1/11/22
Augustine. Exposition on the Book of Psalms. Schaff, Philip (editor). New York: Christian Literature Publishing Co, 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 130"
Psalm 130 opens with a cry to the Lord "out of the deep." Augustine immediately ties this to Jonah's cry for mercy from inside the whale (Augustine Psalms, loc. 340901, par. 1). Of note to hm is that God is present everywhere and does hear the cries of his people. Yet God is also mocked by people who are in distress. Augustine sees this as a grave situation. Yet in verse two, the Psalmist, who is certainly a sinner, calls out to God with hope that the Lord who absolves sin will also work in him (Augustine Psalms, loc. 340911, par. 2). God's judgment certainly is valid (v. 3), but the Lord does not make his people stand in thei own strength. Where is the hope of the Psalmist? Verse four confesses that God has propitiation. Augustine describes this in detail and especially notes the propitiation has been made for us (Augustine Psalms, loc. 340921, par. 3). Augustine describes our need and God's provision in terms of two laws - one which makes us fear and one by which God gives love and forgiveness. Lutheran thought would call this second Gospel rather than Law.
The result Augustine finds in these two versions of the law is that the one who trusts in the Lord has no fear (v. 5). As the Lord rose from the dead in the morning, so the Christian arises in the morning free from fear (Augustine Psalms, loc. 340935, par. 4). To Augustine, the hope of the resurrection is the focus of the Christian's hope (Augustine Psalms, loc. 340940, par. 5). He ties the bodily resurrection of Christ to the redemption of uh. Augustine further observes that as we arise in the morning without fear, and it lasts until evening, likewise our safety lasts until our earthly death, which is like sleep (Augustine Psalms, loc. 340950, par 6). Our hope, then, in verse seven, is in the redemption of the Lord. As Christ the head is risen, and cannot be weighed down by sins, so the Christian rises apart from the burden of sin (Augustine Psalms, loc. 340961, par. 8). Jesus blots out our sins.