Reformation Commentary on Scripture

Herman J. Selderhuis

• Publisher: IVP Academic
• Year: 2015
• ISBN:
  9780830898183
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Commentary

Preaching's Survey of Bibles and Bible ReferencePreaching's Top 5 Commentaries"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night." (Psalm 1: 1-2, ESV)The book of Psalms has been the subject of daily and nightly meditation throughout the history of the church, and has been a significant resource for Christian belief and practice, often serving as the church's prayer book and hymnal. Like generations of Christians before them, the Protestant Reformers turned often to the book of Psalms, but they did so during a time of significant spiritual renewal, theological debate and ecclesiological reform.In the Psalms the Reformers found comfort, guidance and wisdom from God that applied to their context as much as it did to David's. As John Calvin explained, the Psalms demonstrate every emotion that people have experienced: "The Holy Spirit has presented in a living image all the griefs, sorrows, fears, doubts, hopes, cares, perplexities, in short, all the emotions with which human minds are often disturbed." Moreover, as Martin Luther proclaimed, the Reformers also heard in the Psalms a resounding affirmation of the good news of Jesus Christ: "The Psalter ought to be a precious and beloved book because it promises Christ's death and resurrection so clearly."In this volume, Herman Selderhuis guides readers through the diversity of Reformation commentary on the first half of the Psalter. Here are both familiar voices and lesser-known figures from a variety of theological traditions, including Lutherans, Reformed, Radicals, Anglicans and Roman Catholics, many of whose comments appear here for the first time in English. By drawing on a variety of resources—including commentaries, sermons, treatises and confessions—this volume will enable scholars to better understand the depth and breadth of Reformation commentary, provide resources for contemporary preachers, and aid all those who seek to meditate upon God's Word day and night.

Commentary on Psalms 1–72

Overview: Our commentators maintain that the chief composer of these hymns, the Holy Spirit, inspired diverse cantors to sing lauds and laments to the Lord so that believers in every age would be strengthened and consoled by the divine promises of Christ, his example and the example of the saints. Here are prophecies of Christ’s life, death, resurrection and ascension—even the doctrine of his two natures in the unity of his person is revealed in the Psalms! Here is the full spectrum of human emotion: the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. The Psalms are a précis not only of Scripture—the Bible in miniature, as it were—but also of the soul. Readers of the Psalms learn how their forebears in faith in the context of the divine covenant communicated to God in every event and emotion; they teach us to rue and to rejoice. But, the reformers assert, as with any other part of Scripture, readers of the Psalms must read discerningly: some psalms contain prayers and praises, others instructions and promises, and all contain law and gospel. Each psalm must be read according to its genre; otherwise the church will misunderstand and misapply them. By reading or singing the Psalms in the context of Christ’s gift and example, not only will you learn to know Christ and his church but also you will come to know yourself.

Before delving into the commentary proper, the reformers—some explicitly, some implicitly—sketch their methodological approaches to the Psalms. All agree that exegesis apart from the Holy Spirit, the Scripture’s ultimate author, is futile. While there are intimations about typology in the Psalms, especially David typifying Christ “our spiritual David,” the commentators are not entirely agreed about how to do this typology (keep in mind the different genres; some of the selections are from commentaries, others from sermons). For example, Calvin and other Reformed theologians (e.g., Sebastian Münster and Moïse Amyraut) tend to distinguish carefully the historical David and Jesus of Nazareth, though without separating them. Luther and his disciples as well as Catholic commentators (though Cardinal Cajetan can surprise) demonstrate a more immediate christological interpretation, while not discarding the historical situatedness of David and the other psalmists. Both approaches agree that history is important; however, the Reformed in general would see history as augmenting the spirit of the text, and Lutherans would balk at the idea that any of Scripture’s history can be correctly understood without first knowing who Christ is and what he has done. Still, they would agree that these hymns are Christ’s and thus they belong to his body, the church. His village rings out with these songs.

