{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/108/1080071.htm","path":"chr/ecf/108/1080071.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/108/1080071.htm","text":"Psalm LX. 2281\n1. David the king was one man, but not one man he figured; sometimes to wit he figured the Church of many men consisting, extended even unto the ends of the earth: but sometimes One Man he figured, Him he figured that is Mediator of God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. 2282 In this Psalm therefore, or rather in this Psalm\u2019s title, certain victorious actions of David are spoken of:\u2026\u201cTo the end, in behalf of those men that shall be changed unto the title\u2019s inscription, unto teaching for David himself, when he burned up Mesopotamia in Syria, and Syria Sobal, and turned Joab, and smote Edom, in the valley of salt-pits twelve thousand.\u201d We read of these things in the books of the Reigns, 2283 that all those persons whom he hath named, were defeated by David, that is, Mesopotamia in Syria, and Syria Sobal, Joab, 2284 Edom. These things were done, and just as they were done, so there they have been written, so they are read: let him read that will. Nevertheless, as the Prophetic Spirit in the Psalms\u2019 titles is wont to depart somewhat from the expression of things done, and to say something which in history is not found, and hence rather to admonish us that titles of this kind have been written not that we may know things done, but that things future may be prefigured.\u2026But here this thing is inserted for this especial reason, that there it is not written 2285 that he burned up Mesopotamia in Syria, and Syria Sobal. But now let us begin to examine these things after the significations of things future, and to bring out the dimness of shadows into the light of the word.\n2. What is \u201cto the end\u201d ye know. For \u201cthe end of the law is Christ.\u201d 2286 Those that are changed ye know. For who but they that do pass from old life into new?\u2026\u201cFor ye were sometime darkness, but now light in the Lord.\u201d 2287 But they are changed \u201cinto the title\u2019s inscription,\u201d\u2026who into the kingdom of Christ do pass over from the kingdom of the devil. It is well that they are changed unto this title\u2019s inscription. But they are changed, as followeth, \u201cunto teaching.\u201d He added, \u201cfor David himself unto teaching:\u201d that is, are changed not for themselves, but for David himself, and are changed unto teaching.\u2026When therefore would Christ have changed us, unless He had done that which He spake of, \u201cFire I have come to send into the world\u201d? 2288 If therefore Christ came to send into the world fire, to wit to its health and profit, we must inquire not how He is to send the world into fire, but how into the world fire. Inasmuch as therefore He came to send fire into the world, let us inquire what is Mesopotamia which was burned up, what is Syria Sobal? The interpretations therefore of the names let us examine according to the Hebrew language, wherein first this Scripture was written. Mesopotamia 2289 they say is interpreted, \u201cexalted calling.\u201d Now the whole world by calling hath been exalted, Syria 2290 is interpreted \u201clofty.\u201d But she which was lofty, burned up hath been and humbled. Sobal is interpreted \u201cempty antiquity.\u201d Thanks to Christ that hath burned her. Whenever old bushes are burned up, green places succeed; and more speedily and more plentifully, and more fully green, fresh ones spring out, when fire hath gone before them to the burning up of the old. Let not therefore the fire of Christ be feared, hay it consumeth. \u201cFor all flesh is hay, and all the glory of man as flower of hay.\u201d 2291 He burneth up therefore those things with that fire. \u201cAnd turned Joab.\u201d Joab is interpreted enemy. There was turned an enemy, as thou wilt understand it. If turned unto flight, the devil it is: if converted to the faith, a Christian it is. How unto flight? From the heart of a Christian: \u201cThe Prince of this world,\u201d He saith, \u201cnow hath been cast out.\u201d 2292 But how can a Christian turned to the Lord be an enemy turned? Because he hath become a believer that had been an enemy. \u201cSmote Edom.\u201d Edom is interpreted \u201cearthly.