Friday, April 9, 2010

Church Father's Thoughts on Psalm 118

Psalm 118:1 “For he is good.”
“The praise of God could not be expressed in fewer words than these, ‘For he is good.’ I see not what can be more solemn than this brevity, since goodness is so peculiarly the quality of God, that the Son of God himself when addressed by the rich man as ‘Good Master,’ by one, namely, who beholding his flesh, and comprehending not the fullness of his divine nature, considered him as man only, replied, ‘Why do you call me good? There is none good but one, that is God.’ And what is this but to say, ‘If you wish to call me good, recognize me as God.’” - Augustine.

Psalm 118:1 “His mercy endures forever.”
“What the close of Psalm 117 says of God’s truth, viz., that it endures forever, the beginning of Psalm 118 says of its sister, ‘his mercy or loving-kindness.’” - Franz Delitzsch.

Psalm 118:5 “I called upon the LORD.”
“You must, learn to call, and not to sit there by yourself, and lie on the bench, hang and shake your head, and bite and devour thyself with your thoughts; but come on, you indolent knave, down upon your knees, up with your hands and eyes to heaven, take a Psalm or a prayer, -and set forth your distress with tears before God.” - Martin Luther.

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