John Calvin Commentary Psalms 7:12

"If a man turn not, he will whet his sword; He hath bent his bow, and made it ready." — Psalms 7:12 (ASV)

If he turn not—these verses are usually explained in two ways. The meaning is that if David’s enemies should persevere in their malicious designs against him, the vengeance their obstinate wickedness deserves is denounced against them. Accordingly, in the second clause, they supply the name of God,—If he turn not, GOD will whet his sword; as if it had been said, If my enemy does not repent, he will, finally, feel that God is completely armed to maintain and defend the righteous.

If it is understood in this sense, the third verse is to be considered as a statement of the reason why God will thus equip himself with armor; namely, because the ungodly, in conceiving all kinds of mischief, in laboring to bring forth wickedness, and in finally bringing forth deceit and falsehood, directly assail God and openly make war upon him.

But, in my judgment, those who read these two verses as one continuous sentence offer a more accurate interpretation. I am not, however, satisfied that even they fully bring out the meaning of the Psalmist. David, I have no doubt, by relating the dreadful attempts of his enemies against him, intended thereby to magnify the grace of God; for when these malicious men, strengthened by powerful military forces and abundantly provided with armor, furiously rushed upon him in the full expectation of destroying him, who would not have said that it was all over for him?

Moreover, a kind of irony is implied in the words, as he pretends to be afraid of their putting him to death. They mean the same thing as if he had said, “If my enemy does not alter his purpose, or turn his fury and his strength in another direction, who can preserve me from perishing by his hands? He has an abundant supply of arms, and he is endeavoring, by all methods, to accomplish my death.”

But Saul is the person of whom he particularly speaks, and therefore he says, he hath made fit his arrows for the persecutors. This implies that Saul had many agents in readiness who would willingly put forth their utmost efforts in seeking to destroy David.

The prophet's design, therefore, was to magnify the greatness of God's grace by showing the greatness of the danger from which God had delivered him.

Moreover, when it is said here, if he do not return, the word returning does not signify repentance and amendment in David’s enemy, but only a change of will and purpose, as if he had said, “It is in my enemy's power to do whatever his fancy may suggest.” From this, it appears more clearly how wonderful the change was that suddenly followed, contrary to all expectation.

When he says that Saul had prepared the instruments of death for his bow, he intimates that Saul was pursuing no ordinary thing, but was fully determined to wound to death the man at whom he shot.

Some, referring the Hebrew word דולקים doulekim, which we have translated as persecutors, to arrows, have rendered it as burning, because it also has this meaning; but the translation I have given is more appropriate.

David complains that he had reason to be afraid, not only of one man but of a great multitude, since Saul had armed a powerful body of men to pursue and persecute a poor fugitive.