John Calvin Commentary Psalms 75:6

"For neither from the east, nor from the west, Nor yet from the south, [cometh] lifting up." — Psalms 75:6 (ASV)

For exaltations come neither from the east nor from the west. The prophet here provides an admirable remedy for correcting pride when he teaches us that promotion or advancement does not proceed from the earth but from God alone. What most frequently blinds people is their looking to the right and to the left and gathering from all directions riches and other resources, so that, strengthened by these, they may be able to gratify their desires and lusts.

The prophet, therefore, affirms that by not rising above the world, they are making a great mistake, since it is God alone who has the power to exalt and to abase. “This,” it may be said, “seems to be at variance with common experience, since the majority of people who attain the highest degrees of honor owe their elevation either to their own strategy and deceitful practices, or to popular favor and partiality, or to other earthly means.”

The reason given for this assertion, God is judge, also seems unsatisfactory. I answer that although many attain high positions either by unlawful methods or by the help of worldly means, yet that does not happen by chance. Such people are advanced to their high position by the secret purpose of God, so that He may then scatter them like refuse or chaff.

The prophet does not simply attribute judgment to God. He also defines what kind of judgment it is, affirming that it consists in this: by casting down one person and elevating another to dignity, He orders the affairs of the human race as seems good in His sight. I have stated that considering this is the most effective way to humble proud spirits; for the reason worldly people dare to attempt whatever comes into their minds is because they imagine God is confined to heaven and do not think they are restrained by His secret providence.

In short, they would strip Him of all sovereign power so that they might find a free and unhindered path for the gratification of their lusts. Therefore, to teach us to remain content with our own condition with all moderation and humility, the Psalmist clearly defines what God’s judgment, or the order He observes in governing the world, consists of: it belongs to Him alone to exalt or to abase whomever of humankind He pleases.

From this it follows that all those who, spreading the wings of their vanity, aspire to any kind of exaltation without any regard for or dependence on God, are guilty of robbing Him, as much as they can, of His prerogative and power. This is very apparent not only from their frantic plans but also from the blasphemous boasts in which they indulge, saying, “Who will hinder me?”

“What will withstand me?” As if, indeed, it were not an easy matter for God, with His nod alone, suddenly to place a thousand obstacles in their way to make all their efforts ineffective. Just as worldly people, by their recklessness and perverse schemes, are guilty of trying to strip God of His royal dignity, so whenever we are dismayed by their threats, we are guilty of wickedly setting limits to the sovereignty and power of God.

If, whenever we hear the wind blowing with any violence, we are as frightened as if we were struck by a thunderbolt from heaven, such extreme readiness to be thrown into a state of alarm clearly shows that we do not yet thoroughly understand the nature of the governance God exercises over the world.

We would, no doubt, be ashamed to rob Him of the title of judge; indeed, there is almost no one who would not shrink with horror at the thought of such great blasphemy. And yet, when our natural understanding has forced from us the confession that He is the judge and the supreme ruler of the world, we imagine Him as holding only a kind of inactive sovereignty—which I do not know how to describe—as if He did not govern humankind by His power and wisdom.

But the person who believes it to be an established principle that God disposes of all people as seems good in His sight, and shapes for every person their condition in this world, will not stop at earthly means; they will look above and beyond these to God.

The application of this doctrine is that the godly should submit themselves completely to God and beware of being lifted up with empty confidence. When they see the wicked growing proud, they should not hesitate to despise their foolish and misguided presumption.

Again, although God has in His own hand sovereign power and authority, so that He can do whatever He pleases, yet He is called judge, to teach us that He governs the affairs of humankind with the most perfect equity. From this it follows that every person who refrains from inflicting injuries and committing evil deeds may, when injured and treated unjustly, turn to the judgment seat of God.