John Calvin Commentary Psalms 18:41

"They cried, but there was none to save; Even unto Jehovah, but he answered them not." — Psalms 18:41 (ASV)

They shall cry, etc. The change of tense in the verb from the past to the future does not break the continuity of the narration; therefore, the words should be explained in this way: Although they cried to God, yet their prayers were rejected by Him. He pursues the same subject he aimed to illustrate before, namely, that it was eventually clear from the outcome that his enemies falsely boasted of having the support and approval of God, who showed that He had turned away from them.

It is true that when their affairs continued to go on prosperously, they sometimes received such applause and commendation that it was commonly believed God was favorable to them, while at the same time He seemed to be opposed to David, who, although he cried night and day to Him, found it to no effect. But after God had sufficiently tried the patience of His servant, He cast them down and disappointed them of their vain hope; indeed, He would not even condescend to hear their prayers.

We now perceive David's purpose in these words. As the ungodly had long wickedly abused the name of God by pretending that He favored their unjust actions, the Psalmist derides their vain boasting, in which they were completely disappointed. It is to be observed that he here speaks of hypocrites, who never call upon God in sincerity and truth. For this promise shall never fail,

The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. (Psalms 145:18).

David does not, therefore, say that his enemies were repulsed when they resorted to God with sincere affection of heart, but only when, with their accustomed audacity, they thought that God was, so to speak, bound to support and further their wicked undertakings.

When the ungodly, in their extreme distress, pour forth prayers, and when, cast down with fear and trembling with the dread of impending evils, they show an appearance of humility, they, nevertheless, do not change their purpose so as truly to repent and amend their evil ways.

Besides, instead of being influenced by faith, they are motivated by presumption and hardness of heart, or they pour forth their complaints in doubt, more for the purpose of murmuring against God than of placing their trust in Him with familiarity and confidence.

From this passage we may derive a profitable warning: namely, that all who treat the afflicted poor with cruel mockery, and who proudly thrust back those who come to them as humble suppliants, will experience that God is deaf to their prayers.

We are further taught by the following verse that after God has cast off the ungodly, He leaves them to be treated with every kind of indignity and gives them up to be trampled underfoot, as the mire of the streets.

He not only declares that when the proud and the cruel cry to Him in their affliction, He will shut His ears against their cry; but He also threatens that, in the course of His retributive providence, they shall be treated in the same manner in which they treat others.