{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/108/1080118.htm","path":"chr/ecf/108/1080118.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/108/1080118.htm","text":"Psalm CVII. 4871\n1. This Psalm commendeth unto us the mercies of God, proved in ourselves, and is therefore the sweeter to the experienced. And it is a wonder if it can be pleasing to any one, except to him who has learned in his own case, what he hears in this Psalm. Yet was it written not for any one or two, but for the people of God, and set forth that it might know itself therein as in a mirror. Its title needeth not now to be treated, for it is Halleluia, and again Halleluia. Which we have a custom of singing at a certain time in our solemnities, after an old tradition of the Church: nor is it without a sacred meaning that we sing it on particular days. 4872 Halleluia we sing indeed on certain days, 4873 but every day we think it. For if in this word is signified the praise of God, though not in the mouth of the flesh, yet surely in the mouth of the heart. \u201cHis praise shall ever be in my mouth.\u201d 4874 But that the title hath Halleluia not once only but twice, is not peculiar to this Psalm, but the former also hath it so. And as far as appears from its text, that was sung of the people of Israel, but this is sung of the universal Church of God, spread through the whole world. Perchance, it not unfitly hath Halleluia twice, because we cry, Abba, Father. Since Abba is nothing else but Father, yet not without meaning the Apostle said, \u201cin whom we cry, Abba, Father;\u201d 4875 but because one wall indeed coming to the Corner Stone crieth Abba, but the other, from the other side crieth Father; viz., in that Corner Stone, p. 533 \u201cwho is our Peace, who hath made both one.\u201d\u2026\n2. \u201cConfess unto the Lord that He is sweet, because for aye in His mercy\u201d (Psa. 107.1). This confess ye that He is sweet: if ye have tasted, confess. But he cannot confess, who hath not chosen to taste, for whence shall he say that that is sweet, which he knoweth not. But ye if ye have tasted how sweet the Lord is, 4876 \u201cConfess ye to the Lord that He is sweet.\u201d If ye have tasted with eagerness, break forth 4877 with confession. \u201cFor aye is His mercy,\u201d that is, for ever. For here \u201cfor aye,\u201d is so put, since also in some other places of Scripture, for aye, that is, what in Greek is called \u03b5\u1f30\u03c2 \u03b1\u1f30\u1ff6\u03bd\u03b1, is understood for ever. For His mercy is not for a time, so as not to be for ever, since for this purpose His present mercy is over men, that they may live with the Angels for ever.\n3. \u201cLet them say who are redeemed of the Lord, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of their enemies\u201d (Psa. 107.2). Redeemed indeed it seems was also the people of Israel from the land of Egypt, from the hand of slavery, from fruitless labours, from miry works; yet let us see whether those who say these things, are they who were freed by the Lord from Egypt. It is not so. But who are they? \u201cThose whom He redeemed.\u201d Still one might take it also of them, as redeemed from the hand of their enemies, that is, of the Egyptians. Let them be expressed exactly who they are, for whom this Psalm would be sung. \u201cHe gathered them from the lands;\u201d these might still be the lands of Egypt, for there are many lands even in one province. Let him speak openly. \u201cFrom the east and the west, from the north and the sea\u201d (Psa. 107.3). Now then we understand these redeemed, in the whole circle of the earth. This people of God, freed from a great and broad Egypt, is led, as through the Red Sea, 4878 that in Baptism it may make an end of its enemies. For by the sacrament as it were of the Red Sea, that is by Baptism consecrated with the Blood of Christ, the pursuing Egyptians, the sins, are washed away.\u2026\u201cBut all these things happened to them in a figure, and were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come.\u201d 4879 \u2026\n4. \u201cThey wandered in the wilderness, in a dry place, they found not the way of a city to dwell in\u201d (Psa. 107.4). We have heard a wretched wandering; what of want? \u201cHungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them\u201d (Psa. 107.5). But wherefore did it faint? for what good? For God is not cruel, but He maketh Himself known, in that it is expedient for us, that He be entreated by us fainting, and that aiding us He be loved. And therefore after this wandering, and hunger, and thirst, \u201cAnd they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distress\u201d (Psa. 107.6). And what did He for them, as they were wandering? \u201cAnd He led them in the right way\u201d (Psa. 107.7). They found not the way of a city to dwell in, with hunger and thirst they were vexed and faint, \u201cand He led them into the right way, that they might go into a city to dwell in.