_Alleluia is borrowed from the end of the former psalm in Hebrew. Our Saviour and the apostles determine us to explain this solely of the Messias, though should would also see another literal sense, applicable to the victories of David, or of the captives, at their return, over God or Cambyses. (Ber... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM CXVII. (CONFITEMINI DOMINO.) The psalmist praiseth God for his delivery from evils; putteth his whole trust in him; and foretelleth the coming of Christ. _ That he is good, is not here in Hebrew. The Septuagint insert the words in the two next verses. The people, priests, and all who fear Go... [ Continue Reading ]
_Trouble. Both spiritual and temporal. (Worthington) --- Enlarge me, or set me at liberty in a spacious place. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_My helper. Hebrew, "to me among the helpers," (Montanus) or most powerful, (Houbigant) and the mover of all, who lend assistance. Jesus Christ prayed with tears, and was heard for his reverence, Hebrews v. 7. We must expect afflictions, (Job xxxiii.) and must have recourse to God._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Princes. For vain is the salvation of man, Psalm lix. 31., and Jeremias xvii. 5. (Calmet) --- So neither can man hurt those whom God protects, Romans viii. 31. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Revenged. Hebrew, "I have broken them," (Calmet) or "will render to them." (Houbigant) --- This may relate to David, Nehemias, Christ, and his martyrs. (Calmet) --- The Church, or any just man in the midst of enemies, confidently hopes for victory. (Worthington) --- None shall prevail against Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bees. Septuagint add, "do a honeycomb." But this is not in the original. --- Burned. Hebrew, "were extinguished." The Septuagint and Chaldean seem to have read better, as it would then be useless to add, as is the former verse, "but....I will destroy them;" and therefore Protestants and Duport here... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fall. I was very near falling. Hebrew, "pushing thou hast pushed me that," &c. (Menochius) --- "My sin has strongly pushed me." (Chaldean) (Calmet) --- Those who stick to the Hebrew suppose, that the psalmist addressed the chief of his enemies. But a letter or two may have been added, as St. Jerome... [ Continue Reading ]
_Just. Such were the Jews by their vocation, though many answered very ill the designs of God. (Calmet) --- Christians thank God for their redemption, and confessors are full of joy in their prisons and torments, Acts xvi. 25. (Berthier)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Me is not in Hebrew. All salvation is from God. (Berthier) --- Right hand, repeated thrice, insinuates the blessed Trinity, as the word Lord is applied to Christ, who effected man's redemption with singular efficacy. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Live. The captives were dying daily, so that this rather belongs to the Church of Christ. (Berthier) (John viii. 51.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Chastised me, severely. (Haydock) --- Septuagint may also signify, "has instructed me," (Calmet) by means of tribulation. (Haydock) --- God chastiseth as a parent, that his children may not perish eternally. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Justice. Of the temple, where the undefiled Israelites alone can enter, (Psalm xiv. 1.) or the land of Judea, Isaias xxvi. The Fathers explain it of the Church, and of heaven, to which none can be admitted, who have not departed in the communion of saints, (St. Chrysostom; St. Augustine) having wal... [ Continue Reading ]
_Corner. This was a sort of proverb, and is applied to David, Zorobabel, or the Jewish nation; but they can only be considered as figures of Christ, in whom this prediction was fulfilled, when he established his Church, and made one people of those who were before divided, Isaias xxviii. 16., Matthe... [ Continue Reading ]
_Day. Of grace. (Worthington) --- The Church often repeats this during the paschal time, though God is equally the author of all days. (Haydock) See Ephesians iv. 30., and John viii. 56._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Save me. The person is not expressed in Septuagint. Or, (Calmet) Hebrew hoshiha na, "salvifica nunc." (Montanus) --- Na means likewise, "I beg." (Haydock) --- Quæso, Domine, salvum fac, obsecro: Quæso, Domine, fac prospere agere, obsecro. This formed the acclamations of the Jewish children, Hosanna... [ Continue Reading ]
_We. The Levites, (Calmet) or Christ and his ministers pronounce this blessing, (Worthington) or the psalmist gives it, after having expressed his thanks for the graces brought by the Messias. (Berthier)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Us. Christ, who comes in the name of the Lord, "is himself God," our instructor. (St. Augustine) (Titus ii. 11.) (Berthier) --- Day. The feast of tabernacles, for which this psalm was probably composed. The Jews dwelt under tents. (Calmet) (Leviticus xxiii. 40., and 2 Esdras vii. 15.) --- Altar. He... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will, &c. This might be in the copies of the Septuagint. It occurs [in] ver. 26., (Berthier) though it was here retrenched in the Hexapla. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_For ever. Praise is our first and last duty, ver. 1. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]