Expositions on the Book of Psalms (continued)
Psatm XLIII.] ON THE PSALMS. 139
4. But in order that she may do this, hear what she says, what she supplicates, what she prays for. Pray thou for what thou hearest ; pray for it when thou hearest it ; let these words be the voice of us all: "O send out Thy Light and Thy Truth. They have led me, and brought me on unto Thy holy hill, and into Thy Tabernacles"' (ver. 3). For that very '' Light" and "Truth" are indeed two in name; the reality expressed is but One. For what else is the "Light" of God, except the "Truth" of God? Or what else is the " Truth" of God, except the "Light" of God? And the one Person of Christ is both of these. "Iam the Light of the world: he that believeth on Me, shall not walk in darkness." 'Iam the Way, the Truth, and the Life." * He is Himself "the Light :"" He is Himself "the Truth." Let Him come then and rescue us, and "separate at once our cause from the ungodly nation; let Him deliver us from the deceitful and unjust man," let him separate the wheat from the tares, for at the time of harvest He will Himself send His Angels, that they may "gather out of His kingdom all things that offend,'"'? and cast them into flaming fire, while they gather together the corn into the garner. He will send out His " Light," and His "Truth ;" for that they have already " brought us and led us to His holy hill, and into His Tabernacles." We possess the "earnest ;'' 3 we hope for the prize. "His holy Hill" is His holy Church. It is that mountain which, according to Daniel's vision,4 grew from a very small "stone," till it crushed the kingdoms of the earth ; and grew to such a size, that it " filled the face of the earth." This is the "hill," from which he tells us that his prayer was heard, who says, "I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and He heard me out of His holy hill." 5 Let no one of those that are without that mountain, hope to be heard unto eternal life. For many are heard in their prayers for many things. Let them not congratulate themselves® on being heard; the devils were heard in their prayer, that they might be sent into the swine. Let us desire to be heard unto eternal life, by reason of our longing, through which we say, "Send out Thy Light and Thy Truth."7 'That is a "Light" which requires the eye of the heart. For " Blessed " (He saith) 'are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." ® We are now on His Hill, that is, in His Church, and in His Tabernacle. The "tabernacle" is for persons sojourning ; the house, for those dwelling in one community.' The tabernacle is also for those who are both from home, and also in a state of warfare. When thou hearest of a tabernacle, forma notion of a war; guard against an enemy. But what shall the house be? "Blessed are they that dwell in Thine house : they will be alway praising Thee." '°
5. Now then that we have been led on even to "the Tabernacle," and are placed on " His holy Hill," what hope do we carry with us?
"Then will I go in unto the Altar of God" (ver. 4). For there is a certain invisible Altar on high, which the unrighteous man approaches not. To that Altar he alone draws nigh, who draws nigh to this one without cause to fear. There he shall find his Life, who in this one "separates his cause." 'And I will go in unto the Altar of God." From His holy Hill, and from His Tabernacle, from His Holy Church, I will go in unto the Altar of God on High. What manner of Sacrifice is there? He himself who goeth in is taken for a burnt-offering. "TI will go in unto the Altar of God."" What is the meaning of what he says, "The Altar of my God"?
"Unto God, who makes glad my youth." Youth signifies newness : just as if he said, "' Unto God, who makes glad my newness." It is He who makes glad my newness, who hath filled my old estate '' with mourning. For now "I go mourning " in oldness, then shall "I stand," exulting in newness !
"Yea, upon the harp will I praise Thee, O God my God." What is the meaning of " praising on the harp," and praising on the psaltery? For he does not always do so with the harp, nor always with the psaltery. These two instruments of the musicians have each a distinct meaning of their own, worthy of our consideration and notice. They are both borne in the hands, and played by the touch; and they stand for certain bodily works of ours. Both are good, if one knows how to play the psaltery,'? or to play the harp.'3 But since the psaltery is that instrument which has the shell" (i.e. that drum, that hollow piece of wood, by straining on which's the chords resound) on the upper part of it, whereas the harp has that same concave sounding-board on the lower part, there is to be a distinction made between our works, when they are " upon the harp," when "on the psaltery: "" both however are acceptable to God, and grateful to His ear. When we do anything according to God's Commandments, obeying His commands and hearkening to Him, that we may fulfil His injunctions, when we are active and not passive, it is the psaltery that is playing. For so also do the Angels: for they have nothing to suffer. But when we suffer anything of tribulation, of trials, of offences on this earth (as we suffer only from the inferior part of ourselves ; i.e. from the fact that we are mortal, that we owe somewhat of tribulation to our
2 Matt. xiii. 41. 5 Ps. iii. 4. 8 Matt. v. 8
I John viii. 12, xiv. 6. 3 Pigrus. 4 Dan. ii. 6 Sibi plaudant. 7 Matt. viil. 31, 32. 9 Cohabitantium,
12 Psallere. IS Cui tnuzttentes, Il Vetustatem. 4 Testudinem. 10 Ps. Ixxxiv. 4. 13 Citharizare.