\u201d That earthly one ought p. 245 to be smitten. For why should one live earthly, that ought to live heavenly? There hath been slain therefore life earthly, let there live life heavenly. \u201cFor as we have borne the image of the earthly, let us bear also the image of Him that is from Heaven.\u201d 2293 See it slain: \u201cMortify your members which are upon earth.\u201d 2294 But when he had smitten Edom, he smote \u201ctwelve thousand in the valley of salt-pits.\u201d Twelve thousand is a perfect number, to which perfect number also the number of the twelve Apostles is ascribed: for not to no purpose is it, but because through the whole world was to be sent the Word. But the Word 2295 of God, which is Christ, is in clouds, that is, in the preachers of truth. But the world of four parts doth consist. The four parts thereof are exceeding well known to all, and often in the Scriptures they are mentioned: they are the same as the name of the four winds, East, West, North, and South. To all these four parts was sent the Word, so that in the Trinity all might be called. The number twelve four times three do make. With reason therefore twelve thousand 2296 earthly things were smitten, the whole world was smitten: for from the whole world was chosen out the Church, mortified from earthly life. Why \u201cin the valley of salt-pits\u201d? A valley is humility: salt-pits signify savour. For many men are humbled, but emptily and foolishly, in empty oldness they are humbled. One suffereth tribulation for money, suffereth tribulation for temporal honour, suffereth tribulation for the comforts of this life; he is to suffer tribulation and to be humbled: why not for the sake of God? why not for the sake of Christ? why not for the savour of salt? Knowest thou not that to thee hath been said, \u201cYe are the salt of earth,\u201d and, \u201cIf the salt shall have been spoiled, for no other thing will it be of use, but to be cast out\u201d? 2297 A good thing it is therefore wisely to be humbled. Behold now are not heretics being humbled? Have not laws been made even by men to condemn them, against whom divine laws do reign, which even before had condemned them? Behold they are humbled, behold they are put to flight, behold persecution they suffer, but without savour; for folly, for emptiness. For now the salt hath been spoiled: therefore it hath been cast out, to be trodden down of men. We have heard the title of the Psalm, let us hear also the words of the Psalm.\n3. \u201cGod, Thou hast driven us back, and hast destroyed us\u201d (Psa. 60.1). Is that David speaking that smote, that burned up, that defeated, and not they to whom He did these things, that is to say, their being smitten and driven back, that were evil men, and again their being made alive and returning in order that they might be good men? That destruction indeed that David made, strong of hand, our Christ, whose figure that man was bearing; He did those things, He made this destruction with His sword and with His fire: for both He brought into this world. Both \u201cFire I am come to send into the world,\u201d 2298 thou hast in the Gospel: and \u201cA sword I have come to send into the earth,\u201d 2299 thou hast in the Gospel. He brought in fire, whereby might be burned up Mesopotamia in Syria, and Syria Sobal: He brought in a sword whereby might be smitten Edom. Now again this destruction was made for the sake of \u201cthose that are changed unto the title\u2019s inscription.\u201d Hear we therefore the voice of them: to their health smitten they were, being raised up let them speak. Let them say, therefore, that are changed into something better, changed unto the title\u2019s inscription, changed unto teaching for David himself; let them say, \u201cThou hast had mercy upon us.\u201d Thou hast destroyed us, in order that Thou mightest build us; Thou hast destroyed us that were ill builded, hast destroyed empty oldness; in order that there may be a building unto a new man, building to abide for everlasting.\u2026\n4. \u201cThou hast moved the earth, and hast troubled it\u201d (Psa. 60.2). How hath the earth been troubled? In the conscience of sinners. Whither go we? Whither flee we, when this sword hath been brandished, \u201cRepent, for near hath drawn the kingdom of Heaven\u201d? 2300 \u201cHeal the crushings 2301 thereof, for moved it hath been.