{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/108/1080177.htm","path":"chr/ecf/108/1080177.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/108/1080177.htm","text":"Psalm CXLIV. 5838\n1. The title of this Psalm is brief in number of words, but heavy in the weight of its mysteries. \u201cTo David himself against Goliath.\u201d This battle was fought in the time of our fathers, and ye, beloved, remember it with me from Holy Scripture.\u2026David put five stones in his scrip, he hurled but one. The five Books were chosen, but unity conquered. Then, having smitten and overthrown him, he took the enemy\u2019s sword, and with it cut off his head. This our David also did, He overthrew the devil with his own weapons: and when his great ones, whom he had in his power, by means of whom he slew other souls, believe, they turn their tongues against the devil, and so Goliath\u2019s head is cut off with his own sword.\n2. \u201cBlessed be the Lord my God, who teacheth my hands for battle, my fingers for war\u201d (Psa. 144.1). These are our words, if we be the Body of Christ. It seems a repetition of sentiment; \u201cour hands for battle,\u201d and \u201cour fingers for war,\u201d are the same. Or is there some difference between \u201chands\u201d and \u201cfingers\u201d? Certainly both hands and fingers work. Not then without reason do we take \u201cfingers\u201d as put for \u201chands.\u201d But still in the \u201cfingers\u201d we recognise the division of operation, yet still a sort of unity. Behold that grace! the Apostle saith, 5839 To one, this; to another, that; \u201cthere are diversities of operations; all these worketh one and the self-same Spirit;\u201d there is the root of unity. With these \u201cfingers\u201d then the Body of Christ fighteth, going forth to \u201cwar,\u201d going forth to \u201cbattle.\u201d\u2026By works of Mercy our enemy is conquered, and we could not have works of mercy unless we had charity, and charity we could have none unless we received it by the Holy Ghost; He then \u201cteacheth our hands for battle, and our fingers for war:\u201d to Him rightfully do we say, \u201cMy Mercy,\u201d from whom we have also that we are merciful: \u201cfor he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy.\u201d 5840\n3. My Mercy and my Refuge, my Upholder and my Deliverer\u201d (Psa. 144.2). Much toileth this combatant, having his flesh lusting against his spirit. Keep what thou hast. Then shalt thou have in full what thou wishest, when \u201cdeath shall have been swallowed up in victory;\u201d 5841 when this mortal body has been raised, and is changed into the condition of the angels, and rises aloft to a heavenly quality.\u2026There is life, there are good days, where nought lusteth against the spirit, where it is not said, \u201cFight,\u201d but \u201cRejoice.\u201d But who is he that lusteth for these days? Every man certainly saith, \u201cI do.\u201d Hear what followeth. I see that thou art toiling, I see that thou art engaged in battle, and in danger; hear what followeth:\u2026\u201cDepart from evil, and do good:\u201d let not the poor first weep under thee, that the poor may rejoice p. 655 through thee. For what reward, since now thou art fighting? \u201cSeek peace, and ensue it.\u201d Learn and say, \u201cMy Mercy and my Refuge, mine Upholder and my Deliverer, my Protector:\u201d \u201cmine Upholder,\u201d lest I fall; \u201cmy Deliverer,\u201d lest I stick; \u201cmy Protector,\u201d lest I be stricken. In all these things, in all my toil, in all my battles, in all my difficulties, in Him have I hoped, \u201cwho subdueth my people under me.\u201d Behold, our Head speaketh together with us.\n4. \u201cLord, what is man, that Thou hast become known unto him?\u201d (Psa. 144.3). All is included in \u201cthat Thou hast become known unto him.\u201d \u201cOr the son of man, that Thou valuest him?\u201d Thou valuest him, that is, Thou makest him of such importance, Thou countest him of such price, Thou knowest under what Thou placest him, over what Thou placest him. For valuing is considering the price of a thing. How greatly did He value man, who for him shed the blood of His only-begotten Son! For God valueth not man in the same way as one man valueth another: he, when he findeth a slave for sale, giveth a higher price for a horse than for a man. Consider how greatly He valued thee, that thou mayest be able to say, \u201cIf God be for us, who can be against us?\u201d And how greatly did He value thee, \u201cwho spared not His own Son\u201d? \u201cHow shall He not also with Him freely give us all things?\u201d 5842 He who giveth this food to the combatant, what keepeth He in store for the conqueror?\u2026\n5. \u201cMan is made like unto vanity: his days pass away like a shadow\u201d (Psa. 144.4). What vanity? Time, which passeth on, and floweth by. For this \u201cvanity\u201d is said in comparison of the Truth, which ever abideth, and never faileth: for it too is a work of His Hand, in its degree. \u201cFor,\u201d as it is written, \u201cGod filled the earth with His good things.