Psalms 61

Psalms 61:2

Augustine of Hippo: For that church is founded on a rock, as the Lord says: “On this rock I will build my church.” But they build on the sand, as the same Lord says: “Every one who hears these sayings of mine and does not do them is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.” But that you may not suppose that the church that is on a rock is in only one part of the earth and does not extend even to its furthest boundaries, hear its voice groaning from the psalm, amid the evils of it pilgrimage. For it says, “From the end of the earth have I cried to you; when my heart was distressed you did lift me up on the rock; you have led me, you, my hope, have become a tower of courage from the face of the enemy.” See how it cries from the end of the earth.… See how it is exalted on a rock. — LETTERS OF PETILIAN THE DONATIST 2:109-246

Augustine of Hippo: “Hearken, O God, to my supplication, give heed to my prayer” [Psalms 61:1]. Who says? He, as if One. See whether one: “From the ends of the earth to You I have cried, while my heart was being vexed” [Psalms 61:2]. Now therefore not one: but for this reason one, because Christ is One, of whom all we are the members. For what one man cries from the ends of the earth? There cries not from the ends of the earth any but that inheritance, of which has been said to the Son Himself, “Demand of Me, and I will give to You the nations for Your inheritance, and for Your possession the boundaries of the earth.” This therefore Christ’s possession, this Christ’s inheritance, this Christ’s Body, this Christ’s one Church, this the Unity which we are, is crying from the ends of the earth….But wherefore have I cried this thing? “While my heart was being vexed.” He shows himself to be throughout all nations in the whole round world, in great glory, but in great tribulation. For our life in this sojourning cannot be without temptation: because our advance is made through our temptation, nor does a man become known to himself unless tempted, nor can he be crowned except he shall have conquered, nor can he conquer except he shall have striven, nor can he strive except he shall have experienced an enemy, and temptations. This Man therefore is being vexed, that from the ends of the earth is crying, but nevertheless He is not forsaken. For ourselves who are His Body He has willed to prefigure also in that His Body wherein already He has both died and has risen again, and into Heaven has ascended, in order that whither the Head has gone before, there the members may be assured that they shall follow. Therefore us He did transfer by a figure into Himself, when He willed to be tempted of Satan. — Exposition on Psalms 61

Bede: We should note that this flood of temptations assails the church in three ways: “one is tempted, drawn on and lured by one’s own desire,” or is worn down by the depravity of false brothers or is assaulted by the more open snares of those outside [the church]. In another place the Lord calls these temptations “the gates of the lower world,” and rightly so, for if victorious they drag us down to eternal destruction. He says, “I shall build my church on this rock, and the gates of the lower world shall not prevail against it.” Although the gates of the devil strike against it, yet they do not overthrow Christ’s church; although the flood of faithlessness inundates it, it does not undermine the house of faith. For [the church] is able to say truthfully to its helper, “When my heart was disquieted, you raised me up on a rock.” It is not vanquished by external forces because, by suffering and acquiring the crown of martyrdom, it triumphs over the ferocity of the unbelievers who persecute it. It is not corrupted by false brothers because it refutes the dogmas of heretics by believing properly, and it avoids the vicious example of some Catholics by living soberly and justly and piously. It is not blinded by the smoke of private greed because it is inwardly aflame with the ardor of the Lord’s charity alone. — Homilies on the Gospels 2:25

Psalms 61:3

Augustine of Hippo: It is clear that this obligation and condition of life includes not only those who have responded so well to sound advice that they have sold their goods and distributed them to the poor, and, with their shoulders freed of every worldly burden, bear the light yoke of Christ. They also include the weaker soul, who is less capable of such glorious perfection but who nevertheless remembers that he is a Christian when he hears that he must give up Christ or lose all his possessions. He will rather lay hold on the “tower of strength against the face of the enemy” because, when he was building it by his faith, he took into account the charges with which it could be completed. He embraced the faith with the intention of renouncing this world, not in word only, because, if he bought something he was as one not possessing it, and if he used this world he was as one not using it, not placing his hope in the uncertainty of riches but in the living God. — LETTER 157

