English · KJV

Arnobius the Younger

Nicene & Post-Nicene · AD 325–500 · 72 passages across 2 books

Commentary

21–40 of 72
Psalms 23:1

A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

We have in the previous psalm the tribulation of the passion. In this one let us receive the joy of the resurrection.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 23

Psalms 23:2

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

The Lord leads me. That is the word of the one who the church, settled in a place of pasture and drawn from the water of reflection, has received, the one who is made complete from the suffering of the Lord. When the stream flows, it pours forth from deep veins, there freshness, there pleasantness, there renewal. These things will happen to me because he has transformed my soul through his suffering.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 23

Psalms 23:6

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

What he now has, let us look within the church. He has a rod with which he warns the delinquent ones. He has a staff by which he succors the penitent. He has a table where he gives bread to the believing. He has oil with which he anoints the head of those being present for freedom of conscience. He has a cup from which he will drink preaching the word in such a way that when it is the third hour of the day he is thought to be drunk in his preaching. He has mercy that follows him all the days of his life so he may dwell the length of his days in the house of the Lord, praising the Lord Jesus Christ who rules forever. Amen.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 23

Psalms 24:7

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

Now it is said to that one: Open the gates for your leaders. Cast away the example of Adam who is your leader according to the flesh, and lift up the eternal doors holding the powerful and mighty king of glory, powerful in battle, overcoming faults and their offsprings, worthless of spirit. Therefore, lift up the gates for your leaders. “Just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the heavenly man.”

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 24

Psalms 24:10

Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

Who is the King of glory? Christ, the Son of God, he is the King of glory, casting off the prince of shame. He lifts high the eternal gates of the holy universal church, having cast down the temple of idols just as the gates of their prince the devil. If you should ask, “Who is that King of glory?” the apostle will answer, “The King of all for their salvation, Christ, Son of God, who rules forever.”

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 24

Psalms 25:1

A Psalm of David. Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.

From all earthly profit, from all the things of this world that seem good, raising my spirit, let me come to you, Lord; I have been lifted up, now not trusting in money, or house, or business, or military might or in my abilities, but I search while trusting in you, so that I will not be ashamed when I depart from this body.… I have lifted my spirit to you so that my spirit may dwell on good things.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 25

Psalms 25:5

Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

Since as you lead, Lord, your ways to life are found, which you have walked, make them known to me, so that through those very ways I may walk, and teach me your paths so that I may proceed on them. And as I do this very thing you direct me in your truth and lead me, because you are my God of salvation.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 25

Psalms 26:1

A Psalm of David. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.

Two things give faith to the Christian, that he has the mercy of God before his eyes and that he accepts the truth of the universal faith.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 26

Psalms 27:8-9

When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

In this place, the lover of God, not seeking any other type of purity but desiring the beauty of Christ alone, in those words which lovers are accustomed to say to those whom they love, cries out in the heart, “My heart says to you, as to your face, do not turn your face from me or turn away your servant in anger.” I have done such things by which you, rightly angered, have turned away from me, having been justly angered by my desires, but be my merciful helper, do not turn away from me or look down on me, God of my salvation.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 27

Psalms 27:11

Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

Give the law to me concerning your way, show what you wish, what you do not wish, what you love, what you hate. I will offend if I do not learn what I ought. And since my enemies are eager for nothing other except that I would offend you, I ask this, that you direct me on the right way on account of my enemies.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 27

Psalms 28:8

The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.

All that he suffered, he suffered by his own will, as he said, “I have the power to lay down my spirit and to take it back.”And he also said, freely I will confess him. He himself is the strength of his own people because he fulfills his words by his deeds. He said that he was going to suffer and he suffered, that he was going to die and he died, that he was going to arise and he arose from the dead, overcoming weakness of fear and giving strength to a most eager will. Because he is the protector of the salvation of his own anointed, because without a doubt he is “God in Christ, reconciling the World to himself,”27saving his own people by bringing deliverance to spirit and body, and by blessing the nations, his own inheritance, by freeing them from demonic subjection, so that the Son of God, with the Father and Holy Spirit, may extol them and rule forever.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 28

Psalms 29:3

The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.

When Jesus was baptized, after the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit came down as a dove, the Father spoke over the waters saying, “You are my Son.” The God of majesty thundered, that is, he spoke profoundly over the waters, that is, over the nations so that they would be made complete in virtue and in the magnificence of Christ Jesus. And each one stood apart from the rebellious and rejoiced.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 29

Psalms 29:10

The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever.

The Lord lives in the flood, that is, in water that washes away faults, and in that same water, the King sits forever. There he gives strength to the people, the ones believing him. He blesses his people in peace.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 29

Psalms 30:5

For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

The world was cursed by the death of Adam, but life is revealed in the rising from the dead. Weeping will tarry till evening.… But we will have joy in the morning. In the early rising, as the shadows of the earth are ended and the time of morning rising arrives, the beauty of our faith stands.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 30

Psalms 31:2

Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.

God rescues and frees the one who puts his hope in him. He bends his ear to them, and he snatches them … so that they are saved.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 31:3

Psalms 31:20

Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

Although the just suffer trials in this age, a greater sweetness awaits them, if they persevere to the future, which the Lord hides meanwhile for those who fear him. He does not wish to show it in this age, so he may complete it for the ones hoping in him in the presence of those who mock them. Now he hides them in the secret of his presence from the vexation of people.… Then he magnifies his mercy when he prepares a fortified city, which angels surround, the mother city of holy Jerusalem.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 31

Psalms 31:24

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

There will be a judgment in which the Lord will require truth and he will repay the haughty. Be strong; flag not; let your heart be comforted. Be secure, you who hope in the Lord.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 31

Psalms 32:9

Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

He gives instruction to us, and thus he teaches us on the way by which we walk so that he may fix his eyes upon us and so that we do not become as a horse or a mule. Those reluctant to draw near will have their jaws restrained with a rein of tribulation and a curb of judgment.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 32

Psalms 32:10

Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.

Many are the punishments of sinners, but those who hope in the Lord, he will surround with his mercy.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 32

Psalms 32:11

Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

You of good will come to the Lord. Rejoice and exalt in the Lord, you righteous ones, and glorify our Lord Jesus Christ in a right heart.

COMMENTARY ON PSALM 32

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