Expositions on the Book of Psalms 113
113.1 Psalm CXIII PL 36, 1475
1. …When ye hear sung in the Psalms, “Praise the Lord, ye children” (ver. 1); imagine not that that exhortation pertaineth not unto you, because having already passed the youth of the body, ye are either blooming in the prime of manhood, or growing gray with the honours of old age: for unto all of you the Apostle saith, “Brethren, be not children in understanding; howbeit, in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.” What malice in particular, save pride? For it is pride that, presuming in false greatness, suffereth not man to walk along the narrow path, and to enter by the narrow gate; but the child easily entereth through the narrow entrance; and thus no man, save as a child, entereth into the kingdom of heaven. “Praise the Name of the Lord.”…Let Him therefore be alway proclaimed: “Blessed be the Name of the Lord, from this time forth for evermore” (ver. 2). Let Him be proclaimed everywhere: “From the rising up of the sun unto the going down of the same, praise ye the Name of the Lord” (ver. 3).
[«vers.» 1-6.] Legimus quidem, notissimumque retinemus, dilectissimi fratres, quod narratur in libro Exodi, populum Israel liberatum ab iniqua dominatione Aegyptiorum inter divisos fluctus maris transisse per siccum : Jordanem quoque fluvium, cum per eum in terram promissionis intrarent, tactum pedibus sacerdotum arcam Domini portantium, stetisse desuper infrenato lapsu; ab inferiore autem parte defluxisse, quod currebat in mare, donec in sicco stantibus sacerdotibus transiret populus universis : novimus haec, nec tamen arbitrari nos oportet in hoc psalmo, cui nunc «Alleluia» pronuntiato cantatoque respondimus, id agere Spiritum sanctum, ut praeterita illa gesta recolentes, nequaquam futura talia cogitemus. «Illa» enim, sicut dicit Apostolus, «in figura contingebant illis; scripta sunt autem ad correptionem nostram, in quos finis saeculorum obvenit» . Cum igitur audimus in Psalmo, «In exitu Israel de Aegypto, domus Jacob de populo barbaro, facta est Judaea sanctificatio ejus, Israel potestas ejus; mare vidit et fugit, Jordanis conversus est retrorsum:» ne arbitremini nobis narrari praeterita, sed potius futura praedici; quia illa quoque miracula cum in illo populo fierent, praesentia quidem, sed non sine futurorum significatione gerebantur. Ideoque ut ostenderet, qui psallendo ista praedicebat, eadem se verbis agere quae illic factis agebantur, uno eodemque Spiritu operante et illa facta et haec dicta, ut id quod in fine saeculorum manifestandum reservabatur, figuris rerum atque verborum praecurrentibus nuntiaretur; non omnino ea dixit quae ibi gesta sunt, sed aliter quaedam quam illic lecta didicimus: ne vere putaretur transacta recolere, potius quam ventura praedicere. Primo enim Jordanem ipsum non reversum esse retrorsum, sed stetisse legimus ab ea parte, qua aquae desuper influebant, cum populus ille transiret; deinde gestientes montes collesque non legimus: quae sic addidit, ut etiam omnia ista repeteret. Nam cum dixisset, «Mare vidit et fugit, Jordanis conversus est retrorsum;» contexuit, «Montes gestierunt velut arietes, et colles velut agni ovium: eademque rursus interrogat, «Quid est tibi, mare, quod fugisti; et tu, Jordanis, quia conversus es retrorsum? montes, quia gestiistis velut arietes; et colles, velut agni ovium?»
113.2 PL 36, 1476
2. If any of the holy children who praise the Name of the Lord were to ask of me and say to me, “for evermore” I understand to mean unto all eternity: but why “from this,” and why is not the Name of the Lord blessed before this, and before all ages? I will answer the infant, who asketh not in contumacy. Unto you it is said, masters and children, unto you it is said, “Praise the Name of the Lord; blessed be the Name of the Lord:” let the Name of the Lord be blessed, “from this,” that is, from the moment ye speak these words. For ye begin to praise, but praise ye without end.…Or, since in this passage he seemeth to signify rather humility than childhood, the contrary of which is the vain and false greatness of pride; and for this reason none but children praise the Lord, since the proud know not how to praise Him; let old age be childlike, and your childhood like old age; that is, that neither may your wisdom be with pride, nor your humility without wisdom, that ye may “praise the Lord from this for evermore.” Wherever the Church of Christ is diffused in her childlike saints, “Praise ye the Name of the Lord;” that is, “from the rising up of the sun unto the going down of the same.”
