Expositions on the Book of Psalms 90
90.1 Psalm XC PL 36, 1149
1. This Psalm is entitled, “The prayer of Moses the man of God,” through whom, His man, God gave the law to His people, through whom He freed them from the house of slavery, and led them forty years through the wilderness. Moses was therefore the Minister of the Old, and the Prophet of the New Testament. For “all these things,” saith the Apostle, “happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, unto whom the ends of the world come.” In accordance therefore with this dispensation which was vouchsafed to Moses, this Psalm is to be examined, as it has received its title from his prayer.
Psalmus iste est de quo Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum diabolus tentare ausus est. Audiamus ergo, ut possimus instructi resistere tentatori, non praesumentes in nobis, sed in ipso qui prior tentatus est, ne nos in tentatione vinceremur. Illi enim tentatio non erat necessaria: tentatio Christi, nostra doctrina est. Si autem attendamus quid responderit diabolo, ut hoc et nos respondeamus, quando similiter tentat; intramus per januam, sicut audistis lectionem Evangelii. Quid est enim intrare per januam? Intrare per Christum. Ipse enim dixit, «Ego sum janua» . Quid est autem intrare per Christum? Imitari vias Christi. In quo imitaturi sumus vias Christi? numquid in ea magnificentia qua Deus erat in carne? aut ad hoc nos exhortatur, aut hoc a nobis exigit, ut talia miracula, qualia fecit ipse, faciamus? Aut vero Dominus noster Jesus Christus non et modo et semper cum Patre totum mundum gubernat? Et numquid vel ad hoc vocat hominem faciens eum imitatorem suum, ut cum illo gubernet coelum et terram, et omnia quae in eis sunt; aut ut sit et ipse creator, per quem fiant omnia, sicut per Christum facta sunt omnia? Neque ad ista opera te invitat Deus salvator Dominus noster Jesus Christus, quae fecit ab initio, de quibus scriptum est, «Omnia per ipsum facta sunt» , neque ad illa quae fecit in terra. Non hoc tibi dicit, Non eris discipulus meus, nisi ambulaveris super mare , aut nisi suscitaveris mortuum quatriduanum , aut nisi oculos caeci nati aperueris . Nec hoc. Quid est ergo intrare per januam? «Discite a me quia mitis sum et humilis corde» . Quod factus est propter te, hoc in eo debes attendere, ut imiteris. Miracula enim et nondum natus de Maria fecit: quis enim unquam fecit, nisi ipse de quo dictum est, «Qui facit mirabilia magna solus» ? In ipsius enim virtute, et antea qui fecerunt, potuerunt aliquid facere: in virtute Christi Elias mortuum suscitavit . Nisi forte major est Petrus quam Christus, quia Christus voce suscitavit aegrotantem , Petrus autem cum transiret, umbra ipsius tangendi proferebantur aegroti . Potentior ergo Petrus quam Christus? Quis hoc dementissimus dixerit? Quare ergo tanta potentia in Petro? Quia Christus in Petro. Ideo dixit, «Omnes qui venerunt, fures sunt et latrones» : id est, qui venerunt sua sponte, a me non sunt missi, qui venerunt sine me, in quibus ego non fui, quos ego non introduxi. Quotquot ergo miracula facta sunt, sive a praecedentibus, sive a consequentibus, idem ipse Dominus fecit, qui fecit et praesentia sua. Nec ad ipsa ergo miracula hortatur, quae ipse fecit et antequam esset homo: sed quo te hortatur? Ut imiteris quod non posset, nisi factus homo. Tolerare enim passiones numquid posset, nisi homo? Mori et crucifigi et humiliari non posset, nisi homo. Sic ergo et tu molestias hujus saeculi cum pateris, quas facit diabolus, sive aperte per homines, sive occulte sicut Job, sis fortis, sis tolerans in adjutorio Altissimi, sicut dicit iste psalmus: quia si recedas ab adjutorio Altissimi, te ipsum non valens adjuvare, cades.
90.2 PL 36, 1150
2. “Lord,” he saith, “Thou hast been our refuge from one generation to another” (ver. 1): either in every generation, or in two generations, the old and new: because, as I said, he was the Minister of the Testament that related to the old generation, and the Prophet of the Testament which appertained to the new. Jesus Himself, the Surety of that covenant, and the Bridegroom in the marriage which He entered into in that generation, saith, “Had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me: for he wrote of Me.” Now it is not to be believed that this Psalm was entirely the composition of that Moses, as it is not distinguished by any of those of his expressions which are used in his songs: but the name of the great servant of God is used for the sake of some intimation, which should direct the attention of the reader or listener. “Lord,” he saith, “Thou hast been our refuge from one generation to the other.”
Multi enim fortes sunt, quando ab hominibus patiuntur persecutionem, et vident eos aperte saevire in se; et putant quia tunc imitantur passiones Christi, si aperte eos homines persequantur: si autem occulta diaboli persecutione feriantur, putant se non coronari a Christo. Noli timere quando imitaris Christum. Nam et quando tentavit diabolus Dominum, nullus homo fuit in eremo, occulte illum tentavit; sed superatus est, et aperte saeviens superatus est . Sic et tu fac, si vis intrare per januam, quando occulte tentat inimicus, quando postulat hominem ut aliquid ei noceat per corporales molestias, per febres, per aegritudines, per aliquos labores corporis, sicut laboravit Job. Diabolum non videbat, sed potestatem Dei intelligebat. Noverat quia diabolus in eum nihil posset, nisi ab illo cujus summa potestas est, permitteretur: totam gloriam Deo dabat, potentiam diabolo non dabat. Nam et quando abstulit diabolus omnia, hoc dixit: «Dominus dedit, Dominus abstulit.» Non dixit, Dominus dedit, diabolus abstulit: quia nihil abstulisset diabolus, nisi permisisset Dominus. Ideo autem permisit Dominus, ut homo probaretur, diabolus vinceretur. Et quando eum plaga percussit, ille permisit. Quia cum a capite usque ad pedes in putredine vermium flueret, nec tunc tribuit diabolo aliquam potestatem Job: sed cum ei suggessisset uxor ejus, quam solam reliquerat diabolus, non consolatricem mariti, sed adjutricem sui, et dixisset ei, «Dic aliquod verbum in Deum, et morere;» dixit ei, «Locuta es tanquam una de insipientibus mulieribus: si bona suscepimus de manu Domini, mala non sustinebimus» ?
