_Himself. This is the most difficult of all the psalms, (Calmet) crux ingeniorum. (Muis) --- The prodigies wrought by God in favour of his people, when they came out of Egypt, and conquered the land of Chanaan, are described by David in this triumphal canticle, which was sung when the ark was remove... [ Continue Reading ]
_Arise. These words were used when the Israelites decamped, (Numbers x. 35.; Calmet) and in the exorcisms to expel devils, who are here styled enemies. (St. Athanasius) --- The Jews were confounded when Christ arose again. (St. Augustine) --- The psalmist foretells the ruin of God's enemies, in the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Feast. This was done when the ark was removed, 1 Paralipomenon xv., and xvi. 3. (Calmet) --- But believers may now receive God himself. (St. Ambrose) (Psalm xxxix.) (Berthier)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Who ascendeth upon the west. Super occasum. St. Gregory understands it of Christ, who after his going down, like the sun, in the west, by the passion and death, ascended more glorious, and carried all before him. St. Jerome renders it, who ascendeth, or cometh up, through the deserts; (Challoner) wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Father, ( patris.) Hebrew, pater, "the Father....God." He delights in these titles, (Haydock) and though he dwelleth on high, he looketh on the low, Psalm cxii. 5. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Of one manner. That is, agreeing in faith, unanimous in love, and following the same manner of discipline. It is verified in the servants of God living together in his house, which is the Church, 1 Timothy iii. 15. (Challoner) --- Hebrew may signify, "He maketh those who were alone (steriles) to dwe... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM LXVII. (EXURGAT DEUS.) The glorious establishment of the Church of the New Testament, prefigured by the benefits bestowed on the people of Israel.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dropped. The earthquake and rain are not mentioned by Moses. But the prophets often supply omissions. Debora and Habacuc speak in the same lofty strains, Exodus xix. 16., Judges v. 4., and Habacuc iii. 6. (Calmet) --- Debora specifies some words, (Haydock) which seem to be here wanting, "the clouds... [ Continue Reading ]
_A free rain. The manna, which rained plentifully from heaven, in favour of God's inheritance, that is, of his people Israel: which was weakened indeed under a variety of afflictions, but was made perfect by God; that is, was still supported by divine Providence, and brought on to the promised land.... [ Continue Reading ]
_In it, &c. That is, in this Church, which is thy fold, and thy inheritance, shall thy animals, thy sheep, dwell: where thou hast plentifully provided for them. (Challoner) --- Those whom thou hast chosen shall enjoy this manna, or the blessed Sacrament. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_To them that preach good tidings. Evangelizantibus. That is, to the preachers of the gospel; who, receiving the word from the Lord, shall with great power and efficacy, preach thoughout the world the glad tidings of a Saviour, and of eternal salvation through him; (Challoner) with miracles followin... [ Continue Reading ]
The king of powers. That is, the mighty King, the Lord of Hosts, is of the beloved, of the beloved; that is, is on the side of Christ, his most beloved Son; and his beautiful house, viz., the Church, in which God dwells for ever, shall by her spiritual conquests, divide the spoils of many nations. T... [ Continue Reading ]
If you sleep among the midst of lots, ( inter medios cleros, &c.) viz., in such dangers and persecutions, as if your enemies were casting lots for your goods and persons: or in the midst of the lots ( inter medios terminos, as St. Jerome renders it) that is, upon the very bounds or borders of the do... [ Continue Reading ]
_Kings over her. That is, pastors and rulers over his Church, viz., the apostles, and their successors. Then by their ministry shall men be made whiter than the snow, which lies on the top of the high mountain Selmon, (Challoner) which is in the tribe of Ephraim, shaded with trees, Judges ix. 48. (W... [ Continue Reading ]
_The mountain of God. The Church, which (Isaias ii. 2.) is called, The mountain of the house of the Lord upon the top of the mountains. It is here called a fat and a curdled mountain; that is to say, most fruitful, and enriched by the spiritual gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost. (Challoner) --- Fat... [ Continue Reading ]
Why suspect ye curdled mountains? Why do you suppose or imagine there may be any other such curdled mountains? You are mistaken: the mountain thus favoured by God is but one; and this same he has chosen for his dwelling for ever. (Challoner) --- They who are not of the Church, vainly imagine, that a... [ Continue Reading ]
_The chariot of God, descending to give his law on Mount Sinai; as also of Jesus Christ, his Son, ascending into heaven, to send from thence the Holy Ghost, to publish his new law, is attended with ten thousands, that is with an innumerable multitude of joyful angels. (Challoner) --- Literally, "wit... [ Continue Reading ]