\u201d Unworthy it is to be healed, if moved it hath not been: but thou speakest, preachest, threatenest us with God, of coming judgment holdest not thy peace, of the commandment of God thou warnest, from these things thou abstainest not; and he that heareth, if he feareth not, if he is not moved, is not worthy to be healed. Another heareth, is moved, is stung, smiteth the breast, sheddeth tears.\u2026\n5. The first labour is, that thou shouldest be displeasing to thyself, that sins thou shouldest battle out, that thou shouldest be changed into something better: the second labour, in return for thy having been changed, is to bear the tribulations and temptations of this world, and amid them to hold on even unto the end. Of these things therefore when he was speaking, while pointing out such things, he addeth what? \u201cThou hast shown to Thy people hard things\u201d (Psa. 60.3): to Thy people now, made tributary after the victory of David. \u201cThou hast shown to Thy people hard things.\u201d Wherein? In persecutions which the Church of Christ hath endured, when so much blood of martyrs was spilled. \u201cThou hast given us to drink of the p. 246 wine of goading.\u201d \u201cOf goading\u201d is what? Not of killing. For it was not a killing that destroyeth, but a medicine that smarteth. 2302 \u201cThou hast given us to drink of the wine of goading.\u201d\n6. Wherefore this? \u201cThou hast given to men fearing Thee, a sign that they should flee from the face of the bow\u201d (Psa. 60.4). Through tribulations temporal, he saith, Thou hast signified to Thine own to flee from the wrath of fire everlasting. For, saith the Apostle Peter, \u201cTime it is that Judgment begin with the House of God.\u201d 2303 And exhorting the Martyrs to endurance, when the world should rage, when slaughters should be made at the hands of persecutors, when far and wide blood of believers should be spilled, when in chains, in prisons, in tortures, many hard things Christians should suffer, in these hard things, I say, lest they should faint, Peter saith to them, \u201cTime it is that Judgment begin with the House of God,\u201d etc. 2304 What therefore is to be in the Judgment? The bow is bended, still in menacing posture it is, not yet in aiming. And see what there is in the bow: is there not an arrow to be shot forward? The string however is stretched back in a contrary direction to that in which it is going to be shot; and the more the stretching thereof hath gone backward, with the greater swiftness it starteth forward. What is it that I have said? The more the Judgment is deferred, with so much the greater swiftness it is to come. Therefore even for temporal tribulations to God let us render thanks, because He hath given to His people a sign, \u201cthat they should flee from the face of the bow:\u201d in order that His faithful ones having been exercised in tribulations temporal, may be worthy to avoid the condemnation of fire everlasting, which is to find out all them that do not believe these things.\n7. \u201cThat Thy beloved may be delivered: save me with Thy right hand, and hearken unto me\u201d (Psa. 60.5). With Thy right hand save me, Lord: so save me as that at the right hand I may stand. Not any safety temporal I require, in this matter Thy Will be done. For a time what is good for us we are utterly ignorant: for \u201cwhat we should pray for as we ought we know not:\u201d 2305 but \u201csave me with Thy right hand,\u201d so that even if in this time I suffer sundry tribulations, when the night of all tribulations hath been spent, on the right hand I may be found among the sheep, not on the left hand among the goats. 2306 \u201cAnd hearken unto me.\u201d Because now I am deserving that which Thou art willing to give; not \u201cwith the words of my transgressions\u201d I am crying through the day, so that Thou hearken not, and \u201cin the night so that Thou hearken not,\u201d 2307 and that not for folly to me,\u201d but truly for my warning, by adding savour from the valley of salt-pits, so that in tribulation I may know what to ask: but I ask life everlasting; therefore hearken unto me, because Thy right hand I ask.\u2026\n8. \u201cGod hath spoken in His Holy One\u201d (Psa. 60.6).\u2026In what Holy One of His? \u201cGod was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.\u201d 2308 In that Holy One, of whom elsewhere ye have heard, \u201cO God, in the Holy One is Thy way.\u201d 2309 \u201cI will rejoice and will divide Sichima.\u2026and the valley of tabernacles I will measure out.