\u201d How He helped their hunger and thirst, He saith not, but even this expect ye: \u201cLet them confess unto the Lord His mercies, and His wonders towards the children of men\u201d (Psa. 107.8). Tell them, ye that are experienced, to the inexperienced; ye that are already in the way, already directed towards finding the city, already at last free from hunger and thirst. \u201cBecause He hath satisfied the empty soul, and filled the hungry soul with good things\u201d (Psa. 107.9).\n5. \u201cThem that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, fast bound in beggary and iron\u201d (Psa. 107.10). Whence this, but that thou wast attributing things to thyself? that thou wast not owning the grace of God? that thou wast rejecting the counsel of God 4880 concerning thee? For see what He addeth: \u201cBecause they rebelled against the words of the Lord through pride\u201d (Psa. 107.11), not knowing the righteousness of God, and wishing to establish their own, 4881 \u201cand they were bitter against the counsel of the Most High.\u201d \u201cAnd their heart was brought low in labour\u201d (Psa. 107.12). And now fight against lust; if God cease to aid thou mayest strive, thou canst not conquer. And when thou shalt be pressed by thine evil, thy heart will be brought low in labour, so that now with humbled heart thou mayest learn to cry out, \u201cO wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?\u201d 4882 \u2026Freed, thou wilt confess the mercies of the Lord. \u201cAnd they cried unto the Lord when they were troubled, and He delivered them out of their distresses\u201d (Psa. 107.13). They were freed from the second temptation. There remains that of weariness and loathing. But first see what He did for them when freed. \u201cAnd He led them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bonds asunder\u201d (Psa. 107.14). \u201cLet them confess to the Lord His mercies, and His wonders to the children of men\u201d (Psa. 107.15). Wherefore? what difficulties hath He overcome? \u201cBecause He brake the gates of brass, and snapped the bars of iron\u201d (Psa. 107.16). \u201cHe took them up from the way of their iniquity, for because of their unrighteousnesses they were brought low\u201d (Psa. 107.17). Because they gave honour to themselves, not to God, because they were establishing their own p. 534 righteousness, not knowing the righteousness of God, 4883 they were brought low. They found that they were helpless without His aid, who were presuming on their own strength alone.\n6. \u201cTheir soul abhorred all manner of meat\u201d (Psa. 107.18). Now they suffer satiety. They are sick of satiety. They are in danger from satiety. Unless perchance thou thinkest they could be killed with famine, but cannot with satiety. See what followeth. When he had said, \u201cTheir soul abhorred all manner of meat,\u201d lest thou shouldest think them, as it were, safe of their fulness, and not rather see that they would die of satiety: \u201cAnd they came near,\u201d he saith, \u201ceven unto the gates of death.\u201d What then remaineth? That even when the word of God delighteth thee, thou account it not to thyself; nor for this be puffed up with any sort of arrogance, and having an appetite for food, proudly spurn at those who are in danger from satiety. \u201cAnd they cried out unto the Lord when they were in trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses\u201d (Psa. 107.19). And because it was a sickness not to be pleased, \u201cHe sent His Word, and healed them\u201d (Psa. 107.20). See what evil there is in satiety; see whence He delivers, to whom he crieth that loathes his food. \u201cHe sent His Word, and healed them, and snatched them,\u201d from whence? not from wandering, not from hunger, not from the difficulty of overcoming sins, but \u201cfrom their corruption.\u201d It is a sort of corruption of the mind to loathe what is sweet. Therefore also of this benefit, as of the others before, \u201cLet them confess to the Lord His mercies, and His wonders unto the sons of men\u201d (Psa. 107.21). \u201cAnd sacrifice the sacrifice of praise\u201d (Psa. 107.22). For now that He may be praised, the Lord is sweet, \u201cand let them tell out His works with gladness.\u201d Not with weariness, not with sadness, not with anxiety, not with loathing, but \u201cwith gladness.\u201d\n7. \u2026\u201cThey who go down on the sea in ships, doing their business on the mighty waters\u201d (Psa. 107.23); that is, amongst many peoples. For that waters are often put for peoples, the Apocalypse of John is witness, when on John\u2019s asking what those waters were, it was answered him, they are peoples. They then who do their business on mighty waters, \u201cthey have seen the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep\u201d (Psa. 107.24). For what is deeper than human hearts? hence often break forth winds; storms of sedition, and dissensions, disturb the ship. And what is done in them? God, willing that both they who steer, and they who are conveyed, should cry unto Him, \u201cHe spake, and the breath of the storm stood\u201d (Psa. 107.25). What is, stood? Abode, continued, still disturbeth, long tosseth; rageth, and passeth not away. \u201cFor He spake, and the breath of the storm stood.