Arnobius the Younger — Commentary on Scripture

Psalms 43:3

Send your light and overcome my shadows. Send your truth and conquer my lying. Your light and truth lead me to your holy mountain and into your tabernacle. When I draw near, you lead me to the altar of God, where, although old, I become as a youth.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 43

Psalms 45:7

God anoints him before his own people with the oil of joy. Just as he appeared before humankind incarnate and perfect, Christ appeared anointed with oil before all Christians. There were many righteous people from Abel to Christ, but none born of a virgin, none of this appearance, this form. Who is like our God among the children of God? Let us, children pleasing to him, listen to this one, anointed with oil of anointing, as angels worshiped, the stars sang out and the prophets prophesied. As John was fearing, the skies opened, the Father called from heaven, and the Spirit descended from the heavens and remained on him. It is Christ, the first before the partakers who share this name.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 45

Psalms 46:1

When in tears and tribulation you pour out a prayer to God, be secure, for God becomes a refuge to you and becomes your strength.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 46

Psalms 46:5

The Hebrew says God will help the city at early dawn, that is, when the shadows of sinners pass across the flowings of the river, God, who is light, gives the beginning of light to its heart, and he helps the spirit that says, Lord, be our strength, our helper, God of Jacob.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 46

Psalms 47:1

Just as there is wailing by all the nations in the coming of the devil as we have heard the voice calling from heaven, “woe to land and sea, for the devil has been cast on you,” so in the coming of our Jesus, there is joy: “all nations, clap your hands.”

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 47

Psalms 47:3

When did he subject people under our feet? When he chose his inheritance for us from the person of Mary, whom the Holy Spirit chose. Then, he ascended with a shout and voice of trumpet.… Glory to God on high, angels tell the shepherds. Behold, the Lord rules over every nation. The Lord sits on his holy seat.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 47

Psalms 48:5

As he is recognized, the kings of the earth are disturbed.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 48

Psalms 48:11

Let Mount Zion rejoice; let the church rejoice; the daughters of Judah rejoice. You have judged all the spirits from the womb of the church, so that you may yoke the devil and may free the souls of people. Now, O freed spirits, encompass your mother Zion, whom you have followed; tell his mercy to the towers. In the towers they defend the city and resist the enemies. Place your hearts in his strength. Consider with what strength he fights for you …, so you may tell later generations.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 48

Psalms 49:1

The voice of Christ alone, “without exception” calls all as one, rich and poor, noble and base. He invites all living on the earth, equally, as the opening of the psalm says, showing that he is to be feared by us on the evil day.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 49

Psalms 49:10

All those great, wise and outspoken will die, not only the foolish and those who gather riches. They are unwilling to have mercy on the ones in need, and they leave their riches behind for others. Although they have many houses, their tombs are their house for eternity. Wretched person. He does not understand that while he is in this body he begins to die.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 49

Psalms 50:3

He will surely come openly to judge the age through fire. Fire will burn in his countenance, and around him will be strong storms. Then apostles, martyrs and teachers will be gathered, those who have ordained his covenant over sacrifices. These will become the apostles, teachers and advisors in the present. These are the “heavens” who proclaim the glory of God. Then when God begins to judge they announce his righteousness and his mercy.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 50

Psalms 150:3-5

Let us praise him on the psaltery and on the harp, supposing that on the harp we may embrace the wood of the cross and on the psaltery we may maintain the universal confession. The sound is harsh because the confession is not held in unity. Let us praise on timbrel and with dance, when we, firmly set upon a restored way of life, adorn the timbrel of our body with the models of best behavior. Let us praise him on stringed instruments and on the organ as we play the fresh strings that are on our harp, let us also, as with the narrow needs of modesty make melodious sounds to God, cleansing ourselves from all the blight of sin.

SELECTIONS FROM THE PSALMS 150