Expositions on the Psalms — Psalm 108

St. Augustine of Hippo

  1. Chapter 1
  2. Chapter 2

I have not thought that the CVIII th Psalm required an exposition; since I have already expounded it in the LVII th Psalm, and in the LX th, of the last divisions of which this Psalm consists. For the last part of the LVII th is the first of this, as far as the verse, Your glory is above all the earth. Henceforth to the end, is the last part of the LX th: as the last part of the CXXXV th is the same as that of the CXV th, from the verse, The images of the heathen are but gold and silver: as the XIV and LIIId, with a few alterations in the middle, have everything the same from the beginning to the end. Whatever slight differences therefore occur in this CVIII th Psalm, compared with those two, of parts of which it is composed, are easy to understand; just as we find in the LVII th, I will sing and give praise; awake, O my glory: here, I will sing and give praise, with my glory. Awake, is said there, that he may sing and give praise therewith. Also, there, Your mercy is great (or, as some translate, is lifted up ) unto the heavens; but here, Your mercy is great above the heavens. For it is great unto the heavens, that it may be great in the heavens; and this is what he wished to express by above the heavens. Also in the LX th, I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem: here I will be exalted, and will divide Shechem. Where is shown what is signified in the division of Shechem, which it was prophesied should happen after the Lord's exaltation, and that this joy does refer to that exaltation; so that He rejoices, because He is exalted. Whence he elsewhere says, You have turned my heaviness into joy; You have put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness. Also there Ephraim, the strength of my head: but here, Ephraim the taking up of my head. But strength comes from taking up, that is, He makes men strong by taking up, causing fruit in us; for the interpretation of Ephraim is, bearing fruit. But taking up may be understood of us, when we take up Christ; or of Christ, when He, who is Head of the Church, takes us up. And the words, them that trouble us, in the former Psalm, are the same with our enemies, in this.