Prolegomena: An Anatomy of Scripture and the Soul

The Ancient Division of Psalms into Five Books. The English Annotations: This book—cited as “the Psalms” by Christ himself and by Peter, which confirms the antiquity of this inscription, preventing scrupulousness in titles and quotations—has from ancient times by both Jews and Christians been subdivided into five books: the first ends at Psalm 41, the second at Psalm 72, the third at Psalm 89, the fourth at Psalm 106, and the fifth includes all the rest until the end. Most justify this subdivision for this reason: the concluding words in those final psalms are “Amen and Amen” in the first three books, a single “Amen” in the fourth, and a “Hallelujah” in the last. Other reasons are given too, but none of them are very likely or satisfactory. (See the comment on Psalms 41 and 72.) However, being ancient, this division should not be unknown to those who read ancient books. Other divisions according to the order of reading or singing, called kathismata, etc., which according to various churches and rites have been different, we here omit. Preface to Annotations on the Psalms.1

David Is Not the Sole Author but the Principal Author. The English Annotations: The author of this book—we mean the immediate and secondary author beside the original and general author of all true Scriptures, the Holy Spirit—though named in some other passages of Scripture as David . . . is not expressed here in the title. The truth is they are not all David’s psalms. Some were composed before him, others long after him—as will be shown later. . . . To make good this title and inscription, it is enough that the greater part of the Psalms were composed by David, and others were collected by him (as is generally believed) into one book and appointed or fitted for public use. Preface to Annotations on the Psalms.2

The Psalms Comprise the Entirety of Scripture. Martin Luther: The Psalter ought to be a precious and beloved book because it promises Christ’s death and resurrection so clearly—and depicts his kingdom and the condition and nature of all Christendom—that it might well be called a little Bible. Most beautifully and briefly it contains everything that is in the entire Bible; it is made into a fine enchiridion or handbook. It seems to me that the Holy Spirit himself wanted to take the trouble to compile a short Bible and example-book of all Christendom or all the saints, so that anyone who could not read the whole Bible would have here almost an entire summary of it, comprised in one dear little book. . . .

Where do we find finer words of joy than in the psalms of praise and thanksgiving? There you look into the hearts of all the saints, as into fine and pleasant gardens, yes, as into heaven—what fine, cordial and merry flowers spring up there from all sorts of beautiful and joyous thoughts toward God because of his good deeds! On the other hand, where do you find deeper, more miserable, more pitiful words of sorrow than in the psalms of lamentation? There again you look into the hearts of all the saints, as into death, yes, as into hell. How dark and gloomy it is there, with all kinds of disturbing glimpses of the wrath of God! So, too, when they speak of fear and hope, they use such words that no painter could so depict fear or hope, and no Cicero or orator could so portray them. . . . This is the reason why the Psalter is the book of all saints. Everyone, in whatever situation he may be, finds in it psalms and words that fit his situation—they fit so precisely, it is as if they were placed there just for his sake, so that he himself could not put it any better, nor could he find or wish for anything better. . . .

In sum, do you want to see the holy Christian church painted in living color and form, comprised in one little picture? Then pick up the Psalter! There you have a fine, bright, pure mirror that will show you what Christendom is. Yes, you will even find yourself in it and the true gnōthi seauton (“know yourself”), as well as God himself and all creatures. Preface to the Psalms (1545).3

The Psalms Are Essential for the Christian Life. Rudolf Gwalther: Even though all Scripture—which is from God and is of one Spirit and origin—serves us as manifold teaching, instruction, reproof, correction and consolation, nevertheless in the entire Bible we have no book in which all these parts as well as each individually will be found so bright and clear along with the abundant fruit and powerful assistance of the Holy Spirit as in the Psalter.

Thus, not without reason, some have called the Psalter a brief but complete version and summary of the entire Bible—or even a little Bible. . . . All this we find briefly and simply summarized in this book of Psalms. In it all the secrets of Christ are foreshadowed for us, namely, his eternal divinity, his assumed humanity, the entire course of his life, his teaching and his miraculous deeds—through which, even before he became human, he sustained and protected his church—his suffering and death and burial, his magnificent resurrection from the dead, his kingdom and eternal glory which he possesses eternally with God his Father in one substance. As well, we have numerous examples of true believers in Christ and his chosen servants. In them we can see—through the mediation of the same salvation received in Christ—how they served him, the gratitude they showed him for his gifts and good deeds, how they called on God in their grief, the firm hope they sustained in all suffering, what delight and joy they received in the multiplication of his kingdom and honor, in short how they spoke with God himself in every situation. From this, their spirit, mind and heart can be experienced and known as in a bright mirror.