90.3 PL 36, 1151
3. He adds, how He became our refuge, since He began to be that, viz. a refuge, to us which He had not been before, not that He had not existed before He became our refuge: “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever the earth and the world were made: and from age even unto age Thou art” (ver. 2). Thou therefore who art for ever, and before we were, and before the world was, hast become our refuge ever since we turned to Thee. But the expression, “before the mountains,” etc., seems to me to contain a particular meaning; for mountains are the higher parts of the earth, and if God was before even the earth were formed (or, as some books have it, from the same Greek word, “framed”), since it was by Him that it was formed, what is the need of saying that He was before the mountains, or any certain parts of it, since God was not only before the earth, but before heaven and earth, and even the whole bodily and spiritual creation? But it may certainly be that the whole rational creation is marked by this distinction; that while the loftiness of Angels is signified by the mountains, the lowliness of man is meant by the earth. And for this reason, although all the works of creation are not improperly said to be either made or formed; nevertheless, if there is any propriety in these words, the Angels are “made;” for as they are enumerated among His heavenly works, the enumeration itself is thus concluded: “He spake the word, and they were made; He commanded, and they were created;” but the earth was “formed,” that man might thence be created in the body. For the Scripture uses this word, where we read, God made, or “God formed man out of the dust of the ground.” Before then the noblest parts of the creation (for what is higher than the rational part of the Heavenly creation) were made: before the earth was made, that Thou mightest have worshippers upon the earth; and even this is little, as all these had a beginning either in or with time; but “from age to age Thou art.” It would have been better, from everlasting to everlasting: for God, who is before the ages, exists not from a certain age, nor to a certain age, which has an end, since He is without end. But it often happens in the Scripture, that the equivocal Greek word causes the Latin translator to put age for eternity and eternity for age. But he very rightly does not say, Thou wast from ages, and unto ages Thou shalt be: but puts the verb in the present, intimating that the substance of God is altogether immutable. It is not, He was, and Shall be, but only Is. Whence the expression, I Am that I Am; and, I Am “hath sent me unto you;” and, “Thou shalt change them, and they shall be changed: but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail.” Behold then the eternity that is our refuge, that we may fly thither from the mutability of time, there to remain for evermore.
[«vers.» 1, 2.] Ergo qui sic imitatur Christum, ut toleret omnes molestias hujus saeculi, spes ejus in Deo sit, ut nec illecebra capiatur, nec timore frangatur, ipse est «qui habitat in adjutorio Altissimi, et in protectione Dei coeli commorabitur:» sicut audistis psalmum, et cantastis; nam inde incipit Psalmus. Quibus autem verbis tentavit Dominum diabolus, cum ad ipsa venerimus, agnoscetis: nota sunt enim. «Dicet Domino, Susceptor meus es tu, et refugium meum, Deus meus.» Quis hoc dicit Domino? «Qui habitat in adjutorio Altissimi.» Quis est «qui habitat in adjutorio Altissimi?» Qui non habitat in adjutorio suo. Quis est «qui habitat in adjutorio Altissimi?» Qui non est superbus, quomodo illi qui manducaverunt ut essent quasi dii, et perdiderunt quod erant facti homines immortales. In adjutorio enim suo habitare voluerunt, non in adjutorio Altissimi: ideo suggestionem serpentis audierunt, praeceptum Dei contempserunt; et invenerunt hoc evenisse in se quod minatus est Deus, non quod promisit diabolus .
90.4 PL 36, 1151
4. But as our life here is exposed to numerous and great temptations, and it is to be feared lest we may be turned aside by them from that refuge, let us see what in consequence of this the prayer of the man of God seeks for. “Turn not Thou man to lowness” (ver. 3): that is, let not man, turned aside from Thy eternal and sublime things, lust for things of time, savour of earthly things. This prayer is what God has Himself enjoined us, in the Prayer, “Lead us not into temptation,” He adds, “Again Thou sayest, Come again, ye children of men.” As if he said, I ask of Thee what Thou hast commanded me to ask: giving glory to His grace, that “he that glorieth, in the Lord he may glory:” without whose help we cannot by an exertion of our own will overcome the temptations of this life. “Turn not Thou man to lowness: again thou sayest, Turn again, ye children of men.” But grant what Thou has enjoined, by hearing the prayer of him who can at least pray, and aiding the faith of the willing soul.
[«vers.» 3.] Ergo sic et tu dic, «Sperabo in eum; quoniam ipse eruet me,» non ego me. Vide si aliud aliquid docet, nisi ut tota spes nostra non sit in nobis, non sit in homine. Unde te eruet? «De muscipula venantium, et a verbo aspero. De muscipula venantium,» magnum aliquid est: «a verbo aspero,» quid magnum? Multi in muscipulam venantium per verbum asperum ceciderunt. Quid est quod dico? Tendit diabolus et angeli ejus, tanquam venantes tendunt muscipulas; et longe ab ipsis muscipulis ambulant homines qui in Christo ambulant: non audet enim in Christo tendere muscipulam; circa viam ponit, in via non ponit. Via autem tua Christus sit, et tu non cades in muscipulam diaboli. Aberranti a via, jam ibi est muscipula. Hinc atque hinc ponit laqueos, hinc atque inde ponit muscipulam; inter laqueos ambulas. Sed vis securus ambulare? Noli declinare in dexteram neque in sinistram; et sit tibi via ille qui tibi factus est via , ut perducat te ad se per se; et non timebis laqueos venantium. Sed quid est, «a verbo aspero?» Multos per verbum asperum misit in muscipulam diabolus: verbi gratia, qui voluerint esse Christiani inter Paganos, insultatores patiuntur Paganos; erubescunt inter insultatores, et a verbo aspero recedentes de via, incidunt in laqueos venantium. Et quid tibi facturum est verbum asperum? Nihil. Numquid nihil tibi facturus est laqueus, quo te compellit inimicus per verbum asperum? Quomodo retia plerumque tenduntur, ad caput sepis tenduntur avibus, et lapides mittuntur in sepem: lapides illi nihil facturi sunt avibus. Quando enim ferit avem, qui lapidem mittit in sepem? Timens autem avis inanem sonum, cadit in retia: sic homines timentes insultatorum verba vana et inania, et erubescentes conviciis superfluis, cadunt in laqueos venantium, et captivantur a diabolo. Sed cur non dico, fratres, quod non est tacendum, quod me cogit Deus dicere? Quomodolibet hoc accipiatis, cogit me Deus dicere; et si non dixero, ego cado in laqueos venantium: si enim detractiones hominum timeo, ut non dicam; ego ipse a verbo aspero cado in laqueos venantium, qui vos moneo ut non timeatis verba hominum. Quid est ergo quod dicturus sum? Quomodo inter Paganos qui fuerit Christianus, a Paganis audit verba aspera, quibus si erubuerit, cadit in muscipulam venantium: sic inter Christianos qui voluerint esse diligentiores et meliores, ab ipsis Christianis audituri sunt insultationes. Et quid prodest, frater, quod aliquando invenis civitatem, ubi nullus est paganus? Nemo ibi insultat christiano quod christianus est, quia non ibi invenitur paganus: sed sunt multi male viventes christiani, inter quos qui voluerit bene vivere, et inter ebriosos sobrius esse, et inter fornicarios castus esse, et inter consultores mathematicorum Deum sinceriter colere et nihil tale requirere, et inter spectatores nugacium theatrorum noluerit ire nisi ad ecclesiam, patitur insultatores ipsos christianos, et patitur verba aspera; et dicunt, Magnus tu, justus, tu es Elias, tu es Petrus, de coelo venisti. Insultant; quocumque se verterit, audit hinc atque inde verbum asperum. Quod si timet et recedit a via Christi, cadit in laqueos venantium. Quomodo autem cum audiuntur haec verba, non receditur a via? Quid est, non recedere a via? Quando audit verba aspera, unde sibi habet facere solatium, ut non curet verba aspera, nec recedat a via, et intret per januam? Dicat: qualia verba audio, servus, peccator? Dominus meus audivit: «Daemonium habes» . Modo audistis verbum asperum quod dictum est in Dominum: non opus erat ut Dominus hoc audiret, sed te monuit adversus verba aspera ne incidas in laqueos venantium.
