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For your incorruptible spirit is in all things.
Verse 1. O how. Septuagint “for incorruptible is thy Spirit;” which S. Athanasius (ad Serap.) adduces as a proof of the Holy Ghost’s divinity. Calmet.—God loves the soul of man. Grot.
Therefore you convict little by little those who fall from the right way, and, putting them in remembrance by the things wherein they sin, you admonish them, that escaping from their wickedness they may believe in you, O Lord.
For truly the old inhabitants of your holy land,
hating them because they practiced detestable works of enchantments and unholy rites—
merciless slaughters of children and sacrificial banquets of men’s flesh and of blood—
Verse 5. Consecration. Lit. sacrament, or land. That is, the land sacred to thee, in which thy temple was to be established, and man’s redemption to be wrought. Challoner.
allies in an impious fellowship, and murderers of their own helpless babes, it was your counsel to destroy by the hands of our fathers;
that the land which in your sight is most precious of all might receive a worthy colony of God’s servants.
Or, children
Nevertheless you even spared these as men, and you sent hornets as forerunners of your army, to cause them to perish little by little.
Verse 8. Wasps. These were the auxiliaries of the Hebrews. Deuteronomy 7:20. Saint James saved Nisibis from the Persian army, by praying for gnats to descend. Theod. Philot. i.—The inhabitants of Belgrade incensed bees, by fire and smoke, to attack the troops of Amurath. Bonf. iv. dec. 3.
Or, wasps
Not that you were unable to subdue the ungodly under the hand of the righteous in battle, or by terrible beasts or by a stern word to make away with them at once,
but judging them little by little you gave them a chance to repent, not being ignorant that their nature by birth was evil, their wickedness inborn, and that their manner of thought would never be changed.
Verse 10. Natural. We are all by nature children of wrath. Ephesians 2:3. Bible.—But the Chanaanites were accursed by Noe, (Genesis 9:25) and were brought up in wickedness (Psalms 57:4) by their parents. Saint Augustine de Bapt. ii. 8.—Changed. Because they would not employ well the time allowed them. Calmet.—By custom, malice became as it were natural, after nature was corrupted. Worthington.
For they were a cursed seed from the beginning. It wasn’t through fear of any that you left them unpunished for their sins.
Verse 11. Pardon. Or impunity. Calmet.—“Thou art angry, and yet are tranquil. Saint Augustine Conf. i. 4.
For who will say, “What have you done?” Or “Who will withstand your judgment?” Who will accuse you for the perishing of nations which you caused? Or who will come and stand before you as an avenger for unrighteous men?
Verse 12. Done? Shall the clay say to the potter, why hast thou made me thus? Isaiah 45:9 and 64:8. We know, that under a just God, no one is miserable, unless he deserve it. verse 15.
For there isn’t any God beside you that cares for all, that you might show that you didn’t judge unrighteously.
No king or prince will be able to confront you about those whom you have punished.
But being righteous, you rule all things righteously, deeming it a thing alien from your power to condemn one who doesn’t deserve to be punished.
Verse 15. Punished. Saint Augustine ep. 106. Some have read incorrectly: “Thou condemnest him who ought not to be punished, and deemest him a stranger to thy virtue,” which Saint Gregory (Mor. iii. 11.) explains of Jesus Christ, the victim of sinners; other, of people born in sin, (Lyran.) while some would hence prove the decree of reprobation. Duran.—But it is needless to explain a text which the Greek shews to be inaccurate. Calmet.
For your strength is the source of righteousness, and your sovereignty over all makes you to forbear all.
For when men don’t believe that you are perfect in power, you show your strength, and in dealing with those who think this, you confuse their boldness.
But you, being sovereign in strength, judge in gentleness, and with great forbearance you govern us; for the power is yours whenever you desire it.
But you taught your people by such works as these, how the righteous must be kind. You made your sons to have good hope, because you give repentance when men have sinned.
Verse 19. Hope. Under a God of such clemency, none should despair.
For if on those who were enemies of your servants and deserving of death, you took vengeance with so great deliberation and indulgence, giving them times and opportunities when they might escape from their wickedness,
Or, children
with how great care you judged your sons, to whose fathers you gave oaths and covenants of good promises!
Therefore while you chasten us, you scourge our enemies ten thousand times more, to the intent that we may ponder your goodness when we judge, and when we are judged may look for mercy.
Therefore also the unrighteous that lived in a life of folly, you tormented through their own abominations.
For truly they went astray very far in the ways of error, Taking as gods those animals which even among their enemies were held in dishonor, deceived like foolish babes.
Greek living creatures: and so elsewhere in this book.
Therefore, as to unreasoning children, you sent your judgment to mock them.
But those who would not be admonished by mild correction will experience the deserved judgment of God.
For through the sufferings they were indignant of, being punished in these creatures which they supposed to be gods, they saw and recognized as the true God him whom they previously refused to know. Therefore also the result of extreme condemnation came upon them.
Verse 27. God. Who destroyed their idols: yet they did not serve him, ( Worthington.) which was true of all the pagans. Romans 1:21. Calmet.