עברית

Cassiodorus

Late Patristic · AD 500–800 · 444 passages across 36 books

Commentary

361–380 of 444
Psalms 34:16

The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

After explaining the grace toward the just, he now turns his attention to the punishment of the wicked.… Understand that he sees both groups, but his gaze results in a different outcome for each group; he looks at the just to hear them, but looks upon sinners to destroy them. When he says “from the earth,” he means the future homeland, which only those who have pleased God will possess. The “remembrance” of the sinners will perish, because there will not be any recollection of them among the just.… Those who leave the Lord’s memory surely go on to eternal punishments.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 34:17

Psalms 34:17

The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

What then do we say about the martyrs, since it is well known that they were not freed from the torments of the tyrants? They were certainly set free when they were conducted to the kingdom of heaven; they were plainly released from all their troubles. For the cry of the just is always heard, not only for this life, but most of all for their eternal benefit.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 34:18

Psalms 34:19

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

The afflictions of the just are certainly many, for the devil pursues them with great power and people also often oppress them out of jealousy. The wicked can be afflicted sometimes too, if they suffer something adverse by themselves, but the just are oppressed both by their own sufferings and when they share in those of others through love.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 34:20

Psalms 34:22

The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

This psalm has certainly ended well in the hope of those who are good that, after forsaking the association of the wicked, they may instead reach toward the good things yet to come.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 34:23

Psalms 35:1

A Psalm of David. Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

This statement, as has been noted, refers to the devil and his followers.… For when he gives the command, “pray for your enemies,” this statement does not apply to people. Thus, he asks that they be condemned whom he knows by virtue of his foreknowledge would not come to the remedies of repentance. For in what follows, when he turns his attention to people, he desires that they be converted, not that they perish.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 35:1

Psalms 35:2

Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.

Armor and shield are the very will of the Lord by which he protects someone in danger and fights back against his enemy.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 35:2

Psalms 35:5

Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.

Dust is indeed an earthy yet very dry and thin substance, which cannot remain in its place when the wind blows, but is lifted into the flowing breezes. So also the desires of sinners, when they have been admonished by the inspiration of the truth, are lifted by the Lord’s help from their earthly vices and brought to the heavenly virtues. So here the desire is expressed for evil people to come to heavenly life through a blessed improvement.… This angel afflicts the converted in order that they may be brought into that blessed homeland by the gift of humility. Such affliction is a kindness, since the desire is expressed that it may present itself as a great gift.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 35:5

Psalms 35:10

All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

Bones must be understood as strength of spirit and steadfastness of mind. Such things are rightly compared with bones, for just as the body contains bones, so also these qualities strengthen holy desires. So only the bones, which mean firmness, could communicate this mystery, not flesh, which stands for slackness, for only strength of mind can speak such a song of praise.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 35:10

Psalms 35:16

With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

This is what happens to savages when they are conquered by reason. When words fail them because of the truth, then they gnash their teeth and so communicate their desires by a silent threat. All of this is in the interest of a great act of building up the human race, so that its members may not count it a burden to suffer what they recognize that their own Head has endured.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 35:16

Psalms 35:22

This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.

What a wonderful patience there was in him who was the greatest Majesty! Was he unable to descend alive from … the cross to put his enemies to shame, if after dying he rose from the tomb on the third day? But it was not suitable for the divine power to be moved by the words of those hurling insults, so that consequently they might blush even more when all the predictions were confirmed.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 35:21

Psalms 35:23

Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

According to our human custom, one often says “arise” to one who is always awake and always attentive. Since he constantly reviews all things, he is regarded as having paid attention when he punishes.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 35:23

Psalms 35:24

Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

Although he had the best case, since he had committed no sins, he still asks that he be judged in mercy to show us, who would not be able to carry out this activity as those without sin, an example of prayer.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 35:24

Psalms 35:26

Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.

One who blushes over his own acts is condemned by his own evaluation; one who is confined by the chain of embarrassment serves as his own tormentor.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 35:26

Psalms 35:27

Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

Persecutors are accustomed to say “well done, well done, for our soul,” because theirs is a joy for this life and a pleasure that does not last. But the blessed say “May the Lord always be exalted,” which is eternal and enduring.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 35:27

Psalms 36:1

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD. The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.

There are two types of sinners. One type believes the law, but is not strong enough to fulfill its commands because of the weakness of its flesh.… The other type is brash, beyond hope, blasphemous, for it makes plans for itself to commit sin by its free will. This type of sinner despises all things and it grumbles to itself, confident in the notion that God does not trouble himself with the affairs of mortals.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 36:2

Psalms 36:4

He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.

He did not pass through this world’s life like those who are confident that they have left it behind but have still remained in it and have become stuck in it.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 36:5

Psalms 36:6

Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.

An abyss is a depth of water that we can neither measure nor peer all the way into. Who could discern what lies within the deep ocean, or who could comprehend its broad-ranging spaces? So also we are neither able to embrace God’s judgments with our mind, nor are we able to define them through some action of reason.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 36:7

Psalms 36:8

They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

“They will become inebriated,” an expression that usually describes the corrupt habit of people who become inundated with too much wine and become sluggish by this affliction of their mind, is here directed to the situation of good people. So this heavenly inebriation blocks the remembrance of worldly matters and causes fleshly things to depart from the mind, just like the intoxication of wine separates our actions from our senses.… What an incredibly praiseworthy inebriation! This intoxication we must pursue in all our prayers as the source of moderation and for the soundness of mind that is acquired through it. This inebriation does not produce tipsiness, confusion, delirium or blackouts. But the healthier the soul becomes, the more it is filled with drunkenness. So let us consume this drink eagerly, not with our physical lips, but with the purest disposition of the heart. From this drink one does not receive temporal happiness, but rather the joys of eternal life.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 36:9, 13

Psalms 36:9

For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

In human usage, light and fountains are quite distinct, or rather, in opposition to one another, since a fountain snuffs out the light of flames. But with God, these two images find a unity even though whatever you might say about him is both true and also ultimately inadequate. We say that God is Light, because “he enlightens every person who comes into the world”; he is a Fountain, because he satisfies the hungry and empty.… This verse properly says about the Savior, “in your light we will see light”; namely, the light of the Father and of the Holy Spirit, since through the Son’s preaching the entire Trinity was revealed to us.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 36:10

Psalms 37:11

But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

He says the meek will possess the Jerusalem to come, a city about which much has already been said; it is a city constantly filled with the sweetness of good things where its inhabitants do not earn their living through trade, but feed on delight in God. There no one works to live, but in quietness receives all that the blessed soul desires. There the eye of the heart is fattened by a blessed hunger. There the soul is restored by sight alone, since whatever pertains to its desire is granted to it in the contemplation of the Lord’s face.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 37:11

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