90.5 PL 36, 1152
5. “For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday, which is past by” (ver. 4): hence we ought to turn to Thy refuge, where Thou art without any change, from the fleeting scenes around us; since however long a time may be wished for for this life, “a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday:” not as to-morrow, which is to come: for all limited periods of time are reckoned as having already passed. Hence the Apostle’s choice is rather to aim at what is before, that is, to desire things eternal, and to forget things behind, by which temporal matters should be understood. But that no one may imagine a thousand years are reckoned by God as one day, as if with God days were so long, when this is only said in contempt of the extent of time: he adds, “and as a watch in the night:” which only lasts three hours. Nevertheless men have ventured to assert their knowledge of times, to the pretenders to which our Lord said, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power:” and they allege that this period may be defined six thousand years, as of six days. Nor have they heeded the words, “are but as one day which is past by:” for, when this was uttered, not a thousand years only had passed, and the expression, “as a watch in the night,” ought to have warned them that they might not be deceived by the uncertainty of the seasons: for even if the six first days in which God finished His works seemed to give some plausibility to their opinion, six watches, which amount to eighteen hours, will not consist with that opinion.
[«vers. 4.] Inter scapulas suas obumbrabit tibi, et sub alis ejus sperabis.» Hoc dicit, ne tua protectio a te tibi sit, ne putes quia tu te potes protegere: ille te proteget, ut eruat; et cruet de muscipula venantium, et a verbo aspero. «Inter scapulas suas obumbrabit tibi,» et a tergo potes intelligere, et a pectore: scapulae enim circa caput sunt. Sed quia dicit, «sub alis ejus sperabis,» manifestum est quia protectio alarum expansarum facit te esse inter scapulas Dei, ut hinc atque hinc alae Dei te ponant in medio: et non timebis ne quis tibi noceat; tantum tu noli inde recedere, quo nullus inimicus audet accedere. Si gallina protegit pullos suos sub alis suis; quanto magis tu sub alis Dei tutus eris, et adversus diabolum et angelos ejus, quae aereae potestates tanquam accipitres circumvolitant, ut infirmum pullum auferant? Neque enim sine causa comparata est gallina ipsi Sapientiae Dei; nam Christus ipse Dominus noster et salvator tanquam gallinam se dixit: «Jerusalem, Jerusalem, quoties volui» «colligere filios tuos, tanquam gallina pullos suos, et noluisti» ? Noluit illa Jerusalem; velimus nos. Illa rapta est ab aereis potestatibus fugiens alas gallinae, praesumens de viribus suis, cum esset infirma: nos confitentes infirmitatem nostram, sub alas Dei fugiamus; erit nobis enim tanquam gallina protegens pullos suos. Non est enim injuriosum nomen gallinae. Attendite caeteras aves, fratres: multae aves ante nos fetant, calefaciunt pullos suos; nulla sic avis infirmatur cum pullis, quomodo gallina. Attendat Charitas vestra: hirundines, passeres et ciconias videmus extra nidos suos, nec cognoscimus utrum fetus habeant; at vero gallinam cognoscimus in infirmitate vocis, in relaxatione plumarum: tota mutatur affectu pullorum; quia illi infirmi sunt, infirmam se facit. Quia ergo et nos infirmi eramus, infirmam se fecit Sapientia Dei; quia Verbum caro factum est, et habitavit in nobis , ut sub alis ejus speremus.
90.6 PL 36, 1153
6. Next, the man of God, or rather the Prophetic spirit, seems to be reciting some law written in the secret wisdom of God, in which He has fixed a limit to the sinful life of mortals, and determined the troubles of mortality, in the following words: “Their years are as things which are nothing worth: in the morning let it fade away like the grass” (ver. 5). The happiness therefore of the heirs of the old covenant, which they asked of the Lord their God as a great boon, attained to receive this Law in His mysterious Providence. Moses seems to be reciting it: “Their years shall be things which are esteemed as nothing.” Such are those things which are not before they are come: and when come, shall soon not be: for they do not come to be here, but to be gone. “In the morning,” that is, before they come, “as a heat let it pass by;” but “in the evening,” it means after they come, “let it fall, and be dried up, and withered” (ver. 6). It is “to fall” in death, be “dried up” in the corpse, “withered” in the dust. What is this but flesh, wherein is the accursed lust of fleshly things? “For all flesh is grass, and all the goodliness of man as the flower of the field; the grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of the Lord abideth for ever.”
[«vers. 5, 6.] Scuto circumdabit te veritas ejus.» Quae sunt alae, hoc est scutum; quia nec alae sunt, nec scutum. Si aliquid horum proprie esset, numquid alae scutum esse possent, vel scutum alae? Sed quia figurate per similitudines dici omnia ista possunt, ideo et alae et scutum esse potuerunt. Si vere lapis esset Christus, leo non esset; et si leo esset, agnus non esset: ideo et leo , et agnus , et lapis , et vitulus, et si quid hujusmodi; quia nec lapis, nec leo, nec agnus, nec vitulus, sed salvator omnium Jesus Christus. Istae enim similitudines sunt, non proprietates. «Veritas ejus,» inquit, «circumdabit te.» Tanquam scutum veritas ejus est; ut non misceat eos qui in seipsis sperant, cum eis qui in Deo sperant. Peccator est, et peccator: sed da peccatorem de se praesumentem, contemnentem, peccata sua non confitentem, et dicet, Si Deo displicerent peccata mea, non permitteret me vivere. Alius autem oculos non audebat levare, sed percutiebat pectus suum, dicens, «Domine, propitius esto mihi peccatori» . Et ille peccator, et ille: sed ille irridens, iste plangens; ille contemptor, hic confessor peccatorum suorum. Veritas autem Dei quae non personas accipit, discernit poenitentem a defendente, discernit humilem a superbo, discernit praesumentem de seipso a praesumente de Deo. Ergo «veritas ejus» tanquam «scuto circumdabit te.»
