John Calvin Commentary Deuteronomy 32:35

"Vengeance is mine, and recompense, At the time when their foot shall slide: For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things that are to come upon them shall make haste." — Deuteronomy 32:35 (ASV)

To me belongeth vengeance. This passage is quoted for different purposes by Paul and by the author²⁸³ of the Epistle to the Hebrews (Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30). Paul, aiming to persuade believers to bear injuries patiently, admonishes them to give place unto wrath, since God declares vengeance to be His. The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, however, proclaiming that God will be the avenger of impiety, confirms his declaration with this testimony.

This is why some commentators suppose that punishment is here denounced against heathen nations because they have cruelly afflicted God’s elect people.

Indeed, this seems to be the meaning of Paul’s words: that injuries should be patiently endured, since God claims for Himself the office of Avenger. However, there is nothing to prevent the same statement from being adapted for different uses. Therefore, Paul did not irrelevantly confirm his exhortation with this saying of Moses, even though it literally refers to the internal discipline of the Church.

Besides, the apostles are not accustomed to quoting every word from the testimonies they cite; instead, they briefly remind their readers to examine the quoted passages more closely.

However, since God here joins two things together—that He will punish the sins of His people and at the same time be the avenger of their oppressions—it would not be absurd to say that Paul, as it were, points his finger at this passage.²⁸⁴ Still, the simple explanation is that the general declaration is adapted to a special case, so that believers should bear their injuries patiently and leave to God the office which He declares belongs to Himself.

In my judgment, indeed, these words are connected with the preceding verse. God appropriately confirms His statement—that He takes account of the number of people's sins and has them stored among His treasures—by adding that the power and office of judging rests with Himself. This is because it would be contradictory for Him to be aware of whatever is done unrighteously and wrong, and still leave it unpunished.

This is not to say that it is opposed to God’s justice to pardon sinners when they repent, but this principle always remains firm: God is the judge of the world, for the punishment of all iniquities.

Thus, the confidence of hypocrites is destroyed—those who flatter themselves with the hope of impunity unless they are overtaken by immediate punishment.

Some interpreters misinterpret the following clause by supplying the relative pronoun, “in the time in which their foot shall slide.” However, Moses simply concludes that they will fall in their due time, or that, although they may think they stand, their ruin or fall was near. This is further confirmed by what he adds, namely, that their day of calamity was at hand.

This statement, as I have said before, often occurs in the Prophets: that there is with God a fitting time²⁸⁵ in which to punish the sins He has appeared to overlook. Therefore, His long-suffering does not diminish the judgment He delays.

This doctrine has a twofold moral lesson:

1. First, those whom God spares for a time should not give way to self-indulgence.
2. Second, the prosperity of the wicked should not disturb the minds of believers; instead, they should allow God to decide the time and place for executing vengeance.

However, because God’s delay makes hypocrites feel secure, they lull themselves to sleep in their vices. Although they hear that they will have to give an account of them, they thoughtlessly indulge themselves during their period of enjoyment.²⁸⁶ Therefore, Moses declares that the day is near, and makes haste. For if God does not openly alarm them and bring them to distress, they exult in their immunity.

Hence come those blasphemous sayings recorded by Isaiah (Isaiah 5:19): Let him make speed, and hasten his work that we may see it; and let the counsel of the Holy One draw nigh and come, that we may know it! Meanwhile, we must bear in mind the words of Habakkuk (Habakkuk 2:3): Though the prophecy tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

²⁸³ It is notorious that C. adopted the opinion of the Western Church in the third and fourth centuries, and did not admit St. Paul to be the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews: see the . adopted the opinion of the Western Church in the third and fourth centuries, and did not admit St. Paul to be the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews: see the Argument to his Commentary, to his Commentary, (C., Soc. Edit.,) p. 27. This discrepancy is noticed, p. 27. This discrepancy is noticed, ibid, p. 249, and in Mr. Owen’s additional note, , and in Mr. Owen’s additional note, p. 394..

²⁸⁴ “Sans l’alleguer au long;” without adducing it in full. — Fr..

²⁸⁵ “Son temps et saison determinee;” his time and determined season. — Fr..

²⁸⁶ “Usura.” — Lat. “Ils ne laissent pas de se donner bon temps, suyvant le proverbe diabolique, Que le terme vaut l’argent;” they cease not to indulge themselves, according to the diabolical proverb, that the delay is worth the money. — . “Ils ne laissent pas de se donner bon temps, suyvant le proverbe diabolique, Que le terme vaut l’argent;” they cease not to indulge themselves, according to the diabolical proverb, that the delay is worth the money. — Fr..