ARGUMENT

ARG. THOMAS. That CHRIST the WORD, sent by the FATHER, healed us from the destruction of everlasting death. The Voice of CHRIST concerning the Jews, who forsook GOD in prosperity, and called upon Him in adversity. This Psalm is to be read with the lessons of Judges and Numbers. The Voice of CHRIST concerning the Jews, forsaking Him in prosperity, and in trouble calling upon the LORD; and a confession of the might and mercies of the LORD. The Voice of CHRIST concerning the Jews. To be used with the book of Judges and Numbers. He prophesies concerning the Advent, the calling of the Gentiles, and the rejection of the Jews.

VEN. BEDE. In the first Alleluia (Ps. 105.) the Jewish people, against which there is no complaint, is praised. In the second, he makes mention of those of that nation who had erred by very frequent offences, and had returned to the LORD’S favour by His mercy. Here, moreover, the Christian people is exhorted to give praise to God for the benefits He has bestowed. Otherwise: The first Alleluia means, that believers should be baptized. The second, that penitents should be reconciled; there, He received “His people with joy and His chosen with gladness;” here, “He hears them and gives them mercies in the sight of them that led them away captive.” In the third, our daily use is repeated, and the Novatian heresy is condemned.

After the confession of the Hebrew people, of which the previous Psalms have spoken, the Prophet comes to the Christian people, which was roaming and wandering in the wilderness of superstition throughout the regions of the whole world; exhorting them, in the first section, to give thanks unto the LORD, redeemed by Whose Blood, they who had been led away with foolish error by the altars and groves of demons, have received the Churches: O give thanks unto the Lord. In the second part, he saith that thanks should be paid to the LORD, Who satisfied with the abundance of His religion the souls of the Gentiles, hungering for the food of truth, and burst the bonds of their sins with His irresistible might: O that men would therefore praise the Lord for His goodness: for He satisfieth the empty soul. Thirdly, he enjoins thanks to be offered to the FATHER, because CHRIST hath come and broken the devil’s gates and bars: O that men would therefore praise the Lord … for He hath broken the gates of brass. Fourthly, he urges that the sacrifice of praise should be offered to the LORD by the priests, who preside over the governance of the Church amidst the waves of the world, describing how the LORD vouchsafes to aid them in temptations: O that men would therefore praise the Lord.… and offer unto Him the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Fifthly, he again saith that priests and elders should praise the LORD, Who by His heavenly bounty hath changed into the most genial pleasure the world which was foul with the drought of sin, which the right of heart beholding shall rejoice. These sections begin with similar verses, which are called intercalary. O that men would therefore praise the Lord, … exalt Him also in the congregation of the people.

SYRIAC PSALTER. Anonymous. It is uttered concerning Joel and Abiah, sons of Samuel, who recited the Commandments of the LORD. GOD gathered the Jews out of captivity, and brought them out of Babylon. And JESUS CHRIST, the Only-Begotten SON of GOD, gathered the nations from the four quarters, by preaching, unto Baptism.

EUSEBIUS OF CÆSAREA. A prophecy concerning the calling of the Gentiles, and the prayer of the righteous, and of the taking up of the WORD of GOD to the heavens.

S. ATHANASIUS. A Psalm with confession.