\u201d Sichima is interpreted shoulders. But according to history, Jacob returning from Laban his father-in-law with all his kindred, hid the idols in Sichima 2310 which he had from Syria, where for a long time he had dwelled, and at length was coming from thence. But tabernacles he made there because of his sheep and herds, and called the place Tabernacles. 2311 And these I will divide, saith the Church. What is this, \u201cI will divide Sichima\u201d? If to the story where the idols were hidden is the reference, the Gentiles it signifieth; I divide the Gentiles. I divide, is what? \u201cFor not in all men is there faith.\u201d 2312 I divide, is what? Some will believe, others will not believe.\u2026The shoulders are divided, in order that their sins may burthen some men, while others may take up the burden of Christ. For godly shoulders He was requiring when He said, \u201cFor My yoke is gentle, and My burden is light.\u201d 2313 Another burden oppresseth and loadeth thee, but Christ\u2019s burden relieveth thee: another burden hath weight, Christ\u2019s burden hath wings. For even if thou pull off the wings from a bird, thou dost remove a kind of weight; and the more weight thou hast taken away, the more on earth it will abide. She that thou hast chosen to disburden lieth there: she flieth not, because thou hast taken off a weight: let there be given back the weight, and she flieth. Such is Christ\u2019s burden; let men carry it, and not be idle: let them not be heeded that will not bear it; let them bear it that will, and they shall find how light it is, how sweet, how pleasant, how ravishing unto Heaven, and from earth how transporting.\u2026Perchance because of the sheep of Jacob, \u201cthe valley of Tabernacles\u201d is to be understood of the nation of the Jews, and the same is divided: for they have passed from thence that have believed, the rest have remained without.\n9. \u201cMine is Galaad\u201d (Psa. 60.7). These names are read in the Scriptures of God. Galaad hath the voice of an interpretation of its own and of a great Mystery: for it is interpreted \u201cthe heap of testimony.\u201d How great a heap of testimony in the Martyrs? \u201cMine is Galaad,\u201d mine is a heap of testimony, mine are the true Martyrs.p. 247 \u2026Then meanly esteemed was the Church among men, then reproach on Her a Widow was being thrown, because Christ\u2019s She was, because the sign of the Cross on her brow She was wearing: not yet was there honour, censure there was then: when therefore not honour, but censure there was, then was made a heap of witness; and through the heap of witness was the Love of Christ enlarged; and through the enlargement of the Love of Christ, were the Gentiles possessed. There followeth, \u201cAnd mine is Manasses;\u201d which is interpreted forgotten. For to Her had been said, \u201cConfusion for everlasting Thou shalt forget, and of the reproach of Thy widowhood Thou shalt not be mindful.\u201d 2314 There was therefore a confusion of the Church once, which now hath been forgotten: for of Her confusion and of the \u201creproach\u201d of Her widowhood now She is not mindful. For when there was a sort of confusion among men, a heap of witness was made. Now no longer doth any even remember that confusion, when it was a reproach to be a Christian, now no one remembereth, now all have forgotten, now \u201cMine is Manasses, and Ephraim the strength of My head.\u201d Ephraim is interpreted fruitfulness. Mine, he saith, is fruitfulness, and this fruitfulness is the strength of My Head. For My Head is Christ. And whence is fruitfulness the strength of Him? Because unless a grain were to fall into the earth, it would not be multiplied, alone it would remain. 2315 Fall then to earth did Christ in His Passion, and there followed fruit-bearing in the Resurrection. He was hanging and was being despised: the grain was within, it had powers to draw after it all things. How in a grain do numbers of seeds lie hid, something abject it appeareth to the eyes, but a power 2316 turning into itself matter and bringing forth fruit is hidden; so in Christ\u2019s Cross virtue 2317 was hidden, there appeared weakness. O mighty grain! Doubtless weak is He that hangeth, Doubtless before Him that people did wag the head, Doubtless they said, \u201cIf Son of God He is, let Him come down from the Cross.\u201d 2318 Hear the strength of Him: that which is a weak thing of God, is stronger than men. 2319 With reason so great fruitfulness hath followed: it is mine, saith the Church.