John Calvin Commentary Psalms 81:7

"Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder; I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah" — Psalms 81:7 (ASV)

You cried in trouble, and I delivered you. Here the same subject is pursued. By their crying when they were in distress, I understand the prayers which they then offered to God. It sometimes happens that those who are in extreme distress lament their calamities with confused crying; but as this afflicted people still had in them some remains of godliness, and as they had not forgotten the promise made to their fathers, I have no doubt that they directed their prayers to God.

Even people without religion, who never think of calling upon God when they are under the pressure of any great calamity, are moved by a secret natural instinct to turn to Him. This makes it more probable that the promise was, as it were, a schoolmaster to the Israelites, leading them to look to God.

Since no one sincerely calls upon Him except those who trust in Him for help, this crying should have more effectively convinced them that it was their duty to ascribe to Him alone the deliverance which was offered them. Regarding the secret place of thunder, some, in my opinion, with an overly refined interpretation, understand that God by thundering made the people's groanings inaudible to the Egyptians, so that the Egyptians, by hearing them, might not become more exasperated.

But the meaning simply is that the people were heard in a secret and wonderful manner, while, at the same time, clear signs were given by which the Israelites could be assured that they were helped by the Divine hand. God, it is true, was not seen by them face to face; but the thunder was a clear indication of His secret presence among them.

To make them value this benefit more highly, God tells them reproachfully that they were unworthy of it, having given such clear proof at the waters of Meribah (Exodus 17:7) that they had a wicked and perverse disposition.

It is as if He had said, "Your wickedness, having at that time so openly shown itself, surely from this it must be undeniable that My favor to you did not come from any consideration of your own merit."

This rebuke is no less applicable to us than to the Israelites. For God not only heard our groanings when we were afflicted under the tyranny of Satan, but before we were born appointed His only begotten Son to be the price of our redemption.

And afterward, when we were His enemies, He called us to be partakers of His grace, illuminating our minds by His gospel and His Holy Spirit; while we, nevertheless, continue to indulge in murmuring, yes, even proudly rebel against Him.