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Translation
King James Version
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
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KJV (with Strong's)
Thou shalt guide H5148 H8686 me with thy counsel H6098, and afterward H310 receive H3947 H8799 me to glory H3519.
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Complete Jewish Bible
You will guide me with your advice; and afterwards, you will receive me with honor.
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Berean Standard Bible
You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.
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American Standard Version
Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.
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World English Bible Messianic
You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
Thou wilt guide me by thy counsell, and afterward receiue me to glory.
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Young's Literal Translation
With Thy counsel Thou dost lead me, And after honour dost receive me.
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Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Psalms 73:24 stands as a profound declaration of the psalmist Asaph's unwavering confidence in God's sovereign care, marking a triumphant resolution to his earlier crisis of faith. Having grappled with the perplexing prosperity of the wicked and his own suffering, Asaph finds clarity and renewed intimacy with God, realizing the fleeting nature of earthly success and the enduring reality of divine faithfulness. This verse climactically affirms his trust that God will meticulously direct his life on earth through perfect wisdom and, subsequently, welcome him into an exalted state of eternal fellowship and splendor in His very presence.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Psalms 73 is a wisdom psalm, part of Book III of the Psalter (Psalms 73-89), attributed to Asaph, a chief musician and seer. The psalm opens with Asaph's raw confession of spiritual struggle, admitting his feet "had almost slipped" as he envied the arrogant and prosperous wicked, who seemed to live without trouble or consequence, their eyes bulging with fatness (Psalms 73:2-12). He describes his inner turmoil and the apparent futility of his own righteousness, questioning if his purity of heart was in vain (Psalms 73:13-16). The pivotal turning point occurs when he enters "the sanctuary of God," gaining divine perspective on the ultimate, perilous end of the wicked, seeing their destruction as swift and terrifying (Psalms 73:17-20). This revelation transforms his perspective, leading to a renewed sense of intimacy with God and a profound affirmation of God's continuous presence and future promise, culminating in verses like Psalms 73:23-26. Verse 24 stands as a confident declaration of this newfound assurance, bridging God's present guidance with future glory, serving as a theological anchor for the psalm's resolution.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: Asaph was a Levite and one of the three chief musicians appointed by King David, responsible for leading worship and prophecy in song, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 15:16-19. The "sanctuary of God" would have been the tabernacle (and later the Temple in Jerusalem), a sacred space where God's presence was uniquely manifested, and where divine revelation was sought and received through prayer, sacrifice, and prophetic utterance. For an Israelite, the concept of "glory" (Hebrew kavod) was deeply tied to God's manifest presence, His weighty honor, and His splendor, often associated with the Shekinah glory that filled the tabernacle and Solomon's Temple. The psalm reflects the common Old Testament tension between righteous suffering and wicked prosperity, a theme profoundly explored in wisdom literature like the Book of Job and Ecclesiastes, and often resolved through an appeal to God's ultimate justice and eschatological hope, emphasizing that true blessedness lies not in temporal circumstances but in one's relationship with God and ultimate destiny.
  • Key Themes: Psalms 73:24 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the psalm and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights Divine Sovereignty and Providence, affirming God's active, personal, and wise direction in the life of the believer, even amidst confusion and apparent injustice. The psalmist's trust in God's "counsel" underscores a belief in God's deliberate and perfect plan for His people. Secondly, it addresses the Problem of Evil and Suffering, offering a theological resolution by shifting focus from temporal circumstances to an eternal perspective, where God's ultimate justice and the destiny of the righteous are revealed. This verse posits that present guidance leads to future vindication. Thirdly, it underscores the theme of Eschatological Hope, pointing beyond the present life to a future state of ultimate reception into God's presence, implying eternal life and a share in divine honor, a hope that transcends the limitations of earthly existence. Finally, it speaks to the Intimacy of God's Relationship with His People, emphasizing that God not only guides but also personally receives His own, a relationship that transcends even death, as seen in Asaph's declaration in Psalms 73:25-26, where he proclaims God as his ultimate portion and strength.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Guide (Hebrew, nâchâh', H5148): This primitive root signifies to lead, conduct, or bring to a destination. It implies a personal, active, and protective direction, often used in the context of divine guidance for a journey or a life path. It suggests God's careful oversight and intentional steering of the psalmist's life, ensuring he remains on the right course amidst life's complexities.
  • Counsel (Hebrew, ʻêtsâh', H6098): Derived from a root meaning "to advise" or "to plan," this word denotes divine wisdom, purpose, and a guiding plan. It is not merely advice, but a deliberate and perfect direction, implying God's intentional and active involvement in leading His people according to His sovereign will. It speaks to the perfect execution of God's plan in the life of the one He guides, ensuring their steps align with His ultimate good.
  • Glory (Hebrew, kâbôwd', H3519): Rarely kâbôd, this word comes from a root meaning "heavy" or "weighty." Figuratively, it denotes splendor, honor, majesty, and the manifest presence of God. To be "received to glory" means to be brought into the very presence of God, sharing in His honor and majesty, a culmination of the righteous's journey that transcends earthly suffering and injustice. It speaks of an exalted, honored state in the divine sphere, reflecting God's own inherent magnificence.

