ARGUMENT

ARG. THOMAS. That CHRIST hath drawn us out from the depths of our sin, and from the abyss of perdition. The voice of the prophet concerning the elders of the Jews. The voice of CHRIST to the FATHER concerning the princes of the Jews. Every faithful soul prays against the sins of the flesh, and the flesh itself. The prophet speaketh of CHRIST, and concerning Judas the traitor, and a prayer for enemies.

VEN. BEDE. In the Hebrew we read thus: For the mute dove: the exile of David, humble and perfect: when the Philistines detained him in Gath. The mute dove, and David, humble and perfect, signify CHRIST in His Passion. As to our translation [i.e., the Vulgate] for the people which is put far off from the Saints; that is, for the companions of David who, while exiled in Gath were put far off from Judæa where was the Holy of holies, this signifies that the Psalm hath reference to the Disciples of CHRIST who were scandalized at the time of His Passion; and for whose faith, that it might not fail, the LORD Himself beareth witness that He made intercession. David, in the inscription of the title, signified the LORD in His Passion,—when the title set over Him was, the King of the Jews: that is, of all that believe in, and confess GOD. When the Philistines held him captive in Gath: when the Jews and the soldiers of Pilate had crucified Him: for Gath, which by interpretation is a winepress, setteth forth the hard torture of the Cross. In another way we may in the mute dove, and in the people far off from the Saints, understand all the faithful; who, being in exile from the eternal joy of the Saints, say with the Apostle, “While we are present in the body we are absent from the LORD:” for whom David ceaseth not to pray, That David in very deed, Who sitteth at the Right Hand of GOD, Who also maketh supplication for us. Likewise the Psalm may be understood in the person of the Church; which never ceaseth in this world to suffer trouble, being laden with divers afflictions. In the first section of the Psalm the Church, our mother, prays in the confidence that she will be delivered from our enemies: Be merciful. In the second she enumerates her own sufferings, returning thanks for that she hath been delivered from so many perils, and professes that she will never fear those evil things which must of necessity pass swiftly away. In the third place, she promises to sing the perpetual praises of the LORD in that future beatitude, when He shall have delivered us from the adversities of this world. Unto Thee, O God, &c.

SYRIAC. The just man’s rendering of thanks because he hath been delivered from the enemy.