Psalms 43

Verse 1. Understanding. See Psalms 41. Menochius.—David or the Corites composed this piece, to comfort the just under persecution. Bert.—It may allude to the situation of the Jews at Babylon, ( Calmet.) or under Antiochus Epiphanes, (Ven. Bede) though Saint Paul, (Romans 8:36) applies verse 22 to the persecutions of the primitive Christians, which seems to shew, that the whole psalm refers to them, (Bert.) as the Fathers have explained it. Yet it may literally be understood of the Israelites ( Calmet.) also, ( Bible.) as well as the Christian martyrs, since all things happened to the Israelites in figure. Worthington.

Verse 2. Old, in calling Abraham, and rescuing the Hebrews for the Egyptian bondage, and so forth Worthington.—God formerly protected our Fathers; but how are things changed? Calmet.—Gideon uses nearly the same words. Judges 6. Menochius.

Verse 3. Plantedst them, thy people. See Jeremiah 2:21 and 12:10. Ezekiel 17:6.—Out, by means of insects, and so forth Wisd. 12:8. Joshua 24:12. Calmet.—The Hebrews were miraculously assisted, ( Worthington.) without any merit of their own, ( Calmet.) as all were wicked at first. Yet Abraham was freely chosen, that the visible Church might be preserved. Worthington.

Verse 5. Saving (salutes) the manifold instances of protection. Bible.