90.7 PL 36, 1153
7. Making no secret that this fate is a penalty inflicted for sin, he adds at once, “For we consume away in Thy displeasure, and are troubled at Thy wrathful indignation” (ver. 7): we consume away in our weakness, and are troubled from the fear of death; for we are become weak, and yet fearful to end that weakness. “Another,” saith He, “shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not:” although not to be punished, but to be crowned, by martyrdom; and the soul of our Lord, transforming us into Himself, was sorrowful even unto death: for “the Lord’s going out” is no other than in “death.”
«Non timebis a timore nocturno, a sagitta volante per diem, a negotio perambulante in tenebris, a ruina et daemonio meridiano.» Duobus quae supra dixit, redduntur duo quae infra dixit. «Non timebis a timore nocturno, a sagitta volante per diem:» et propter timorem nocturnum, «a negotio perambulante in tenebris;» et propter sagittam volantem per diem, «a ruina et daemonio meridiano.» Quid est timendum in nocte, et quid in die? Cum quisque ignorans peccat, tanquam in nocte peccat: cum autem sciens peccat, tanquam in die peccat. Duo ergo illa leviora; ipsa sunt graviora, quae repetita sunt. Intendite, ut diligenter hoc, si Dominus annuerit, exponatur vobis: obscurum est enim, et erit magnus fructus si intellexeritis. Tentationem quae fit in ignorantibus levis, timorem nocturnum appellavit; et tentationem quae fit in scientibus levis, sagittam volantem per diem appellavit. Quae sunt leves tentationes? Quae non sic instant, non sic urgent, ut cogant, sed possunt cito declinata transire. Eadem rursus fac gravia. Si persecutor instat, et vehementer terret ignorantes, id est nondum firmos in fide, nec scientes quod ad hoc sunt christiani, ut futuram vitam sperent; cum coeperint terreri de malis temporalibus, putant quod deseruit illos Christus, et sine causa sunt christiani; non norunt enim, ut dixi, quia ad hoc sunt christiani, ut praesentia superent, et futura sperent: invenit illos negotium perambulans in tenebris, et capit eos. Sunt autem quidam qui noverunt se ad futuram spem vocatos; quia quod nobis promisit Deus, non est de ista terra, non est de ista vita; quia istae omnes tentationes tolerandae sunt, ut illud accipiamus, illud acquiramus quod nobis promisit Deus in aeternum; norunt ista: sed quando coeperit persecutor instare vehementius, agere minis, poenis, tormentis, aliquando cedunt, et scientes tanquam in die cadunt.
90.8 PL 36, 1154
8. “Thou hast set our misdeeds before Thee” (ver. 8): that is, Thou hast not dissembled Thine anger: “and our age in the light of Thy countenance.” “The light of Thy countenance” answers to “before Thee,” and to “our misdeeds,” as above.
Quare autem in meridie? Quia multum fervet persecutio: majores aestus dixit meridiem. Attendat hoc Charitas vestra de Scripturis me probantem. Quando de seminante dicebat Dominus, quia exiit seminans seminare, et aliud cecidit in viam, aliud in petrosa, aliud inter spinas; dignatus est ipse exponere similitudinem, et cum venisset ad petrosa, hoc ait: «Hi sunt qui audiunt verbum, et ad horam gaudent ad verbum; et in tribulatione quae fit propter verbum, continuo scandalizantur.» Quid enim dixerat de his quae exierant in petrosis? «Exorto sole,» inquit, «aruerunt, quia non habebant altam radicem» . «Hi sunt» ergo «qui ad horam gaudent ad verbum, et cum persecutio facta fuerit propter verbum, arescunt.» Quare arescunt? «Quia non habebant firmam radicem.» Quae est radix? Charitas: hoc enim dicit Apostolus, «Ut in charitate radicati et fundati» . Quomodo enim radix omnium malorum cupiditas , sic radix omnium bonorum charitas est. Nostis hoc, et saepe dictum est: sed quare hoc volui commemorare? Ut intelligatis Psalmum, quia daemonium meridianum propter aestum vehementis persecutionis positum est. Sic enim Dominus dicit: «Ortus est sol, et aruit herba, quia radicem non habebat.» Et exponens nobis quid est a sole herbam arescere, dixit, quia persecutione facta non manent illi, «quia altam radicem non habebant.» Recte hic intelligimus daemonium meridianum persecutionem vehementem. Qualis fuit illa persecutio aliquando, fratres, commemorem, unde Dominus liberavit Ecclesiam suam, dignetur attendere Charitas vestra. Primo, quod imperatores et reges saeculi putaverunt se persequendo tollere posse de terra nomen Christi et nomen Christianorum, jusserunt ut quisquis se confiteretur christianum, feriretur. Quicumque noluit feriri, negavit se christianum, sciens quid mali faceret; pervenit ad illum sagitta volans per diem. Quicumque autem non curavit praesentem vitam, sed certus speravit futuram, declinavit sagittam volantem per diem, confessus est se christianum: percussus carne, liberatus est spiritu; exspectare coepit positus apud Deum in quiete, etiam redemptionem corporis sui in resurrectione mortuorum: evasit a tentatione illa, a sagitta volante per diem. Ergo, Quicumque se confessus fuerit christianum, feriatur; quomodo sagitta volans per diem fuit. Nondum erat daemonium meridianum, flagrans vehementi persecutione, et faciens magnos aestus etiam fortibus. Audite enim quid secutum sit: cum vidissent inimici quod multi festinarent ad martyrium, et tanto plures crederent in Christum, quanto plures patiebantur, dixerunt apud se, Nos occisuri sumus genus humanum, tot millia quae credunt in hoc nomine, si occiderimus omnes, prope nullus in terra remanebit. Coepit fervere sol, coepit fervere aestus. Audite enim quid jusserint: quomodo antea jusserant, Quicumque confessus se fuerit christianum, feriatur; jusserunt postea, Quicumque confessus se fuerit christianum, torqueatur, et tamdiu torqueatur, donec neget se esse christianum. Comparate sagittam volantem per diem, et daemonium meridianum. Sagitta volans per diem quid erat? Qui se confessus fuerit christianum, feriatur. Quis fidelis eam mortis celeritate non declinaret? Illud autem, Si se confitetur christianum, non occidatur; sed torqueatur, donec neget; si se negaverit, dimittatur: daemonium meridianum erat. Multi ergo non negantes, in tormentis deficiebant; tamdiu enim torquebantur, donec negarent. Perseverantibus autem in non negando Christum, quid facturus erat gladius, uno ictu occidendo corpus, animam ad Deum mittendo? Hoc faciebant et diuturna tormenta: sed quis tandem inveniretur qui duraret adversus tantos et tam longos cruciatus? Multi defecerunt: et, credo, illi defecerunt qui de se praesumpserunt, qui non habitabant in adjutorio Altissimi, et in protectione Dei coeli; qui non dixerunt Domino, «Susceptor meus es;» qui non sub umbra alarum ejus speraverunt, sed viribus suis multum dederunt. Dejecti sunt a Deo, ut ostenderet illis quia ipse protegit, ipse temperat tentationes, ipse tantum venire permittit, quantum potest ferre cui venit.
