Expositions on the Book of Psalms 28
28.0 Psalm XXVIII PL 36, 128
Of David himself.
28.1 Psalm XXVIII PL 36, 213
1. It is the Voice of the Mediator Himself, strong of hand in the conflict of the Passion. Now what He seems to wish for against His enemies, is not the wish of malevolence, but the declaration of their punishment; as in the Gospel, with the cities, in which though He had performed miracles, yet they had not believed on Him, He doth not wish in any evil will what He saith, but predicteth what is impending over them.
[vers. 1, 2.] Psalmus ipsi mediatori manu forti, perfectionis Ecclesiae in hoc saeculo, ubi adversus diabolum temporaliter militatur.
28.2 PL 36, 213
2. “Unto Thee, O Lord, have I cried; My God, be not silent from me” (ver. 1). Unto Thee, O Lord, have I cried; My God, separate not the unity of Thy Word from that which as Man I am. “Lest at any time Thou be silent from me: and I shall be like them that go down into the pit.” For from this, that the Eternity of Thy Word ceaseth not to unite Itself to Me, it comes that I am not such a man as the rest of men, who are born into the deep misery of this world: where, as if Thou art silent, Thy Word is not recognised. “Hear, O Lord, the voice of my supplication, whist I pray unto Thee, whilst I hold up my hands to Thy holy temple” (ver. 2). Whilst I am crucified for their salvation, who on believing become Thy holy temple.
Propheta loquitur: Afferte Domino, filii Dei, afferte Domino filios arietum: afferte Domino vosmetipsos, quos per Evangelium duces gregum Apostoli genuerunt. Afferte Domino gloriam et honorem: per opera vestra Dominus glorificetur et honoretur. Afferte Domino gloriam nomini ejus: gloriose per orbem innotescat. Adorate Dominum in aula sancta ejus: adorate Dominum in dilatato et sanctificato corde vestro; vos enim estis regium sanctum habitaculum ejus.
3 [vers. 3.] Vox Domini super aquas: vox Christi super populos. Deus majestatis intonuit: Deus majestatis de nube carnis terribiliter poenitentiam praedicavit. Dominus super aquas multas: ipse Dominus Jesus postea quam vocem emisit super populos, et perterruit eos, convertit in se, et habitavit in eis.
28.3 PL 36, 128
3. “Draw not My Soul away with sinners, and destroy me not with them that work iniquity, with them that speak peace with their neighbours” (ver. 3). With them that say unto Me, “We know that Thou art a Master come from God.” “But evil in their hearts.” But they speak evil in their hearts.
28.4 PL 36, 213
4. “Give unto them according to their works” (ver. 4). Give unto them according to their works, for this is just. “And according to the malice of their affections.” For aiming at evil, they cannot discover good. “According to the works of their hands give Thou unto them.” Although what they have done may avail for salvation to others, yet give Thou unto them according to the works of their wills. “Pay them their recompense.” Because, for the truth which they heard, they wished to recompense deceit; let their own deceit deceive them.
[vers. 4.] Vox Domini in virtute: vox Domini jam in ipsis, potentes faciens eos. Vox Domini in magnificentia: vox Domini magna faciens in eis.
28.5 PL 36, 213
5. “For they have not had understanding in the works of the Lord” (ver. 5). And whence is it clear that this hath befallen them? From this forsooth, “for they have not had understanding in the works of the Lord.” This very thing, in truth, hath been, even now, their recompense, that in Him whom they tempted with malicious intent as a Man, they should not recognise God, with what design the Father sent Him in the Flesh. “And the works of His hands.” Nor be moved by those visible works, which are laid out before their very eyes. “Thou shalt destroy them, and not build them up.” Let them do Me no hurt, nay, nor again in their endeavour to raise engines against My Church, let them aught avail.
[vers. 5.] Vox Domini conterens cedros: vox Domini contritione cordis humilians superbos. Conteret Dominus cedros Libani: conteret per poenitentiam Dominus elatos nitore terrenae nobilitatis, cum ad eos confundendos ignobilia hujus mundi elegerit , in quibus ostendat divinitatem suam.
28.6 PL 36, 213
6. “Blessed be the Lord, for He hath heard the voice of My prayer” (ver. 6).
[vers. 6.] Et comminuet eas tanquam vitulum Libani. Et amputata superba celsitudine illorum, deponet eos ad imitationem humilitatis suae, qui tanquam vitulus per ipsam hujus saeculi nobilitatem ad victimam ductus est: Astiterunt enim reges terrae, et principes convenerunt in unum adversus Dominum et adversus Christum ejus . Et dilectus sicut filius unicornium: nam et ipse dilectus atque unicus Patri exinanivit se nobilitate sua; et factus est homo, sicut filius Judaeorum ignorantium justitiam Dei et superbe jactantium tanquam singularem justitiam suam.
28.7 PL 36, 213
7. “The Lord My Helper and My Protector” (ver. 7). The Lord helping Me in so great sufferings, and protecting Me with immortality in My resurrection. “In Him hath My Heart trusted, and I have been helped.” “And My Flesh hath flourished again:” that is, and My Flesh hath risen again. “And of my will I will confess unto Him.” Wherefore, the fear of death being now destroyed, not by the necessity of fear under the Law, but with a free will with the Law, shall they who believe on Me, confess unto Him; and because I am in them, I will confess.
[vers. 7.] Vox Domini praecidentis flammam ignis. Vox Domini per ardorem concitatissimum persequentium se sine ulla sua laesione transeuntis, vel dividentis furentem iracundiam persecutorum suorum, ut alii dicerent, Numquid forte ipse est Christus; alii, Non, sed seducit populum : atque ita praecidentis insanum tumultum eorum, ut alios in charitatem suam trajiceret, alios in malitia eorum relinqueret.
28.8 PL 36, 213
8. “The Lord is the strength of His people” (ver. 8). Not that people “ignorant of the righteousness of God, and willing to establish their own.” For they thought not themselves strong in themselves: for the Lord is the strength of His people, struggling in this life’s difficulties with the devil. “And the protector of the salvation of His Christ.” That, having saved them by His Christ after the strength of war, He may protect them at the last with the immortality of peace.
[vers. 8.] Vox Domini commoventis solitudinem: vox Domini commoventis ad fidem Gentes quondam sine spe et sine Deo in hoc mundo ; ubi nullus propheta, nullus verbi Dei praedicator, veluti nullus homo habitaverat. Et commovebit Dominus desertum Cades: et tunc celebrari faciet Dominus sanctum verbum Scripturarum suarum, quod a Judaeis non intelligentibus deserebatur.
28.9 PL 36, 214
9. “Save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance” (ver. 9). I intercede therefore, after My Flesh hath flourished again, because Thou hast said, “Desire of Me, and I will give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance;” “Save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance:” for “all Mine are Thine.” “And rule them, and set them up even for ever.” And rule them in this temporal life, and raise them from hence into life eternal.
[vers. 9.] Vox Domini perficientis cervos: vox enim Domini primo perficit superatores et repulsores venenosarum linguarum. Et revelabit silvas: et tunc eis revelabit opacitates divinorum librorum et umbracula mysteriorum, ubi cum libertate pascantur. Et in templo ejus unusquisque dicit gloriam: et in Ecclesia ejus omnis in spem aeternam regeneratus laudat Deum pro suo quisque dono, quod a sancto Spiritu accepit.