Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

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Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

Psalm 109 with John Calvin – God Fights Our Battles My God, whom I praise, do not remain silent (v. 1). In these words, which introduce the psalm, David declares that he relies on God alone to prove his integrity. When David was attacked in a cruel and hostile manner, he did not unlawfully return evil for evil, but committed himself to the hand of God, fully satisfied that he alone could guard him from all evil. It is a great and desirable achievement for a person to restrain their passions by directly and immediately making their appeal to God’s courtroom at the very time when they are abused without cause, and when the very injuries are calculated to arouse them to revenge. For some people aim to live in terms of friendship with the good, but when they come in contact with evil people, they imagine they are free to return injury for injury. All the godly are susceptible to this temptation. The Holy Spirit, however, restrains us, so that though often provoked by the cruelty of our enemies to seek revenge, we abandon all fraudulent and violent behavior, and give ourselves to God alone through prayer. We are instructed by David’s example to do the same if we wish to overcome our enemies through the power and protection of God. In Psalm 69:12, we have a parallel passage: “Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of the drunkards. But I pray to you, LORD!” Although David was aware that the whole world was opposed to him, he could still cast all his cares upon God, and this was enough to calm his mind. And as the Holy Spirit taught David and all the godly to offer up prayers like these, it must follow that those who imitate them will be promptly