\u201d 5843 What is \u201cHis\u201d? That accord with Him. But all these things, being earthly, fleeting, transitory, if they be compared to that Truth, where it is said, \u201cI Am That I Am,\u201d 5844 all this which passeth away is called \u201cvanity.\u201d For through time it vanisheth, like stroke into the air. And why should I say more than that which the Apostle James said, willing to bring down proud men to humility, \u201cWhat is,\u201d saith he, \u201cyour life? It is even a vapour, which appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.\u201d 5845 \u2026Work then, though it be in the night, with thine hands, that is, by good works seek God, before the day come which shall gladden thee, lest the day come which shall sadden thee. For see how safely thou workest, who art not left by Him whom thou seekest; \u201cthat thy Father which seeth in secret may reward thee openly.\u201d 5846 \u2026\n6. \u201cLord, bow Thy heavens, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke\u201d (Psa. 144.5). \u201cFlash Thy lightning, and Thou shalt scatter them; send forth Thine arrows, and Thou shalt confound them\u201d (Psa. 144.6). \u201cSend forth Thy Hand from above, and deliver me, and draw me out of many waters\u201d (Psa. 144.7). The Body of Christ, the humble David, full of grace, relying on God, fighting in this world, calleth for the help of God. What are \u201cheavens bowed down\u201d? Apostles humbled. For those \u201cheavens declare the glory of God;\u201d and of these heavens declaring the glory of God it is presently said, \u201cThere is neither speech nor language, but their voices are heard among them,\u201d etc. 5847 When then these heavens sent forth their voices through all lands, and did wonderful things, while the Lord flashed and thundered from them by miracles and commandments, the gods were thought to have come down from heaven to men. For certain of the Gentiles, thinking this, desired even to sacrifice to them.\u2026But they commended to these the Lord Jesus Christ, humbling themselves, that God might be praised; because \u201cthe heavens\u201d were \u201cbowed,\u201d that \u201cGod\u201d might \u201ccome down.\u201d\u2026\u201cTouch the mountains, and they shall smoke.\u201d So long as they are not touched, they seem to themselves great: they are now about to say, \u201cGreat art Thou, O Lord:\u201d 5848 the mountains also are about to say, \u201cThou only art the Most Highest over all the earth.\u201d 5849\n7. But there are some that conspire, that \u201cgather themselves together against the Lord, and against His Christ.\u201d 5850 They have come together, they have conspired. \u201cFlash forth Thy lightnings, and Thou shalt scatter them.\u201d Abound with Thy miracles, and their conspiracy shall be broken.\u2026\u201cSend forth Thine arrows, and Thou shalt confound them.\u201d Let the unsound be wounded, that, being well wounded, they may be made sound; and let them say, being set now in the Church, in the Body of Christ, let them say with the Church, \u201cI am wounded with Love.\u201d 5851 \u201cSend forth Thine Hand from on high.\u201d What afterward? What in the end? How conquereth the Body of Christ? By heavenly aid. \u201cFor the Lord Himself shall come with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God shall He descend from heaven,\u201d 5852 Himself the Saviour of the body, the Hand of God. What is, \u201cOut of many waters\u201d? From many peoples. What peoples? Aliens, unbelievers, whether assailing us from without, or laying snares within. Take me out of many waters, in which Thou didst discipline me, in which Thou didst roll me, to free me from my filth. This is the \u201cwater of contradiction.\u201d 5853 \u2026\u201cFrom the hand of strange p. 656 children.\u201d Hear, brethren, among whom we are, among whom we live, from whom we long to be delivered. \u201cWhose mouth hath spoken vanity\u201d (Psa. 144.8). All of you to-day, if ye had not gathered yourselves together to these divine shows 5854 of the word of God, and were not at this hour engaged in them, how great vanities would ye be hearing! \u201cwhose mouth hath spoken vanity:\u201d when, in short, would they, speaking vanity, hear you speaking vanity? \u201cAnd their right hand is a right hand of iniquity.\u201d What doest thou among them with thy pastoral scrip with five stones in it? Say it to me in another form: that same law which thou hast signified by five stones, signify in some other way also. \u201cI will sing a new song unto Thee, O God\u201d (Psa. 144.9). \u201cA new song\u201d is of grace; \u201ca new song\u201d is of the new man; \u201ca new song\u201d is of the New Testament. But lest thou shouldest think that grace departeth from the law, whereas rather by grace the law is fulfilled, \u201cupon a psaltery of ten strings will I sing unto Thee.\u201d Upon the law of ten commandments: therein may I sing to Thee; therein may I rejoice to Thee; therein may \u201cI sing to Thee a new song;\u201d for, \u201cLove is the fulfilling of the law.