ARGUMENT

ARG. THOMAS. That CHRIST is the helper and redeemer of believers. The voice of CHRIST set on the Cross. Or the voice of the Church to the LORD in a fast. The voice of martyrs and confessors intreating to be delivered from the dangers of persecutors. The voice of the Church crying in the Advent of the LORD.

VEN. BEDE. The end and David, as has been often observed, denote the LORD the SAVIOUR, to whom these words of the faithful are addressed, since the whole Psalm is spoken in the person of the martyrs, in remembrance either of their deliverance or of the future reward. For it was suitable, inasmuch as the LORD had in the previous Psalm set forth His Passion and Resurrection, that the members also should speak after the Head, declaring their sufferings and the glories to follow. The nation of martyrs and confessors, which endured manifold yet happy slaughter, in the first place beseeches the LORD that it may be delivered from the danger of its persecutors, and that He may make their mockings vain, so that, converted, they may be profitably ashamed of their words: Haste thee, O God, to deliver me. In the second part it supplicates, that the assembly of the faithful magnifying the LORD may rejoice, because He vouchsafes to help and deliver His poor and needy. Let all those that seek Thee be joyful and glad in Thee.

SYRIAC PSALTER. Of David. Literally when he sent Joab to take Sheba, who had rebelled. Then also the supplication of the just, and even of CHRIST Himself.

EUSEBIUS OF CÆSAREA. The supplication of the just, or even of CHRIST Himself.

S. ATHANASIUS. A Psalm in single address.