\n10. \u201cJuda is my king: Moab the pot of my hope\u201d (Psa. 60.7). What Juda? He that is of the tribe of Juda. What Juda, but He to whom Jacob himself said, \u201cJuda, thy brethren shall praise thee\u201d? 2320 What therefore should I fear, when Juda my king saith, \u201cFear not them that kill the body\u201d? 2321 \u201cMoab the pot of my hope.\u201d Wherefore \u201cpot\u201d? Because tribulation. Wherefore \u201cof my hope\u201d? Because there hath gone before Juda my king.\u2026Moab is perceived in the Gentiles. For that nation was born of sin, 2322 that nation was born of the daughters of Lot, who lay with their father drunken, abusing a father. Better were it to have remained barren, than thus to have become mothers. But this was a kind of figure of them that abuse the law. For do not heed that law in the Latin language is of the feminine gender: in Greek of the masculine gender it is: but whether it be of the feminine gender in speaking, or of the masculine, the expression maketh no difference to the truth. For law hath rather a masculine force, because it ruleth, is not ruled. But moreover, the Apostle Paul saith what? \u201cGood is the law, if any one use it lawfully.\u201d 2323 But those daughters of Lot unlawfully used their father. But in the same manner as good works begin to grow when a man useth well the law: so arise evil works, when a man ill useth the law. Furthermore, they ill using their father, that is, ill using the law, engendered the Moabites, by whom are signified evil works. Thence the tribulation of the Church, thence the pot boiling up. Of this pot in a certain place of prophecy is said, \u201cA pot heated by the North wind.\u201d 2324 Whence but by the quarters of the devil, who hath said, \u201cI will set my seat at the North\u201d? 2325 The chiefest tribulations therefore arise against the Church from none except from those that ill use the law.\u2026\n11. \u201cInto Idum\u00e6a I will stretch out my shoe\u201d (Psa. 60.8). The Church speaketh, \u201cI will come through even unto Idum\u00e6a.\u201d Let tribulations rage, let the world boil with offences, even unto those very persons that lead an earthly life (for Idum\u00e6a is interpreted earthly), even unto those same, \u201ceven unto Idum\u00e6a, I will stretch out my shoe.\u201d Of what thing the shoe except of the Gospel? \u201cHow beautiful the feet of them that tell of peace, that tell of good things,\u201d 2326 and \u201cthe feet shod unto the preparation of the Gospel of peace.\u201d 2327 \u2026In these times we see, brethren, how many earthly men do perpetrate frauds for the sake of gain, for frauds perjuries; on account of their fears they consult fortune-tellers, astrologers: all these men are Edomites, earthly; and nevertheless all these men adore Christ, under His own shoe they are; now even unto Idum\u00e6a is stretched out His shoe. \u201cTo Me Allophyli have been made subject.\u201d Who are \u201cAllophyli\u201d? Men of other race, not belonging to My race. 2328 They \u201chave been made subject,\u201d because many men adore Christ, and are not to reign with Christ.\n12. \u201cWho will lead Me down into the city of standing round?\u201d (Psa. 60.9). What is the city p. 248 of standing round? If ye remember already, I have made mention thereof in another Psalm, 2329 wherein hath been said, \u201cAnd they shall go around the city.\u201d For the city of standing round is the compassing around of the Gentiles, which compassing around of the Gentiles in the middle thereof had the one nation of the Jews, worshipping one God: the rest of the compassing around of the Gentiles to idols made supplication, demons they did serve. And mystically it was called the city of standing round; because on all sides the Gentiles had poured themselves around, and had stood around that nation which did worship one God.\u2026\u201cWho will lead me down even unto Idum\u00e6a?\u201d\n13. \u201cWilt not Thou, O God, that hast driven us back? And wilt not Thou, O God, march forth in our powers?\u201d (Psa. 60.10). Wilt not Thou lead us down, that hast driven us back? But wherefore \u201chast driven us back\u201d? Because Thou hast destroyed us. 2330 Wherefore hast destroyed us? Because angry Thou hast been, and hast had pity on us. Thou therefore wilt lead down, that hast driven back; Thou, O God, that wilt not march forth in our powers, wilt lead down. What is, \u201cwilt not march forth in our powers\u201d? The world is to rage, the world is to tread us down, there is to be a heap of witnesses, builded of the spilled blood of martyrs, and the raging heathen are to say, \u201cWhere is the God of them?