PSALM CXXIII. (NISI QUIA DOMINUS.) The Church giveth glory to God for her deliverance from the hands of her enemies. Insupportable. Without bottom, or beyond our strength, Greek: anupostaton. (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "Then the swelling waters it had passed over our soul." (Montanus) (Calmet) --- St. Jerome has, "perhaps they," &c., which is more correct. See Psalm lxviii. 3. (Haydock) --- A torrent implies sudden great troubles. (Worthington) Sparrow. Hebrew, "bird." This comparison shew at once the dangers to which the Jews had been exposed, and their miraculous deliverance. (Calmet) --- Man may deceive others: but they cannot impose on God. (Worthington) --- Grace preserves the soul from the most imminent dangers of temptation, sin, &c. (Berthier) --- We must therefore fly; but who will give us wings except God? (St. Ambrose) Canticle of thanksgiving, relating to the times of the Messias, (Abenezra) or to the Jews, who overcame the attempts of the nations at their return, 2 Esdras iv., and vi. (Ven. Bede, &c.) (Calmet) --- It exhorts all to confide in God. (Berthier) --- Trust. The Jews complied not with this condition, and are become vagabonds; but the faithful inherit this promise, (Hebrews x. 19.; Berthier) which is verified in the Catholic Church. (St. Augustine) --- To be secure, like Sion, which is defended by other mountains, we must belong to her society. (Worthington) --- The situation of Jerusalem was very advantageous. It was difficult to bring any cavalry against it, except by the way of Idumea. A handful of men might defend the passes leading to the north, as we see in the history of the Machabees. About it. Coming from Joppe, travellers cannot see the city till they are very near it, though with respect to Judea, it is very elevated. Hence Josephus styles it "the navel of the land." (Jewish Wars iii. 2., or 4.) --- The construction of the Vulgate is very natural. (Calmet) --- For the promise regards the inhabitants, rather than the place, as Hebrew would insinuate. --- Lord. Zacharias ii. 5. Heresiarchs have in vain risen up against the Church, though they were able men, like mountains. (St. Augustine) Rod. Sceptre, or violent dominion, Isaias x. 5. --- That, Or "therefore." (Interp. in St. Chrysostom) God always concludes his threats with promises of pardon to the penitent, 1 Corinthians x. 13. (Calmet --- He tries his servants for their good, and will not abandon them. (Worthington) --- The captivity lasted only 70 years: the ten persecutions of the Christian Church were terminated in 300 years; and though the wicked should even put the just to death, then their rod remains no longer upon them. If the virtuous were always suffering, the temptation might be too strong. But those who are sincere, at last emerge from the cloud, and force their enemies to applaud their conduct. (Berthier) Heart. This God will certainly perform. (Worthington) --- He asks not for himself alone, and leaves all to the divine disposal. (Haydock) Bonds, obligationes. "Knots," as Greek: straggalias, also means, (Berthier) rather than duties. (Bellarmine) --- Some suspect that obligationes was put originally, as Hebrew means "crooked ways," (Calmet) "embarrassments." (Aquila) --- He may allude to the dark machinations of false brethren, who endeavoured to thwart the pious designs of Nehemias, vi. 14. Apostles shall be treated like infidels, (Calmet) or rather worse, as we shall be if we act not up to the lights, (Haydock) and graces which we have received. (Calmet) --- Those who enter into any covenant, &c., to uphold a false religion, though they may despise it in their hearts, must expect to be punished, while the Church shall have peace. (Worthington) --- Israel. St. Paul adds, of God, to shew who may be entitled to this blessing. (Berthier) --- Heretics can neither give nor receive this peace. (St. Augustine) PSALM CXXIV. (QUI .) The just are always under God's protection. Sion. It cannot be doubted but this regards the captives of Babylon: but still David might compose it, as he was a prophet; and herein the redemption of mankind may also be described. (Berthier) --- The captives pray for the return of the rest of their brethren. (Calmet) --- Comforted. Hebrew, "dreaming." (Calmet) --- They could hardly believe their own eyes, like St. Peter, Acts xii. 9. This extraordinary joy is felt by devout souls, when freed from sin. (Worthington) --- The Greek cities which the Romans declared free, could scarcely believe that they had understood the herald. Majus gaudium fuit, &c. (Livy xxxiii.) --- Thus were the Jews affected. (Calmet) (Psalm xiii. 2.) --- Chaldean, "we were like convalescents," which comes nearer to the sense of the Septuagint. (Berthier) Shall. Or "did;" (Calmet) though the future is here well employed. (Berthier) --- The prophet uses both tenses, shewing the certainty of the event. (Worthington) --- It would require some time before the Gentiles would become sufficiently acquainted with the concerns of the Jews. (Berthier) --- As soon as they did, they expressed their admiration, while the former were careful not to imitate the conduct of those who murmured at leaving Egypt. (St. Chrysostom) South. As the Egyptians hope for the overflowing of the Nile; (Hammond) or as the south wind melts the snow, so as to make the Jordan overflow its banks. (Theodoret) --- The return of our brethren will be as agreeable to us as water to a thirsty soil. (Chaldean) (Muis) --- make them come quickly, and in great numbers, Isaias lx. 3., and lxvi. 12. (Calmet) --- Esdras brought back some, and Nehemias others, from Babylon. (Berthier) --- The ten tribes returned from Assyria later, and by degrees, (Calmet, Diss.) if at all. Those who arrived first at Jerusalem pray for the rest. (Berthier) --- The prophet foreseeing this event, desireth its perfect and speedy accomplishment, (Worthington) though it were scarcely to be expected, no more than (Haydock) a copious torrent in the south. (Worthington) PSALM CXXV. (IN .) The people of God rejoice at their delivery from captivity. Joy. This was the case of the martyrs, &c., (Luke vi. 21., and John xvi. 20.) as well as of the captives, Jeremias xxxi. 9., Isaias lxvi. 10., and Baruch v. 6. (Calmet) --- Tribulation commonly attends the virtuous in this life. Their reward is reserved for the next. (St. Augustine) (Worthington) --- Sowing, we know not whether we shall ever reap. (Haydock) --- This is a sort of proverb, which is applied to the captives. (Berthier)