Verse Breakdown

  • "Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel": This clause expresses Asaph's absolute trust in God's continuous and personal direction throughout his earthly life. The verb "guide" (נָחָה, nâchâh) implies leading, conducting, or bringing to a destination, often used for divine guidance, such as God leading Israel through the wilderness by a pillar of cloud and fire (Exodus 13:21). It signifies that God's wisdom (ʻêtsâh) is not abstract but actively applied to Asaph's path, steering him through life's complexities and moral dilemmas. This guidance is comprehensive, covering all aspects of his existence, ensuring his steps are ordered by divine wisdom.
  • "and afterward receive me [to] glory": This second clause shifts from present guidance to future hope, pointing to an eschatological reality beyond this life. "Afterward" (אַחַר, ʼachar) indicates a sequence, suggesting that God's faithful guidance in life leads directly to this ultimate reception. The verb "receive" (לָקַח, lâqach) means to take, fetch, or bring, implying a personal welcome into God's presence. "To glory" signifies being brought into God's very being, sharing in His splendor and honor, an eternal state of blessedness that far surpasses any earthly prosperity or suffering. It is the ultimate vindication and reward for the righteous, a direct contrast to the ultimate ruin of the wicked described earlier in the psalm.

Literary Devices

Psalms 73:24 employs several powerful literary devices that enhance its theological depth. The most prominent is Parallelism, specifically a synthetic or progressive parallelism, where the second line expands upon or completes the thought of the first. "Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel" describes God's present, active involvement in the psalmist's life, while "and afterward receive me to glory" describes the ultimate, future culmination of that guidance. This creates a powerful Theological Progression, moving from the immediate reality of divine guidance in life to the ultimate destiny of eternal glory. There is also an implied Antithesis with the fate of the wicked, whose fleeting prosperity leads to sudden destruction, whereas the righteous, guided by God, are led to enduring glory. The concepts of God's "counsel" and "glory" also function as Metaphorical Language, representing the intangible yet powerful realities of divine wisdom and ultimate blessedness, making abstract theological truths accessible and impactful.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

This verse is a profound theological statement on God's comprehensive care for His people, bridging the temporal and the eternal. It assures believers that God's guidance is not merely for navigation through earthly trials but is intrinsically linked to their ultimate, glorious destiny. It underscores the biblical truth that God's purposes for His elect extend beyond this life, culminating in an intimate, eternal fellowship with Him. This perspective reorients the believer's understanding of suffering and prosperity, placing them within the larger framework of God's redemptive plan and His unwavering commitment to bring His children to Himself in glory. It is a testament to divine faithfulness and the secure hope of the righteous, affirming that God's wisdom is always leading His people towards their ultimate good and His eternal presence.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Psalms 73:24 offers immense comfort and profound direction for believers navigating the complexities of life. In a world often characterized by confusion, moral ambiguity, and the apparent triumph of injustice, this verse calls us to surrender our limited understanding and trust implicitly in God's perfect counsel. It reminds us that our earthly journey, with all its trials and uncertainties, is not without divine oversight; rather, it is meticulously guided by a loving and sovereign God. This truth empowers us to walk by faith, knowing that every step, every decision, and every challenge is part of a larger, divinely orchestrated plan that leads to an ultimate, glorious destination. This hope in future glory provides a powerful antidote to despair, enabling us to persevere through present difficulties with an eternal perspective, knowing that our ultimate inheritance is not in this fleeting world but in the eternal presence of God, where true justice and lasting joy reside.