Attendamus ergo quid admoneamur; quia et illa facta figurae nostrae fuerunt, et haec dicta ut nos ipsos recognoscamus hortantur. Si enim gratiam Dei quae data est nobis firmo corde retinemus, nos sumus Israel semen Abrahae: nobis dicit Apostolus, «Ergo semen Abrahae estis» . Quia sicut alio loco dicit, «Non in circumcisione, sed in praeputio deputata est Abrahae fides ad justitiam, et signum accepit circumcisionis, signaculum justitiae fidei, quae est in praeputio ut deputetur et illis ad justitiam; ut sit pater circumcisionis his qui non solum ex circumcisione sunt, sed et his qui sequuntur vestigia fidei, quae est in praeputio patris nostri Abrahae.» Non enim carnaliter circumcisae genti tantummodo factus est pater, cui dictum est, «Patrem multarum gentium posui te. Multarum» autem, non quarumdam, sed omnium ; quod aperte dicitur, cum ei dicitur: «Et benedicentur in te omnes gentes» . Nullus itaque Christianorum se a nomine Israel arbitretur extraneum. Illis enim qui crediderunt ex Judaeis, in quorum numero principaliter Apostolos invenimus, in angulari lapide copulamur. Hinc ait Dominus alio loco: «Habeo alias oves quae non sunt de hoc ovili; oportet me et illas adducere, ut sit unus grex et unus pastor» . Populus ergo christianus magis Israel, et ipse potius domus Jacob. Idem quippe Israel qui Jacob. Illa vero turba Judaeorum, quae merito perfidiae reprobata est, voluptate carnali vendidit primogenita sua, ut non ad Jacob, sed ad Esau potius pertineret. Scitis namque in hoc mysterio dictum esse, «Quia major serviet minori» .
113.3 PL 36, 1477
3. “The Lord is high above all heathen” (ver. 4). The heathen are men: what wonder if the Lord be above all men? They see with their eyes those whom they worship high above themselves to shine in heaven, the sun and moon and stars, creatures which they serve while they neglect the Creator. But not only “is the Lord high above all heathen;” but “His glory” also “is above the heavens.” The heavens look up unto Him above themselves; and the humble have Him together with them, who do not worship the heavens instead of Him, though placed in the flesh beneath the heavens.
Aegyptus autem, quoniam interpretatur Afflictio, vel Affligens, vel Comprimens, saepe in imagine ponitur hujus saeculi; a quo spiritualiter recedendum est, ne simus jugum ducentes cum infidelibus . Sic enim quisque Jerusalem coelestis fit civis idoneus, cum primum huic saeculo renuntiaverit; quemadmodum ille populus in terram promissionis duci non potuit, nisi prius ab Aegypto recederet. Sed sicut ille non inde discessit, nisi divino liberatus auxilio; sic nemo corde ab hoc saeculo avertitur, nisi divinae misericordiae munere adjutus. Quod enim illic semel praefiguratum est, hoc in isto fine saeculi, in hac, sicut beatus Joannes scribit, hora novissima , quotidianis Ecclesiae fetibus in unoquoque credente completur. Audite Apostolum doctorem Gentium docentem et instruentem: «Nolo enim vos,» inquit, «ignorare, fratres, quia omnes patres nostri sub nube fuerunt, et omnes per mare transierunt, et omnes in Moysen baptizati sunt in nube et in mari, et omnes eumdem cibum spiritualem manducaverunt, et omnes eumdem potum spiritualem biberunt. Bibebant enim de spirituali sequente petra: petra autem erat Christus. Sed non in omnibus illis bene complacuit Deo: prostrati enim sunt in deserto. Haec autem figurae nostrae factae sunt» . Quid vultis amplius, fratres dilectissimi? Certe manifestum est non humana suspicione, sed apostolico, id est divino et dominico magisterio; Deus enim loquebatur in eis, et quamvis de carneis nubibus, tamen Dominus intonabat: certe ergo tanto testimonio manifestum est illa omnia figurate gesta, nunc in nostra salute compleri; quia tunc futura praenuntiabantur, nunc praeterita leguntur, et praesentia cognoscuntur.
