John Calvin Commentary Psalms 49:4

"I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp." — Psalms 49:4 (ASV)

I will incline my ear to a parable. The Hebrew word משל, mashal, which I have translated parable, properly denotes a similitude; but it is often applied to any deep or weighty sayings, because these are generally embellished with figures and metaphors. The noun which follows, חידת, chidoth, and which I have rendered an enigma or riddle, is to be understood in nearly the same sense.

In Ezekiel 17:2, we have both the nouns with their corresponding verbs joined together, חור חידה ומשל משל, chud chedah umshol mashal, the literal translation being, “Enigmatize an enigma, and parabolize a parable.” Although I am aware that the reference here is to an allegorical discourse, I have already referred to the reason why, in Hebrew, any remarkable or important sayings are called enigmas or similitudes.

The Psalmist, when he adds that he will open his dark saying, shows that nothing was further from his intention than to wrap the subject of his discourse in perplexing and intricate obscurity. The truths of revelation are so high that they exceed our comprehension; but, at the same time, the Holy Spirit has so accommodated them to our capacity as to make all Scripture profitable for instruction. No one can plead ignorance: for the deepest and most difficult doctrines are made plain to the most simple and unlettered of mankind.

I see little force in the idea, suggested by several interpreters, that the Psalmist employed his harp to make a subject—in itself harsh and disagreeable—more engaging through the charms of music. He would merely have followed the usual practice of accompanying the psalm with the harp.