Questions for Reflection

  • How does Asaph's journey from doubt to confident trust in God's guidance and ultimate reception to glory resonate with your own spiritual struggles and breakthroughs?
  • In what specific areas of your life do you most need to consciously surrender to God's "counsel" and trust His guiding hand today?
  • How does the promise of being "received to glory" impact your perspective on current suffering, injustice, or the apparent prosperity of the ungodly?
  • What practical steps can you take to more fully trust God's guidance in your daily decisions, especially when His path seems counter-intuitive to worldly wisdom?

FAQ

What does "receive me to glory" mean in the context of this psalm?

Answer: In Psalms 73:24, "receive me to glory" signifies a profound eschatological hope for the psalmist. It means that after God's faithful guidance through life, He will personally welcome the psalmist into His very presence, an exalted state of honor, splendor, and eternal fellowship. This is not merely about dying, but about being brought into God's kavod, His manifest glory and majesty, implying eternal life and a share in divine blessedness. It stands in stark contrast to the ultimate ruin and destruction that await the wicked, as described earlier in the psalm, where they are set in "slippery places" and brought to "sudden destruction" (Psalms 73:18-19).

How does this verse relate to Asaph's earlier struggle with the prosperity of the wicked?

Answer: This verse is the triumphant climax and resolution to Asaph's deep spiritual struggle. Earlier in the psalm, Asaph was deeply troubled and almost lost his faith because he saw the wicked prospering without apparent consequence, while the righteous suffered (Psalms 73:2-12). His perspective dramatically shifted when he entered the sanctuary and gained divine insight into the ultimate, perilous end of the wicked, realizing their prosperity was fleeting and their destruction certain (Psalms 73:17). Verse 24, therefore, declares his renewed conviction that God's guidance in this life leads to a glorious eternal destiny, thus vindicating God's justice and faithfulness despite present appearances. It assures him that his suffering is temporary, and his ultimate reward is secure in God's presence, unlike the fleeting success of the ungodly.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Psalms 73:24 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is both the embodiment of God's perfect "counsel" and the ultimate "glory" to which believers are received. As the very Word and Wisdom of God, through whom all things were created (John 1:1-3), Jesus guides His people not merely with advice but with His very presence through the Holy Spirit, leading them into all truth and revealing the Father's will (John 16:13). His life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection are the perfect expression of God's counsel to redeem humanity and bring them into eternal fellowship. Furthermore, Jesus Himself promised to "receive" His disciples to Himself, preparing a place for them in His Father's house, so that where He is, they may be also (John 14:1-3). He is the "hope of glory" dwelling within believers, transforming them into His likeness (Colossians 1:27), and it is through Him that God brings "many sons to glory" (Hebrews 2:10). Thus, the psalmist's hope of being guided by God and received to glory is fully realized in the person and work of Christ, who is both our divine guide in this life and our ultimate destination in the Father's eternal presence.

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Commentary on Psalms 73 verses 21–28

I. II. Main points1. 2. Sub-points(1.) (2.) Details

Behold Samson's riddle again unriddled, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong sweetness; for we have here an account of the good improvement which the psalmist made of that sore temptation with which he had been assaulted and by which he was almost overcome. He that stumbles and does not fall, by recovering himself takes so much the longer steps forward. It was so with the psalmist here; many good lessons he learned from his temptation, his struggles with it, and his victories over it. Nor would God suffer his people to be tempted if his grace were not sufficient for them, not only to save them from harm, but to make them gainers by it; even this shall work for good.

I. He learned to think very humbly of himself and to abase and accuse himself before God (Psa 73:21, Psa 73:22); he reflects with shame upon the disorder and danger he was in, and the vexation he gave himself by entertaining the temptation and parleying with it: My heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins, as one afflicted with the acute pain of the stone in the region of the kidneys. If evil thoughts at any time enter into the mind of a good man, he does not roll them under his tongue as a sweet morsel, but they are grievous and painful to him; temptation was to Paul as a thorn in the flesh, Co2 12:7. This particular temptation, the working of envy and discontent, is as painful as any; where it constantly rests it is the rottenness of the bones (Pro 14:30); where it does but occasionally come it is the pricking of the reins. Fretfulness is a corruption that is its own correction. Now in the reflection upon it, 1. He owns it was his folly thus to vex himself: "So foolish was I to be my own tormentor." Let peevish people thus reproach themselves for, and shame themselves out of, their discontents. "What a fool am I thus to make myself uneasy without a cause?" 2. He owns it was his ignorance to vex himself at this: "So ignorant was I of that which I might have known, and which, if I had known it aright, would have been sufficient to silence my murmurs. I was as a beast (Behemoth - a great beast) before thee. Beasts mind present things only, and never look before at what is to come; and so did I. If I had not been a great fool, I should never have suffered such a senseless temptation to prevail over me so far. What! to envy wicked men upon account of their prosperity! To be ready to wish myself one of them, and to think of changing conditions with them! So foolish was I." Note, If good men do at any time, through the surprise and strength of temptation, think, or speak, or act amiss, when they see their error they will reflect upon it with sorrow, and shame, and self-abhorrence, will call themselves fools for it. Surely I am more brutish than any man, Pro 30:2; Job 42:5, Job 42:6. Thus David, Sa2 24:10.