113.4 PL 36, 1477
4. “Who is like unto the Lord our God, that hath His dwelling so high; and yet beholdeth the humble?” (ver. 5). Any one would think that He dwelleth in the lofty heavens, whence He may behold the humble things on earth; but “He beholdeth the humble things that are in heaven and earth” (ver. 6): what then is His high dwelling, whence He beholdeth the humble things that are in heaven and earth? Are the humble things He beholdeth His own high dwelling itself? For He thus exalteth the humble, so as not to make them proud. He therefore both dwelleth in those whom He raiseth high, and maketh them heaven for Himself, that is, His own abode; and by seeing them not proud, but constantly subject to Himself, He beholdeth even in heaven itself these very humble things, in whom raised on high He dwelleth. For the Spirit thus speaketh through Isaiah: “Thus saith the Highest that dwelleth on high, that inhabiteth eternity; the Lord Most High, dwelling in the holy.” He hath expounded what He meant by dwelling on high, by the more full expression, “dwelling in the holy.”…
Audite quod est mirabilius, Librorum veterum sacramenta occultata atque velata, nonnulla ex parte a Libris veteribus revelari. Nam Michaeas propheta ita loquitur: «Prout dies,» inquit, «profectionis eorum ex Aegypto, ostendam mirabilia illis. Videbunt nationes, et confundentur ab omni vigore eorum: manibus ora sua obstruent, aures illis obsurdabuntur, delingentes terram, velut serpentes trahentes terram; conturbabuntur de conclusionibus eorum, in Domino Deo nostro excident mente, et terrebuntur a te. Quis Deo tuo similis, auferens iniquitatem, et transgrediens impietatem residuis haereditatis tuae? Et non continuit in testimonium iram suam, quoniam voluntarius et misericors est; ipse convertet et miserebitur nostri, demerget delicta nostra, demerget in maris profundum omnes culpas nostras» . Nempe advertitis, fratres, manifestius hic aperiri sacrosancta mysteria. In hoc ergo psalmo quamvis futura intueatur mirabilis prophetiae Spiritus, tamen videtur velut transacta narrare. «Facta est,» inquit, «Judaea sanctificatio ejus: mare vidit et fugit:» et «facta est,» et «fugit,» praeteriti temporis verba sunt; et «conversus est Jordanis,» et «gestierunt montes,» et «commota est terra,» eodem modo praeteritum sonant; sine praejudicio tamen intelligendi futura. Alioquin contra Evangelicum testimonium cogimur etiam illa non de futuro praenuntiata, sed de praeterito commemorata, intelligere: «Diviserunt sibi vestimenta mea, et super vestimentum meum miserunt sortem» . Quae quamvis verbis praeteriti temporis dicta sint, id tamen praenuntiabant quod tanto post futurum in passione Domini compleretur. Sed tamen, dilectissimi, propheta iste quem commemoravi, etiam grossa corda limavit, et ad intelligenda de praeteritis rebus gestis futura incunctanter extendit; ut non solum apostolica auctoritate figuras nostras illas fuisse credamus, sed nec ab ipsis Prophetis hoc praetermissum esse, ut etiam eorum eloquio pandente, videntes atque gaudentes, certi ac securi, de thesauro Dei et nova et vetera concorditer sibimet cohaerentia proferamus. Cum enim tanto post egressum populi illius ex Aegypto, et tanto ante ista Ecclesiae tempora haec quae commemoravi, cecinerit; tamen se futura praedicere sine ulla dubitatione testatur. «Secundum dies,» inquit, «profectionis eorum ex Aegypto, ostendam mirabilia illis. Videbunt nationes, et confundentur.» Hoc est quod hic dictum est, «Mare vidit, et fugit:» si enim hic per verba praeteriti temporis, sicut est, «vidit» et «fugit,» occulte futura praedicantur; «Videbunt» certe «et confundentur,» quando futuri temporis verba sunt, quis audeat de rebus praeteritis cogitare? Et paulo post, ipsos hostes nostros, qui nos fugientes ut interimerent sequebantur, id est delicta nostra, sicut Aegyptios in mari obrutos, ita in Baptismo demersa et exstincta luce clarius intimat, dicens: «Quoniam voluntarius et misericors est, ipse convertet et miserebitur nostri; demerget delicta nostra, demerget in maris profundum omnes culpas nostras.»
113.5 PL 36, 1478
5. And he hath moved us also to enquire whether the Lord our God beholdeth the same humble things in heaven and in earth: or different humble things in heaven to what He beholdeth on earth.…But if the Lord our God beholdeth other humble things in heaven to what He doth on earth; I suppose that He already beholdeth in heaven those whom He hath called, and in whom He dwelleth; while on earth He beholdeth those whom He is now calling, that He may dwell in them. For He hath the one with Him musing on heavenly things, the others He is waking, while they yet dream things earthly. But since it is difficult to call even those humble, who have not as yet submitted their necks in piety to the gracious yoke of Christ, since the divine writings throughout the whole Psalm warn us to understand holy by the word humble; there is also another interpretation, which, Beloved, ye may consider with me. I believe that those are now meant by heavens who shall sit upon twelve thrones, and shall judge with the Lord; and under the name of the earth, the rest of the multitude of the blessed, who shall be set on the right hand, that through works of mercy they may be praised and received into everlasting habitations by those whom they have made friends to themselves from the mammon of unrighteousness in this mortal life.…
Quid est, charissimi? Qui vos cognoscitis Israelitas secundum semen Abrahae, qui estis domus Jacob secundum promissionem haeredes, cognoscite etiam vos exiisse ab Aegypto, qui huic saeculo renuntiastis; exiisse de populo barbaro, qui confessione pietatis vos a blasphemiis gentium sejunxistis. Non est enim lingua vestra, sed barbara, quae Deum laudare non novit, cui vos cantatis Alleluia. «Facta est» enim «Judaea sanctificatio ejus» in vobis: «Non enim qui in manifesto Judaeus est, neque quae in manifesto in carne est circumcisio; sed qui in occulto Judaeus est, et circumcisione cordis . Interrogate ergo corda vestra: si ea circumcidit fides, si purgavit confessio; in vobis «facta est Judaea sanctificatio ejus,» in vobis «Israel potestas ejus.» Dedit enim vobis potestatem filios Dei fieri .
