John Calvin Commentary Psalms 95:10

"Forty years long was I grieved with [that] generation, And said, It is a people that do err in their heart, And they have not known my ways:" — Psalms 95:10 (ASV)

Forty years I strove with this generation. The Psalmist presents this as an aggravation of their perverse obstinacy: that God strove with them for such a long time without effect. Occasionally, a violent display of perversity might occur that soon subsides; but God complains that He had constant reasons for contention with His people throughout the entire forty years.

And this proves to us the incurable waywardness of that people. The word generation is used with the same intention. The word דור, dor, signifies an age, or the allotted term of human life; and it is here applied to the men of an age, as if the Psalmist had said that the Israelites whom God had delivered were incorrigible throughout their entire lives.

The verb אקוט, akut, which I have rendered I strove, is, by some, translated contemned, and in the Septuagint it reads, προσωχθισα, I was incensed, or enraged; but Hebrew interpreters retain the genuine meaning: that God strove with them in a continual course of contention. This was a remarkable proof of their extreme obstinacy, and God is introduced in the verse as formally pronouncing judgment upon them, to indicate that after they had shown their ungodliness in so many different ways, there could be no doubt regarding their folly.

Erring in heart, is an expression intended not to extenuate their conduct, but to stamp it with folly and madness, as if God had said that He was dealing with beasts rather than with men endowed with sense and intelligence. The reason is added: they would not pay attention to the many works of God set before their eyes and, above all, to His word. For the Hebrew term דרך, derech, which I have rendered ways, comprehends His law and repeated admonitions, as well as His miracles performed before them.

It demonstrated amazing folly that when God had condescended to dwell so intimately among them, and had made such glorious displays of Himself, both in word and deeds, they nevertheless shut their eyes and overlooked all that had been done. This is the reason why the Psalmist, considering that they wandered in error amidst such great light as they enjoyed, speaks of their stupidity as amounting to madness.