Expositions on the Book of Psalms 114
114.1 Psalm CXIV PL 36, 1486
1. The river Jordan, when they were entering across it into the land of promise, when touched by the feet of the priests who bore the Ark, stood still from above with bridled stream, while it flowed down from below, where it ran on into the sea, until the whole people passed over, the priests standing on the dry ground. We know these things, but yet we should not imagine in this Psalm, to which we have now answered by chanting Allelujah, that it is the purpose of the Holy Spirit, that while we call to mind those deeds of the past, we should not consider things like unto them yet to take place. For “these things,” as the Apostle saith, “happened unto them for ensamples.”
[«vers. 1.] Dilexi, quoniam exaudiet Dominus vocem deprecationis meae.» Cantet hoc anima quae peregrinatur a Domino, cantet hoc ovis illa quae erraverat, cantet hoc filius ille qui mortuus fuerat et revixit, perierat et inventus est ; cantet hoc anima nostra, fratres et filii charissimi. Erudiamur, et permaneamus, et cum sanctis ista cantemus: «Dilexi, quoniam exaudiet Dominus vocem deprecationis meae.» Numquid ipsa diligendi causa est, «quoniam Dominus exaudiet vocem deprecationis meae?» ac non potius aut ideo diligimus quia exaudivit, aut ideo diligimus ut exaudiat? Quid est ergo, «Dilexi, quoniam exaudiet?» An quia dilectionem spes solet accendere, dilexisse se dixit, quoniam speravit exauditurum Deum vocem deprecationis suae?
114.2 PL 36, 1487
2. “When Israel came out of Egypt, and the house of Jacob from among the strange people” (ver. 1), “Judah was His sanctuary, and Israel His dominion” (ver. 2); “the sea saw that and fled, Jordan was driven back” (ver. 3). Think not that past deeds are related unto us, but rather that the future is predicted; since, while those miracles also were going on in that people, things present indeed were happening, but not without an intimation of things future.…Some things he has related differently to what we have learnt and read there: that he might not truly be thought to be repeating past acts rather than to be prophesying future things. For in the first place, we read not that the Jordan was driven back, but that it stood still on the side nearest the source of its streams, while the people were passing through; next, we read not of the mountains and hills skipping: all which he hath added, and repeated. For after saying, “The sea saw that, and fled; Jordan was driven back:” he added, “The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like young sheep” (ver. 4): and then asketh, “What aileth thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest: and thou, Jordan, that thou wast driven back?” (ver. 5). “Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like young sheep?” (ver. 6).
[«vers.» 2, 3.] Unde autem hoc speravit? «Quoniam inclinavit,» inquit, «aurem suam mihi, et in diebus meis invocavi.» Ergo ideo dilexi, quoniam exaudiet; ideo exaudiet, «quoniam inclinavit aurem suam mihi.» Sed unde scis, o anima humana, quod inclinavit Deus aurem suam tibi, nisi dicas, Credidi? Manent ergo tria haec, fides, spes, charitas : quia credidisti, sperasti; quia sperasti, dilexisti. Jam si quaeram unde crediderit anima inclinasse sibi aurem Deum suum; nonne respondebit: Quia «prior dilexit nos, et Filio proprio non pepercit, sed pro nobis omnibus tradidit eum» ? «Quomodo» enim «invocabunt in quem non crediderunt?» ait Doctor Gentium: «aut quomodo credent quem non audierunt? Quomodo autem audient sine praedicante? aut quomodo praedicabunt, nisi mittantur» ? Cum haec omnia gesta erga me cernerem, quomodo non crederem quod inclinavit Dominus aurem suam mihi? Et sic commendavit in nobis dilectionem suam, ut Christus pro impiis moreretur . Cum igitur haec mihi annuntiarent speciosi pedes eorum qui annuntiaverunt pacem, qui annuntiaverunt bona , quia «omnis qui invocaverit nomen Domini, salvus erit» (Joel II, 32), credidi aurem ejus inclinatam mihi, «et in diebus meis invocavi.»