113.6 PL 36, 1478
6. “He taketh up the destitute out of the dust, and lifteth the poor out of the mire” (ver. 7); “that He may set Him with the princes, even with the princes of His people” (ver. 8). Let not then the heads of the exalted disdain to be humble, beneath the Lord’s right hand. For though the faithful steward of the Lord’s money be placed together with the princes of the people of God, although he be destined to sit on the twelve seats, and even to judge angels; yet he is taken up destitute from the dust, and lifted from out of the mire. Was not he possibly lifted up from the mire, who “served divers lusts and pleasures”?…
Jamvero recordetur unusquisque vestrum, cum Deo vellet cor applicare, ejusque suavi jugo, recedens a pristinis ignorantiae suae desideriis, devotum animum subdere, carnalibusque hujus mundi factis (in quibus sine fructu laborabat, tanquam in Aegypto lateres sub dura dominatione diaboli faceret), audita voce Domini dicentis, «Venite ad me, omnes qui laboratis et onerati estis, et ego vos reficiam» , desertis atque abjectis sub levem Christi sarcinam currere: recordetur ergo unusquisque vestrum quemadmodum omnia saecularia impedimenta cesserunt, dissuadentium voces aut erumpere non ausae sunt, aut considerato Christi nomine per omnes terras exaltato et honorato tremefactae siluerunt. Ergo, «Mare vidit et fugit:» ut tibi sine contradictione ad libertatem spiritualem panderetur via.
113.7 PL 36, 1479
7. What then, brethren, if we have already heard of those humble things which are in heaven, lifted up from the mire, that they might be set with the princes of the people; have we by consequence heard nothing of the humble things which the Lord beholdeth on the earth? For those friends who will judge with their Lord are fewer, while those whom they receive into everlasting habitations are more in number. For although the whole of a heap of corn compared with the separate chaff may seem to contain few in number; yet considered by itself, it is abundant.…The Church then speaketh thus in that sense, wherein she seemeth to bear no offspring among those crowds who have not given up all things, that they might follow the Lord, and might sit upon the twelve thrones. But how many in the same crowd, who make unto themselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, shall stand on the right hand through works of mercy? He not only then lifteth up from the mire him whom He is to place with the princes of His people; but also, “Maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children” (ver. 9): He who dwelleth on high, and beholdeth the humble things that are in heaven and earth, the seed of Abraham like the stars of heaven, holiness set on high in heavenly habitations; and like the sand on the sea shore, a merciful and countless multitude gathered together from the harmful waves, and the bitterness of impiety.
«Jordanis» autem quemadmodum «retrorsum conversus» sit, nolo extra vos quaeratis, nolo aliquid mali suspicemini. Increpat enim Dominus quosdam qui dorsum ad eum posuerunt, et non faciem . Et quisquis principium suum deserit, et a suo Creatore avertitur, tanquam fluvius in mare, labitur in hujus saeculi amaricantem malitiam. Bonum ergo est illi ut retrorsum convertatur, fiatque illi Deus ante faciem redeunti, quem sibi a tergo posuerat; et fiat illi retro mare hujus saeculi, quod sibi ante faciem, cum illuc laberetur, effecerat; et sic obliviscatur ea quae retro sunt, ut in ea quae ante sunt extendatur : quod jam converso utile est. Namque antequam convertatur, si ea quae retro sunt obliviscitur, Deum obliviscitur; quia ipsum retro fecerat, ad quem dorsum posuerat: et si in ea quae ante sunt extenditur, in saeculum extenditur; quia ipsum sibi ante faciem posuerat, quo avidus irruebat. Jordanis ergo illos significat, qui gratiam Baptismi perceperunt; et sic Jordanis convertitur retrorsum, cum illi convertuntur ad Deum, ut eum jam retro non habeant, sed revelata facie gloriam Domini speculantes, in eamdem imaginem transformentur a gloria in gloriam .