John Calvin Commentary Psalms 77:13

"Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: Who is a great god like unto God?" — Psalms 77:13 (ASV)

Your ways, O God! are in the sanctuary. Some translate this as in holiness, and they are led to do this because it seems to them a cold and meager form of expression to say that God’s ways are in his sanctuary. But as the rules of grammar will not easily admit this, we must inquire whether a profitable truth may not be drawn from the term sanctuary, which is the proper meaning of the original word בקדש, bakkodesh. Some are of the opinion that this is an abrupt exclamation, as if it had been said, O God, who are in the sanctuary! O Your ways! But I do not approve of this, for they do violence to the words of the prophet.

The clause should be read as one connected sentence, and the word sanctuary is to be taken either for heaven or for the temple. I am rather inclined to refer it to heaven, understanding the meaning to be that God’s ways rise high above the world, so that if we are truly desirous to know them, we must ascend above all heavens.

Although God’s works are in part evident to us, yet all our knowledge of them falls far short of their immeasurable height. Besides, it is to be observed that no one enjoys even the slightest taste of his works except those who by faith rise up to heaven. And yet, the furthest point we can ever attain is to contemplate with admiration and reverence the hidden wisdom and power of God, which, while they shine forth in his works, yet far surpass our limited understanding.

If it is objected that it is wrong to attempt to confine God’s ways to heaven, which are extended throughout the whole world, the answer is easy. For although there is not a single corner of the globe in which God does not exhibit some proof of his power and operation, yet the wonderful character of his works escapes human sight.

If any would rather understand sanctuary as meaning the temple, it may be noticed that we have met with an almost similar sentence in Psalm 73:16-17:

“When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me,
until I went into the sanctuary of God.”

The temple, indeed, in which God manifested himself, was, as it were, a heaven on earth.

It is now obvious that the meaning of the inspired writer is that, as at the beginning he had uttered distressing complaints, so now, having attained a calm and settled state of mind, he admires and adores the high ways of God, and, conscious of his own weakness, quietly and modestly keeps himself within the bounds prescribed to him, not permitting himself to judge or pass sentence upon God’s secret judgments according to the dictates of his carnal understanding.

He therefore immediately exclaims, Who is so great a God as our God? By this comparison, he does not mean that there are many gods, but he indirectly rebukes the deep infatuation of people in the world who, not content with the only true God whose glory is so conspicuous, invent many gods for themselves. If people would look upon God’s works with pure eyes, they would be led without much difficulty to rest with satisfaction in him alone.