John Calvin Commentary Psalms 37:32

"The wicked watcheth the righteous, And seeketh to slay him." — Psalms 37:32 (ASV)

The wicked watches the righteous, etc. David here illustrates more plainly the nature of the possession of the earth, of which he had spoken: namely, that God preserves His own people, though they are beset by enemies all around. And from this we are again taught that the faithful are not promised in the preceding context a quiet state of life, and one free from all trouble and distress.

If so, these two statements would be contradictory: first, that the faithful, possessing an inheritance, enjoy repose and pleasure; and secondly, that they are still daily delivered as sheep out of the mouth of wolves. These two verses, however, contain this special ground of consolation: that the faithful, though surrounded by such a variety of dangers, will nevertheless escape and be preserved in safety by the help of God.

Accordingly, David here teaches them that when they see their enemies lying in wait for them and seeking by every means in their power to annoy them, they, on the contrary, ought to consider how deeply interested God is in the welfare of His own people, and how carefully He watches over them to preserve them in safety.

David indeed confesses that the stratagems to which the wicked resort in seeking not only to deprive good men of their property but even to take away their lives are terrible in themselves, because they cruelly plot their destruction. But still, he teaches us at the same time that we ought to continue to preserve firm and undaunted courage, because God has promised that He will be our guardian and defender: Jehovah will not leave him in his hand. This circumstance, however, ought to be considered: that God does not always grant us deliverance at first, but often delays it until we seem to be even at the point of death.

In the last clause of the verse, we are also admonished that however carefully good men may guard against giving offense to any, and endeavor to secure the goodwill of all, and shun debate and strife, yet they will not be exempted from false accusations: Jehovah will not condemn them when they are judged. David does not say that they will receive the applause of the world, and that their virtues will be celebrated with such praises as they deserve. Instead, he exhorts them, when they are dragged to judgment and, as it were, overwhelmed with slander, so that they already resemble those who are condemned, to rest contented with the protection of God, who will eventually manifest their innocence and maintain it against the unrighteous judgments of men.

If anyone objects that, on the contrary, many of the children of God, after having been condemned, have suffered a cruel and bitter death, I answer that their avenger is nevertheless in heaven. Christ was put to death in the most cruel form and in circumstances of the deepest ignominy, but nevertheless, as the prophet Isaiah says, he was taken from that distress and condemnation (Isaiah 53:8); and in the same manner, God is still acting daily towards those who are His members.

If it may still be objected that David is here speaking not of the life to come, but of the state of the godly in the present life, I must again repeat in answer to this the explanation I have given before.

Namely, earthly blessings are at God’s disposal and are regulated entirely according to His will. Therefore, He never bestows them in equal measure upon all, but according to His wisdom and as He sees fit, sometimes withdrawing them either in whole or in part, and at other times displaying them for all to see.

Accordingly, it may happen that the holy martyrs, after they have been condemned, may also be put to death, as if God had forsaken them. But this is only because it is better for themselves, and because they desire nothing more than to glorify God by their death.

Yet He who permits the ungodly to exercise their cruelty does not cease to be the vindicator of the righteousness of His servants. For He openly shows before His angels and before His whole Church that He approves it, and declares that He will call it to account.

Furthermore, raising them from the darkness in which they have been hidden, He makes their ashes yield a sweet and pleasant odor. Finally, after the Lord has allowed them to be overwhelmed by reproach and violence, He will pronounce the judgment by which He will vindicate their righteous cause from wicked calumnies and false accusations.