\u201d And what did that breath of the storm? \u201cThey go up even to the heavens,\u201d in daring; \u201cThey go down even into the deeps\u201d (Psa. 107.26), in fearing. \u201cTheir soul wasted in miseries.\u201d \u201cThey were disturbed, and moved like a drunken man\u201d (Psa. 107.27). They who sit at the helm, and they who faithfully love the ship, feel what I say. Certainly, when they speak, when they read, when they interpret, they appear wise. Woe for the storm! \u201cand all their wisdom,\u201d he saith, \u201cwas swallowed up.\u201d Sometimes all human counsels fail; whichever way one turns himself, the waves roar, the storm rageth, the arms are powerless: where the prow may strike, to what wave the side may be exposed, whither the stricken ship may be allowed to drift, from what rocks she must be kept back lest she be lost, is impossible for her pilots to see. And what is left but that which follows? \u201cAnd they cried out unto the Lord when they were troubled, and He delivered them from their distresses\u201d (Psa. 107.28). \u201cAnd He commanded the storm, and it stood unto clear air\u201d (Psa. 107.29), \u201cand the waves of it were still.\u201d Hear on this point the voice of a steersman, one that was in peril, was brought low, was freed. \u201cI would not,\u201d he saith, \u201chave you ignorant, brethren, of our distress, which befell us in Asia, that \u201cwe were pressed above strength, and above measure\u201d (I see all his \u201cwisdom swallowed up\u201d), \u201cso that we were weary,\u201d he saith, \u201ceven of life.\u201d 4884 \u2026\n\u201cAnd they were glad, because they were still, and He brought them into the haven of their desire\u201d (Psa. 107.30). \u201cLet His mercies confess unto the Lord, and His wonders towards the sons of men\u201d (Psa. 107.31). Everywhere, without exception, let not our merits, not our strength, not our wisdom, \u201cconfess unto the Lord,\u201d but, \u201cHis mercies.\u201d Let Him be loved in every deliverance of ours, who has been invoked in every distress.\n8. \u201cAnd let them exalt Him in the assembly of the people, and praise Him in the seat of the elders\u201d (Psa. 107.32). Let them exalt, let them praise, peoples and elders, merchants and pilots. For what hath He done in this assembly? What hath He established? Whence hath He rescued it? What hath He granted it? Even as He resisted the proud, and gave grace to the humble: 4885 the proud, that is, the first people of the Jews, arrogant, and extolling itself on its descent from Abraham, and because to that nation \u201cwere entrusted the oracles of God.\u201d 4886 These things did not avail them unto soundness, but unto pride of heart, rather to swelling than to greatness. What then did God, resisting the p. 535 proud, but giving grace to the humble; cutting off the natural branches for their pride; grafting in the wild olive for its humility?\n\u201cHe made the rivers a wilderness\u201d (Psa. 107.33). Waters did run there, prophecies were in course. Seek now a prophet among the Jews; thou findest none. For \u201cHe made the outgoings of waters to be thirst.\u201d Let them say, \u201cNow there is no prophet more, and He will not know us any more.\u201d 4887 \u201cA fruitful land to be saltpools\u201d (Psa. 107.34). Thou seekest there the faith of Christ, thou findest not: thou seekest a prophet, thou findest not: thou seekest a sacrifice, thou findest not: thou seekest a temple, thou findest none. Wherefore this? \u201cFrom the wickedness of them that dwell therein.\u201d Behold how He resisteth the proud: hear how He giveth grace to the humble. \u201cHe made the wilderness to be a standing water, and the dry ground to be outgoings of waters\u201d (Psa. 107.35). \u201cAnd He caused the hungry to dwell there\u201d (Psa. 107.36). Because to Him it was said, \u201cThou art a Priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedec.\u201d 4888 For thou seekest a sacrifice among the Jews; thou hast none after the order of Aaron. Thou seekest it after the order of Melchizedec; thou findest it not among them, but through the whole world it is celebrated in the Church. \u201cFrom the rising of the sun to the setting thereof the name of the Lord is praised.\u201d 4889 \u2026\u201cAnd they sowed fields, and planted vineyards, and gat fruit of corn\u201d (Psa. 107.37): at which that workman rejoiceth, who saith, \u201cNot because I desire a gift, but I seek fruit.