\u201d 2331 Then \u201cThou wilt not march forth in our powers:\u201d against them Thou wilt not show Thyself, Thou wilt not show Thy power, such as Thou hast shown in David, in Moses, in Joshua the son of Nun, when to their might the Gentiles yielded, and when the slaughter had been ended, and the great laying waste repaired, into the land which Thou promisedst Thou leddest in Thy people. This thing then Thou wilt not do, \u201cThou wilt not march forth in our powers,\u201d but within Thou wilt work. What is, \u201cwilt not march forth\u201d? Wilt not show Thyself. For indeed when in chains the Martyrs were being led along, when they were being shut up in prison, when they were being led forth to be mocked, when to the beasts they were exposed, 2332 when they were being smitten with the sword, when with fire they were being burned, were they not despised as though forsaken, as though without helper? In what manner was God working within? in what manner within was He comforting? in what manner to these men was He making sweet the hope of life everlasting? in what manner was He not forsaking the hearts of them, where the man was dwelling 2333 in silence, well if good, ill if evil? Was He then by any means forsaking, because He was not marching forth in the powers 2334 of them? By not marching forth in the powers of them, did He not the more lead down the Church even unto Idum\u00e6a, lead down the Church even unto the city of standing around? For if the Church chose to war and to use the sword, She would seem to be fighting for life present: but because she was despising life present, therefore there was made a heap of witness for the life that shall be.\n14. Thou therefore, O God, that wilt not march forth in our powers, \u201cGive to us aid from tribulation, and vain is the safety of man\u201d (Psa. 60.11). Go now they that salt have not, and desire safety temporal for their friends, which is empty oldness. \u201cGive to us aid:\u201d from thence whence Thou wast supposed to forsake, thence succour. \u201cIn God we will do valour, 2335 and Himself to nothing shall bring down our enemies\u201d (Psa. 60.12). We will not do valour with the sword, not with horses, not with breastplates, not with shields, not in the mightiness of an army, not abroad. But where? Within, where we are not seen. Where within? \u201cIn God we will do virtue:\u201d and as if abjects, and as if trodden down, men as if of no consideration we shall be, but \u201cHimself to nothing shall bring down our enemies.\u201d In a word, this thing hath been done to our enemies. Trodden down have been the Martyrs: by suffering, by enduring, by persevering even unto the end, in God they have done valour. Himself also hath done that which followeth: to nothing He hath brought down the enemies of them. Where are now the enemies of the Martyrs, except perchance that now drunken men with their cups do persecute those whom at that time frenzied men did use with stones to persecute?\nLat. LIX. Sermon preached to the people a little while after the exposition of the former Psalm.\n244:2282 244:2283\nVide 2 Sam. viii.\n244:2284\nHe seems to take \u201cJoab\u201d as in the accusative, as though it were not the name of David\u2019s officer, but of some conquered nation.\n244:2285 244:2286\n\u0395\u1f30\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f78 \u03c4\u2122\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2, LXX. Rom. x. 4.\n244:2287 244:2288 244:2289 244:2290 244:2291 244:2292 245:2293 245:2294 245:2295 245:2296\n[See p. 181, note 12, supra.\u2014C.]\n245:2297 245:2298 245:2299 245:2300 245:2301 246:2302 246:2303 246:2304\n1 Pet. iv. 18. He quotes the whole passage.\n246:2305 246:2306 246:2307 246:2308 246:2309 246:2310 246:2311 246:2312 246:2313 247:2314 247:2315 247:2316 247:2317 247:2318 247:2319 247:2320 247:2321 247:2322 247:2323 247:2324 247:2325 247:2326 247:2327 247:2328\n[See Ps. lvi. p. 219, supra.\u2014C.]\n248:2329\nVidePs. lix. 6, p. 240, supra.\n248:2330 248:2331 248:2332 248:2333 248:2334 248:2335","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. VIII: Expositions on...","type":"page"}