Here we observe how they were often afflicted under the cross because of human stupidity and with what consolations they reestablished themselves again. These are written for all people as an example, so that they would not be frightened by the same trials; rather, through firm confidence in the divine mercy they would seize strong consolation. And because we human beings have no more precious and essential gift than prayer—through which we come before God and can speak with him about all the things that burden us—the Psalter should be for us a dear and precious treasure indeed! It contains all sorts of prayers and teaches us with what attitude, words and thoughts we should cry out to God. Dedicatory Letter to Wolffgang Weidner (1557).4

The Psalms Teach Us How to Speak to God. Anthony Gilby: For this purpose this book of Psalms is most necessary for every Christian: not to read them merely for fashion and custom—either in a known or unknown language (which would be to take God’s name in vain)—but to meditate on them in our hearts, and so by earnest and continual invocation and heartfelt prayers move the Lord our God to mercy, as his holy servants before us have always found mercy by the same means. While all other Scripture teaches us what God says to us, these prayers of the saints teach us what we should say to God, how we must prepare ourselves to appear before his majesty—both in prosperity and adversity. Therefore they should be used daily with great reverence and humility. . . . Meditate on these psalms by the same Spirit with David, so that you might feel true comfort in all troubles of mind and body (as David did) and so in the end be crowned in the heavens with David and reign forever with Christ our spiritual David in everlasting glory. Dedicatory Epistle to the English Edition of Beza’s Psalmes of Dauid (1572).5

The Psalms Are an Anatomy of the Soul. John Calvin: I have been accustomed to call this book, I think not inappropriately, “An Anatomy of all the Parts of the Soul.” For there is not an emotion of which anyone can be conscious that is not here represented as in a mirror. Or rather, the Holy Spirit has presented in a living image all the griefs, sorrows, fears, doubts, hopes, cares, perplexities, in short, all the emotions with which human minds are often disturbed. The other parts of Scripture contain the commandments which God charged his servants to announce to us. But here the prophets themselves are speaking with God. They are laying bare all their inner thoughts and feelings. They are calling or compelling each of us to examine ourselves lest one of the many infirmities of which we are guilty and one of the many sins with which we overflow remain secret. It is certainly a rare and remarkable achievement when after every lair is shaken out, the heart is led into the light, purged from that most wicked infection, hypocrisy.

In short, if calling on God is one of the principal means of securing our salvation, then no other better and surer rule can be asked for than from this book. Thus, anyone who grows in understanding it will attain a good part of heavenly doctrine. Genuine prayer proceeds first from our sense of need, then from faith in God’s promises. So here in this book, readers will become very conscious of their wicked feelings, and they will be admonished how to seek their cure. Truly whatever is able to encourage us whenever we pray to God is demonstrated in this book. Not only are there promises here, but between God’s invitation and the flesh’s impediments, there stands One in the middle for us; he prepares himself for prayer. Thus, if various doubts ever attack us, let us learn to struggle until our mind soars unhindered to God. And not only this, but in any doubt, fear and panic let us labor in prayer until, consoled, it no longer disturbs us. Preface to the Reader.6

