“To the chief Musician, A Psalm or Song of David. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. before: Heb. from his face”
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 his own, though he had those of the Messias principally in view. See Psalm xlv. (Haydock)
“As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.”
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.
“But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. exceedingly: Heb. rejoice with gladness”
Standing, upostasis, “subsistence:” there is no bottom. (Haydock)
“Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.”
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 despair, is refuted. (Berthier) — Christ was not presently delivered from tribulation: neither ought his followers to expect better treatment. (Worthington)
“A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.”
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 repairing the injury we had done to God. (Challoner) — The expression was proverbial, Jeremias xxxi. 29., and Lamentations v. 7. — Many of the captives were very innocent. (Calmet) — But Christ was without sin; (Worthington) though made a curse and a sin-offering, Galatians iii. 13., and 2 Corinthians v. 21. (Calmet)
“God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land. in families: Heb. in a house”
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)
“O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:”
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)
“The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.”
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)
“Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary. send: Heb. shake out confirm: Heb. confirm it”
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)
“Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.”
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. 3.) doubted not but this passage was literally applicable to Christ, who has taught us to prefer the glory of God, and our neighbour’s salvation before our own temporal advantages. (Berthier) — Those who have less zeal, are not so much persecuted. (Worthington)
“The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. company: Heb. army”
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. (Haydock) — The Jews seemed to scoff at the thirst of Christ, when they gave him vinegar; and the devil took occasion from his 40 days’ fast to tempt him. (Berthier)
“Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil. did: Heb. did flee, did flee”
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)
“Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.”
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)
“When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon. in it: or, for her, she”
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)
“The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.”
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)
“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.”
Enemies. That they may insult no longer over me, (Calmet) being converted or covered with shame, (Menochius) that they do no more hurt. (Worthington)
“He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.”
Shame, (reverentiam.) St. Augustine, &c., read verecundiam. (Calmet) — Christ was covered with all sorts of reproach. (Haydock) (Eusebius)
“But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.”
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)
“The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:”
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 which regarded our Saviour, while living; and was the last instance of the Jewish malice, by which they requited him for the thirst which he had for the salvation of mankind. (Gregory of Nazianzus, &c.) (Berthier) — Jeremias (viii. 14., and xxiii. 15., and Lamentations iii. 15.) uses the same expressions, in a metaphorical sense, to describe the afflictions of the captives. (Calmet)
“That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same. dipped: or, red”
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, and the sacred books (Calmet) being misunderstood, (Menochius) prove their ruin. Our Saviour and St. Paul confirm this prediction. The latter adheres to the Septuagint (Romans xi. 9.) though some would translate lishlomim, “for peace”-offerings, instead of recompenses, as it also means. (Berthier) — “Let their sacrifices become a scandal to them;” (Chaldean) or rather, May their table, the symbol of friendship, be a snare for them, that they may be destroyed, or betrayed by their dearest friends. (Calmet) — The overthrow of the Jews, when they were assembled to eat the paschal lamb, is here foretold. (Worthington)
“They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.”
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 of Christ’s doctrine; but are bent on worldly gain. (Worthington) (2 Corinthians iii.) (Menochius)
“The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.”
Thy wrathful. Literally, “the fury of thy anger.” (Haydock) — The first term denotes expedition; the second, perseverance. Quickly destroy them, without redress. (Theodoret) (Calmet)
“Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel. from: or, ye that are of the fountain of Israel”
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 particularly the traitor, lost their country, Acts i. 20. (Berthier) — He (the traitor) indeed hath possessed a field of the reward of iniquity….and burst asunder. (Haydock)
“There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali. and their: or, with their company”
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)
“Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.”
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. Very few of the Jews embraced the faith of Christ. (Calmet)
“Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.”
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 obstinate Babylonians (Calmet) and Jews, is predicted. (Haydock) — The latter were effaced from the book of the living of the Old Testament, and were never written in that of the just, belonging to the New. (St. Jerome) — At death, the unbelieving Jews (Haydock) shall not find their expectations well founded. (Worthington) — Only the faithful are truly just. (Menochius)
“Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war. the company: or, the beasts of the reeds scatter: or, he scattereth”
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)
“Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:”
Hoofs. They were to be three years old. (Kimchi) — So Virgil says, (Æneid ix.) Jam cornu petat & pedibus qui spargat arenam. (Ec.[Ecclesiasticus?] iii.) (Calmet) — Our prayers are therefore offered through our Lord Jesus Christ, Hebrews xiii. 15. (Berthier) — Devout prayer is more acceptable than victims of the best description, though they were also good, (Worthington) and, cæteris paribus, of a higher dignity. (Haydock)
“To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice. send: Heb. give”
See, my deliverance, or thy just vengeance on the wicked. (Calmet)
“Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds. clouds: or, heavens”
Prisoners. Martyrs, (Menochius) and those who suffer for the faith, will be rewarded. (Worthington)
“O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.”
Therein, the fish. Our admiration of creatures causes us to praise God. (St. Augustine; St. Hilary)
Sion. The Catholic Church. The cities of Juda, &c., her places of worship, which shall be established throughout the world. And there, viz., in this Church of Christ, shall his servants dwell, &c. (Challoner) (Worthington) — It matters not whether a person live in the Church of God, which is at Corinth, or at Philippi, provided he be a member of the Catholic Church. But those who adhere to separate congregations, and style themselves “the Church of England,” or “the Kirk of Scotland,” &c., cannot be written with the just, (ver. 29.) nor have any part in this prediction. (Haydock) — It alludes to the restoration of the captives, (Calmet) or rather to the propagation of the gospel, (Haydock) of which the former was a figure, (Eusebius; St. Augustine) as the Jews were never quietly settled again in their country, and were expelled by Titus; whereas the Church of Christ remains to the end of the world. (Berthier)
Therein. The succession of the Catholic Church is uninterrupted. (Worthington) — Those who adhere to Christ by faith, hope, and charity, will be saved. (Menochius)