\u201d 5855 But they who have not love may carry the psaltery, sing they cannot. Contradiction cannot make my psaltery to be silent.\n8. \u201cWho giveth salvation to kings, who redeemeth David His servant\u201d (Psa. 144.10). Ye know who David is; be yourselves David. Whence \u201credeemeth He David His servant\u201d? Whence redeemeth He Christ? Whence redeemeth He the Body of Christ? \u201cFrom the sword of ill intent deliver me.\u201d \u201cFrom the sword\u201d is not sufficient; he addeth, \u201cof ill intent.\u201d Without doubt there is a sword of good intent. What is the sword of good intent? That whereof the Lord saith, \u201cI came not to send peace on earth, but a sword.\u201d 5856 For He was about to separate believers from unbelievers, sons from parents, and to sever all other ties, while the sword cut off what was diseased, but healed the members of Christ. Of good intent then is the sword twice sharpened, powerful with both edges, the Old and New Testaments, with the narration of the past and the promise of the future. That then is the sword of good intent: but the other is of ill intent, wherewith they talk vanity, for that is of good intent, wherewith God speaketh verity. For truly \u201cthe sons of men have teeth which are spears and arrows, and their tongue is a sharp sword.\u201d 5857 \u201cFrom\u201d this \u201csword deliver me\u201d (Psa. 144.11). \u201cAnd take me out of the hand of strange children, whose mouth hath spoken vanity:\u201d just as before. And that which followeth, \u201ctheir right hand is a right hand of iniquity,\u201d the same he had set down before also, when he called them \u201cmany waters.\u201d For lest thou shouldest think that the \u201cmany waters\u201d were good waters, he explained them by the \u201csword of ill intent.\u201d\n9. \u201cWhose sons are like young vines firmly planted in their youth\u201d (Psa. 144.12). He wisheth to recount their happiness. Observe, ye sons of light, sons of peace: observe, ye sons of the Church, members of Christ; observe whom he calleth \u201cstrangers,\u201d whom he calleth \u201cstrange children,\u201d whom he calleth \u201cwaters of contradiction,\u201d whom he calleth a \u201csword of ill intent.\u201d Observe, I beseech you, for among them ye are in peril, among their tongues ye fight against the desires of your flesh, among their tongues, set in the hand of the devil wherewith he fighteth. 5858 \u2026What vanity hath their mouth spoken, and how is their right hand a right hand of iniquity? \u201cTheir daughters are fitted and adorned after the similitude of a temple.\u201d \u201cTheir garners are full, bursting out from one store to another: their sheep are fruitful, multiplying in their streets\u201d (Psa. 144.13): \u201ctheir oxen are fat: their hedge is not broken down, nor their road, nor is their crying in their streets\u201d (Psa. 144.14). Is not this then happiness? I ask the sons of the kingdom of heaven, I ask the offspring of everlasting resurrection, I ask the body of Christ, the members of Christ, the temple of God. Is not this then happiness, to have sons safe, daughters beautiful, garners full, cattle abundant, no downfall, I say not of a wall, but not even of a hedge, no tumult and clamour in the streets, but quiet, peace, abundance, plenty of all things in their houses and in their cities? Is not this then happiness? or ought the righteous to shun it? or findest thou not the house of the righteous too abounding with all these things, full of this happiness? Did not Abraham\u2019s house abound with gold, silver, children, servants, cattle? What say we? is not this happiness? Be it so, still it is on the left hand. What is, on the left hand? Temporal, mortal, bodily. I desire not that thou shun it, but that thou think it not to be on the right hand.\u2026For what ought they to have set on the right hand? God, eternity, the years of God which fail not, whereof is said, \u201cand Thy years shall not fail.\u201d 5859 There should be the right hand, there should be our longing. Let us use the left for the time, let us long for the fight for eternity. \u201cIf riches increase, set not your heart upon them.\u201d 5860 \u2026\n10. \u201cThey have called the people blessed who have these things\u201d (Psa. 144.15). O men that speak vanity! They have lost the true right hand, wicked and perverse, they have put on the benefits of God inversely. O wicked ones, O speakers of vanity, O strange children! p. 657 What was on the left hand, they have set on the right. What dost thou, David? What dost thou, Body of Christ? What do ye, members of Christ? What do ye, not strange children, but children of God?\u2026What say ye? Say ye with us, \u201cBlessed is the people whose Lord is their God.\u201d\nLat. CXLIII. Sermon to the people.\n654:5839\n1 Cor. xii. 8, etc.\n654:5840 654:5841 655:5842 655:5843 655:5844 655:5845 655:5846 655:5847 655:5848 655:5849 655:5850 655:5851\nSong of Sol. 2.5, LXX.\n655:5852 655:5853 656:5854 656:5855 656:5856 656:5857 656:5858 656:5859 656:5860","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. VIII: Expositions on...","type":"page"}