II. He took occasion hence to own his dependence on and obligations to the grace of God (Psa 73:23): "Nevertheless, foolish as I am, I am continually with thee and in thy favour; thou hast holden me by my right hand." This may refer either, 1. To the care God had taken of him, and the kindness he had shown him, all along from his beginning hitherto. He had said, in the hour of temptation (Psa 73:14), All the day long have I been plagued; but here he corrects himself for that passionate complaint: "Though God has chastened me, he has not cast me off; notwithstanding all the crosses of my life, I have been continually with thee; I have had thy presence with me, and thou hast been nigh unto me in all that which I have called upon thee for; and therefore, though perplexed, yet not in despair. Though God has sometimes written bitter things against me, yet he has still holden me by my right hand, both to keep me, that I should not desert him or fly off from him, and to prevent my sinking and fainting under my burdens, or losing my way in the wildernesses through which I have walked." If we have been kept in the way with God, kept closely in our duty and upheld in our integrity, we must own ourselves indebted to the free grace of God for our preservation: Having obtained help of God, I continue hitherto. And, if he has thus maintained the spiritual life, the earnest of eternal life, we ought not to complain, whatever calamities of this present time we have met with. Or, 2. To the late experience he had had of the power of divine grace in carrying him through this strong temptation and bringing him off a conqueror: "I was foolish and ignorant, and yet thou hast had compassion on me and taught me (Heb 5:2), and kept me under thy protection;" for the unworthiness of man is no bar to the free grace of God. We must ascribe our safety in temptation, and our victory over it, not to our own wisdom, for we are foolish and ignorant, but to the gracious presence of God with us and the prevalency of Christ's intercession for us, that our faith may not fail: "My feet were almost gone, and they would have quite gone, past recovery, but that thou hast holden me by my right hand and so kept me from falling."

III. He encouraged himself to hope that the same God who had delivered him from this evil work would preserve him to his heavenly kingdom, as St. Paul does (Ti2 4:18): "I am now upheld by thee, therefore thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, leading me, as thou hast done hitherto, many a difficult step; and, since I am now continually with thee, thou shalt afterwards receive me to glory" Psa 73:24. This completes the happiness of the saints, so that they have no reason to envy the worldly prosperity of sinners. Note, 1. All those who commit themselves to God shall be guided with his counsel, with the counsel both of his word and of his Spirit, the best counsellors. The psalmist had like to have paid dearly for following his own counsels in this temptation and therefore resolves for the future to take God's advice, which shall never be wanting to those that duly seek it with a resolution to follow it. 2. All those who are guided and led by the counsel of God in this world shall be received to his glory in another world. If we make God's glory in us the end we aim at, he will make our glory with him the end we shall for ever be happy in. Upon this consideration, let us never envy sinners, but rather bless ourselves in our own blessedness. If God direct us in the way of our duty, and prevent our turning aside out of it, he will afterwards, when our state of trial and preparation is over, receive us to his kingdom and glory, the believing hopes and prospects of which will reconcile us to all the dark providences that now puzzle and perplex us, and ease us of the pain we have been put into by some threatening temptations.

IV. He was hereby quickened to cleave the more closely to God, and very much confirmed and comforted in the choice he had made of him, Psa 73:25, Psa 73:26. His thoughts here dwell with delight upon his own happiness in God, as much greater then the happiness of the ungodly that prospered in the world. He saw little reason to envy them what they had in the creature when he found how much more and better, surer and sweeter, comforts he had in the Creator, and what cause he had to congratulate himself on this account. He had complained of his afflictions (Psa 73:14); but this makes them very light and easy, All is well if God be mine. We have here the breathings of a sanctified soul towards God, and its repose in him, as that to a godly man really which the prosperity of a worldly man is to him in conceit and imagination: Whom have I in heaven but thee? There is scarcely a verse in all the psalms more expressive than this of the pious and devout affections of a soul to God; here it soars up towards him, follows hard after him, and yet, at the same time, has an entire satisfaction and complacency in him.