90.9 PL 36, 1155
9. “For all our days are failed, and in Thine anger we have failed” (ver. 9). These words sufficiently prove that our subjection to death is a punishment. He speaks of our days failing, either because men fail in them from loving things that pass away, or because they are reduced to so small a number; which he asserts in the following lines: “our years are spent in thought like a spider.” “The days of our age are threescore years and ten; and though men be so strong that they come to fourscore years, yet is more of them but labour and sorrow” (ver. 10). These words appear to express the shortness and misery of this life: since those who have reached their seventieth year are styled old men. Up to eighty, however, they appear to have some strength; but if they live beyond this, their existence is laborious through multiplied sorrows. Yet many even below the age of seventy experience an old age the most infirm and wretched: and old men have often been found to be wonderfully vigorous even beyond eighty years. It is therefore better to search for some spiritual meaning in these numbers. For the anger of God is not greater on the sins of Adam (through whom alone “sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men”), because they live a much shorter time than the men of old; since even the length of their days is ridiculed in the comparison of a thousand years to yesterday that is past, and to three hours: especially since at the very time when they provoked the anger of God to send the deluge in which they perished, their life was at its longest span.
[«vers.» 7.] Multi ergo ceciderunt a daemonio meridiano. Quam multi, vultis nosse? Sequitur, et dicit: «Cadent a latere tuo mille, et dena millia a dextris tuis: ad te autem non appropinquabit.» Cui dicitur hoc? cui, fratres, nisi Domino Jesu Christo? Dominus enim Jesus, non solum in se, sed et in nobis. Recordamini verba illa: «Saule, Saule, quid me persequeris» ? Quando ipsum nemo tangebat, et dicebat, «Quid me persequeris?» numquid non in nobis seipsum computabat? Quando dicebat, «Qui fecit uni ex minimis meis, mihi fecit» ; nonne in nobis seipsum computabat? Non enim divisa sunt ab invicem membra, caput et corpus. Quid est caput et corpus? Salvator et Ecclesia. Quomodo ergo dictum est, «Cadent a latere tuo mille, et dena millia a dextris tuis?» Cadent enim a daemonio meridiano. Magnus terror, fratres, a latere Christi cadere, a dextris Christi cadere. Quomodo cadent a latere? Quare illi a latere, illi a dextris? Quare mille a latere, et dena millia a dextris? Quid est, a latere mille? Quia pauciores sunt mille, quam dena millia quae a dextris cadent. Qui sunt isti? Modo planum erit in nomine Christi, modo apertum erit. Quibusdam promisit Christus quia cum illo judicabunt; Apostolis scilicet, qui dimiserunt omnia, et secuti sunt eum. Nam Petrus ait illi, «Ecce nos dimisimus omnia, et secuti sumus te;» et hoc illis promisit, «Sedebitis super duodecim sedes, judicantes duodecim tribus Israel» . Nolite putare quia ipsis solis promisit Dominus. Ubi enim sedebit Paulus apostolus, qui plus omnibus illis laboravit , si non ibi sedebunt nisi duodecim? Ille enim tertius decimus est. Nam de duodecim cecidit Judas; in locum autem Judae traditoris Matthias ordinatus est: in Actibus Apostolorum legimus . Impletae sunt duodecim sedes. Non ibi sedebit qui plus omnibus illis laboravit? An duodecim sedes perfectio est tribunalis? Nam millia sedebunt in duodecim sedibus. Sed unde mihi probas, ait aliquis, quia et Paulus inter judices erit? Audi illum dicentem: «Nescitis quia angelos judicabimus» ? «Judicabimus,» inquit. Et ipse non dubitavit in praesumptione, qua credidit, computare se inter illos qui judicabunt cum Christo. Qui ergo judicabunt cum Christo, principes Ecclesiae sunt, perfecti sunt. Talibus dixit: «Si vis esse perfectus, vade, vende omnia tua, et da pauperibus.» Quid est, «Vis esse perfectus?» Vis mecum judicare, et non judicari. Ille contristatus abscessit ; sed multi hoc fecerunt, et multi hoc faciunt: ergo isti cum illo judicabunt. Sed multi promittunt sibi quia judicabunt cum Christo, quia dimittunt omnia sua et sequuntur Christum, sed habent praesumptionem de se, habent quemdam typhum et superbiam, quam Deus solus potest nosse, et non possunt evitare daemonium meridianum, id est, casum ferventis caloris nimiae persecutionis. Tales multi cum essent illo tempore, qui distribuerant omnia sua pauperibus, et sibi jam promittebant quia sessuri erant cum Christo, et judicaturi gentes, fervente calore persecutionis tanquam a daemonio meridiano defecerunt in tormentis, et negaverunt Christum. Ipsi sunt qui a latere ceciderunt: tanquam sessuri cum Christo ad mundum judicandum, ceciderunt.
90.10 PL 36, 1156
10. Moreover, seventy and eighty years equal a hundred and fifty; a number which the Psalms clearly insinuate to be a sacred one. One hundred and fifty have the same relative signification as fifteen, the latter number being composed of seven and eight together: the first of which points to the Old Testament through the observation of the Sabbath; the latter to the New, referring to the resurrection of our Lord. Hence the fifteen steps in the Temple. Hence in the Psalms, fifteen “songs of degrees.” Hence the waters of the deluge overtopped the highest mountains by fifteen cubits: and many other instances of the same nature. “Our years are passed in thought like a spider.” We were labouring in things corruptible, corruptible works were we weaving together: which, as the Prophet Isaiah saith, by no means covered us. “The days of our years are in themselves,” etc. A distinction is here made between themselves and their strength: “in themselves,” that is, in the years or days themselves, may mean in temporal things, which are promised in the Old Testament, signified by the number seventy; “but if” not in themselves, but “in their strength,” refers not to temporal things, but to things eternal, “fourscore years,” as the New Testament contains the hope of a new life and resurrection for evermore: and what is added, that if they pass this latter period, “their strength is labour and sorrow,” intimates that such shall be the fate of him who goes beyond this faith, and seeks for more. It may also be understood thus: because although we are established in the New Testament, which the number eighty signifies, yet still our life is one of labour and sorrow, while “we groan within ourselves, awaiting the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body; for we are saved by hope; and if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” This relates to the mercy of God, of which he proceeds to say, “Since thy mercy cometh over us, and we shall be chastened:” for “the Lord chasteneth whom He loveth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth,” and to some mighty ones He giveth a thorn in the flesh, to buffet them, that they may not be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, so that strength be made perfect in weakness. Some copies read, we shall be “taught,” instead of “chastened,” which is equally expressive of the Divine Mercy; for no man can be taught without labour and sorrow; since strength is made perfect in weakness.
