John Calvin Commentary Psalms 73:10

"Therefore his people return hither: And waters of a full [cup] are drained by them." — Psalms 73:10 (ASV)

On this account his people will return hither. Commentators wrest this sentence into a variety of meanings. In the first place, as the relative his is used without an antecedent indicating whose people are spoken of, some understand it simply of the ungodly, as if it were said that the ungodly always resort to this reflection: and they view the word people as denoting a great troop or band; for as soon as a wicked man raises his standard, he always succeeds in drawing a multitude of associates after him. They, therefore, think the meaning is that every prosperous ungodly man has people flocking about him, as it were, in troops; and that, when within his palace or magnificent mansion, they are content with getting water to drink; so much does this perverse imagination bewitch them.

But there is another sense much more correct, and which is also approved by the majority of commentators: namely, that the people of God return here. Some take the word הלם, halom, which we have translated hither, as denoting afflicted; but this is a forced interpretation.

The meaning is not, however, yet sufficiently evident, and therefore we must inquire into it more closely. Some read the whole verse connectedly, thus: The people of God return hither, that they may drain full cups of the water of sorrow. But, in my opinion, this verse depends upon the preceding statements, and the sense is that many who had been regarded as belonging to the people of God were carried away by this temptation, and were even shipwrecked and swallowed up by it.

The prophet does not seem to speak here of the chosen people of God, but only to point to hypocrites and counterfeit Israelites who occupy a place in the Church. He declares that such persons are overwhelmed in destruction because, being foolishly led away to envy the wicked and to desire to follow them, they bid adieu to God and to all religion.

Still, however, this might, without any impropriety, be referred to the chosen seed, many of whom are so violently harassed by this temptation that they turn aside into crooked by-paths: not that they devote themselves to wickedness, but because they do not firmly persevere in the right path. The sense then will be that not only the herd of the profane, but even true believers, who have determined to serve God, are tempted with this unlawful and perverse envy and emulation.

What follows, Waters of a full cup are wrung out to them, seems to be the reason for the statement in the preceding clause, implying that they are tormented with vexation and sorrow when no advantage appears to be derived from cultivating true religion. To be saturated with waters is put metaphorically for drinking the bitterest distresses and being filled with immeasurable sorrows.