Diodorus of Tarsus — Commentary on Scripture

Psalms 39:1

“I said” [has] the sense, “I determined,” his meaning being, I determined within myself not to sin against my oppressor simply in action but also not to say anything against him by word of mouth, especially since what is initially verbal abuse turns to physical abuse, and the person who is determined not to do physical harm ought not have recourse to verbal abuse.

COMMENTARY ON PSALM 39

Psalms 39:4

Not even all the possessions amassed nor all humankind, if measured by their lifetime, from Adam to the last human being—not even this measure is anything in comparison with the measure of your life, Lord.

COMMENTARY ON PSALM 39

Psalms 39:9

For my part, I realized that this happens to me with your permission, and I waited longer in the knowledge that I would receive help from the same quarter from which comes also the allowance of my suffering.

COMMENTARY ON PSALM 39

Psalms 39:11

I realize that all your scourging proves to be for a person’s correction and betterment; it is not as though you were indifferent to human beings in allowing them to suffer, instead preferring to improve their souls.

COMMENTARY ON PSALM 39

Psalms 41:1

By “evil day” he refers not to it as naturally evil—a day not being evil by nature, since if it were, the day would transfer the responsibility to its creator. Instead, by “evil day” he refers to the one on which a person is enveloped in distress, affliction and pain or falls victim to illness or some other hazard. So he means, when such a day comes, God, who lends help, is not asleep.

COMMENTARY ON PSALM 41

Psalms 41:9

The one who shared the same table with me and the same food proved to be a foe the more threatening the more he concealed his malice under his close relationship. The Lord also suffered this in the case of Judas: in that case, too, it was not someone from the outer group of disciples who concocted plots but one who gave the impression of being closely related and sharing with him table and food.

COMMENTARY ON PSALM 41

Psalms 41:11

You notice that he hints more clearly at the repayment here in his mentioning, not vengeance by the wronged but personal disappointment by the frustrated, which resulted in their punishing themselves on seeing the one they envied held in high esteem. His meaning here is, in fact, Show, Lord, how you care for me by their not rejoicing in the vile hopes they have for me.

COMMENTARY ON PSALM 41

Psalms 42:11

Pondering all this within myself, then, I was again encouraged not to be alarmed but to hope in God, who readily provides me with salvation and again makes me esteemed. Turning their thoughts over and over, sometimes in despair, sometimes in hope, is typical of people suffering.

COMMENTARY ON PSALM 42

Psalms 43:3

Dispatch your reliable assistance (by “light” referring to the support, and by “truth” to its reliability) … so that your reliable help may conduct me to the holy places and your holy temple.

COMMENTARY ON PSALM 43

Psalms 43:5

I shall console myself and … not allow myself to be alarmed by my thoughts but to hope in you, my God, to whom I should also give thanks, for from you it is also possible to hope for salvation.

COMMENTARY ON PSALM 43

Psalms 44:21

It is impossible for anyone transgressing the laws or planning to do so to escape your notice, Lord, because you so carefully occupy our minds.

COMMENTARY ON PSALM 44

Psalms 44:26

If we are judged unworthy of gaining mercy for all these things mentioned, he is saying, nevertheless be faithful to yourself; Lord, on account of your name conferred on us, free us from the enemy.

COMMENTARY ON PSALM 44

Psalms 45:2

After mentioning the glory, here he mentions its effect, namely, that you were invested with such persuasion as even to attract disciples merely by your lips: the extraordinary degree of wisdom required no great number of words for persuading.

COMMENTARY ON PSALM 45

Psalms 45:5

His meaning is, direct well-aimed words, like arrows, at the hearts of the listeners, and as a result all peoples will be subjected to you as well (using a metaphor of people wounding with arrows and subjecting the wounded). He means, your arrows are so effective that not only will they subject disciples but also fall on enemies and bring them into subjection.

COMMENTARY ON PSALM 45

Psalms 45:8

By “buildings” he means houses, and by “ivory” the splendor of the houses, by this implying the churches. So his intention is to say that after the death of Christ splendid and beautiful temples will be erected to him, like the churches to be seen in our day.

COMMENTARY ON PSALM 45

Psalms 45:10

The church was formed from pagans and Jews, so he does well to say “Forget your people and your father’s house,” meaning idolatry and observance of the law, practicing instead a new life by grace.

COMMENTARY ON PSALM 45

Psalms 46:9

He it is who routs all the enemy when he wishes and brings peace to the earth to the degree he wants.… He is the God who does away with the enemy with their own weapons when he wishes.

COMMENTARY ON PSALM 46

Psalms 47:2

He became manifest in the events themselves, by which he routed those harassing the godly and proved superior to their scheme, fearsome to the enemy and, in short, king like no other on earth, since he is also Lord of all.

COMMENTARY ON PSALM 47

Psalms 47:7

Since he had said “king,” he went on to say, not only ours but of “all the earth”: the one responsible for some people conquering and others being conquered, as he wishes, no matter from what quarter they mount their charge, how could he not be confessed as king of all? The phrase “sing with understanding” means with a sense of what has been done and keeping in mind the achievements.

COMMENTARY ON PSALM 47

Psalms 49:3

All wisdom comes to be known by reflection and dissemination. So his meaning is, I deliberate on some wise ideas, and with the intention of disseminating them I want you all to be hearers of what is said by me. Hence his reference to “pondering,” for each person to realize that far from coming to instruction by accident, they are brought to learn by deep pondering and much practical experience.

COMMENTARY ON PSALM 49