Cassiodorus : The noise of the waters is great when sweet psalmody is offered, when guilt is removed by groans and tears, when thanks are rendered for a gift received. The different prayers of people resound in sacred churches like the crashing of the sea. He beautifully appends why the noise of the waters is great: it was because the clouds sent forth a sound. We have often said that clouds signify preachers, of whom Scripture says, "I will command my clouds not to pour rain on that land." They uttered that great sound when they made known the precepts of the Lord throughout the whole world. — EXPOSITION OF THE Psalms 76:18 Cassiodorus : Just as clouds when they rumble and clash (so the physicists tell us) send forth darts of lightning, so the words of the prophets shone out as signs of truth. In fact you often find the prophets in the divine Scriptures compared with clouds; for example, "And I will command the clouds not to rain upon it." — EXPOSITION OF THE Psalms 96:4 Jerome : It is obvious enough that the prophet is referring to the apostles and to the saints; that they are not to rain his rain upon the Jews but upon the Gentiles. — HOMILIES ON THE Psalms 34 (Psalms 107) Jerome : The clouds are the prophets; the Lord commanded them to rain no rain upon Israel. The word of prophecy has turned to us. — HOMILIES ON THE Psalms 56 (Psalms 146) Origen of Alexandria : See then how very bad sinning is, that they may be delivered to Satan, who holds captive the souls of those forsaken by God—though God does not forsake without cause or judgment those whom he has abandoned. For when he sends the rain for the vineyard and the vineyard bears thorns instead of grapes, what else will God do except order the clouds not to sprinkle rain on the vineyard? — HOMILIES ON Jeremiah 1:4