To this end, the prophet is mindful that in their desperate straits God
suddenly and wonderfully and beyond all hope succors the poor and
almost lost; those wandering through the desert he protects from wild
beasts and at last guides them back to the way [Psalm 107:4-7]; to
the needy and hungry he supplies food [v. 9]; the prisoners he frees from
loathsome dungeons and iron bands [vs. 10-16]; the shipwrecked he leads
back to port unharmed [vs. 23-30]; the half dead he cures of disease [vs.
17-20]; he burns the earth with heat and dryness, or makes it fertile with
the secret watering of grace [vs. 33-38]; he raises up the humblest from the
crowd, or casts down the lofty from the high level of their dignity [vs. 39-
41]. By setting forth examples of this sort, the prophet shows that what
are thought to be chance occurrences are just so many proofs of heavenly
providence, especially of fatherly kindness. And hence ground for rejoicing
is given to the godly, while as for the wicked and the reprobate, their
mouths are stopped [v. 42]. But because most people, immersed in their
own errors, are struck blind in such a dazzling theater, he exclaims that
to weigh these works of God wisely is a matter of rare and singular
wisdom [v. 43], in viewing which they who otherwise seem to be
extremely acute profit nothing. And certainly however much the glory of
God shines forth, scarcely one man in a hundred is a true spectator of
it!
In no greater degree is his power or his wisdom hidden in darkness. His
power shows itself clearly when the ferocity of the impious, in everyone’s
opinion unconquerable, is overcome in a moment, their arrogance
vanquished, their strongest defenses destroyed, their javelins and armor
shattered, their strength broken, their machinations overturned, and
themselves fallen of their own weight; and when their audacity, which
exalted them above heaven, lays them low even to the center of the earth;
when, conversely the humble are raised up from the dust, and the needy
are lifted up from the dung heap [
afflicted are rescued from their extreme tribulation; the despairing are
restored to good hope; the unarmed, few and weak, snatch victory from
the armed, many and strong. Indeed, his wisdom manifests his excellence
when he dispenses everything at the best opportunity; when he confounds
all wisdom of the world [cf. 1 Corinthians 1:20]; when “he catches
the crafty in their own craftiness” [1 Corinthians 3:19 p.; cf.Job
5:13]. In short, there is nothing that he does not temper in the best way.
—John Calvin Institutes of Christian Religion 1.5.viii