This title is almost wholly taken from the book of Kings, except Unto the end for; instead of which we read, And David spoke, &c., [2 Kings xxii.] (Haydock) which are the words of the inspired writer; so that Ferrand is very rash in rejecting both these titles. David wrote this psalm after he had su... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will love thee, as a mother does her son. He that loves has fulfilled the law. This word is omitted [in] 2 Kings. xxii. 2. (Calmet) --- Strength. Ibid. --- Rock. (Haydock) --- The Septuagint have inserted some alterations in the Psalms, giving the sense of the Hebrew. (Worthington) --- Others att... [ Continue Reading ]
Firmament. Hebrew, "rock and my citadel, and my deliverer. My God, ( or strong one) my rock." St. Jerome, "my strong one." The two words which are rendered "my rock," are salhi and metsudathi. (Haydock) --- David frequently retired to such places for safety. The idea was beautiful and striking. Such... [ Continue Reading ]
_Praising. Hebrew, "praised;" and (2 Kings) the Lord, who is worthy to be praised. (Haydock) --- Chaldean agrees here with the Septuagint and Vulgate, which seems more natural. (Calmet) --- The sense is the same. (Berthier)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sorrows...iniquity. Hebrew, "cables....Belial." By these figurative expressions, David declares to what dangers he had been exposed. They seem to be more applicable to our Saviour's agony. (Berthier) --- The wicked were constantly laying snares for both. We have the same idea enforced in the next v... [ Continue Reading ]
_Called. All these words are in the future, 2 Kings and Hebrews. (Haydock) --- But as they relate to an event that was past, they seem to be as well expressed here as they are in Duport's Greek Psalms. (Berthier) --- Both are true; as David had prayed, and would continue to pray, for God's protectio... [ Continue Reading ]
With them is not in Hebrew. Lo, illi refers to God. Furor fuit ei. (Montanus) --- "He was wroth." (Protestants) Yet he displayed his power on the mountains, as if he had been displeased with them, or with the enemies (ver. 4.) whom he would thus strike with awe. (Haydock) --- These expressions are n... [ Continue Reading ]
_By it. This relates to the clouds, thunder, and lightning. (Muis) --- God's wrath is compared with smoke, fire, a dark night, or mist. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Feet. A violent storm of rain. Hence the Pagans borrowed: Jupiter et læto descendit plurimus imbri. (Virgil, Eclogues 7.)_ --- The prophets Isaias (xxix. 6.) and Nahum (i. 3.) speak in the same lofty strains; (Calmet) and shall any one despise the language of Scripture? Nothing can exceed its subl... [ Continue Reading ]
_Winds. God mounts his chariot, as it were, (Ezechiel i. 4., &c.) to come speedily to David's assistance. \'c6scylus, and other pagan authors, seem to have imitated his description. (Eusebius, præp. evan. xiii. 13.) --- The Fathers explain the former verse of Christ's incarnation, or of his second c... [ Continue Reading ]
_Pavilion. Job xxii. 14., and xxvi. 9. The Jews had this idea of God's throne, of which we behold only the less brilliant side, as the Egyptians did that of the cloud, Exodus xiv. 19. The poets represent Jupiter surrounded with clouds and darkness. (Hesiod, op. 125 and 255.; Homer, Iliad O.) --- Air... [ Continue Reading ]
Clouds. 2 Kings, The coals (Hebrew, "flames") of fire were kindled. Two words, habaw haberu, his clouds removed, (Haydock) omitted in this passage, are here supplied, as the former word is found in Syriac and Arabic. But then hail and coals of fire seem improper for "they kindled into coals of fire;... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM XVII. (DILIGAM TE DOMINE.) David's thanks to God for his delivery from all his enemies. _ Arrows. Thunderbolts. Tela reponuntur manibus fabricata Cyclopum. (Metam. Hesiod Theog. 708.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Discovered. The earthquakes were so great, that such dreadful effects might have been expected. These phenomena sometimes make the sea retire, and new islands appear. (Pliny, [Natural History?] i. 84., and xxxi. 5., &c.) --- The Jews supposed that the sea was the common source of all fountains, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sent his angel, &c. --- Waters, which often represent multitudes, (Apocalypse xvii. 15.; Calmet) and afflictions. (Worthington) --- David seemed in danger of perishing. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_For me. He may allude to the giant Jesbibenob, or to Saul, who surrounded him on all sides; (1 Kings xxiii. 26., and 2 Kings xxi. 15.; Calmet) and, in general, to all his temporal or spiritual adversaries. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Affliction, when my friends joined Absalom. (Theodoret) --- In the rest of this psalm, the prophet chiefly uses words in the obvious sense, yet mystically speaks of Christ, and of the faithful. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Place, where I was not hemmed in by my enemies. (Haydock) --- Saved me, by repentance, out of his infinite mercy, (Eusebius; St. Athanasius) without any deserts. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Will reward. St. Jerome, "hath rewarded," (Calmet) yet the edition of 1533 reads retribuet. (Haydock) --- Justice, with respect to my enemies, whom I have not injured; (Calmet) or my sincere desire to serve God. (Theodoret)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Judgments. Commands, or treatment both of the just and of the wicked._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Him, by his grace. (Worthington) --- Iniquity, and be careful not to relapse. Others explain it in the past time. I have not shed the blood of my enemy when I could have done it, 1 Kings xxiv. 6, 14. (Calmet) --- Fui immaculatus. (St. Jerome) (Haydock) It seems most probable that David composed thi... [ Continue Reading ]
