_Poor. Hebrew, "afflicted." This may refer to some of the captives, who were returning, (ver. 14.; Calmet) or to Jesus Christ, (St. Augustine) to whom St. Paul applies ver. 26, 28., and whose redemption was prefigured by the former event. (Calmet) --- David might have both in view. (Haydock) --- Yet... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cry. Fervent petition, though only in the heart, Exodus xiv. 15._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Turn not. We first abandon God, but must humbly beg for grace. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fire. Cremium denotes any combustible matter. (Columella xii. 19.) (St. Jerome) (Calmet) --- While in mortal sin, our best actions, alms, &c., avail nothing, 1 Corinthians xiii. (Worthington) _... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bread. Through excessive sorrow, (Haydock) I am fainting in captivity. (Calmet) --- The human race is relieved by the bread of life, the holy Eucharist. (St. Augustine) (Berthier) --- Sinners have no relish for spiritual food. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Flesh, or "skin." (St. Jerome) --- The necessary moisture is consumed. (Eusebius) (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
A pelican, &c. I am become, through grief, like birds that affect solitude and darkness. (Challoner) --- Kaath comes from a root that signifies to vomit (Haydock) as this bird lives chiefly on shell-fish, which it swallows, and when the heat of its stomach has caused the shells to open, it throws th... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM CI. (DOMINE EXAUDI.) A prayer for one in affliction: the fifth penitential psalm. _ Sparrow. Hebrew Tsippor means any "quick moving" bird, &c., (Idem.[Parkhurst in cose. ?]) and as the sparrow is not a solitary bird, it may here signify the owl. (Bochart) (Calmet) --- But these etymological... [ Continue Reading ]
_Against me. To kill me, (Acts xxiii. 12.) or to prove my guilt. (Calmet) --- They are my sworn enemies, (Worthington) who formerly seemed my friends. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_For. Or "therefore." --- Weeping. These figurative expressions denote excessive grief, Psalm lxxix. 6. (Calmet) --- Meat and drink gave me no more satisfaction than ashes. (Worthington) --- Rolling on the ground, through grief, my food was spoiled. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Memorial. Thou wilt be remembered by us with gratitude for all eternity, (Haydock) or wilt thou punish for ever such short-lived creatures? (Calmet) --- St. Paul understands this of Jesus Christ, (Hebrews i. 11.; Berthier) or he rather refers to ver. 26. (Haydock) --- The hope of the Messias gives... [ Continue Reading ]
_Come. Pointed out; (Jeremias xxix. 10.; Calmet) or David wishes to repair the ravages caused by Absalom, or foretells the return from captivity, (Haydock) and the grace granted to the Church, and to every faithful soul. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thereof. They had a great regard for the very soil, 4 Kings v. 17. (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "dust," as it was then uncultivated. (Berthier) --- Esdras, &c., repaired the ruins of Sion, as Christ and his apostles established the Church. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Glory. The conversion of nations is often predicted as about to take place after the captivity; yet not so fully, till the time of Christ. (Calmet) --- His glory is so manifest, that all kings know it, although, they be not converted. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Seen. Dwelling with us, John i. (Haydock) --- Jerusalem had attained its ancient splendour before the coming of the Messias. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Humble. Patriarchs, priests, and all true penitents. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Generation. Literally, "in another," by the subsequent writers of the Old and New Testaments. (Haydock) --- Let all posterity become acquainted with this psalm, and know under what obligations we have been to the Lord. --- Created. The Jews after the captivity, and, in a higher sense, (Calmet) Chri... [ Continue Reading ]
_That. The faithful in the Church endeavour to serve Christ. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Kings. This did not take place till the gospel was preached, (Calmet) though some kings offered sacrifice before, yet without being converted. See Zacharias ii. 10. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
He answered him in the way of his strength. That is, the people mentioned in the foregoing verse, or the penitent, in whose person this psalm is delivered, answered the Lord in the way of his strength: that is, according to the best of his power and strength; inquiring after the fewness of his days:... [ Continue Reading ]
_Days. Allow me time to grow in virtue. (Worthington) If I be cut off in my youth, I may not be prepared. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Perish. Or be changed in their qualities, (Worthington) as well as all other things, like a garment. This does not convey the idea of annihilation; and the Fathers are divided on this subject, 2 Peter iii. 10., and Apocalypse xxi. 23. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fail. This regards Christ, (Hebrews i.) who has established his Church, (Calmet) to be perpetual (Worthington) in this world, (Haydock) and triumphant in eternity, ver. 29. (Calmet) --- The psalm must therefore be understood literally of Him; unless it may have two senses, which those to whom St. P... [ Continue Reading ]