A dextris autem dicam qui cadunt. Nostis quia cum apparuerit ipsum tribunal, ubi cum Christo Domino judicabunt qui voluerunt esse et vere fuerunt perfecti, radicati et fundati in charitate, ut non arescerent de sole et daemonio meridiano, hoc ait Dominus, «Congregabuntur ante eum omnes gentes, et dividet illos ab invicem, sicut pastor dividit oves ab haedis; et oves ponet a dextris, haedos autem a sinistris;» et judicabuntur. Multi erunt qui judicabunt, sed pauciores erunt quam illi qui ante tribunal stabunt: quia illi tanquam mille, illi tanquam dena millia. A dextris positis quid dicturus est? «Esurivi, et dedistis mihi manducare; hospes fui, et suscepistis me.» Manifestum est quia his dicet qui habent substantiam hujus saeculi, unde ista humana faciant. Tamen et ipsi cum illis regnabunt: quia illi tanquam milites, illi tanquam annonam praebentes Provinciales, sub uno tamen Imperatore et miles et provincialis in regno est. Miles fortis, provincialis devotus: miles fortis orationibus pugnat adversus diabolum, dovotus provincialis annonam tribuit militibus. Intelligat Charitas vestra. Et audient in fine ad dexteram positi: «Venite, benedicti Patris mei, percipite regnum quod vobis paratum est ab origine mundi.» Erant ergo illo tempore multi, quando graviter inferbuerat sol persecutionis et daemonium meridianum, erant qui sibi promittebant quia judicaturi erant cum Christo; non potuerunt ferre aestum persecutionis, et ceciderunt a latere ipsius: erant ibi alii, qui non sibi promittebant sedes judicantium; sed per eleemosynas promittebant sibi quia ad dexteram futuri erant, quibus dicturus erat Christus, «Venite, benedicti Patris mei, percipite regnum quod vobis paratum est ab origine mundi.» Et quia multi de spe illa judicandi ceciderunt, multi autem et multo plures de spe illa dexterae ceciderunt, ideo dictum est Christo: «Cadent a latere tuo mille, et dena millia a dextris tuis.» Et quia multi erunt cum illo, qui omnia illa non curarunt, cum quibus tanquam membris unus est Christus: «Ad te autem,» inquit, «non appropinquabit.» Numquid ad solum caput dixit, «non appropinquabit?» Non utique; sed nec ad Petrum, nec ad Paulum, nec ad omnes Apostolos, nec ad omnes martyres, qui in tormentis non defecerunt. Quomodo ergo «non appropinquabit?» cur sic torti sunt. Propinquavit carni tormentum, sed non pervenit ad locum fidei. Itaque longe erat fides ipsorum a terrore torquentium. Torqueant, nec appropinquabit terror; torqueant, sed irridebunt tormentum, praesumentes in illo qui prior vicit, ut caeteri vincerent. Et qui vincunt, nisi qui de se non praesumpserunt? Intendat Charitas vestra; ad hoc enim dixit omnia superiora. «Dicet Domino, Susceptor meus es tu, et refugium meum;» et, «Sperabo in eum; quoniam ipse eruet me de muscipula venantium. Ipse eruet me,» non ego me. «Inter scapulas suas obumbrabit tibi:» sed quando? Quando «sub alis ejus sperabis. Scuto circumdabit te veritas ejus.» Quia ergo in illo praesumpsisti, et totam spem tuam in illo posuisti, sequitur, quid? «Non timebis a timore nocturno, a sagitta volante per diem, a negotio perambulante in tenebris, a» «ruina et daemonio meridiano.» Quis non timebit? Qui non in se, sed in Christo praesumit. Qui autem de se praesumunt, etsi jam sibi sperabant latus Christi tanquam judicaturi, etsi futuros se jam sperabant a dextris Christi, quasi diceret illis, «Venite, benedicti Patris mei, percipite regnum quod vobis paratum est ab origine mundi;» venit daemonium meridianum, id est, fervens aestus persecutionis, vehementer terrens, et ceciderunt multi a spe sedis judiciariae, de quibus dictum est, «Cadent a latere tuo mille;» et multi a spe remunerationis obsequiorum suorum, de quibus dictum est, «Et dena millia a dextris tuis. Ad te autem,» id est, ad caput et corpus, «non appropinquabit,» ruina et daemonium meridianum; quoniam novit Dominus qui sunt ejus .
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11. “For who knoweth the power of Thy wrath: and for the fear of Thee to number Thine anger?” (ver. 11). It belongs to very few men, he saith, to know the power of Thy wrath; for when Thou dost spare, Thy anger is so far heavier against most men; that we may know that labour and sorrow belong not to wrath, but rather to Thy mercy, when Thou chastenest and teachest those whom Thou lovest, to save them from the torments of eternal punishment: as it is said in another Psalm, “The sinner hath provoked the Lord: He will not require it of him according to the greatness of His wrath.” With this also is understood, “Who knoweth?” Such is the difficulty of finding any one who knoweth how to number Thine anger by Thy fear, that he adds this, meaning that it is to the purpose that Thou appearest to spare some, with whom Thou art more angry, that the sinner may be prospered in his path, and receive a heavier doom at the last. For when the power of human wrath hath killed the body, it hath nothing more to do: but God hath power both to punish here, and after the death of the body to send into Hell, and by the few who are thus taught, the vain and seductive prosperity of the wicked is judged to be greater wrath of God.…
[«vers. 8.] Verumtamen oculis tuis considerabis, et retributionem peccatorum videbis.» Quid est hoc? quare «verumtamen?» Quia licuit impiis superbire in servos tuos, licuit impiis persequi servos tuos. Impune ergo erit impiis, quia persecuti sunt servos tuos? Non erit impune. Quamvis enim tu permiseris, et magis inde tui coronati sint; «Verumtamen oculis tuis considerabis, et retributionem peccatorum videbis.» Malum enim quod voluerunt, non bonum quod per nescientes actum est, eis retribuetur. Modo opus est ut oculos fidei habeamus, et videamus quia exaltantur ad tempus, et plangent in aeternum; et quibus datur potestas in servos Dei temporaliter, dicetur eis: «Ite in ignem aeternum, qui paratus est diabolo et angelis ejus» . Sed si habeat quisque oculos, sicut dixit, «oculis tuis considerabis;» non est leve videre impium florentem in hoc saeculo, et habere ad illum oculos, ut consideres fide quid ille passurus est in fine, si se non correxerit: quia qui modo tonare volunt, postea fulminantur. «Verumtamen oculis tuis considerabis, et retributionem peccatorum videbis.»