\u201d 4890 \u201cAnd He blessed them, and they were multiplied exceedingly, and their cattle were not diminished\u201d (Psa. 107.38). This standeth. For \u201cthe foundation of God standeth sure; because the Lord knoweth them that are His.\u201d 4891 They are called \u201cbeasts of burden,\u201d and \u201ccattle,\u201d that walk simply in the Church, yet are useful; not much learned, but full of faith. Therefore, whether spiritual or carnal, \u201cHe blessed them.\u201d\n9. \u201cAnd they became few, and were vexed\u201d (Psa. 107.39). Whence this? From athwart? Nay, from within. For that they should \u201cbecome few,\u201d \u201cThey went out from us, but they were not of us.\u201d 4892 But therefore he speaketh as of these, of whom he spake before, that they may be discerned with understanding; because he speaketh as if of the same, because of the sacraments they have in common. For they belong to the people of God, though not by the virtue, yet surely by the appearance of piety: for concerning them we have heard the Apostle, \u201cIn the last times there shall come grievous times, for there shall be men lovers of themselves.\u201d 4893 The first evil is, \u201clovers of themselves;\u201d that is, as being pleased with themselves. Would that they were not pleasing to themselves, and were pleasing to God: would that they would cry out in their difficulties, and be freed from their distresses. But while they presumed greatly on themselves, \u201cthey were made few.\u201d It is manifest, brethren: all who separate themselves from unity become few. For they are many; but in unity, while they are not parted from unity. For when the multitude of unity hath begun no more to belong to them, in heresy and schism, they are few. \u201cAnd they were vexed, from distress of miseries and grief.\u201d \u201cContempt was poured on princes\u201d (Psa. 107.40). For they were rejected by the Church of God, and the more because they wished to be princes, therefore they were despised, and became salt that had lost its savour, cast out abroad, so that it is trodden under foot of men. 4894 \u201cAnd He led them astray in the pathless place, and not in a way.\u201d Those above in the way, those directed to a city, and finally led thither, not led astray; but these, where there was no way, led astray. What is, \u201cLed them astray\u201d? God \u201cgave them up to their own hearts\u2019 lusts.\u201d 4895 For \u201cled astray\u201d means this, gave them up to themselves. For if thou enquire closely, it is they that lead themselves astray.\u2026\u201cAnd He helped the poor out of beggary\u201d (Psa. 107.41). What meaneth this, brethren? Princes are despised, and the poor helped. The proud are cast aside, and the humble provided for.\u2026\u201cAnd made him households like sheep.\u201d Thou understandest one poor man and one beggar of him concerning whom he said, \u201cHe hath helped the poor out of misery:\u201d this poor man is now many households, this poor man is many nations; many Churches are one Church, one nation, one household, one sheep. These are great mysteries, great types, how profound, how full of hidden meanings; how sweetly discovered, since long hidden. Therefore, \u201cthe righteous will consider this, and rejoice: and the mouth of all wickedness shall be stopped\u201d (Psa. 107.42). That wickedness that doth prate against unity, and compelleth truth to be made manifest, shall be convicted, and have its mouth stopped.\n10. \u201cWho is wise? and he will consider these things; and will understand the mercies of the Lord\u201d (Psa. 107.43).\u2026Not his own deservings, not his own strength, not his own power; but \u201cthe mercies of the Lord;\u201d who, when he was wandering and in want, led him back to the path, and fed him; who, when he was struggling against the difficulties of his sins, and bound down with the fetters of habit, released and freed him; who, when he loathed the Word of God, p. 536 and was almost dying with a kind of weariness, restored him by sending him the medicine of His Word; who, when he was endangered among the risks of shipwreck and storm, stilled the sea, and brought him into port; who, finally, placed him in that people, where He giveth grace to the humble; not in that where he resisteth the proud; and hath made him His own, that remaining within he may be multiplied, not that going out he may be minished. The righteous see this, and rejoice. \u201cThe mouth,\u201d therefore, \u201cof all wickedness shall be stopped.\u201d\n[It was not used in Lent, and was a feature of the Easter solemnities. See Ps. cxi. infra.\u2014C.]\n532:4873\nSee on Ps. cxi.\n532:4874 532:4875 533:4876 533:4877 533:4878 533:4879 533:4880 533:4881 533:4882 534:4883 534:4884 534:4885 534:4886 535:4887 535:4888 535:4889 535:4890 535:4891 535:4892 535:4893 535:4894 535:4895","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. VIII: Expositions on...","type":"page"}