114.3 PL 36, 1487
3. Let us therefore consider what we are taught here; since both those deeds were typical of us, and these words exhort us to recognise ourselves. For if we hold with a firm heart the grace of God which hath been given us, we are Israel, the seed of Abraham: unto us the Apostle saith, “Therefore are ye the seed of Abraham.”…Let therefore no Christian consider himself alien to the name of Israel. For we are joined in the corner stone with those among the Jews who believed, among whom we find the Apostles chief. Hence our Lord in another passage saith, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, that there may be one fold and one Shepherd.” The Christian people then is rather Israel, and the same is preferably the house of Jacob; for Israel and Jacob are the same. But that multitude of Jews, which was deservedly reprobated for its perfidy, for the pleasures of the flesh sold their birthright, so that they belonged not to Jacob, but rather to Esau. For ye know that it was said with this hidden meaning, “That the elder shall serve the younger.”
Et qui sunt dies tui, quoniam dixisti, «In diebus meis invocavi?» an forte illi quibus venit plenitudo temporis, et misit Deus Filium suum , qui jam dixerat, «Tempore acceptabili exaudivi te, et in die salutis adjuvi te» ? Audisti ex ore praedicatoris venientis ad te pedibus speciosis, «Ecce nunc tempus acceptabile, ecce nunc dies salutis» : et credidisti, et in diebus tuis invocasti, et dixisti, «O Domine, erue animam meam.» Sunt quidem ista: sed dies meos magis, inquit, possum dicere dies miseriae meae, dies mortalitatis meae, dies secundum Adam, plenos laboris et sudoris, dies secundum vetustatem putredinis. Ego enim jacens, «infixus in limo profundi» , et in alio psalmo exclamavi, «Ecce veteres posuisti dies meos» : «in» his «diebus meis invocavi.» Distant quippe dies mei a diebus Domini mei. Dies meos dico, quos ipse mihi feci privata audacia, qua deserui eum: et quoniam ubique ipse regnat, et est omnipotens atque omnitenens, merui carcerem; id est, ignorantiae tenebras, et compedes mortalitatis accepi. «In» his «diebus meis invocavi;» quia ego et alibi clamo, «Educ de carcere animam meam» : et quoniam in die salutis, quam mihi praestitit, adjuvit me; intrat in conspectum ejus gemitus compeditorum . In his enim diebus meis, «Circumdederunt me dolores mortis; pericula inferni invenerunt me:» quae nisi aberrantem abs te non invenirent me. Nunc autem illa me invenerunt: ego vero ea non inveniebam, qui gaudebam prosperis saeculi, in quibus plus fallunt pericula inferni.
114.4 PL 36, 1488
4. But Egypt, since it is said to mean affliction, or one who afflicteth, or one who oppresseth, is often used for an emblem of this world; from which we must spiritually withdraw, that we may not be bearing the yoke with unbelievers. For thus each one becometh a fit citizen of the heavenly Jerusalem, when he hath first renounced this world; just as that people could not be led into the land of promise, save first they had departed from Egypt. But as they did not depart thence, until freed by Divine help; so no man is turned away in heart from this world, unless aided by the gift of the Divine mercy. For what was there once prefigured, the same is fulfilled in every faithful one in the daily travailings of the Church, in this end of the world, in this, as the blessed John writeth, last time. Hear the Apostle the teacher of the Gentiles, thus instructing us: “I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and did all eat the same spiritual meat, and did all drink the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples.” What more do ye wish, most beloved brethren? For it is surely clear, not from human conjecture, but from the declaration of an Apostle, that is, of God and our Lord: for God spoke in them, and though from clouds of flesh, yet it was God who thundered: surely then it is clear by so great testimony that all these things which were done in figure, are now fulfilled in our salvation; because then the future was predicted, now the past is read, and the present observed.
