Maheleth. A musical instrument, or chorus of musicians, to answer one another, (Challoner) in doleful music. (Worthington) --- See Psalm xli., and lii. (Menochius) --- Hebrew may imply, "on infirmity, (Montanus) or sorrow," from ele. (Berthier) --- The subject is very mournful, and relates to the ca... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thee. The psalm 21st is nearly similar to this. My prayer is continual. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Prayer. It represented as a person prostrated before God. Homer (Iliad ix.) says, that "supplications are the daughters of Jupiter, lame....with the eyes downcast, and following after injuries," which admirably shews the conditions requisite for prayer. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hell. The grave, or captivity. (Calmet) --- Our Saviour said, My soul is sorrowful unto death. [Matthew xxvi. 38.] David, Jeremias, or the captives, were not reduced to this extremity. (Berthier)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Pit. Like a slave confined every night in prison, Exodus xii. 29._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Free. Hebrew also "separated" from society, 4 Kings xv. 5., and 2 Paralipomenon xxvi. 21. (Calmet) --- Christ, after enduring the greatest miseries was still free. He could resign his life, and take it up again, John x. 18. (Haydock) --- The Fathers adopt this explanation, which is very striking. ... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM LXXXVII. (DOMINE DEUS SALUTIS.) A prayer of one under grievous affliction: it agrees to Christ in his passion, and allude to his death and burial. _ They. Hebrew, "thou hast." --- Shadow. Hebrew, "in the depths," seem to have read a, v, and m, in those two places, which are now wanting. (Hou... [ Continue Reading ]
_Waves. Of afflictions. Christ bore our iniquities. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Delivered up, to prison. (Berthier) --- The disciples abandoned our Saviour; St. Peter, with a curse, denied that he ever knew him, (Mark xiv. 71.; Haydock) and Judas betrayed him. It is not so easy to explain this of the captives in general, though it might refer to the psalmist. (Calmet) --- At B... [ Continue Reading ]
_Poverty. Or "affliction." (Symmachus) --- To thee, for aid, (Psalm xxvii. 2.) or to implore pardon for sinners. Thus Jesus prayed for us on the cross, (Calmet) with his hands stretched out ready to receive the penitent. (Haydock) --- Septuagint have read rupaim ikimu for ropaim ikumu, "shall the de... [ Continue Reading ]
_Physicians. St. Jerome, "will the giants rise again?" (Haydock) --- These were heroes of great renown. (Calmet) --- But they were consigned to hell, whence there was no redemption, Job xxv. 5., and Proverbs ix. --- The author insinuates that if the true adorers be cut off, God's external glory will... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of, &c. Septuagint, "forgotten land." Securos latices & longa oblivia potant. (Virgil, \'c6neid vi.) (Calmet) --- When dead, I shall not be able to sound forth thy praises before men: much less shall those do it, who are confined to the regions of darkness. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Prayer. Some copies of the Septuagint read "soul," with the Hebrew, &c. (Calmet) --- Why dost thou neglect to grant my request, which I urge with all the earnestness of my soul? (Haydock) --- This may relate to Jesus in the garden. (Calmet) --- His prayer prevents, or is presented early, (Menochius... [ Continue Reading ]
_Exalted. On the cross, or arrived at the years of manhood, (Berthier; Worthington) I have experienced the greatest contradictions. David was brought up in poverty, like our Saviour, and the exaltation of both attested with great trials. (Berthier) --- The life of Christ was a continual martyrdom. ... [ Continue Reading ]
_Troubled me. The enemy has laid waste the country. This agrees with Christ in his agony. (Calmet) --- Unhappy the sinner, upon whom the wrath of God remains, (John iii. 36.) and does not merely come; literally, pass, transierunt. (Berthier)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Misery. Hebrew, "darkness." Thou hast permitted my friends to abandon me, and hast exposed me to disgrace. (Calmet) --- They were afraid lest they might be involved in my calamities, (Menochius) if they appeared in my defence, (Haydock) or seemed to know me. (Du Hamel)_... [ Continue Reading ]