3/17/20
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 57”
Augustine comments that Psalm 57, by its very setting, points to Christ. While David was persecuted by Saul, David returned good though he received evil. Likewise, Christ, the heir of David, brings the world to its conclusion as the one who returns good for evil (Augustine Psalms, loc. 326680). Augustine sees the subscription about David hiding from Saul in a cave to speak of Christ, hidden in a tomb (Augustine Psalms, loc. 326688).
In verse one, David calls out to God for pity, a call which Jesus also made as he suffered (Augustine Psalms, loc. 326703). Augustine emphasizes that Jesus, wholly man, suffered like any other man. In fact, Augustine emphasizes that Jesus worked in a teaching role as well as doing a sovereign work of salvation in his suffering. “For to this end He prayed, in order that He might teach how to pray: because to this end He suffered, in order that He might teach how to suffer; to this end He rose again, in order that He might teach how to hope for rising again” (Augustine Psalms, loc. 326711). In one way sin and evil have passed away, but they still remain somehow until the very end. Yet the confidence we need of God hearing our prayer, in verse two, is that God has already done us good (Augustine Psalms, loc. 326719). The most high God has saved his people (v. 3). Augustine uses numerous New Testament references to describe this fulfilled in Christ (Augustine Psalms, loc. 326734). He then describes those who detract from the Gospel as confused by the New Testament Scriptures, taking them to be written by human wisdom. Christians therefore use the Old Testament to point toward Christ, even though the Jews are hostile witnesses (Augustine Psalms, loc. 326749).
Verse four continues by speaking of the Lord drawing the Psalmist out of trouble. Augustine describes the troubles Jesus faced, especially those brought on Christ by the “sons of men” (v. 5) (Augustine Psalms, loc. 326764). He then describes Christ as the one who brings God’s glory to all the world. The Christian, then, welcomes God’s will and all the trials which come on him (Augustine Psalms, loc. 326794). It is all finally a communication in the sufferings of Christ. The Psalm compares this to the music which may be played among the nations, as verse 10 shows music which rises to the heavens as does Christ.