ARGUMENT

ARG. THOMAS. That CHRIST feeds His people with the spiritual food of manna. The Voice of the Prophet to the Jews. The Voice of CHRIST touching the impiety of the Jews, and of Christians, eating the LORD’S Flesh, murmuring against Him. The Voice of CHRIST touching the Jews, when GOD showed them many wonders by Moses, and they believed him not.

VEN. BEDE. Asaph, as we have said before, is to be explained as the synagogue, that is, gathering together, but as Understanding is prefixed, he shows that the faithful synagogue is here meant. In the first part of the Psalm only two verses are ascribed to the person of the LORD, to increase respect for the utterances whose opening the King Himself hath appointed. Hear My law, O My people. In the second part Asaph speaks more fully, charging the Jews with ingratitude for the LORD’S bounties, and with despising His commands through their wicked heart. Which we have heard and known. Thirdly, he sums up the gifts which GOD bestowed on Israel, who, nevertheless, ceased not to murmur. Marvellous things did He in the sight of our forefathers. Fourthly, he tells what punishment came upon them, and how the sentence was mitigated by the LORD’S mercy: When the Lord heard this He was wroth. Fifthly, they were punished for their murmurings, but they returned again to entreat the LORD, acknowledging His wondrous works. While the meat was yet in their mouths. In the sixth place, they spake again deceitfully and followed their wonted errors, yet the mercy of GOD destroyed them not as they deserved. They did but flatter Him with their mouth. Seventhly, he tells how they provoked the LORD in the wilderness, though Egypt had been afflicted for their sakes. Many a time did they provoke Him in the wilderness. Eighthly, the sin of Jewish obstinacy is joined to the narrative of the LORD’S bounties. But as for His own people, He led them forth like sheep. Ninthly, a terrible vengeance follows, so that He forsook the tabernacle in Silo, and delivered His people into captivity, and afterwards chose the Mount Sion, and David for king, of whose seed CHRIST, the Physician of salvation, should come. When God heard this, He was wroth.

SYRIAC PSALTER. Of Asaph. He implies in it that they ought to keep GOD’S commandments, and not be as their forefathers.

EUSEBIUS OF CÆSAREA. A plain statement of CHRIST to the Church concerning the transgression of the former people.