John Calvin Commentary Psalms 109:5

"And they have rewarded me evil for good, And hatred for my love." — Psalms 109:5 (ASV)

But I gave myself to prayer Some are of the opinion that these words refer to David’s pouring out a prayer for his enemies at the very moment when they were furiously assaulting him, and with this opinion corresponds what we have stated in Psalm 35:13. But the more straightforward, and, to me, the preferable interpretation, is that when he was attacked in a cruel and hostile manner, he did not resort to such unlawful means as returning evil for evil, but committed himself into the hand of God, fully satisfied that He alone could protect him from all harm.

And it is certainly a great and desirable attainment for a man to restrain his passions so as to appeal directly and immediately to God’s tribunal, at the very time when he is abused without cause, and when the very injuries he sustains are likely to provoke him to avenge them.

For there are some people who, while aiming to live on friendly terms with good people, imagine, when encountering evil men, that they are perfectly free to return injury for injury; and to this temptation all godly people feel they are susceptible.

The Holy Spirit, however, restrains us, so that though often provoked by the cruelty of our enemies to seek revenge, we nevertheless abandon all fraudulent and violent means, and turn through prayer to God alone. By this example, which David here sets before us, we are instructed that we must resort to the same means if we wish to overcome our enemies through the power and protection of God.

In Psalm 69:13, we have a parallel passage: They that sit in the gate spake against me; and I was the song of those who drink strong drink. But my prayer was made to thee, O Jehovah! In that passage, as well as in the present one, the mode of expression is elliptical.

Besides, David’s design in these words is to inform us that although he was aware that the whole world was opposed to him, yet he could cast all his cares upon God, and this was enough to make his mind calm and composed. And as the Holy Spirit taught David and all godly people to offer up prayers like these, it must follow that those who imitate them in this respect will be promptly helped by God when He sees them reproachfully and vilely persecuted.