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Augustine of Hippo

Nicene & Post-Nicene · AD 325–500 · 7,530 passages across 62 books

Commentary

4,841–4,860 of 7,530
Psalms 18:26

With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

"And with the chosen You shall be chosen." [Psalm 18:26]. And by him whom You choose, You are chosen. "And with the froward You shall be froward." And with the froward Thou seemest froward: for they say, "The way of the Lord is not right:" [Ezekiel 18:25] and their way is not right.
Psalms 18:27

For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.

"For You will make whole the humble people" [Psalm 18:27]. Now this seems froward to the froward, that You will make whole those who confess their sins. "And You will humble the eyes of the proud." But them that are "ignorant of God's righteousness, and seek to establish their own," [Romans 10:3] You will humble.
Psalms 18:28 · 2 passages

For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

"For you will light My candle, O Lord" [Psalm 18:28]. For our light is not from ourselves; but "You will light my candle, O Lord. O my God, You will enlighten my darkness." For we through our sins are darkness; but "You, O my God, wilt enlighten my darkness."
Examine human nature: it is born and increases, it learns these customs of people. What does [this nature] know except earth, of the earth? It speaks human things, it knows human things, it understands human things. Carnal itself, [this nature] judges carnally, it surmises carnally. Let the grace of God come, let it enlighten a person’s darkness, as [the psalmist] says.… Let grace take possession of the human mind and turn it to its own light; immediately it begins to say what the apostle says: “Yet not I, but the grace of God with me” and “And it is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me.”

TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 14:6.2

Psalms 18:29

For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

"For by You shall I be delivered from temptation" [Psalm 18:29]. For not by myself, but by You, shall I be delivered from temptation. "And in my God shall I leap over the wall." And not in myself, but in my God shall I leap over the wall, which sin has raised between men and the heavenly Jerusalem.
Psalms 18:30

As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

"My God, His way is undefiled" [Psalm 18:30]. My God comes not unto men, except they shall have purified the way of faith, whereby He may come to them; for that "His way is undefiled." "The words of the Lord have been proved by fire." The words of the Lord are tried by the fire of tribulation. "He is the Protector of them that hope in Him." And all that hope not in themselves, but in Him, are not consumed by that same tribulation. For hope follows faith.
Psalms 18:31

For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?

"For who is God, but the Lord?" [Psalm 18:31] whom we serve. "And who God, but our God?" And who is God, but the Lord? Whom after good service we sons shall possess as the hoped-for inheritance.
Psalms 18:32

It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

"God, who has girded me with strength" [Psalm 18:32]. God, who has girded me that I might be strong, lest the loosely flowing folds of desire hinder my deeds and steps. "And has made my way undefiled." And has made the way of love, whereby I may come to Him, undefiled, as the way of faith is undefiled, whereby He comes to me.
Psalms 18:33

He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.

"Who has made my feet perfect like harts' feet" [Psalm 18:33]. Who has made my love perfect to surmount the thorny and dark entanglements of this world. "And will set me up on high." And will fix my aim on the heavenly habitation, that "I may be filled with all the fullness of God." [Ephesians 3:19]
Psalms 18:34

He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

"Who teaches my hands for battle" [Psalm 18:34]. Who teaches me to work for the overthrow of mine enemies, who strive to shut the kingdom of heaven against us. "And You have made mine arms as a bow of steel." And You have made my earnest striving after good works unwearied.
Psalms 18:35

Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

"And You have given me the defence of my salvation, and Your right hand has held me up" [Psalm 18:35]. And the favour of Your grace has held me up. "And Your discipline has directed me to the end." And Your correction, not suffering me to wander from the way, has directed me that whatsoever I do, I refer to that end, whereby I may cleave to You. "And this Your discipline, it shall teach me." And that same correction of Yours shall teach me to attain to that, whereunto it has directed me.
Psalms 18:36

Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.

"You have enlarged my steps under me" [Psalm 18:36]. Nor shall the straits of the flesh hinder me; for You have enlarged my love, working in gladness even with these mortal things and members which are under me. "And my footsteps have not been weakened." And either my goings, or the marks which I have imprinted for the imitation of those that follow, have not been weakened.
Psalms 18:37

I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

"I will follow up mine enemies, and seize them" [Psalm 18:37]. I will follow up my carnal affections, and will not be seized by them, but will seize them, so that they may be consumed. "And I will not turn, till they fail." And from this purpose I will not turn myself to rest, till they fail who make a tumult about me.
Psalms 18:38

I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.

"I will break them, and they shall not be able to stand" [Psalm 18:38]: and they shall not hold out against me. "They shall fall under my feet." When they are cast down, I will place before me the loves whereby I walk for evermore.
Psalms 18:39

For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.

"And You have girded me with strength to the war" [Psalm 18:39]. And the loose desires of my flesh have You bound up with strength, that in such a fight I may not be encumbered. "You have supplanted under me them that rose up against me." You have caused them to be deceived, who followed upon me, that they should be brought under me, who desired to be over me.
Psalms 18:40

Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.

"And you have given mine enemies the back to me" [Psalm 18:40]. And you have turned mine enemies, and hast made them to be a back to me, that is, to follow me. "And You have destroyed them that hate me." But such other of them as have persisted in hatred, You have destroyed.
Psalms 18:41

They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.

"They have cried out, and there was none to save them" [Psalm 18:41]. For who can save them, whom You would not save? "To the Lord, and He did not hear them." Nor did they cry out to any chance one, but to the Lord: and He did not judge them worthy of being heard, who depart not from their wickedness.
Psalms 18:42

Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.

"And I will beat them as small as dust before the face of the wind" [Psalm 18:42]. And I will beat them small; for dry they are, receiving not the shower of God's mercy; that borne aloft and puffed up with pride they may be hurried along from firm and unshaken hope, and as it were from the earth's solidity and stability. "As the clay of the streets I will destroy them." In their wanton and loose course along the broad ways of perdition, which many walk, will I destroy them.
Psalms 18:43

Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.

"You will deliver Me from the contradictions of the people" [Psalm 18:43]. You will deliver Me from the contradictions of them who said, "If we send Him away, all the world will go after Him."
Psalms 18:44

As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.

"You shall make Me the head of the Gentiles. A people whom I have not known have served Me." The people of the Gentiles, whom in bodily presence I have not visited, have served Me. "At the hearing of the ear they have obeyed Me" [Psalm 18:44]. They have not seen Me with the eye: but, receiving my preachers, at the hearing of the ear they have obeyed Me.

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