ARGUMENT

ARG. THOMAS. That CHRIST rules in equal power with the FATHER and the Comforter. The Voice of CHRIST to the FATHER touching the Jews. The Voice of the Prophet, touching CHRIST, to the FATHER, or the Voice of the SON or of the Church to the FATHER touching the Jews. The Voice of CHRIST to the FATHER. The story is sung of the time when the people were numbered.

VEN. BEDE. Ethan is interpreted the Strong, and as this Psalm is about to tell of the praises and promises of the LORD, the unchangeable firmness of its faithful words is indicated by the name Strong. And here Understanding is necessarily prefixed, no doubt because an everlasting throne is promised to David, which meanwhile we can see was destroyed long ago historically. This Ethan, like Heman, was either one of the singers of David the king, whom the Words of Days mention, to wit, the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, of the family of Merari, son of Levi: or one of those wise men to whom the wisdom of Solomon is preferred in the Book of Kings, “Wiser,” it saith, “than Ethan the Ezrahite and Heman.” This song is of such wisdom that it deserves to be ascribed to the name of that very wise man. This Ethan the Strong, who was filled with such mental enlightenment that he is most truly styled an Israelite, at the first outset of the Psalm declares that he will sing of the mercies of the LORD, because He hath promised many things that will profit the faithful people. My song shall be alway of the lovingkindness of the Lord. In the second part he describes in various ways the praises and power of the LORD. O Lord, the very heavens shall praise Thy wondrous works. Thirdly, he counts up the promises of the FATHER to CHRIST, Thou spakest sometime in vision unto Thy saints. In the fourth place, the LORD Himself declares, by reason of the Passion which He endured, that He was delivered up to His enemies. But Thou hast abhorred. Fifthly, he prays for help for human weakness, because GOD hath not made the children of men for nought: Lord, how long wilt Thou hide Thyself, for ever? Sixthly, he asks the LORD to fulfil His promises, which He declares that He made to David His servant, and to remember what reproaches His servants bore from the ungodly. Lord, where are Thy old lovingkindnesses?

SYRIAC PSALTER. Concerning the people which was in Babylon.

EUSEBIUS OF CÆSAREA. He teacheth the Kingdom of CHRIST from the seed of David.

S. ATHANASIUS. A Psalm of narration.