Psalms 94

Verse 1. Himself, as David wrote it by inspiration. Worthington.—Septuagint Comp. “It is without a title in Heb.” Saint Paul (Hebrews 4:7) quotes it as the work of David. But this is only done incidentally, and it may have been written by the descendants of Moses, (Psalms 89. Calmet.) as the apostle only says, in David, ( Bible.) referring to the psalter, which the common opinion attributed to him. Calmet.—This opinion, it must be owned, acquires hereby great authority, ( Bible.) as an inspired writer could not mistake; and Calmet himself, on the epistle to the Hebrew doubts not but as the drift of the apostle requires, he attributed this psalm to David. Bert. Tirinus. vi.—It might be used in the removal of the ark (Muis.) and contains an exhortation to the Jews to return to the service of God, under king Josias, (Theod.) or after the captivity, ( Calmet.) or at the preaching of the gospel. Euseb.—The Church adopts the version of the Roman psalter in her office books, as they were corrected by S. Pius V. and this psalm was considered as a hymn at the beginning of matins, though the Vulg. is retained in other parts. Calmet.—The variations are not material. Bible.—But this shews that the Church does not condemn every deviation from the Vulgate. Bell. Diss.—Saviour. Saint Jerome “to the rock, our Jesus.” Bible.—He who created us, has also been our Saviour. Worthington.

LORD or GOD in all caps is from the Hebrew יהוה Yahweh except when otherwise noted as being from the short form יה Yah.

Verse 2. Come. Earlier than usual, ( Menochius.) before the day be far spent; præoccupemus, to shew our diligence in prayer, ( Bible.) and to obtain God’s favour, as Amam was first at the palace of Assuerus. Esther 6:4.—This sentence has probably determined the Church to place it at the beginning of matins. Calmet.—Let not others get before us in performing this duty. Bible.—We cannot prevent God’s grace by an good works, since without it we can do nothing ( Worthington.) as we ought. Con. Trid.—Thanksgiving. Saint Jerome lit. “in confession.” Bible.—The same word, εξομολογησει, is used for sacramental confession; (Bert.) and this, or at least contrition, ( Bible.) ought to go before our expressions of praise. Sirach 15:9. Theod. Saint Jerome—The prophet exhorts us both to lament and to praise. Saint Augustine Bert.—Psalms and music. Worthington.

Verse 3. Gods. Septuagint Comp. “the earth.” But the best editions agree with us, and God must be acknowledged superior to all angels, and so forth Some copies of the Septuagint Saint Augustine and so forth add, “for the Lord will not cast off his people,” ( Calmet.) which seems to be taken from Psalms 93:14. Bert.

Verse 4. Ends. Hebrew “depths.”—Are his. This is grandeur, that “he beholds,” as in the Rom. psalter. Bert. Isaiah 40:15 and 45:18.—Virgil (Geor. 4.) says:

Deum, namque ire per omnes

Terrasque et tractusque maris, cœlumque profundum.

Verse 5. Formed. Like a potter, plasmaverunt, (Saint Jerome Calmet.) or “have laid the foundations of the dry land.” Saint Augustine Brev. Rom. Bible.

Verse 6. And weep. Hebrew also, “bend the knee;” though this sense would seem less proper, after he had mentioned prostration. Tears of contrition and tenderness may accompany our canticles. Bert.—Kneeling in prayer is a posture pleasing ot God. Philippians 2. Worthington.

Verse 7. The Lord is not in the Hebrew or Septuagint Bert.—The people. Rom. Psal. and Syriac, “his people, and the sheep of his pasture, taken from Psalms 99:3. Calmet.—God is the only shepherd, who creates his sheep. Bert.—He feedeth us, and it is most just that we should adore him. Worthington.

Hebrew: יה Yah

Verse 8. To-day. Saint Paul beautifully illustrates this passage, Hebrews 4. Bible.—He follows not the present Hebrew punctuation, which would join half this verse with the preceding.—His. God speaks of the Messias according to the apostle, who intimates that to-day comprises all the life of man. Hebrews 7:13. Bert.—Harden not. Man is the author of his own obduracy, (Theod.) which God only permits. Saint Augustine Calmet.—We have free will, and may resist God’s grace, as we may also consent to it, and thus co-operate to our first justification. Trid. Ses. vi. 5. Worthington.—The captives ( Calmet.) and first Christians were exhorted not to imitate the depravity of the ancient Jews. Bible.—Though a man may have frequently resisted the Holy Ghost, he may still repent. Worthington.

Verse 9. Provocation, (irritatione.) Rom. Brev. exacerbatione. Hebrew meriba, “contradiction,” (Saint Jerome Bible.) at Raphidim; (Exodus 17:7) unless this be styled temptation, (Massa) and the former provocation was that at Cades, Numbers 20:13. Calmet.—The Israelites murmured frequently. But that rebellion which too place at the return of the spies, and which causes God to swear that the guilty should never enter the land of promise, seems to be chiefly meant. Numbers 14. Bert.—They murmured on account of the desire of what and flesh-meat, though they were abundantly supplied with manna, which answered every purpose. Thus some require to communicate under both kinds, as if one did not contain as much as both. Worthington.—Proved me; to know by experience if I were so powerful as to work miracles; and I condescended to gratify them, ( Calmet.) or I have done it already. Menochius.

Verse 10. Offended. Hebrew and Septuagint “disgusted.” Rom. Psal. Saint Augustine and so forth “I was very near to;” ( Calmet.) ready to punish, and eye-witness of their infidelity. Saint Paul reads προσωχθισα, infensus fui, “I was against, or disgusted with,” and seems to refer the forty years to the Jews, who saw God’s works. Bible.—But there is a variation in the Greek copies, as some omit, For which cause; and Hebrews 3:10 and 3:17, intimates, that the indignation of God was roused for forty years, at intervals, as often as the people rebelled. Bert.—The apostle also plainly shews, that this psalm was written long after that period, and consequently not by Moses, as the Jews would now assert. He limiteth a certain day, saying in David: To-day, after so long a time, and so forth Hebrews 4:7. Worthington.—Always. Hebrew “a people of those who err in the heart are they.” Mont. Bible.

Verse 11. So. Psalter Rom. and Milan, “to whom.” Both occur in Saint Paul, and answer the Hebrew asher, (Bert.) quibus. Saint Jerome—Not. Lit. “if they shall.” The Israelites were excluded from a settled abode in Chanaan, on account of their repeated transgressions, particularly at Cades; (Numbers 14) and Christians, who do not continue faithful to the law of Jesus Christ, can never expect to enter heaven. Hebrews 3 and 4. Worthington.—David made the like observation to his subjects; and clearly speaks of the heavenly repose to which the virtuous alone are entitled. Bible.—Saint Paul takes great pains to inculcate this truth, and shews that the return from captivity could not answer the import of the promises made by David in God’s name. Bert. Bible.

Hebrew: יה Yah