[«vers.» 4-6.] Sed posteaquam et ego «tribulationem et dolorem inveni, nomen Domini invocavi.» Latebat enim me tribulatio et dolor utilis; tribulatio de qua dat auxilium, cui dictum est, «Da nobis auxilium de tribulatione, et vana sulus hominis» . Ego enim de vana salute hominis gaudendum et exsultandum arbitrabar; sed cum audissem a Domino meo, «Beati lugentes, quoniam ipsi consolabuntur» , non exspectavi ut prius amitterem bona temporalia quibus male oblectabar, et tunc lugerem: sed attendi in eamdem ipsam miseriam meam qua talibus oblectabar, quae et amittere formidarem, et tenere non possem; attendi in eam vehementer et fortiter, et me non solum excruciari adversitatibus hujus saeculi, sed etiam obligari prosperitatibus vidi; atque ita «tribulationem et dolorem» qui me latebat «inveni, et nomen Domini invocavi. O Domine, erue animam meam.» Miser enim ego homo, quis me liberabit de corpore mortis hujus, nisi gratia Dei per Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum ? Dicat igitur sanctus populus Dei, «Tribulationem et dolorem inveni, et nomen Domini invocavi:» et audiant reliquiae gentium quae nondum invocant nomen Domini; audiant et quaerant, ut inveniant tribulationem et dolorem, et invocent nomen Domini, et salvae fiant. Non hoc eis dicimus, ut quaerant miseriam quam non habent, sed ut inveniant eam quam nescientes habent: neque hoc eis optamus, ut terrena necessaria desint eis, quibus indigent, dum mortaliter vivunt; sed ut hoc plangant, quod amissa satietate coelesti, terrenis, non ad fruendum stabilibus bonis, sed ad sustentandum necessariis indigere meruerunt. Agnoscant et lugeant istam miseriam; faciet eos beatos lugentes, qui eos esse semper miseros noluit.
114.5 PL 36, 1488
5. Hear what is even more wonderful, that the hidden and veiled mysteries of the ancient books are in some degree revealed by the ancient books. For Micah the prophet speaketh thus. “According to the days of thy coming out of Egypt will I show unto him marvellous things, etc.…In this Psalm, therefore, although the wonderful spirit of prophecy doth look into the future, yet it seemeth, as it were, to be merely detailing to the past. “Judah,” he saith, “was His sanctuary: the sea saw that and fled:” “was,” “saw,” and “fled,” are words of the past tense; and “Jordan was driven back, and the mountains skipped, and the earth trembled,” in like manner have a past expression, without, however, any difficulty in understanding by them the future.…For though it was so long after the departure of that people from Egypt, and so long before these seasons of the Church, that he sang what I have quoted; nevertheless, he witnesseth that he is foretelling the future without any question. “According to the days,” he saith, “of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I show unto him marvellous things.” “The nations shall see and be confounded.” This is what is here said, “The sea saw that, and fled:” for if in this passage, through words of the past tense the future is secretly revealed, as is the case; who would venture to explain the words, “shall see and be confounded,” of past events? And a little lower down he alludeth more clearly than light itself to those very enemies of ours, who followed us flying, that they might slay us, that is, our sins, which are overwhelmed and extinguished in Baptism, just as the Egyptians were drowned in the sea, saying, since “He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He is of good will and merciful, He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us, He will drown our iniquities: and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.”
«Misericors Dominus, et justus, et Deus noster miseretur.» Misericors, et justus, et miseretur. «Misericors» primum, quia inclinavit aurem suam mihi; et nesciebam propinquasse aurem Dei mei ori meo, nisi per illos speciosos pedes excitarer, ut invocarem: quis enim eum invocavit, nisi quem ipse prior vocavit? Hinc ergo primum «misericors. Justus» autem, quia flagellat; et iterum «miseretur,» quia recipit: flagellat enim omnem filium quem recipit, nec tam mihi amarum debet esse quod flagellat, quam dulce quod recipit. Quomodo enim non flagellet, «Custodiens parvulos Dominus,» quos grandes quaerit haeredes? quis enim est filius cui non det disciplinam pater ejus ? «Humiliatus sum, et salvum me fecit.» Salvum me fecit, quia humiliatus sum: non enim poenalis, sed salutaris dolor est quem secando medicus facit.
