevated to Christ, in whom the truth of the figures of the former economy was exhibited. It is,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:70

Verse 70 70.And he chose David his servant. After having made mention of the temple, the prophet now proceeds to speak of the kingdom; for these two things were the chief signs of God’s choice of his ancient people, and of his favor towards them; and Christ also hath appeared as our king and priest to bring a full and perfect salvation to us. He proves that David was made king by God, who elevated him from the sheepfold, and from the keeping of cattle, to the royal throne. It serves in no small... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:71

Verse 71 71.He took him from following the suckling ewes, etc. The grace of God is farther commended from the circumstance, that David, who was a keeper of sheep, was made the shepherd of the chosen people and heritage of God. There is an allusion to David’s original condition; but the Spirit of God, at the same time, shows us the difference between good and lawful kings, and tyrants, robbers, and insatiable extortioners, by telling us that whoever would aspire to the character of the former... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:1-72

The psalm is, as the title also declares, one of "instruction." It seeks to keep the people faithful to David and his house, and to check their tendency to place themselves under the leadership of the tribe of Ephraim, by recalling the whole course of God's dealings with Israel in the past, from the time of the sojourn in Egypt to the establishment of David's kingdom. It also seeks to keep them faithful to God, by showing how all their past calamities and sufferings had arisen out of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:1-72

Whole psalm: Warnings against unbelief. I. ITS PURPOSE . 1 . To warn Ephraim; not to taunt and exult over him, but to warn. This psalm seems to belong to the period of the disruption. Ephraim, with the other northern tribes, had broken away from Judah and from the worship of God, and this psalm seems designed, by its recital of their old sins and the consequences thereof, to warn them against like sin in the future (cf. 2 Chronicles 13:1-22 .). 2 . To warn Judah. If... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:9-72

The historical portion of the psalm now follows. It commences with some general remarks on the transgressions of Ephraim, i.e. of Israel while under the guidance of Ephraim—from Joshua to Samuel (verses 9-11). It then proceeds to details, and sketches the Israelite history. from the deliverance out of Egypt to the establishment of David's kingdom (verses 12-72). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:67-72

God's chosen ones. These verses show that they whom God chooses are— I. OFTEN NOT FOUND AMONGST THE GREAT . ( Psalms 78:67 .) Ephraim was the lordly tribe, the aristocracy of Israel. They had a long roll call of illustrious names. But God "refused the tabernacle of Joseph" (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:1-31 .). II. BUT , NEVERTHELESS , THEY MAY BE . ( Psalms 78:68 .) For the tribe of Judah was but little less exalted than Ephraim. God puts no ban upon any rank,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:68

But chose the tribe of Judah. The choice was made when David was, by God's command, anointed to be king ( 1 Samuel 16:1-12 ). The Mount Zion which he loved (comp. Psalms 87:2 , "The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob"). God, no doubt, inspired David with the thought of fixing his residence in "the stronghold of Zion" ( 2 Samuel 5:9 ), and of bringing up the ark of the covenant into it ( 2 Samuel 6:12-17 ). The presence of the ark determined the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:69

And he built his sanctuary like high palaces ; rather, like the heights. The "heights of heaven" ( Job 11:8 ; Job 22:12 ) are probably meant. Like the earth which he hath established forever; i.e. lofty as heaven, stable and firmly fixed as earth. The ultimate fate of the sanctuary is mercifully hidden from the psalmist. read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:68

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:69

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:70

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:71

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:1-72

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:1-72

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:9-72

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:67-72

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:68

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:69

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