90.12 PL 36, 1158
12. “Make Thy right hand so well known” (ver. 12). This is the reading of most of the Greek copies: not of some in Latin, which is thus, “Make Thy right hand well known to me.” What is, “Thy right hand,” but Thy Christ, of whom it is said, And to whom is the Arm of the Lord revealed? Make Him so well known, that Thy faithful may learn in Him to ask and to hope for those things rather of Thee as rewards of their faith, which do not appear in the Old Testament, but are revealed in the New: that they may not imagine that the happiness derived from earthly and temporal blessings is to be highly esteemed, desired, or loved, and thus their feet slip, when they see it in men who honour Thee not: that their steps may not give way, while they know not how to number Thine anger. Finally, in accordance with this prayer of the Man that is His, He has made His Christ so well known as to show by His sufferings that not these rewards which seem so highly prized in the Old Testament, where they are shadows of things to come, but things eternal, are to be desired. The right hand of God may also be understood in this sense, as that by which He will separate His saints from the wicked: because that hand becomes well known, when it scourgeth every son whom He receiveth, and suffers him not, in greater anger, to prosper in his sins, but in His mercy scourgeth him with the left, that He may place him purified on His right hand. The reading of most copies, “make Thy right hand well known to me,” may be referred either to Christ, or to eternal happiness: for God has not a right hand in bodily shape, as He has not that anger which is aroused into violent passion.
[«vers. 9.] Quoniam tu es, Domine, spes mea.» Ecce venit ad illud, quare non cadat a ruina et daemonio meridiano: «Quoniam tu es, Domine, spes mea; altissimum posuisti refugium tuum.» Quid est quod in alto est refugium tuum? Multi enim sic sibi faciunt refugium Dei, quo fugiant a temporalibus aestibus. In alto est enim refugium Dei, valde in occulto est, quo fugias ab ira ventura. Intus «altissimum posuisti refugium tuum. Non accedent ad te mala, et flagellum non appropinquabit tabernaculo tuo. Quoniam Angegelis suis mandavit de te, ut custodiant te in omnibus viis tuis. In manibus tollent te, nequando offendas ad lapidem pedem tuum.» Ista sunt verba quae diabolus dixit Domino Jesu Christo, quando illum tentavit. Sed quia diligentius consideranda sunt, ne vos fatigemus, differamus in crastinum (quia et crastino debetur vobis sermo), ut ab isto loco Psalmi rursus incipiamus, propter taedium vestrum; ne cum volumus finire res obscuras, praecipitemus, et non perveniant ad intelligentiam vestram.
90.13 PL 36, 1169
13. But what he addeth, “and those fettered in heart in wisdom;” other copies read, “instructed,” not “lettered:” the Greek verb, expressing both senses, only differing by a single syllable. But since these also, as it is said, put their “feet in the fetters” of wisdom, are taught wisdom (he means the feet of the heart, not of the body), and bound by its golden chains depart not from the path of God, and become not runaways from him; whichever reading we adopt, the truth in the meaning is safe. Them thus lettered, or instructed in heart in wisdom, God makes so well known in the New Testament, that they despised all things for the Faith which the impiety of Jews and Gentiles abhorred; and allowed themselves to be deprived of those things which in the Old Testament are thought high promises by those who judge after the flesh.
«Et ostendam illi salutare meum.» Nec hoc, fratres, breviter praetereundum est. «Ostendam illi salutare meum:» hoc dicit, Ostendam illi ipsum Christum. Quare? non est visus in terra? Quid magnum nobis habet ostendere? Sed non est visus tali visu, quali videbimus. Tali visu visus est, quali qui viderunt, crucifixerunt: ecce qui viderunt, crucifixerunt; nos non vidimus, et credidimus. Illi oculos habebant, nos non habemus? Imo et nos cordis habemus; sed per fidem adhuc videmus, non per speciem. Quando erit species? Quando videbimus «facie ad faciem,» quod dicit Apostolus : quod nobis promittit Deus in magno praemio omnium laborum nostrorum. Quidquid laboras, ad hoc laboras, ut videas. Nescio quid magnum est quod visuri sumus, quando tota merces nostra visio est: et ipsum magnum visum hoc est, Dominus noster Jesus Christus. Ipse qui humilis visus est, ipse videbitur magnus, et laetificabit nos, quomodo videtur modo ab Angelis: «In principio erat Verbum, et Verbum erat apud Deum, et Deus erat Verbum» . Attendite qui hoc promisit, ipsum Dominum in Evangelio dicentem: «Qui diligit me, diligetur a Patre meo, et ego diligam eum.» Et quasi diceretur ei, Et quid ei dabis qui diligit te? «Ostendam,» inquit, «meipsum illi» . Desideremus, et amemus: flagremus, si sponsa sumus. Sponsus absens est, sustineamus: veniet quem desideramus. Tantum pignus dedit, non timeat sponsa ne deseratur ab sponso: non dimittit pignus suum. Quod pignus dedit? Sanguinem suum fudit. Quod pignus dedit? Spiritum sanctum misit. Talia pignora dimittet ille sponsus? Si non amaret, talia pignora non daret. Jam amat. O si sic amaremus! Majorem dilectionem nemo habet, quam ut animam suam ponat pro amicis suis : et nos quomodo possumus ponere animas nostras pro illo? Quid illi prodest, quando jam altissimum posuit refugium suum, et flagellum non appropinquat tabernaculo ejus? Sed quid dicit Joannes? «Sicut Christus pro nobis animam posuit, sic et nos debemus pro fratribus animam ponere» . Unusquisque ponens pro fratre animam, pro Christo ponit; quomodo pascens fratrem, Christum pascit: «Cum uni ex minimis meis fecistis, mihi fecistis» . Amemus, et imitemur; curramus post unguenta ejus, quomodo dicitur in Canticis canticorum: «Post odorem unguentorum tuorum curremus» . Venit enim et olevit, et odor ipsius implevit mundum. Unde odor? De coelo. Sequere ergo ad coelum, si non falsum respondes cum dicitur, Sursum cor, sursum cogitationem, sursum amorem, sursum spem; ne putrescat in terra. Triticum non audes ponere in humida terra, ne putrescat, quia laborasti et messuisti, triturasti et ventilasti. Quaeris locum tritico tuo, et non quaeris locum cordi tuo? non quaeris locum thesauro tuo? Fac quidquid poteris in terra: eroga; non perdes, sed recondes. Et quis servat? Christus qui et te servat. Te novit servare, thesaurum tuum non novit servare? Quare autem vult ut locum mutes thesauro tuo, nisi ut locum mutes cordi tuo? Nemo enim cogitat nisi de thesauro suo. Quam multi hic sunt qui me modo audiunt, et non est cor eorum nisi in saccellis suis? In terra estis, quia in terra est quod amatis: mittatur in coelum, et erit ibi cor vestrum. Ubi enim fuerit thesaurus tuus, ibi erit et cor tuum .