114.6 PL 36, 1489
6. What is it, most beloved? ye who know yourselves to be Israelites according to Abraham’s seed, ye who are of the house of Jacob, heirs according to promise, know that even ye have gone forth from Egypt, since ye have renounced this world; that ye have gone forth from a foreign people, since by the confession of piety, ye have separated yourselves from the blasphemies of the Gentiles. For it is not your tongue, but a foreign one, which knoweth not how to praise God, to whom ye sing Allelujah. For “Judah” hath become “His sanctuary” in you; for “he is not a Jew which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew which is one inwardly, and by circumcision of the heart.” Examine then your hearts, if faith hath circumcised them, if confession hath cleansed them; in you “Judah” hath become “His sanctuary,” in you “Israel” hath become “His dominion.” For “He gave” unto you “the power to become the sons of God.”…
[«vers. 7-9.] Convertere» ergo, «anima mea, in requiem tuam; quia Dominus benefecit tibi:» non meritis, aut viribus tuis; sed «quoniam Dominus benefecit tibi. Quoniam exemit,» inquit, «animam meam a morte.» Mira res est, charissimi, quod cum dixisset in requiem convertendam animam suam, quoniam benefecit ei Dominus; subjecit, «Quoniam exemit animam meam a morte.» Ideone in requiem converteretur, quia exempta est a morte? Nonne magis in morte requies dici solet? Quae tandem ejus actio est, cujus vita requies, et mors inquietudo est? Talis ergo actio debet esse animae, quae tendat ad quietam securitatem, non quae augeat inquietum laborem: quoniam exemit eam de morte qui misertus ejus dixit, «Venite ad me, omnes qui laboratis, et ego vos reficiam: tollite jugum meum super vos, et discite a me, quoniam mitis sum et humilis corde, et invenietis requiem animabus vestris; jugum enim meum suave est, et sarcina mea levis est» . Mitis itaque et humilis, tanquam viam Christum sequens, debet esse animae actio tendentis ad requiem: non tamen pigra et desidiosa; ut cursum consummet, sicut scriptum est, «In mansuetudine opera tua perfice» . Etenim, ne mansuetudo ad segnitiem duceretur, adjunctum est, «Opera tua perfice.» Neque enim sicut in ista vita somni requies nos reparat ad actionem; sed actio bona perducit ad semper vigilantem quietem.
114.7 PL 36, 1489
7. But I would not that ye should seek without yourselves, how the Jordan was turned back, I would not ye should augur anything evil. For the Lord chideth those who have “turned” their “back” unto Him, “and not their face.” And whoever forsaketh the source of his being, and turneth away from his Creator; as a river into the sea, he glides into the bitter wickedness of this world. It is therefore good for him that he turn back, and that God whom he had set behind his back, may be before his face as he returneth; and that the sea of this world, which he had set before his face, when he was gliding on towards it, may become behind him; and that he may so forget what is behind him, that he may “reach forward to what is before him;” which is profitable for him when once converted.…
Ille autem cuncta praestat, cuncta exhibet Deus, de quo hic dicitur, «Quoniam Dominus benefecit mihi, quoniam exemit animam meam a morte, oculos meos a lacrymis, pedes meos a lapsu.» Haec enim in spe completa erga se cantat quisquis hujus carnis vinculum intelligit. Vere quippe dictum est, «Humiliatus sum, et salvum me fecit:» sed et illud Apostolus verum dicit, Quoniam «spe salvi facti sumus» . Et de morte quidem quod exempti sumus, recte dicitur jam esse completum, ut mortem intelligamus non credentium, de qualibus ait, «Dimitte mortuos sepelire mortuos suos» : et illud in superiore psalmo: «Non mortui laudabunt te, Domine, neque omnes qui descendunt in infernum; sed nos qui vivimus, benedicimus Dominum» . Ex hac ergo morte potest recte intelligere homo fidelis jam exemptam esse animam suam, eo ipso quod ex infideli fidelis effecta est: unde ipse Salvator, «Qui credit in me,» inquit, «transitum facit a morte ad vitam» . Caetera vero spe completa sunt in eis qui nondum ex hac vita emigrarunt. Nunc enim cum lapsus nostros periculosissimos cogitamus, non cessant a lacrymis oculi: tunc autem eximet oculos nostros a lacrymis, quando et pedes a lapsu. Quia tunc nullus erit lapsus ambulantium pedum, quando infirmae carnis nullum erit lubricum. Nunc vero, quamvis firma sit via nostra, quae Christus est; tamen quia carnem nobis, quam jubemur edomare, substernimus; in ipso prorsus opere quo eam subditam castigamus, non in ea cadere magnum est: non autem in ea labi, quis potest?
