John Calvin Commentary Psalms 65:3

"Iniquities prevail against me: As for our transgressions, thou wilt forgive them." — Psalms 65:3 (ASV)

Words of iniquity have prevailed against me. He does not complain of the people being assailed with calumny, but is to be understood as confessing that their sins were the cause of any interruption that had occurred in the communication of divine favor to the Jews. The passage is parallel with that:

The ear of the Lord is not heavy that it cannot hear, but our iniquities have separated betwixt us and him (Isaiah 59:1).

David attributes it to his own sins and those of the people that God, who was accustomed to be liberal in his help, and so gracious and kind in inviting their dependence on him, had for a time withdrawn his divine countenance. First, he acknowledges his own personal guilt; afterwards, like Daniel 9:5, he joins the whole nation with himself.

And this truth is introduced by the Psalmist with no intention to dampen confidence in prayer, but rather to remove an obstacle standing in its way, as none could draw near to God unless convinced that he would hear the unworthy. It is probable that the Lord’s people were at that time suffering under some sign of divine displeasure, since David seems here to struggle with some temptation of this kind.

He evidently felt that a sure remedy was at hand, for no sooner has he referred to the subject of guilt than he recognises God's prerogative to pardon and expiate it. The verse before us must be viewed in connection with the preceding one, meaning that though their iniquities merited their being cast out of God’s sight, they would continue to pray, encouraged by his readiness to be reconciled to them.

We learn from this passage that God will not be entreated by us unless we humbly supplicate the pardon of our sins. On the other hand, we are to believe firmly that reconciliation with God is procured through gratuitous remission. Should he at any time withdraw his favor and frown upon us, we must learn by David’s example to rise to the hope of the expiation of our sins.

The reason for his using the singular number in the confession he makes of sin may be that, as king, he represented the whole people, or that he intended, like Daniel, to exhort each of them to an individual and particular examination and confession of his own guilt. We know how inclined hypocrites are to hide their personal sin under a formal acknowledgment of their share in the general transgression. But David, not from any affectation of humility but from deep inward conviction, begins with himself and afterwards includes others in the same charge.