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14. And as when they became so well known, as to despise these things, and by setting their affections on things eternal, gave a testimony through their sufferings (whence they are called witnesses or martyrs in the Greek), they endured for a long while many bitter temporal afflictions. This man of God giveth heed to this, and the prophetic spirit under the name of Moses continues thus, “Return, O Lord, how long? and be softened concerning Thy servants” (ver. 13). These are the words of those, who, enduring many evils in that persecuting age, become known because their hearts are bound in the chain of wisdom so firmly, that not even such hardships can induce them to fly from their Lord to the good things of this world. “How long wilt Thou hide Thy face from me, O Lord?” occurs in another Psalm, in unison with this sentence, “Return, O Lord, how long?” And that they who, in a most carnal spirit, ascribe to God the form of a human body, may know that the “turning away” and “turning again” of His countenance is not like those motions of our own frame, let them recollect these words from above in the same Psalm, “Thou hast set our misdeeds before Thee, and our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance.” How then does he say in this passage, “Return,” that God may be favourable, as if He had turned away His face in anger; when as in the former he speaks of God’s anger in such a manner, as to insinuate that He had not turned away His countenance from the misdeeds and the course of life of those He was angry with, but rather had set them before Him, and in the light of His countenance? The word, “How long,” belongs to righteousness beseeching, not indignant impatience. “Be softened,” some have rendered by a verb, “soften.” But “be softened” avoids an ambiguity; since to soften is a common verb: for he may be said to soften who pours out prayers, and he to whom they are poured out: for we say, I soften thee, and I soften toward thee.
90.15 PL 36, 1149
15. Next, in anticipation of future blessings, of which he speaks as already vouchsafed, he says, “We are satisfied with Thy mercy in the morning” (ver. 14). Prophecy has thus been kindled for us, in the midst of these toils and sorrows of the night, like a lamp in the darkness, until day dawn, and the Day-star arise in our hearts. For blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God: then shall the righteous be filled with that blessing for which they hunger and thirst now, while, walking in faith, they are absent from the Lord. Hence are the words, “In Thy presence is fulness of joy:” and, “Early in the morning they shall stand by, and shall look up:” and as other translators have said it, “We shall be satisfied with Thy mercy in the morning;” then they shall be satisfied. As he says elsewhere, “I shall be satisfied, when Thy glory shall be revealed.” So it is said, “Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us:” and our Lord Himself answereth, “I will manifest Myself to Zion;” and until this promise is fulfilled, no blessing satisfies us, or ought to do so, lest our longings should be arrested in their course, when they ought to be increased until they gain their objects. “And we rejoiced and were glad all the days of our life.” Those days are days without end: they all exist together: it is thus they satisfy us: for they give not way to days succeeding: since there is nothing there which exists not yet because it has not reached us, or ceases to exist because it has passed; all are together: because there is one day only, which remains and passes not away: this is eternity itself. These are the days respecting which it is written, “What man is he that lusteth to live, and would fain see good days?” These days in another passage are styled years: where unto God it is said, “But Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail:” for these are not years that are accounted for nothing, or days that perish like a shadow: but they are days which have a real existence, the number of which he who thus spoke, “Lord, let me know mine end” (that is, after reaching what term I shall remain unchanged, and have no further blessing to crave), “and the number of my days, what it is” (what is, not what is not): prayed to know. He distinguishes them from the days of this life, of which he speaks as follows, “Behold, Thou hast made my days as it were a span long,” which are not, because they stand not, remain not, but change in quick succession: nor is there a single hour in them in which our being is not such, but that one part of it has already passed, another is about to come, and none remains as it is. But those years and days, in which we too shall never fail, but evermore be refreshed, will never fail. Let our souls long earnestly for those days, let them thirst ardently for them, that there we may be filled, be satisfied, and say what we now say in anticipation, “We have been satisfied,” etc. “We have been comforted again now, after the time that Thou hast brought us low, and for the years wherein we have seen evil” (ver. 15).
90.16 PL 36, 1149
16. But now in days that are as yet evil, let us speak as follows. “Look upon Thy servants, and upon Thy works” (ver. 16). For Thy servants themselves are Thy works, not only inasmuch as they are men, but as Thy servants, that is, obedient to Thy commands. For we are His workmanship, created not merely in Adam, but in Christ Jesus, unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them: “for it is God which worketh in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” “And direct their sons:” that they may be right in heart, for to such God is bountiful; for “God is bountiful to Israel, to those that are right in heart.”…
90.17 PL 36, 1149
17. “And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us” (ver. 17); whence the words, “O Lord, the light of Thy countenance is marked upon us.” And, “Make Thou straight the works of our hands upon us:” that we may do them not for hope of earthly reward: for then they are not straight, but crooked. In many copies the Psalm goes thus far, but in some there is found an additional verse at the end, as follows, “And make straight the work of our hands.” To these words the learned have prefixed a star, called an asterisk, to show that they are found in the Hebrew, or in some other Greek translations, but not in the Septuagint. The meaning of this verse, if we are to expound it, appears to me this, that all our good works are one work of love: for love is the fulfilling of the Law. For as in the former verse he had said, “And the works of our hands make Thou straight upon us,” here he says “work,” not works, as if anxious to show, in the last verse, that all our works are one, that is, are directed with a view to one work. For then are works righteous, when they are directed to this one end: “for the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.” There is therefore one work, in which are all, “faith which worketh by love:” whence our Lord’s words in the Gospel, “This is the work of God, that ye believe in Him whom He hath sent.” Since, therefore, in this Psalm, both old and new life, life both mortal and everlasting, years that are counted for nought, and years that have the fulness of loving-kindness and of true joy, that is, the penalty of the first and the reign of the Second Man, are marked so very clearly; I imagine, that the name of Moses, the man of God, became the title of the Psalm, that pious and right-minded readers of the Scriptures might gain an intimation that the Mosaic laws, in which God appears to promise only, or nearly only, earthly rewards for good works, without doubt contains under a veil some such hopes as this Psalm displays. But when any one has passed over to Christ, the veil will be taken away: and his eyes will be unveiled, that he may consider the wonderful things in the law of God, by the gift of Him, to whom we pray, “Open Thou mine eyes, and I shall see the wondrous things of Thy law.