John Calvin Commentary Psalms 36:6

"Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God; Thy judgments are a great deep: O Jehovah, thou preservest man and beast." — Psalms 36:6 (ASV)

Thy righteousness is as the mountains of God. In this verse, there is a commendation of God’s righteousness, which the sacred writer compares to the high mountains (this being the manner of expression—“the mountains of God,” for we know that the Hebrews were accustomed to distinguish by the appellation divine, or of God, whatever is excellent) because His glory shines forth more clearly there.

In the last place, it is said that His judgments are like a great and bottomless abyss. By these words, he teaches us that to whatever side we turn our eyes, and whether we look upward or downward, all things are disposed and ordered by the just judgment of God.

This passage is usually quoted in a quite different sense, namely, that God's judgments far exceed our limited capacity and are too mysterious for us to comprehend. Indeed, in this sense, the similitude of an abyss is not inappropriate.

It is, however, obvious from the context that the Psalmist's language is to be understood in a much more extensive sense. It means that however great the depth of wickedness that exists among men—though it seems like a flood that breaks forth and overflows the whole earth—yet still greater is the depth of God’s providence, by which He righteously disposes and governs all things.

Whenever, therefore, our faith may be shaken by the confusion and disorder of human affairs, and when we are unable to explain the reasons for this disorder and confusion, let us remember that God's judgments in the government of the world are most appropriately compared to a great depth that fills heaven and earth. Let the consideration of its infinite greatness overwhelm our minds with admiration, swallow up all our cares, and dispel all our sorrows.

When it is added at the end of the verse, O Jehovah! thou preservest man and beast, the meaning is to this effect: since God condescends to extend His providential care even to the irrational creation, much more does He provide for the needs of humankind.

Indeed, whenever any doubt may arise in our minds regarding God's providence, we should strengthen and encourage ourselves by considering this: God, who provides food for the beasts of the field and sustains them, can never cease to care for the human race.

The explanation that some have given of the term beasts—interpreting it allegorically as beastly men—I regard as too forced, and I reject it.