John Calvin Commentary Psalms 42:7

"Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterfalls: All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me." — Psalms 42:7 (ASV)

Depth calleth unto depth. These words express the severity, as well as the number and long duration, of the miseries that he suffered; as if he had said, I am oppressed not only with one kind of misery, but various kinds of distress return one after another, so that there seems to be neither end nor measure to them.

In the first place, by the term depth, he shows that the temptations by which he was attacked were such that they might well be compared to gulfs in the sea; then he complains of their long duration, which he describes by the very appropriate figure, that his temptations cry out from a distance and call to one another.

In the second part of the verse, he continues the same metaphor when he says that all the waves and floods of God have passed over his head. By this, he means that he had been overwhelmed and, as it were, swallowed up by the accumulation of afflictions. It should, however, be observed that he designates the cruelty of Saul and his other enemies, floods of God, so that in all our adversities we may always remember to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God that afflicts us.

But it is important to go beyond this and to consider that if it pleases God to rain with violence upon us, as soon as he opens his sluices or waterspouts, there will be no end to our miseries till he is appeased; for he has in his power marvellous and unknown means for executing his vengeance against us.

Thus, once his anger is kindled against us, there will be not only one depth to swallow us up, but depth will call unto depth. And since the insensitivity of people is such that they do not stand in awe of the threats of God as they should, let us recall this verse whenever his vengeance is mentioned.