John Calvin Commentary Psalms 109:28

"Let them curse, but bless thou: When they arise, they shall be put to shame, But thy servant shall rejoice." — Psalms 109:28 (ASV)

They shall curse. Interpreters are divided in their opinions about the meaning of these words. One class would render them as expressing a desire or wish: Let them curse, provided that you bless: let them arise, and be clothed with confusion. Another class, with whom I readily agree, adopts the future tense of the indicative mood: They shall curse, etc. Should any prefer to understand the passage as indicating, on the Psalmist's part, his resolution to suffer and submit to the curses of his enemies, I do not oppose their interpretation.

In my opinion, however, those who view the words as a prayer misinterpret them. David, having already presented his petitions to God and being secure in His favor, seems now rather to boast that their cursing will do him no harm, for You, he says, will bless me. By this, he proves how little and how lightly he regarded the threats of his enemies, though they might assail him with the poison of the tongue and the power of the sword.

From David's example, let us learn to resolve to have God on our side, who can baffle all the designs of our enemies and inspire us with courage to defy their malice, wickedness, audacity, power, and fury.

And then, indeed, God's loving-kindness truly appears when it banishes from our minds the fears we entertain of the world's threats. Therefore, relying on God's grace, boldly disregarding the schemes and attacks of his enemies, and believing that they could not prevail against God’s blessing, David raises the shout of triumph even in the midst of battle.

This truth is still more impressively taught in the succeeding clause of the verse: Though they arise, yet shall they be put to shame. By these words, it is obviously his design to indicate that the ungovernable violence of his enemies is not yet subdued, but that he can endure all their fury and foam as long as the hand of God is stretched out to maintain and defend him.

Thus, he animates and fortifies himself against all the pride of the world and, at the same time, by his example emboldens all the faithful, so that they do not feel dejected even when the perverseness of their enemies seems to gain the advantage over them and to threaten them with instant destruction.

Cherishing such a hope, he trusts that in the future he will be delivered from all his sorrows. From this, let us learn to bear our trials patiently and meekly until the fitting season and the full time, which God has appointed, arrive for turning our weeping into joy.

In the following verse, he proceeds in the same strain of exultation because, though he sees the ungodly behaving proudly, yet, looking beyond the present state of things with the eye of faith, he has no doubt that God will frustrate all their designs and pour contempt upon all their schemes.