Led captivity captive. Carrying away with thee to heaven those who before had been the captives of Satan; and receiving from God the Father gifts to be distributed to men; even to those who were before unbelievers. (Challoner) --- Yea, even these were the spoils which Christ presented to his Father.... [ Continue Reading ]
_To us. so the Israelites might be filled with confidence in the desert, (Haydock) or the people pray that God would favour the pious design of their king. (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "God will carry us, (St. Jerome) or loadeth us with benefits. " (Protestants) (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_The issues from death. The Lord alone is master of the issues, by which we may escape from death. (Challoner) --- He killeth and giveth life, 1 Kings ii. 6._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sins. He will humble them, or will slay the proud, Psalm lxxii. 18. (Calmet) --- Though Christ died to save men, He will condemn the obstinate. (Worthington) --- Sinners take pride in what ought to fill them with confusion. (St. Augustine) (Du Hamel)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will turn them from Basan, &c. I will cast out my enemies from their rich possessions, signified by Basan, a fruitful country; and I will drive them into the depth of the sea: and make such a slaughter of them, that the feet of my servants may be dyed in their blood, &c. (Challoner) --- Into. Mos... [ Continue Reading ]
_Same. Streams of blood shall flow, as was the case when Moses overcame Og, &c., Numbers xxi. 23. (Calmet) --- The gospel was propagated without bloodshed, but no less effectually. At the last day, the just shall triumph over the reprobate. (Berthier)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy goings. Thy ways, thy proceedings, by which thou didst formerly take possession of the promised land in favour of thy people; and shalt afterwards of the whole world, which thou shalt subdue to thy Son. (Challoner) --- Many have now become acquainted with what Christ has done for the salvation... [ Continue Reading ]
_Princes. The apostles, the first converters of nations: attended by numbers of perfect souls, singing the divine praises, and virgins consecrated to God. (Challoner) --- St. Paul exhorts the faithful to sing hymns, Ephesians v. 19. (Berthier) --- Moses and Mary[Miriam] had sung a canticle, after th... [ Continue Reading ]
_From the fountains of Israel. From whom both Christ and his apostles sprung. By Benjamin, the holy Fathers on this place understand St. Paul, who was of that tribe, name here a youth, because he was the last called to the apostleship. By the princes of Juda, Zabulon, and Nephthali, we may understan... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mind. Through excessive joy. Hebrew also, "containing (or ruling) them." (St. Jerome) (Haydock) --- But this seems improper. Hence Protestants have, "with their ruler," though with is not in the original. (Berthier) --- Rodem (Keri rode) "presided." Saul, indeed, had been the first king of Israel;... [ Continue Reading ]
_Command thy strength. Give orders that thy strength may be always with us. (Challoner) --- Display thy power from thy holy temple. (Haydock) --- Send the Messias, grant perseverance to the just, and defend thy Church against all attacks. (Calmet) --- As she commenced by God's power, so by the same... [ Continue Reading ]
_From. Symmachus For. Kings shall reverence the temple, which David foresaw would be shortly erected; or, "with greater magnificence, than in the temple of Jerusalem, kings shall offer gifts to thee," (Deschamps) which clearly refers to the Messias. (Berthier) --- "As soon as thy temples shall be,... [ Continue Reading ]
Rebuke the wild beasts of the reeds: or the wild beasts which lie hid in the reeds. That is, the devils, who hide themselves in order to surprise their prey. Or by wild beasts, are here understood persecutors, who, for all their attempts against the Church, are but as weak reeds, which cannot prevai... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ambassadors shall come, &c. It is a prophecy of the conversion of the Gentiles, and by name of the Egyptians and Ethiopians, (Challoner) who were among the first converts, Isaias xix 9., Sophonias iii. 10., and Acts viii. 27. --- Ambassadors. Hebrew chashmannim occurs no where else. But it denotes... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sing ye to God, is rejected by St. Jerome; but defended by St. Hilary, &c. It seems proper to connect the former sentence after Selah, (Berthier) or may be added instead, to express applause. (Haydock) --- East. From Mount Olivet, which is on the east side of Jerusalem. (Challoner) --- God fills al... [ Continue Reading ]
_For Israel. Altering the stops, we might translate, "over Israel appears his magnificence;" (Berthier) agreeably to Hebrew, St. Augustine, &c. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Saints, or sanctuary. Hebrew literally, "thou art terrible, O God, from thy holy places." (Montanus) --- Yet Pagnin retains, "in his holy," &c. The tabernacle, or temple, (ver. 30.) and the ark, were esteemed the bulwarks of Israel. There God was pleased to grant his people's requests more easily,... [ Continue Reading ]