_And. He repeateth, (ver. 21.) that God will render to every one as he deserves. (Worthington) --- Matthew xvi. That all sins are equal is the error of the Stoics. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Perverted. No version can properly express this idea. God turns away from those who abandon him, treating every one according to his works. If we do not advance in piety, it is a sign that God perceives something amiss in us. (Berthier) --- He cannot but abhor duplicity, and resist the wicked, Levi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Proud, as thou hast already done. (Calmet) --- Insignem attenuat Deus,_ Obscura promens. (Horat.[Horace?])... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lamp, giving me hopes of redress, and of the Messias. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Temptation. David was almost continually assailed by enemies. (Calmet) --- Septuagint Greek: peieatesion, signifies "a place of pirates;" denoting what crafty foes he had to encounter, (Berthier) or "a place or time to learn the military exercise," a warfare, Job vii. 1. But gedud, (Haydock) means... [ Continue Reading ]
_As for, might be omitted. (Haydock) --- The conduct of God towards men is irreproachable. He will treat all according to their deserts, and will fulfil his promises of protecting the just. (Eusebius) --- Hebrew, "He is the strong God....his words are pure as gold....He is the shield," &c. (Berthier... [ Continue Reading ]
_Our God. Will any one then hinder Him from doing as He has said? (Haydock) --- Hebrew, "Who is the rock but our God?" (Berthier) --- God is often styled a rock, tsur. Yet St. Jerome and Pagnin render it "strong," or "the strong one." (Haydock) --- There is only one Lord and Saviour of all. (Worthin... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blameless. Whatever good is in me, comes from his grace, ver. 21, 24. (Haydock) --- God has prevented me from killing Saul and Nabal; He has rescued me from the abyss into which I had fallen. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Harts. Protestants, "hinds." (Haydock) --- The Hebrews generally prefer to specify the female. Harts are remarkably swift, and this quality was greatly esteemed in a warrior. Asael is praised for it; (2 Kings ii. 18.) and Homer styles his hero "the swift-footed Achilles." (Calmet) --- As harts tram... [ Continue Reading ]
_And thou. Chaldean gives the same sense. "He strengthens," &c. (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "and a brazen bow is broken by my arms." (Montanus) --- Protestants, "a bow of steel." Perhaps not knowing that the ancients had the art of making brass answer the same purposes. See Proclus, Hesiod, &c. (Haydock) -... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of thy. The latter word is omitted in some copies of the Septuagint, while others change it into "my." But the Hebrew is agreeable to the Vulgate. (Calmet) --- End. Thou hast preserved me by salutary correction. (St. Augustine) (Haydock) --- Hebrew, "thy goodness shall multiply me" with children. S... [ Continue Reading ]
_Weakened, or tired. (Chaldean) (Haydock) --- I am now free from danger. All my enterprizes have succeeded, 2 Kings viii. 6., and 1 Paralipomenon xviii. 13. See Proverbs iv. 12. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will. Bellarmine would supply " I said I will;" and thus all is connected. But these future victories relate more to Jesus Christ. (Berthier) --- David also continued making fresh conquests, (Haydock) and so entirely subdued his enemies all around, that they were not able to make head, even again... [ Continue Reading ]
_Against. me. No prince was ever more courageous than David, as the single combat with Goliath evinces. We know not that he ever lost a battle. He refers all the glory to God. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Upon me. An expression often used to denote a fight, Josue iii. 12., &c. (Calmet) --- God strengthens his servants, and weakens their enemies. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lord. This must be understood of Absalom, who offered sacrifices, (2 Kings xv. 12.; Berthier) or of Saul, who, receiving no answer, consulted a witch. The Philistines also brought their gods with them, so that they were taken and burnt; (2 Kings v. 21.) and the other pagans, finding no aid in their... [ Continue Reading ]
_Streets. Thus he treated the Ammonites, &c., 2 Kings viii. 2., and xii. 31. (Calmet) --- Jesus Christ will rule over his enemies with a rod of iron. (Berthier)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Gentiles. Here he begins to predict the glory of the Messias, though what he says may be applied to himself. David's own people began to revolt, under Absalom and Seba; after he had subdued the most powerful nations around, 2 Kings xx. 1. The chosen people rejected Christ, (Calmet) while the nation... [ Continue Reading ]
_Faded, ( inveterati sunt) "are grown old." (Haydock) --- The Jews had been long the objects of God's favours: yet they fell away. Thus we often see priests outdone in piety by simple laics. (Berthier) --- David continues in the comparison of a tree which bears no fruit; (Calmet) thus lying, as it w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Liveth. This is my consolation, though it must fill the obstinate sinner with dismay. (Haydock) --- In a sort of transport, David wishes all happiness to his great benefactor. He may also speak of Christ's resurrection. (Calmet) --- My God. Hebrew, "rock:" a title frequently applied to God, in ackn... [ Continue Reading ]
_Avengest, or "grantest me revenges," (Haydock) and the victory; inflicting a just punishment on the wicked. David was too well informed to delight in sentiments of revenge, 3 Kings iii. 11. Jesus Christ takes vengeance on his enemies, but this id done without passion. The love of justice is his onl... [ Continue Reading ]
_Nations. St. Paul (Romans xv. 9.) adduces this to prove the vocation of the Gentiles. (Calmet) --- We cannot doubt but the great things announced in the psalm pertain to Christ. (Berthier) --- We see the completion of this prophecy, as there is no Christian nation which does not use the psalms of D... [ Continue Reading ]
_Great. This in intimated by the plural salutes, "salvations;" as David had experienced innumerable favours. (Haydock) --- He speaks of himself in the third person, to lead our minds to the Messias, in whom this was more gloriously accomplished. The greater honour of this chief family of Israel, con... [ Continue Reading ]