_Changed. A psalm for Christian converts, to remember the passion of Christ; (Challoner) whose sentiments this and the 21st psalm express in the most energetic language. (Berthier) --- It may have been composed by a captive Levite, (Calmet) or David may allude to their sufferings at Babylon, or to h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Save me from affliction, Luke xxii. 42. Christ could not be lost. (Menochius) --- Waters of afflictions and sorrows. My soul is sorrowful even unto death, Matthew xxvi. (Challoner) See John iii. 6._... [ Continue Reading ]
Standing, _Greek: upostasis, "subsistence:" there is no bottom. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hoarse. This might be literally true, as Christ had suffered the greatest torments, and recited this and the 21st psalm on the cross; looking up towards heaven, so that his eyes were weakened, as well as by shedding many tears. Hope. Thus the blasphemy of heretics, who pretend that he gave way to d... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cause. The captives had not injured Babylon, and Christ had even bestowed the greatest favours upon his enemies. He suffered for our sins, Isaias liii. 4. (Calmet) --- Away. Christ in his passion made restitution of what he had not taken away, by suffering the punishment due to our sins, and so rep... [ Continue Reading ]
_My foolishness and my offences; which my enemies impute to me: or the follies and sins of men, which I have taken upon myself. (Challoner) --- My cross is foolishness to the Gentiles, 1 Corinthians i. 23. (St. Augustine)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_For me. If I rise not again, my disciples will take me for a mere man. If the captivity continue much longer, many will despair, ver. 11. (Calmet) --- Suffer not the weak to be scandalized in my passion. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Reproach. Because I would not adore idols. Christ undertook to expiate our offences, and to satisfy the justice of his Father, Romans xv. 3. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mother. This might be true with respect to some apostate Jews. But it was more fully accomplished in Christ, who was betrayed by Judas, &c. (Calmet) --- His own received him not, John i. (Berthier)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Upon me. The disciples remembered that this had been written concerning Christ, who drove out the profaners of his temple, (John ii. 17.) and will not be less severe on those who dishonour the Church by their scandalous lives, or by propagating erroneous opinions. (Calmet) --- St. Paul (Romans xv.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Covered. Retiring from society. (Berthier) --- Roman Septuagint and Houbigant, "I humbled." Hebrew, "I bewailed my soul in fasting," (Aquila) as if death were inevitable; and this practice was derided, as the fasts of the Church, (Haydock) and mortification, (Worthington) are still by unbelievers.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hair-cloth. The sacred humanity, which being torn, let out the price of our redemption. (St. Augustine) (Menochius) --- I mourned for my country, &c. (Calmet) --- Christ was clothed in derision, with a soldier's straight purple garment. (Berthier)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Song. Both judges and common people (Worthington) derided me over their cups of shecar, (Haydock) or strong drink, and palm wine, Lamentations iii. 14. (Calmet) --- Thus the soldiers made Christ their jest, while they drank on the long night of his passion. (Berthier)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Pleasure. Which is seasonable, and appointed for pardon, Psalm xxxi. 6., and ci. 14. --- Father, forgive them, &c. The term of the captivity is at hand. I seek no revenge; but commit my cause to thee. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Waters. Beneath which the Hebrews supposed hell was placed, Job xxvi. 5. (St. Hilary v. 39.) --- He prays to be delivered from misery, (ver. 2.) and for a glorious resurrection. (Calmet) --- Christ could not be detained in limbo or in the grave. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Enemies. That they may insult no longer over me, (Calmet) being converted or covered with shame, (Menochius) that they do no more hurt. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Shame, ( reverentiam.) St. Augustine, &c., read verecundiam. (Calmet) --- Christ was covered with all sorts of reproach. (Haydock) (Eusebius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Misery. For which I ardently longed, as the Fathers explain it. --- None. I expected that my brethren would at least condole with me: but I was deceived. Christ drank the bitter chalice to the dregs, and found no consolation even from his Father. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Food. Tertullian reads "drink;" which agrees better with gall. Yet it might be mixed with food, (Calmet) with wine and myrrh, which were given to our Saviour, when he arrived at Calvary, as vinegar was offered to him on the cross, Matthew xxvii. 34., and John xix. 28. This was the last prophecy whi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let their table, &c. What here follows in the style of an imprecation, is a prophecy of the wretched state to which the Jews should be reduced, in punishment of their wilful obstinacy; (Challoner) or it may be a sentence pronounced on them by Jesus Christ. They are driven from their own country, an... [ Continue Reading ]
_Always. The Babylonians were ordered by Cyrus to look upon the Persians as their masters. (Xenophon vii.) --- Nothing could more strikingly point out the present condition of the Jews than this passage. They are every where kept under, and see not the sense of the Scriptures, (Calmet) and the truth... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy wrathful. Literally, "the fury of thy anger." (Haydock) --- The first term denotes expedition; the second, perseverance. Quickly destroy them, without redress. (Theodoret) (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Desolate. Babylon gave place to Susa, and "was reduced to a solitude by the vicinity of Seleucia." (Pliny, [Natural History?] vi. 26.) (Isaias xlvii.) --- But the fall of Jerusalem was more sudden and memorable within 40 years after the death of Christ, Psalm lviii. 7. (Calmet) --- The Jews, and pa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wounds. The enemy persecuted Christ even after his death, opening his side, spreading false reports, and guarding his tomb. (Calmet) --- God ordained his death for the good of man: but they sought it out of malice. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Iniquity. The first term may denote the crime; and the second, the punishment. (Calmet) --- Peccatum pæna peccati est. (St. Augustine) --- God permits people to fall; (Worthington) but he does not force them. (Haydock) --- Let the Babylonians become victims of thy indignation: but save thy people.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Living. Let them die. (Grotius) --- If we understand the book of the predestinate to life eternal, and not merely to present and mutable justice, (Tirinus) God never blots any out. But though they fall, he brings them to repentance. (St. Augustine; Estius; Bellarmine) --- The reprobation of the obs... [ Continue Reading ]
_Up. The cross is now triumphant, (Haydock) an object of veneration. (Berthier) --- Christ submitted to die upon it, and rose again. (Worthington) --- He was exposed naked, and was truly a man of sorrows. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hoofs. They were to be three years old. (Kimchi) --- So Virgil says, (\'c6neid ix.) Jam cornu petat & pedibus qui spargat arenam. ([Virgil,] Eclogues iii.) (Calmet) --- Our prayers are therefore offered through our Lord Jesus Christ, Hebrews xiii. 15. (Berthier) --- Devout prayer is more acceptable... [ Continue Reading ]
_See, my deliverance, or thy just vengeance on the wicked. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Prisoners. Martyrs, (Menochius) and those who suffer for the faith, will be rewarded. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therein, the fish. Our admiration of creatures causes us to praise God. (St. Augustine; St. Hilary)_... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM LXVIII. (SALVUM ME FAC DEUS.) Christ, in his passion, declareth the greatness of his sufferings, and the malice of his persecutors, the Jews; and he foretelleth their reprobation. Sion. The Catholic Church. The cities of Juda, &c., her places of worship, which shall be established throughout... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therein. The succession of the Catholic Church is uninterrupted. (Worthington) --- Those who adhere to Christ by faith, hope, and charity, will be saved. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]