1.It is here supposed that God alone is the felicity and chief good of man. He, and he only, that made the soul, can make it happy; there is none in heaven, none in earth, that can pretend to do it besides.

2.Here are expressed the workings and breathings of a soul towards God accordingly. If God be our felicity,

(1.)Then we must have him (Whom have I but thee?), we must choose him, and make sure to ourselves an interest in him. What will it avail us that he is the felicity of souls if he be not the felicity of our souls, and if we do not by a lively faith make him ours, by joining ourselves to him in an everlasting covenant?

(2.)Then our desire must be towards him and our delight in him (the word signifies both); we must delight in what we have of God and desire what we yet further hope for. Our desires must not only be offered up to God, but they must all terminate in him, desiring nothing more than God, but still more and more of him. This includes all our prayers, Lord, give us thyself; as that includes all the promises, I will be to them a God. The desire of our souls is to thy name.

(3.)We must prefer him in our choice and desire before any other. [1.] "There is none in heaven but thee, none to seek to or trust in, none to court or covet acquaintance with, but thee." God is in himself more glorious than any celestial being (Psa 89:6), and must be, in our eyes, infinitely more desirable. Excellent beings there are in heaven, but God alone can make us happy. His favour is infinitely more to us than the refreshment of the dews of heaven or the benign influence of the stars of heaven, more than the friendship of the saints in heaven or the good offices of the angels there. [2.] I desire none on earth besides thee; not only none in heaven, a place at a distance, which we have but little acquaintance with, but none on earth neither, where we have many friends and where much of our present interest and concern lie. "Earth carries away the desires of most men, and yet I have none on earth, no persons, no things, no possessions, no delights, that I desire besides thee or with thee, in comparison or competition with thee." We must desire nothing besides God but what we desire for him (nil praeter te nisi propter te - nothing besides thee except for thy sake), nothing but what we desire from him, and can be content without so that it be made up in him. We must desire nothing besides God as needful to be a partner with him in making us happy.

(4.)Then we must repose ourselves in God with an entire satisfaction, Psa 73:26. Observe here, [1.] Great distress and trouble supposed: My flesh and my heart fail. Note, Others have experienced and we must expect, the failing both of flesh and heart. The body will fail by sickness, age, and death; and that which touches the bone and the flesh touches us in a tender part, that part of ourselves which we have been but too fond of; when the flesh fails the heart is ready to fail too; the conduct, courage, and comfort fail. [2.] Sovereign relief provided in this distress: But God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever. Note, Gracious souls, in their greatest distresses, rest upon God as their spiritual strength and their eternal portion. First, "He is the strength of my heart, the rock of my heart, a firm foundation, which will bear my weight and not sink under it. God is the strength of my heart; I have found him so; I do so still, and hope ever to find him so." In the distress supposed, he had put the case of a double failure, both flesh and heart fail; but, in the relief, he fastens on a single support: he leaves out the flesh and the consideration of that, it is enough that God is the strength of his heart. He speaks as one careless of the body (let that fail, there is no remedy), but as one concerned about the soul, to be strengthened in the inner man. Secondly, "He is my portion for ever; he will not only support me while I am here, but make me happy when I go hence." The saints choose God for their portion, they have him for their portion, and it is their happiness that he will be their portion, a portion that will last as long as the immortal soul lasts.

V. He was fully convinced of the miserable condition of all wicked people. This he learned in the sanctuary upon this occasion, and he would never forget it (Psa 73:27): "Lo, those that are far from thee, in a state of distance and estrangement, that desire the Almighty to depart from them, shall certainly perish; so shall their doom be; they choose to be far from God, and they shall be far from him for ever. Thou wilt justly destroy all those that go a whoring from thee, that is, all apostates, that in profession have been betrothed to God, but forsake him, their duty to him and their communion with him, to embrace the bosom of a stranger." The doom is sever, no less than perishing and being destroyed. It is universal: "They shall all be destroyed without exception." It is certain: "Thou hast destroyed; it is as sure to be done as if done already; and the destruction of some ungodly men is an earnest of the perdition of all." God himself undertakes to do it, into whose hands it is a fearful thing to fall: "Thou, though infinite in goodness, wilt reckon for thy injured honour and abused patience, and wilt destroy those that go a whoring from thee."

