John Calvin Commentary Psalms 22:7

"All they that see me laugh me to scorn: They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, [saying]," — Psalms 22:7 (ASV)

All those who see me mock at me, etc., This is an explanation of the preceding sentence. He had said that he was an object of scorn to the lowest of men and, as it were, to the refuse of the people. He now informs us of the ignominy with which he had been treated: not content with scornful language, they also showed their insolence by their very gesture, both by thrusting out their lips and by shaking their heads.

The words that we translate as they thrust out the lip, are, in Hebrew, they open with the lip, and some explain them as meaning to rail. But this view does not appear to me to be appropriate, for the letter ב, beth, which signifies with, is here superfluous, as it often is in Hebrew.

I have therefore preferred translating the original words as they thrust out the lip; which is the gesture of those who mock openly and insultingly. The reproachful language that follows was much more severe, as they alleged against him that God, whom he openly professed was his father, had turned away from him.

We know that David, when he saw himself unjustly condemned by the world, used to support and console himself with the assurance that, since he had the approving testimony of a good conscience, he had God in heaven as his guardian, who was able to take vengeance on his revilers.

But now, all who saw him reproached him, alleging that with vain arrogance he had groundlessly boasted of the help he would receive from God. “Where is that God,” they say, “on whom he leaned? Where is that love in which he trusted?” Satan has no more deadly dart for wounding the souls of men than when he endeavors to dislodge hope from our minds by turning the promises of God into ridicule.

David’s enemies, however, do not simply say that his prayers were in vain and that the love of God of which he boasted was deceptive; rather, they indirectly charge him with being a hypocrite, alleging that he falsely pretended to be one of the children of God, from whom he was completely estranged.

How severe a temptation this must have been to David, everyone can judge from their own experience. But by the remedy he used, he provided proof of the sincerity of his confidence; for unless he had had God as the undoubted witness and approver of the sincerity of his heart, he would never have dared to come before Him with this complaint.

Therefore, whenever people charge us with hypocrisy, let us strive for our inward sincerity of heart to answer for us before God.

And whenever Satan attempts to dislodge faith from our minds by biting slander and cruel mockery, let this be our sacred anchor: to call upon God to witness our situation. Then, seeing it, He may be pleased to show His righteousness in upholding our right. For His holy name cannot be branded with worse blasphemy than to say that those who put their trust in Him are filled with vain confidence, or that those who persuade themselves that God loves them are deceiving themselves with a baseless notion.

Since the Son of God was attacked with the same weapon, it is certain that Satan will not spare true believers, who are His members, any more than he spared Him.

Therefore, they should defend themselves with this consideration: although people may regard them as in a desperate condition, if they commit themselves and all their affairs to God, their prayers will not be in vain.

The verb גל, gol, which is translated as to commit, very well expresses the nature and effectiveness of faith. Faith, by resting upon God's providence, relieves our minds from the burdensome cares and troubles that agitate them.