John Calvin Commentary Psalms 24:1

"The earth is Jehovah`s, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein." — Psalms 24:1 (ASV)

The earth is Jehovah’s. We will find in many other places the children of Abraham compared with all the rest of humankind, so that the free goodness of God, in selecting them from all other nations and in embracing them with his favor, may shine forth more conspicuously. The object of the beginning of the psalm is to show that the Jews had nothing of themselves that could entitle them to approach nearer or more closely to God than the Gentiles.

As God by his providence preserves the world, the power of his government is equally extended to all, so that he ought to be worshipped by all, even as he also shows to all people, without exception, the fatherly care he has for them. But since he preferred the Jews to all other nations, it was indispensably necessary that there should be some sacred bond of connection between him and them, which might distinguish them from the heathen nations.

By this argument David invites and exhorts them to holiness. He tells them that it was reasonable that those whom God had adopted as his children should bear certain marks peculiar to themselves, and not be altogether like strangers. It is not that he incites them to endeavor to prejudice God against others, in order to gain his exclusive favor; but he teaches them, from the end or design of their election, that they will then have secured to them the firm and peaceful possession of the honor that God had conferred on them above other nations, when they devote themselves to an upright and holy life.

In vain would they have been collected together into a distinct body, as the peculiar people of God, if they did not apply themselves to the cultivation of holiness. In short, the Psalmist pronounces God to be the King of the whole world, to let all people know that, even by the law of nature, they are bound to serve him.

And by declaring that he made a covenant of salvation with a small portion of humankind, and by the erection of the tabernacle, gave the children of Abraham the symbol of his presence, thereby assuring them of his dwelling in their midst, he teaches them that they must endeavor to have purity of heart and of hands, if they would be accounted members of his sacred family.

With respect to the word fullness, I admit that it includes all the riches with which the earth is adorned, as is proved by the authority of Paul; but I have no doubt that the Psalmist intends by the expression human beings themselves, who are the most illustrious ornament and glory of the earth.

If human beings should fail, the earth would exhibit a scene of desolation and solitude, no less hideous than if God should despoil it of all its other riches. For what purpose are so many kinds of fruit produced, and in such great abundance, and why are there so many pleasant and delightful countries, if not for the use and comfort of human beings?

Accordingly, David explains, in the following clause, that he is principally speaking of human beings. It is his usual manner to repeat the same thing twice, and here the fullness of the earth and the inhabitants of the world, have the same meaning. I do not, however, deny that the riches with which the earth abounds for the use of human beings are included in these expressions. Paul, therefore, (1 Corinthians 10:26) when speaking about food, justly quotes this passage in support of his argument, maintaining that no kind of food is unclean, because the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.