John Calvin Commentary Psalms 145:8

"Jehovah is gracious, and merciful; Slow to anger, and of great lovingkindness." — Psalms 145:8 (ASV)

Jehovah is gracious, etc. He explains the goodness of which He spoke by using several expressions, such as God being inclined to mercy (for such is the proper meaning of the word חנון, channun), and that He helps us willingly, as one who sympathizes with our miseries. It should be noted that David borrowed the terms he applies to God here from that celebrated passage in Exodus 34:6; and since the inspired writers drew their doctrine from the fountain of the Law, we should not be surprised that they highly valued the vision recorded there, in which as clear and satisfactory a description of the nature of God is given to us as can be found anywhere.

David, therefore, in giving us a brief statement of what was most important for us to know concerning God, uses the same terms employed there. Indeed, a significant part of God’s grace is seen in His drawing us to Himself by such attractive titles.

If He were to bring His power prominently into view before us, we would be cast down by its terror rather than encouraged. The Papists represent Him as a dreadful God from whose presence all must flee; however, the proper view of Him is one that invites us to seek Him.

Accordingly, the more closely one feels drawn to God, the more one has advanced in the knowledge of Him. If it is true that God is not only willing to befriend us but is also described as being touched with sympathy for our miseries—so as to be all the kinder to us the more miserable we are—what folly would it be not to flee to Him without delay?

However, because we drive God’s goodness away from us by our sins and block the way of access, the prophets would have spoken in vain of His grace and mercy, unless His goodness overcomes this obstacle. It was necessary, therefore, to add what follows: that His mercy is great, that He pardons sins and bears with the wickedness of humanity, so as to show favor to the unworthy.

Regarding the ungodly, although God shows them His long-suffering patience, they are incapable of perceiving pardon. Therefore, the doctrine on which we insist has a special application only to believers, who apprehend God’s goodness by a living faith. To the wicked it is said:

To what end is the day of THE LORD for you? The day of THE LORD is darkness and not light, affliction and not joy (Amos 5:18).

We see in what severe terms Nahum threatens them at the very beginning of his prophecy. Having referred to the language used in the passage from Moses, he immediately adds—on the other hand, to prevent them from being emboldened by it—that God is a rigid and severe, a terrible and an inexorable judge (Nahum 1:3). Therefore, those who have provoked God to anger by their sins must seek to secure His favor by believing.