6/18/19
Augustine. Exposition on the Book of Psalms. Schaff, Philip (editor). New York: Christian Literature Publishing Col, 1886. Nicene and Post-Nicene Church Fathers: Series 1: Volume VIII. Re-published 2014, Catholic Way Publishing. Kindle electronic edition, ISBN-13: 978-1-78379-372-3.
“Psalm 28”
Psalm 28 calls out to God, with David asking the Lord not to treat him like the wicked. Augustine finds this as “the Voice of the Mediator Himself, strong of hand in the conflict of the Passion” (Augustine Psalms, loc. 320828). He notes that the statements about penalties upon the wicked are phrased not as wishes but as predictions. The speaker is separate from the wicked, drawing on the strength of the Word of God. In verses 1-3 he is the one who prays and calls out faithfully, but in verse four the evildoers are to receive a reward in accord with their deeds (Augustine Psalms, loc. 320835).
Augustine sees verse five as the explanation for the actions of the wicked. He puts a very good construction on it by assuming the rason they do not observe God’s works is that they don’t understand (Augustine Psalms, loc. 320842). On the contrary, it is the Lord who helps and protects his people (verse 7). He is the strength of those who “thought not themselves strong in themselves: for the Lord is the strength of His people, struggling in this life’s difficulties with the devil” (Augustine Psalms, loc. 320849). Thus the call for salvation and blessing, in this life and for eternity.