Observations for the Prudent Reader of the Psalms. Philipp Melanchthon: In Ephesians 4, it is written that by divine help the ministry of heavenly teaching is to be preserved and that constantly prophets, pastors and doctors be raised up lest the light of heavenly teaching, true invocation of God and true worship be extinguished, and that the whole human race would not rush into darkness, error and eternal destruction. And a succession of times in the church of God henceforth shows examples of this vast gift of God all the way from our first parents. Immediately leaders and doctors of the church were raised up: after Seth, Enoch, then Noah, Shem, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, then Samuel. Nathan succeeded Samuel, followed by David and many ot...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Project Staff
• InterVarsity Press
• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Abbreviations
• A Guide to Using This Commentary
• General Introduction
• Introduction to the Psalms
• Commentary on Psalms 1–72
• 1:1-6 THE TWO WAYS
• 2:1-12 THE REIGN OF THE LORD’S ANOINTED
• 3:1-8 SAVE ME, O MY GOD!
• 4:1-8 ANSWER ME WHEN I CALL!
• 5:1-12 LEAD ME INTO YOUR TEMPLE
• 6:1-10 O LORD, DELIVER MY LIFE
• 7:1-17 IN YOU I TAKE REFUGE
• 8:1-9 HOW MAJESTIC IS THE CREATOR’S NAME!
• 9:1-20 I WILL RECOUNT YOUR WONDERFUL DEEDS
• 10:1-18 WHERE ARE YOU, LORD? DRAW NEAR!
• 11:1-7 THE MIGHTY AND RIGHTEOUS LORD REIGNS FROM HEAVEN
• 12:1-8 WHY DO THE WICKED FLOURISH AND THE FAITHFUL VANISH?
• 13:1-6 I REMEMBER THE LORD
• 14:1-7 THE FOOL SAYS THERE IS NO GOD
• 15:1-5 WHO SHALL DWELL ON YOUR HOLY HILL?
• 16:1-11 YOU WILL NOT ABANDON MY SOUL
• 17:1-15 IN THE SHADOW OF THE LORD’S PROMISES
• 18:1-50 THE LORD IS MY ROCK AND MY FORTRESS
• 19:1-14 THE LAW OF THE LORD IS PERFECT
• 20:1-9 TRUST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD
• 21:1-13 THE KING REJOICES IN THE LORD’S STRENGTH
• 22:1-31 MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?
• 23:1-6 THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
• 24:1-10 THE KING OF GLORY
• 25:1-22 TEACH ME YOUR PATHS
• 26:1-12 I WILL BLESS THE LORD
• 27:1-14 THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND SALVATION
• 28:1-9 THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH AND SHIELD
• 29:1-11 ASCRIBE GLORY TO GOD
• 30:1-12 JOY COMES WITH THE MORNING
• 31:1-24 INTO YOUR HANDS, FATHER, I COMMIT MY SPIRIT
• 32:1-11 BLESSED ARE THE FORGIVEN
• 33:1-22 THE STEADFAST LOVE OF THE LORD
• 34:1-22 TASTE AND SEE THE LORD’S GOODNESS
• 35:1-28 GREAT IS THE LORD
• 36:1-12 HOW PRECIOUS IS YOUR STEADFAST LOVE
• 37:1-40 THE LORD WILL NOT FORSAKE HIS SAINTS
• 38:1-22 DO NOT FORSAKE ME, O LORD
• 39:1-13 WHAT IS THE MEASURE OF MY DAYS?
• 40:1-17 MY HELP AND DELIVERER
• 41:1-13 LORD, BE GRACIOUS TO ME
• 42:1-11 WHY ARE YOU CAST DOWN, O MY SOUL?
• 43:1-5 SEND OUT YOUR LIGHT AND TRUTH
• 44:1-26 COME TO OUR HELP
• 45:1-17 THE MAGNIFICENT, ETERNAL REIGN OF THE LORD
• 46:1-11 A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD
• 47:1-9 THE LORD’S ASCENSION AS KING OVER ALL THE EARTH
• 48:1-14 ZION, THE CITY OF OUR GOD
• 49:1-20 WHY SHOULD I FEAR IN TIMES OF TROUBLE?
• 50:1-23 THEOPHANY OF THE DIVINE JUDGE
• 51:1-19 CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART
• 52:1-9 DO NOT BOAST; INSTEAD SEEK REFUGE IN OUR MIGHTY GOD
• 53:1-6 NO ONE DOES GOOD—NOT EVEN ONE
• 54:1-7 THE LORD GIVES LIFE
• 55:1-23 ALL OUR BURDENS WE CAST ON THE LORD
• 56:1-13 STEADFAST CONFIDENCE IN GOD
• 57:1-11 FILL THE EARTH TO OVERFLOWING WITH YOUR GLORY
• 58:1-11 GOD IS THE JUST JUDGE
• 59:1-17 SAVE ME FROM MY PURSUERS
• 60:1-12 TRAMPLE OUR OPPONENTS, LORD
• 61:1-8 LEAD ME TO THE ROCK
• 62:1-12 MY SOUL AWAITS GOD’S SALVATION
• 63:1-11 MY SOUL THIRSTS AND HUNGERS FOR THE LORD
• 64:1-10 HIDE ME FROM THE WICKED
• 65:1-13 PRAISE THE CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH!
• 66:1-20 HOW AWESOME ARE THE LORD AND HIS DEEDS
• 67:1-7 LIFT THE VEIL AND REVEAL YOURSELF TO ALL PEOPLE
• 68:1-35 GOD SCATTERS HIS ENEMIES
• 69:1-36 SAVE ME FROM THE DEPTHS
• 70:1-5 DO NOT DELAY, MY REDEEMER!
• 71:1-24 DO NOT FORSAKE ME
• 72:1-20 THE KING’S ETERNAL REIGN AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
• Map of Europe at the Time of the Reformation
• Timeline of the Reformation
• Biographical Sketches of Reformation-Era Figures and Works
• Sources for Biographical Sketches
• Bibliography
• Author and Writings Index
• Subject Index
• Scripture Index
• Notes
• Praise for Reformation Commentary on Scripture
• Reformation Commentary on Scripture Board of Advisers
• Series Editors
• Volume Editor
• Reformation Commentary on Scripture
• Finding the Textbook You Need
• Copyright