Title of the Psalm
"A Psalm of David."
That is, [a Psalm] of the faithful, concerning whom it was declared in the preceding Psalm that they would believe and adore You. And for the instruction of their successors, they show forth the benefits conferred upon them by God, so that [the successors] themselves may strive for these things by living well. Afterwards, they make an apostrophe [a direct address] to God, giving thanks for the benefits bestowed. Hence they say:
Exposition of the Psalm
Ps 23:1: "The Lord rules me..."
"The Lord rules me in a place of pasture."
That is, He Himself is my ruler, so that I may not wander in the Divine Scriptures, which are the place in which the souls of the faithful are fed with the sweetness of doctrine. "And because I have such a ruler, nothing shall be wanting to me in the place of pasture." That is, no understanding shall be lacking to me in those Scriptures which ought to instruct me.
Ps 23:2 "And truly nothing shall be wanting to me in the place of pasture, for He has placed me there." That is, He has made me study frequently.
"And not only has He conferred this benefit upon me, but also before this, upon the water of refreshment... He has educated me." That is, upon the water of Baptism, founded, He has nurtured me with the milk of doctrine. "And before this, He has converted my soul" from infidelity to faith.
[Note on Baptism]: Rightly, however, is the water of Baptism called the "water of refreshment," because through it our justice and innocence, which failed in Adam, is restored. Baptism is also the foundation and beginning of the other goods.
Ps 23:3: "He has led me..."
"And not only has He placed, educated, and converted [me], but He has also led me from virtue to virtue," from good operation to good operation. Or: "He has led me, lest I fail, having been constituted upon the paths of justice." That is, upon the virtues and good works, which are the narrow ways to life.
"And well does He put 'upon' [super]," for when at first they were too difficult for them, then they could be said to be "under" them—that is, to be physically afflicted and depressed by the exercise of them. But when now they are held in use and are not so difficult, then the faithful are said to be "upon" them—that is, to have them ready at hand in their own right, with cooperating grace nevertheless assisting.
"I say that He has led me, and this not on account of my merits, but for His name to be magnified." And not only has He led, but He still leads. And this is evident from the fact that "I will fear no evils." That is, the examples and persuasions of enemies, or the tribulations inflicted by them, "even if I should walk in the way of this life." That is, although I converse "in the midst of the shadow of death."
[Note on Shadow of Death]: That is, among the wicked, who are the shadow of death—that is, cold from the heat of the Holy Spirit and dark in intellect, just as a shadow is cold and dark. And [they are] leading others to eternal death by their examples and persuasions, just as a shadow kills the herbs which are long beneath it.
"And therefore I will not fear to be bent by their evils, because You, who are omnipotent, are with me to strengthen." As if to say: This security happens not from me, but from You.
Ps 23:4: "Your Rod and Your Staff"
"Someone might say: Why do you say you do not fear evils? At least you fear tribulations, which are evils."
[Bruno] Responds: No. "For Your rod"—that is, minor tribulation, which is Your discipline, through which You correct and teach—"and Your staff"—that is, major tribulation, through which again chastising me by flagellating—"these have comforted me."
Although they might seem to disturb me, rather they have comforted me, because through them I understand that I am purified from my sins, and my crown and virtues are magnified, and I am guarded from pride, according to the Apostle: "Lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a stimulus of my flesh" (2 Cor. 12:7). "And therefore they have comforted me."
Ps 23:5: "You Have Prepared a Table"
"Because You have prepared"—that is, established—"for me against those who trouble me, lest I fail through tribulations, a table." That is, the refreshment of Your Body and Blood, which is received at the table of the altar. "A table, I say, placed in my sight," which I perceive to be the sign of Your death, so that I also may not fear to be troubled and to die for You.
"And because the sight alone would not suffice, You have anointed my head with oil." That is, You have made my mind mild, not rebellious, in the grace of the Holy Spirit, which is called "oil" because it makes the mind mild to suffer, just as oil soothes the head which it anoints.
"And therefore my cup"—that is, that oil inebriating me, lest I feel tribulations too heavily—"how excellent it is." That is, it appears very excellent to me. Moreover, the oil—that is, grace—is called a "cup" because, as has been said, it inebriates the faithful, from the similarity of a cup of wine which inebriates those drinking.
Ps 23:6: "Mercy Shall Follow Me"
"And mercy"—that is, Your grace—"shall follow me," that is, shall accompany me, "all the days of my life," so that I may be advanced from good to better. "And it shall so follow me that through it I may dwell in the house of the Lord in the future," in Paradise, namely, "in length of days." That is, in eternity.
CONTINUE
Comments
Post a Comment