VI. He was greatly encouraged to cleave to God and to confide in him, Psa 73:28. If those that are far from God shall perish, then, 1. Let this constrain us to live in communion with God; "if it fare so ill with those that live at a distance from him, then it is good, very good, the chief good, that good for a man, in this life, which he should most carefully pursue and secure, it is best for me to draw near to God, and to have God draw near to me;" the original may take in both. But for my part (so I would read it) the approach of God is good for me. Our drawing near to God takes rise from his drawing near to us, and it is the happy meeting that makes the bliss. Here is a great truth laid down, That it is good to draw near to God; but the life of it lies in the application, "It is good for me." Those are the wise who know what is good for themselves: "It is good, says he (and every good man agrees with him in it), it is good for me to draw near to God; it is my duty; it is my interest." 2. Let us therefore live in a continual dependence upon him: "I have put my trust in the Lord God, and will never go a whoring from him after any creature confidences." If wicked men, notwithstanding all their prosperity, shall perish and be destroyed, then let us trust in the Lord God, in him, not in them (see Psa 146:3-5), in him, and not in our worldly prosperity; let us trust in God, and neither fret at them nor be afraid of them; let us trust in him for a better portion than theirs is. 3. While we do so, let us not doubt but that we shall have occasion to praise his name. Let us trust in the Lord, that we may declare all his works. Note, Those that with an upright heart put their trust in God shall never want matter for thanksgiving to him.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 21–28. Public domain.
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Ambrose of MilanAD 397
Interrogation of Job and David, Book 3, Chapter XI
And the psalmist says, appropriately, “My heart and my flesh have failed, God of my heart.” Indeed, abiding things cannot follow unless earthly things have failed. Therefore the flesh falls when fleshly things are put to death. And those who bear about in their flesh the dying of Jesus Christ also fail, for the death of Christ works in them so that every enticement to sin dies. From this it is inferred that the human heart fails when evil thoughts, which proceed from the heart, are put to death. Thus forgetfulness may hide all earthly things, and, for those who are blessed with a clean heart and deserve to see God, there may come the God of their heart that they may draw near to you and not separate themselves. For God, who is near, does not drive back those who draw near to him; he wishes to be for all people a cause of salvation and not of death. Indeed, he rejects no one except one who has decided to remove himself from his sight.
Ambrose of MilanAD 397
Interrogation of Job and David, Book 3, Chapter XI
Therefore the holy man says, “For what awaits me in heaven? And besides you what do I desire on earth?” This means: You are my portion, you are abundant to me for all things, I have sought nothing but that I might possess you as my share, I have not made myself subject to any creature in the heavens, as the Gentiles do, and I have desired none of the wealth and enticing pleasures of this world. I have no want, for I have been taken up by you, and there is nothing further for me to seek in the heavenly bodies. Possessing nothing, I possess all things, because I possess Christ, and him the Father on high “has not spared, but he has delivered him for us all; how has he not, then, given us all things with him?” even as the apostle said. For all things are in Christ, through whom are all things and in whom all things hold together. Therefore, possessing all things in him, I seek no other reward, because he is the reward of all. And so, Christ said to him that was made perfect, “Take up your cross and follow me.” For one who follows him is not led to perfection by the reward, but by perfection he is made perfect for the reward. For the imitators of Christ are not good by reason of hope but for their love of virtue; for Christ is good by nature, not by reason of a desire for a reward. And, therefore, he suffered because it pleased him to do good, and not because he sought an increase of glory from his passion. Thus one who desires to imitate him does not do what is for his own advantage but what is for the advantage of others. It is not without reason, therefore, that he fails for himself, while for others he grows strong by the increase of virtue.
Ambrose of MilanAD 397
Interrogation of Job and David, Book 3, Chapter X
