Theodoret of Cyrus — Commentary on Scripture

Psalms 33:12

One should declare blessed, he is saying, not those priding themselves on their wealth but those trusting in God and enjoying aid from him.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 33:6

Psalms 33:15

The God of all looks down … not as ignorant and anxious to learn but as judging and sentencing. How could the one who made the soul be ignorant of its movements?

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 33:7

Psalms 34:5

Whoever approaches him in faith receives rays of intellectual light.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 34:4

Psalms 34:6

Learn from my experience, he is saying, to trust in the God of all: though lowly and a mere shepherd, he accorded me his personal providence and rendered me superior to my enemies.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 34:4

Psalms 34:14

The peaceable person entertains peace toward everyone, not purloining the neighbor’s property furtively, not committing homicide, not undermining marriages, not speaking evil, not doing evil, doing favors, showing respect, sharing, lending support, sharing dangers and struggles—such is unalloyed love and genuine friendship.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 34:8

Psalms 34:19

While God allows them to descend into the arena of tribulations, he comes to their assistance and renders them superior to the calamities besetting them, confirming their resolve and making it strong.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 34:10

Psalms 35:6

Put them to flight, entrusting the pursuit to the unseen angels. This is the way we also find the Assyrians exterminated by an angel and the way the exterminator destroyed the firstborn of the Egyptians.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 35:3

Psalms 35:11

When Saul under the influence of envy, remember, suspected him of plotting a coup and for that reason maintained a state of war, the slanderers (whom he calls false “witnesses”) took occasion not to desist from spreading calumny against him. Some of these were Doeg, the Ziphites, and many others in addition to them.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 35:6

Psalms 35:17

Now, he says this not by way of accusation but out of a longing for help. When will you appear, he is saying, and assist the wronged?… Render my soul proof against their machinations.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 35:9

Psalms 35:26

Shame is fitting for those who mock their neighbor; thus the inspired author calls it down on their arrogance and boasting.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 35:12

Psalms 35:28

While the psalm had this ending, therefore, I beseech those reading it not to incur even the slightest harm from the prayer of the righteous person or make it the occasion for curses against one’s enemies. Instead, realize that the inspired author was adopting the way of life sanctioned by the Law, not by the Gospels. Now, the Law speaks plainly of loving the neighbor and hating the enemy. By contrast, Christ the Lord, to show virtue in its perfection, said, “It was said to those of old, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy, but I say to you. Love your enemies and bless those who persecute you.” The divine apostle also said something in harmony with this, “Bless and do not curse.” Looking at this difference, therefore, realize what is in keeping with the Law and what with grace. In particular, it was not to deliver a curse that David said this; rather, in inspired fashion he foretold what would clearly come to be. Now, for proof that in keeping with the gospel requirements even he did not take vengeance on those who wronged him, listen to him saying, “If I repaid in like…

While the psalm had this ending, therefore, I beseech those reading it not to incur even the slightest harm from the prayer of the righteous person or make it the occasion for curses against one’s enemies. Instead, realize that the inspired author was adopting the way of life sanctioned by the Law, not by the Gospels. Now, the Law speaks plainly of loving the neighbor and hating the enemy. By contrast, Christ the Lord, to show virtue in its perfection, said, “It was said to those of old, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy, but I say to you. Love your enemies and bless those who persecute you.” The divine apostle also said something in harmony with this, “Bless and do not curse.” Looking at this difference, therefore, realize what is in keeping with the Law and what with grace. In particular, it was not to deliver a curse that David said this; rather, in inspired fashion he foretold what would clearly come to be. Now, for proof that in keeping with the gospel requirements even he did not take vengeance on those who wronged him, listen to him saying, “If I repaid in like fashion those rendering me evil, let me then end up empty-handed before my foes. Let my foe then hunt my soul down, apprehend it, trample my life in the ground and bury my glory in the dust.” And he did not say this without doing it: he put his words into practice, and the actions are clearer than the words. Twice when he had his enemy in his hands, remember, he not only did not do away with him; … when he fell in battle, he wept bitterly over him, and the one who brought word of his death he dispatched for exulting and boasting of the execution. Now, I was obliged to recount these events because of those who boast and quote the case of the divine David so that they may have the best values of David as a beneficial model.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 35:13

Psalms 36:2

He so distracts himself, he is saying, and banishes the fear of God from his own sight that his lawlessness, which in fact is obvious, is seen and discovered by everyone and thus attracts loathing. He has given himself unswervingly to lawlessness. Now, he adopts this ignorance so willingly that he is not prepared to assess what he has done or loathe his evil exploits.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 36:2

Psalms 36:6

While those people turn their hand to such things as though no one were watching, you, Lord, possess immeasurable mercy, incalculable truth and righteousness comparable to the highest mountains. Now, your truth comes to human beings through the inspired authors as though through some clouds, regaling them with saving rain. “Your judgments are like the great deep”: possessing such wonderful truth and righteousness, why you show long-suffering I do not know; your judgments resemble the impenetrable depths. That is to say, just as the bottom of the sea is beyond human vision, so an understanding of your judgments is beyond our grasp.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 36:4

Psalms 36:9

Here he clearly reveals to us the mystery of the holy Trinity: he called the Only-begotten Word of God a “fountain of life.” This is the name, too, remember, God personally gave himself through the prophet Jeremiah: “They have forsaken me, a fountain of living water, taken their leave and dug for themselves cracked cisterns incapable of holding water.” So he says this fountain is in the presence of the Father, according to the following Gospel teaching: “I in the Father and the Father in me.” “In your light we shall see light”: Illumined by the all-holy Spirit we shall perceive the rays of your Only-begotten; Scripture says, “No one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit,” and “God revealed to us through his Spirit.” We have consequently come to a precise knowledge of the three persons in the one divinity through the inspired words.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 36:6

Psalms 37:4

In everything he taught the benefit of hope in God: the person hoping in God, he says, and fed by him will enjoy the goods supplied by him while those who find delightful constant converse with him will most of all attain them.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 37:2

Psalms 37:5

Offer up to God, he is saying, both yourself and your actions, and expect grace from him; for his part he will bring forth a just verdict like a judge, will extol you and make you famous to the extent of being known to everyone, like the light at midday.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 37:2

Psalms 37:7

Even if you see one choosing wickedness and not deviating from his purpose but being borne downstream, do not be worried and concerned that no one is in control of the world.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 37:3

Psalms 37:9

Instead of considering their prosperity, await their end, and you will see their ruin.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 37:3

Psalms 37:19

Those choosing a blameless life enjoy providence completely; even if they encounter disasters, they will emerge superior to them; and when need becomes endemic, they will receive sufficiency from God, and in addition will enjoy everlasting goods.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 37:6

Psalms 37:21

Saul was like that, ever the object of kindness at the hands of the divine David but reluctant to repay kindness with kindness; blessed David …, in imitation of his Lord, who makes his sun rise on wicked and good, continued showing kindness.

COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 37:7