_Edom, ( Idumææ.) (Haydock) --- Several copies read Judææ; which agrees with the Hebrew, &c. The Idumeans, after the captivity, occupied those deserts (Calmet) or Ziph, Haret, &c., (Worthington) where David had screened himself from the fury of Saul. This psalm may express his sentiments, (Theodoret... [ Continue Reading ]
Day. The manna dissolved with the sun beams, and God will be served with diligence. --- Flesh. The sensations of my soul affect all my body. (Worthington) --- Thirst is more insupportable than hunger; and the psalmist could not express his ardour better. (Calmet) --- He loves God with all his streng... [ Continue Reading ]
_Land. "O solitude," cries out St. Ephrem, "ladder of heaven, mother of compunction,....and piety, thou art the guardian of the eyes," &c. --- Glory. The ark, (Calmet) or Jesus Christ, the desired of all nations. (St. Jerome) (Haydock) --- I have attended thy worship in spirit, not being able to be... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lives. For these must perish, while heaven remains for ever. (St. Hilary) --- This consolation is preferable to any worldly prosperity. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hands. Doing good works, as the Fathers explain it. This is the posture of people who pray, or take an oath. (Tertullian) (1 Timothy ii. 8.) (Calmet) --- I will, &c. Comfort is proportioned to suffering for Christ, 2 Corinthians i. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fatness. With the most exquisite delights of the temple, Jeremias xxxi. 14. (Calmet) --- Thy grace will enable me to give thee due praise (Worthington) with joy. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bed. I will think on thee both when I retire to rest, and when I get up. (Berthier) --- Thou art my first beginning, and last end. (Haydock) --- At all times I will meditate on thy mercies (Calmet) in bed, and much more, when I arise, (Worthington) as I shall not then be so much oppressed with drow... [ Continue Reading ]
_Earth. To seek me out, (Houbigant) or they shall perish. The Babylonians were exposed to many miseries under Cyrus, as the prophets assert, (Isaias xiii. 1., and Jeremias xxv. 12.) though profane history be silent. (Calmet) --- David foretells the destruction of his persecutors, either temporal or... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king. David, (Berthier, &c.) or Zorobabel, for whom the Jews had the highest regard, though he was not an independent monarch, nor wore a crown, Aggeus ii. 24., and Zacharias iii. 8. It was customary to swear by the life of the king, 1 Kings i. 26., and xx. 3. The Fathers understand Jesus Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM LXII. (DEUS DEUS MEUS AD TE.) The prophet aspireth after God.... [ Continue Reading ]