For this reason David says, as if visited by him,” “You have held my right hand, and in your will you have conducted me and have taken me up with glory.” This is the text we have received, and it is in accord with the Greek, for the Greek said, ekratēsas tēs cheiros, that is, “you have held the hand,” tēs dexias mou, “my right hand.” A person receives good guidance when God takes hold of his right hand with his own hand. Such a one can say, “The Lord is at my right hand, that I be not moved.” Had Adam chosen to have the Lord at his right hand, he would not have been deceived by the serpent. But because he forgot God’s command and fulfilled the will of the serpent, the devil took hold of his hand and made it to reach out to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, to pluck things that were forbidden. In him, judgment was passed beforehand on all people, and the adversary began to stand by the right hand of every person. From this, there also came that model of the curse against Judas, “And may the devil stand at his right hand.” If that curse is severe, that blessing, whereby the bonds of the harsh curse are undone, is very momentous. For that reason the Lord Jesus, who had taken up humanity’s cause and condition, set the devil at his right hand, just as we read in the book of Zechariah. And so, where the inheritance of Adam stood, there Christ stood. Like a good athlete, he permitted Satan to stand at his right hand so that he could drive him back, and he said, “Be gone, Satan.” Consequently, the adversary was cast down from his place and departed; so that the devil may not stand at your right hand, Christ says, “Come, follow me.” Therefore, David foresaw the coming of the Lord, who came down from heaven to free us from the power of the adversary, and he said, “The Lord is at my right hand, that I be not moved.” But one who had the devil at his right hand was moved. David was justified, then, in saying this also, “You have held my right hand,” that is, so that now I cannot sin, so that I can take my stand in a trusty place, while before I was swaying and my step was unsure. How aptly the apostle said this! For the Lord, seeing that he was troubled, stretched out his right hand and did not allow him to falter but steadied him to walk without fear. And on his deliverance, what else did Peter say but these prophetic lines, “You have held my right hand, and in your will you have conducted me and have taken me up with glory”? What is the right hand but the power of the soul in operation? And if it is guided by the will of the Lord, it desires nothing and is in want of nothing; it demands none of the helps or aids of this world.
JeromeAD 420
LETTER 43.3
It is good for us to cleave to the Lord, and to put our hope in the Lord God, so that when we have exchanged our present poverty for the kingdom of heaven, we may be able to exclaim, “Whom have I in heaven but you? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside you.” Surely if we can find such blessedness in heaven we may well grieve to have sought after poor and passing pleasures here on earth.
JeromeAD 420
LETTER 52.5
A cleric, then, as he serves Christ’s church, must first understand what his name means; and then, when he realizes this, must endeavor to be that which he is called. For since the Greek word klēros means “lot,” or “inheritance,” the clergy are so called either because they are the lot of the Lord, or else because the Lord himself is their lot and portion. Now, he who in his own person is the Lord’s portion, or has the Lord for his portion, must so bear himself as to possess the Lord and to be possessed by him. He who possesses the Lord and who says with the prophet, “The Lord is my portion,” can hold to nothing beside the Lord. For if he holds to something beside the Lord, the Lord will not be his portion. Suppose, for instance, that he holds to gold or silver, or possessions or inlaid furniture; with such portions as these the Lord will not deign to be his portion. I, if I am the portion of the Lord, and the line of his heritage, receive no portion among the remaining tribes; but, like the priest and the Levite, “I live on the tithe,” and serving the altar, am supported by its offerings. “Having food and raiment, I shall be content with these” and as a disciple of the cross shall share its poverty. I beseech you, therefore, and again and yet again admonish you;41 do not look to your military experience for a standard of clerical obligation. Do not seek worldly gain through service to Christ, so that, if you should be better off than when you first became clergy, you will not hear people say to your disgrace, “Their portion shall not profit them.” Welcome poor people and strangers to dine with you so that with them Christ may become your guest. Avoid as you would a plague a cleric who engages in business and who rises from poverty to wealth and from obscurity to a high position. For “bad company corrupts good character.” You despise gold; he loves it. You avoid wealth; he eagerly pursues it. You love silence, meekness, privacy; he takes delight in talking and insolence, in [town] squares and streets and apothecaries’ shops. What unity of feeling can there be where there is so wide a divergence of character?
Paschasius of DumiumAD 600
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS OF THE GREEK FATHERS 42:3
Abbot Pimenius asked Abbot Nesteron, who was sitting in the monastery, “Where did you acquire this virtue, brother, that, whenever a quarrel arises in the monastery, you neither speak nor interfere as mediator?” Though he was unwilling to speak, he was compelled by the old man and said, “Forgive me, father, for in the beginning when I entered here I said to my thought: ‘Lo, you and this donkey are alike. Just as it gets beaten without speaking and gets thrashed without returning an answer, so you must be also, for the psalm says, “I am become as a beast of burden before you: and I am always with you.” ’ ”
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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