Bethsabee. Septuagint, "Bersabee." Some copies add, "the wife of Urias." (Haydock) --- The rest of the title is in Hebrew, &c., so that it is one of the most authentic. Nathan did not give the admonition till about a year had elapsed after the transgression, (2 Kings xii.) when David was made to ent... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy great mercy. Such is the purport of the Hebrew chasdec, though (Haydock) the Chaldean and Syriac omit great. My sin requires the deepest compunction. I must strive to repair the scandal I have given. (Calmet) --- Mercies. I stand in need of many sorts, mitigation of punishment, true sorrow and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yet more, by baptism. (Eusebius; St. Ambrose, apol.) --- The true penitent never ceases to deplore his sins, like David, St. Peter, and St. Paul, Ecclesiasticus v. 5. The psalmist prays, that all the remains of sin may be obliterated, John xiii. 10. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Me. I do not forget it, but am covered with shame. (Calmet) --- Sin is our greatest enemy, and continually cries for vengeance. (Haydock) --- While David did not confess, his sin lay heavy upon him. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Only, or principally, who art the only God, (1 Timothy i. 17.; Worthington) the judge and witness of my crime. (Haydock) --- David was a king, and acknowledged no judge among men. (St. Ambrose, c. x.) --- Soli Deo reus est. (Cassiodorus) --- Urias, whom he had injured, was no more. (St. Augustine) -... [ Continue Reading ]
Sins. Hebrew, "iniquity,....and in sin did my mother warm or conceive me." Original sin has a manifold deformity, and is the fatal root of other transgressions. See St. Augustine, Ench.; St. Thomas Aquinas, [Summa Theologiae] i. 2. q. 82. a. 2., est multiplex virtute. (Haydock) --- The prophet speak... [ Continue Reading ]
_Uncertain. Hebrew, "in the interior," I am full of sin, and thou requirest that I should constantly adhere to virtue. See Job xiv. 1. --- To me. This increases my crime, (Calmet) as I cannot plead ignorance. (Menochius) --- Those who have true faith, are more easily converted. But God gives to all... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hyssop, which was used in sprinkling lepers, &c., (Leviticus xiv. 6.) not that the like ceremony, or even sacrifice, would suffice to heal the wound of the soul. Sincere contrition, (ver. 18, 19.) and the virtue of Christ's blood, are necessary. (Calmet) (Hebrews ix. 19.) --- The heat (Numbers xix.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rejoice, when thou givest me an assurance of pardon. My bones, or virtue, shall then be restored. Hebrew, "the bones which thou hast broken may exult." (St. Jerome) (Haydock) --- God gives contrition, after which the whole interior is filled with joy. (Berthier) --- When the affections are purified... [ Continue Reading ]
_Face. Anger. If the sinner consider his fault, God will forget it. (Calmet) --- His justice requires that he should punish the impenitent. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Create. Hebrew bera, a term never used but for a new production. Whatever comes immediately from God must be pure, and as David had fallen into impurity, he earnestly implores this gift. He prays for the new heart of flesh, Ezechiel xxxvi. 26. (Haydock) --- Thou hast said, Behold, I make all things... [ Continue Reading ]
_Spirit of prophecy, which is not withdrawn, except for some crime. (Origen) (Huet. p. 35.) --- David had been without this privilege, till his repentance. (St. Athanasius) --- Yet St. Chrysostom and Theodoret maintain the contrary. (Calmet) --- He prays for final perseverance, which is due to none,... [ Continue Reading ]
Salvation, or thy salutary joy, (Berthier) "the joy of thy Jesus," (St. Jerome) for whom he prays, (St. Augustine) knowing that He will save his people from their sins, and that there is salvation in no other name. (Haydock) --- Perfect. Literally, "principal." Septuagint, "conducting;" such a spiri... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thee. The sinner cannot testify his gratitude better, than by promoting the conversion of others. (Worthington) --- This is a sort of satisfaction. (Menochius) --- While engaged in sin, David could not well exhort his subjects to repentance. His example was rather an inducement for them to transgre... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blood, from death, which I have deserved. (St. Athanasius) --- That of Urias, and his companions, (Worthington) cries to heaven for vengeance, 2 Kings xi. 24. (Haydock) ---Hence the word sanguinibus, is used. (Berthier) --- Spare me, and my people. --- Justice, which has given place to mercy. (Calm... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sacrifice. If my crime were of such a nature as the be expiated by certain victims, I would surely have offered them: but my heart has offended, and must do penance. (Calmet) --- The legal victims were not of themselves sufficient to remit sin. (Menochius) --- Contrition was necessary, Isaias lxvi.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Deal. These two verses have no necessary connexion with the preceding: they may have been added by some prophet at Babylon, (Calmet) or David foresaw the destruction of the city by the Chaldeans. (St. Chrysostom) --- He might fear that his sin would draw ruin on the capital, as a much less offence... [ Continue Reading ]
_Justice; works of piety, (Psalm iv. 6.) or victims vowed or prescribed by the law; the same which are afterwards styled holocausts (Calmet) by two different terms, hola and calil. (Haydock) --- The latter includes fruits, &c. (Calmet) --- While we are in sin, our good works are less acceptable. (Me... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM L. (MISERERE.) The repentance and confession of David after his sin. The fourth penitential psalm.... [ Continue Reading ]