114.8 PL 36, 1490
8. “Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob” (ver. 7). What meaneth, “at the presence of the Lord,” save at the presence of Him who said, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” For the earth trembled; but because it had remained slothful, it was made to tremble, so that it might be more firmly fixed at the presence of the Lord.
Quapropter quia et in carne sumus, et in carne non sumus (in carne enim sumus eo vinculo quod nondum solutum est, quod «dissolvi et esse cum Christo multo magis optimum» [Philipp. I, 23]: non autem sumus in carne ex eo quod spiritus primitias dedimus Deo, si tamen possimus dicere quia «conversatio nostra in coelis est» [Id. III, 20], et tanquam capite placeamus Deo, pedibus autem tanquam extremis animae partibus adhuc lubricum sentiamus), audi quemadmodum ad spem pertineat quod ita canitur velut jam sit effectum, «Exemit,» inquit, «oculos meos a lacrymis, pedes meos a lapsu:» et tamen non ait, Placeo; sed, «Placebo in conspectu Domini, in regione vivorum;» satis ostendens ab ea parte nondum se placere in conspectu Domini, quae est in regione mortuorum, id est in carne mortali. «Qui» enim «in carne sunt, Deo placere non possunt.» Unde quod sequitur, et dicit idem apostolus, «Vos autem non estis in carne;» secundum id dicit, quod «corpus quidem mortuum est propter peccatum, spiritus autem vita est propter justitiam:» secundum quem placebant Domino, quia secundum ipsum in carne non erant. Quis autem placeat Deo vivo, in corpore mortuo? Sed quid ait? «Si autem Spiritus ejus qui suscitavit Jesum Christum a mortuis, habitat in vobis; qui suscitavit Jesum Christum a mortuis, vivificabit et mortalia corpora vestra propter Spiritum qui habitat in vobis» , Tunc erimus «in regione vivorum,» ex omni parte placentes in conspectu Domini, ex nulla ab eo parte peregrini. «Quamdiu enim sumus in corpore, peregrinamur a Domino nostro;» et in quantum inde peregrinamur, in tantum non sumus «in regione vivorum.» «Confidimus autem et bene arbitramur magis peregrinari a corpore, et immanere ad Dominum; et ideo ambimus, sive immanentes, sive peregrinantes, placentes illi esse» . «Ambimus» quidem nunc, qui exspectamus adhuc redemptionem corporis nostri : sed cum absorpta fuerit mors in victoriam, et corruptibile hoc induerit incorruptionem, et mortale hoc induerit immortalitatem ; tunc nullus erit fletus, quia nullus lapsus; et nullus lapsus, quia nulla corruptio. Et ideo jam non ambiemus placere, sed omnino placebimus in conspectu Domini, in regione vivorum.
114.9 PL 36, 1486
9. “Who turned the hard rock into standing waters, and the flint stone into springing wells” (ver. 8). For He melted Himself, and what may be called His hardness to water those who believe on Him, that He might in them become “a fountain of water gushing forth unto everlasting life;” because formerly, when He was not known, He seemed hard. Hence they who said, “This is an hard saying, who can bear it?” were confounded, and waited not until He should flow and stream upon them when the Scriptures were revealed. The rock, that hardness, was turned into pools of water, that stone into fountains of waters, when on His resurrection, “He expounded unto them, commencing with Moses and all the prophets, how Christ ought to suffer thus;” and sent the Holy Ghost, of whom He said, “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.”