Psalms 67

Verse 1. Himself. This is the most difficult of all the psalms, ( Calmet.) crux ingeniorum. Muis.—The prodigies wrought by God in favour of his people, when they came out of Egypt, and conquered the land of Chanaan, are described by David in this triumphal canticle, which was sung when the ark was removed. Houbig.—He had also in view the greater prodigies, which should attend Jesus Christ, and the propagation of the gospel. The latter explanation is also literal, (Bert.) and is given by the Fathers, ( Calmet.) on the authority of Saint Paul, verse 19. Ephes. 4:8. Bible.

Verse 2. Arise. These words were used when the Israelites decamped, (Numbers 10:35. Calmet.) and in the exorcisms to expel devils, who are here styled enemies. Saint Athanasius—The Jews were confounded when Christ arose again. Saint Augustine—The psalmist foretells the ruin of God’s enemies, in the form of a prayer. Worthington.

Verse 4. Feast. This was done when the ark was removed. 1 Chronicles 15 and 16:3. Calmet.—But believers may now receive God himself. Saint Ambrose Psalms 39. Bert.

Verse 5. Who ascendeth upon the west. Super occasum. Saint Gregory understands it of Christ, who after his going down, like the sun, in the west, by the passion and death, ascended more glorious, and carried all before him. S. Jerom renders it, who ascendeth, or cometh up, through the deserts; ( Challoner.) which some explain of the coming out of Egypt, others of the progress of the gospel, in a western direction. Menochius.—Baharaboth, means also, “in the remotest heavens,” (Mont. Bible.) or, “in delights,” or “darkness,” and all these senses may have been in the prophet’s mind, as they are all beautiful. Bert.—Resist not God’s inspirations. He triumphs over death, and is Lord of all. Worthington.—Lord. Hebrew “in Yah is his name.” Bible.—The Word was with God. John 1.—But … presence. These words seem to have been in the copy of the Septuagint and shew the contrast between the just and their oppressors, at the presence of the ark, and of the Messias, (Bert.) before whom the latter must tremble.

Verse 6. The Father, (patris.) Hebrew pater, “the Father … God.” He delights in these titles, ( Bible.) and though he dwelleth on high, he looketh on the low. Psalms 112:5. Menochius.

Verse 7. Of one manner. That is, agreeing in faith, unanimous in love, and following the same manner of discipline. It is verified in the servants of God living together in his house, which is the Church. 1 Timothy 3:15. Challoner.—Hebrew may signify, “He maketh those who were alone (steriles) to dwell in a house.” Psalms 112:9. He builds up their house, and grants them children. Flamin. Exod. 1:21.—The Israelites under Pharao, ( Calmet.) saw their male issue destroyed, ( Bible.) but God enabled them to multiply exceedingly. Exod. 1:12. Calmet.—Yechidim means “the solitary,” (Saint Jerome) and “the united,” as the first Christians were. Bert. Acts 2:44. Bible.—The Church preserves unity in faith, and so forth S. Cyp. ep. 76. Worthington.—Bound. The power and mercy of God appears, in his bringing out of their captivity, those who were strongly bound in their sins; and in restoring to his grace those whose behaviour had been most provoking; and who by their evil habits were not only dead, but buried in their sepulchres. Challoner.—God’s grace moves even the rebellious and negligent will of man, so that it willingly embraces the right path. Worthington.—In strength. Houbig. “to walk freely.” The Gentiles were, as it were, buried, before Christ delivered them, (Bert.) as he did those who were once incredulous in the days of Noe, (1 Peter 3:20 and 4:6. Saint Athanasius) and God rescued the Israelites from servitude, notwithstanding their repeated provocations, both before and after this mercy. Some translate, ( Bible.) Hebrew “He delivers those who were bound in chains; but the rebels (Egyptians, or faithless Hebrews) have remained in the desert.” Calmet.—Their bodies have there become a prey to beasts, and to corruption. Bible.—God permitted the rebellious Egyptians to pursue his people. Menochius.