John Calvin Commentary Psalms 105:39

"He spread a cloud for a covering, And fire to give light in the night." — Psalms 105:39 (ASV)

He spread out a cloud for a covering. The Psalmist lists certain miracles by which God continued his grace toward his people in the wilderness. This order is worthy of notice, for it was a significant confirmation added to that incomparable work of redemption when God did not cease to show himself as the guide of their journey.

Accordingly, after they had passed through the Red Sea, he spread a cloud over them by day to protect them from the heat of the sun; and during the night, he gave them light by a pillar of fire, so that even in the midst of the darkness they might have a bright token of his presence.

This continued display of his goodness was surely an unquestionable proof of his perpetual love, an open demonstration that he had adopted the children of Abraham to foster them under his protection even to the end. What follows concerning quails is introduced for a different purpose than that for which reference is made to the same fact in Psalm 78:26.

In that passage, God’s bringing an abundance of quails is ascribed to his wrath rather than to his beneficence, so that the people might satiate the flesh. As we have seen in the explanation of that passage, this is mentioned as a matter of reproach to them. But in the text before us, passing over their ingratitude, the prophet celebrates the unremitting exercise of divine loving-kindness toward them.

Some, however, may be more inclined to take the word ask in a negative sense, because the people did not entreat God with humility, but through their impatience immediately began murmuring, or rather, arrogantly spoke against him. Interpreted this way, the passage, by way of amplification, would mean that God, setting aside his own right, indulged even their unhallowed lust.

However, since their fault is not mentioned here, let us settle on the simplest meaning: namely, that the blessings by which God confirmed the redemption which he had accomplished are here grouped together. It next follows, they were filled with the bread of heaven. This title, as we have seen elsewhere, is given to the manna to signify its excellence.

The natural way food is obtained is from the ground, but God then opened his hand more widely to the Jews and fed them even from heaven. Since it was not enough for them to be refreshed with food when they were hungry if they were not also supplied with drink, it is added that the rock was opened, and that the waters flowed from it through the dry places, or the desert.