John Calvin Commentary Psalms 107:42

"The upright shall see it, and be glad; And all iniquity shall stop her mouth." — Psalms 107:42 (ASV)

The righteous shall see that, and shall rejoice. The prophet now draws the conclusion that so many clear signs of God’s superintending and overruling providence cannot pass before the righteous without attracting their notice; and that, their vision being illuminated by faith, they contemplate these scenes with genuine delight, while the wicked remain perplexed and mute.

For he very judiciously distinguishes between these two groups of people. In whatever manner the wicked may be compelled to acknowledge God as the supreme ruler of the universe, nevertheless, in seeing they see not, and gain nothing from the sight, except that their conduct is rendered all the more inexcusable.

But the righteous are not only able to form a good and sound judgment of these events; they also spontaneously open their eyes to contemplate the fairness, goodness, and wisdom of God, the sight and knowledge of which are refreshing to them. For the joy they experience in this exercise is a pledge that their observing these things in this way was a spontaneous outpouring from their hearts.

With regard to those who despise God, this does not mean they are so deeply impressed as to truly acknowledge that the world is under His superintending care. Instead, they are merely restrained to the extent that they do not presume to deny the existence of that providence, as their natural inclination would lead them to do. Or, at least, they meet with strong resistance whenever they attempt to speak against it.

Although the judgments of God are before their eyes, yet their understanding is so darkened that they cannot perceive the clear light. This way of speaking is more forceful than if it had been said that the wicked themselves have become silent. In fact, they do not cease from murmuring against God’s workings of providence; for we see with what arrogance and contempt they oppose our faith and have the audacity to pour forth horrid blasphemies against God.

This does not discredit the truth of the prophet’s statement that the mouth of wickedness is stopped. In fact, the more proudly and violently they attack God, the more notorious their impiety becomes. Besides, the joy mentioned here arises from this: there is nothing more suited to increase our faith than the knowledge of God’s providence. Without it, we would be tormented by doubts and fears, uncertain whether or not the world is governed by chance.

For this reason, it follows that those who aim to undermine this doctrine—depriving God’s children of true comfort and troubling their minds by unsettling their faith—create a hell on earth for themselves. For what can be more terribly tormenting than to be constantly racked with doubt and anxiety? We will never be able to arrive at a calm state of mind until we are taught to rest with implicit confidence in the providence of God. Moreover, it is declared in this verse that God reveals His goodness to all people without exception, yet relatively few of them benefit from it. Therefore, when He formerly called upon all to celebrate the goodness of God, it was so that the ingratitude of the majority might become more evident.