Part 356 (2/2)

67:24. That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thy enemies; the tongue of thy dogs be red with the same.

67:25. They have seen thy goings, O G.o.d, the goings of my G.o.d: of my king who is in his sanctuary.

Thy goings... Thy ways, thy proceedings, by which thou didst formerly take possession of the promised land in favour of thy people; and shalt afterwards of the whole world, which thou shalt subdue to thy Son.

67:26. Princes went before joined with singers, in the midst of young damsels playing on timbrels.

Princes... The apostles, the first converters of nations; attended by numbers of perfect souls, singing the divine praises, and virgins consecrated to G.o.d.

67:27. In the churches bless ye G.o.d the Lord, from the fountains of Israel.

From the fountains of Israel... From whom both Christ and his apostles sprung. By Benjamin, the holy fathers on this place understand St. Paul, who was of that tribe, named here a youth, because he was the last called to the apostles.h.i.+p. By the princes of Juda, Zabulon, and Nephthali, we may understand the other apostles, who were of the tribe of Juda; or of the tribes of Zabulon, and Nephthali, where our Lord began to preach, Matt. 4.13, etc.

67:28. There is Benjamin a youth, in ecstasy of mind. The princes of Juda are their leaders: the princes of Zabulon, the princes of Nephthali.

67:29. Command thy strength, O G.o.d confirm, O G.o.d, what thou hast wrought in us.

Command thy strength.. Give orders that thy strength may be always with us.

67:30. From thy temple in Jerusalem, kings shall offer presents to thee.

67:31. Rebuke the wild beasts of the reeds, the congregation of bulls with the kine of the people; who seek to exclude them who are tried with silver. Scatter thou the nations that delight in wars:

Rebuke the wild beasts of the reeds... or the wild beasts, which lie hid in the reeds. That is, the devils, who hide themselves in order to surprise their prey. Or by wild beasts, are here understood persecutors, who, for all their attempts against the Church, are but as weak reeds, which cannot prevail against them who are supported by the strength of the Almighty. The same are also called the congregation of bulls (from their rage against the Church) who a.s.semble together all their kine, that is, the people their subjects, to exclude if they can, from Christ and his inheritance, his constant confessors, who are like silver tried by fire.

67:32. Amba.s.sadors shall come out of Egypt: Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands to G.o.d.

Amba.s.sadors shall come, etc... It is a prophecy of the conversion of the Gentiles, and by name of the Egyptians and Ethiopians.

67:33. Sing to G.o.d, ye kingdoms of the earth: sing ye to the Lord: Sing ye to G.o.d,

67:34. Who mounteth above the heaven of heavens, to the east. Behold he will give to his voice the voice of power:

To the east... From mount Olivet, which is on the east side of Jerusalem.-Ibid. The voice of power... That is, he will make his voice to be a powerful voice: by calling from death to life, such as were dead in mortal sin: as at the last day he will by the power of his voice call all the dead from their graves.

67:35. Give ye glory to G.o.d for Israel, his magnificence, and his power is in the clouds.

67:36. G.o.d is wonderful in his saints: the G.o.d of Israel is he who will give power and strength to his people. Blessed be G.o.d.

Psalms Chapter 68

Salvum me fac, Deus.

Christ in his pa.s.sion declareth the greatness of his sufferings, and the malice of his persecutors the Jews; and foretelleth their reprobation.

68:1. Unto the end, for them that shall be changed; for David.

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