Psalms 61:5

Augustine of Hippo: “For Thou, O God, hast hearkened to my prayer” [Psalms 61:5]. What prayer? That wherewith he begins: “Hearken, O God, to my supplication.”…“You have given inheritance to men fearing Your name.” Let us continue therefore in the fear of God’s name: the eternal Father deceives us not. Sons labour, that they may receive the inheritance of their parents, to whom when dead they are to succeed: are we not labouring to receive an inheritance from that Father, to whom not dying we succeed; but together with Him in the very inheritance for everlasting are to live? — Exposition on Psalms 61

Psalms 61:6

Augustine of Hippo: “Days upon days of the King You shall add to the years of Him” [Psalms 61:6]. This is therefore the King of whom we are the members. A King Christ is, our Head, our King. You have given to Him days upon days; not only those days in that time that has end, but days upon those days without end. “I will dwell,” he says, “in the house of the Lord, for length of days.” Wherefore for length of days, but because now is the shortness of days? For everything which has an end, is short: but of this King are days upon days, so that not only while these days pass away, Christ reigns in His Church, but the Saints shall reign together with Him in those days which have no end….For years of God have been also spoken of: “But You are the very Same, and Your years shall not fail.” In the same manner as years, so days, so one day. Whatsoever you will you say of eternity. Whatever you will you say for this reason, because whatever you shall have said, it is too little that you have said. For you must needs say somewhat, to the end that there may be something whereby you may meditate on that which cannot be told. “Even unto the day of generation and of generation.” Of this generation and of the generation that shall be: of this generation which is compared to the moon, because as the moon is new, waxes, is full, wanes, and vanishes, so are these mortal generations; and of the generation wherein we are born anew by rising again, and shall abide for everlasting with God, when now no longer we are like the moon, but like that of which says the Lord, “Then the righteous shall shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” [Matthew 13:43] For the moon by a figure in the Scriptures is put for the mutability of this mortal state…. — Exposition on Psalms 61

Psalms 61:7

Augustine of Hippo: “He shall abide for everlasting in the sight of God” [Psalms 61:7]; according to what, or because of what? “His mercy and truth who shall seek for Him?” He says also in another place, “All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth, to men seeking His testament and His testimonies.” Large is the discourse of truth and mercy, but shortness we have promised. Briefly hear ye what is truth and mercy: because no small thing is that which has been said, “All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth.” Mercy is spoken of, because our merits God regarded not, but His own goodness, in order that He might forgive us all our sins, and might promise life everlasting: but truth is spoken of, because He fails not to render those things which He has promised. Let us acknowledge it here, and let us do it; so that, just as to us God has shown forth His mercy and His truth, mercy in forgiving our sins, truth in showing forth His promises; so also, I say, let us execute mercy and truth, mercy concerning the weak, concerning the needy, concerning even our enemies; truth in not sinning, and in not adding sin upon sin….Who is therefore he that does this, save one out of those few, of whom is said, “He that shall have continued unto the end, the same shall be saved”? With reason here also “His mercy and truth who shall seek for Him?” Why is there “for Him”? “Who shall seek,” would be sufficient. Why has he added, “for Him,” but because many men seek to learn His mercy and truth in His books? And when they have learned, for themselves they live, not for Him; [2 Corinthians 5:15] their own things they seek, not the things which are of Jesus Christ: [Philippians 2:21] they preach mercy and truth, and do not mercy and truth. But by preaching it, they know it: for they would not preach it, unless they knew it. But he that loves God and Christ, in preaching the mercy and truth of the Same, does himself seek her for Him, not for himself: that is, not in order that himself may have by this preaching temporal advantages, but in order that he may do good to His members, that is, His faithful ones, by ministering with truth of that which he knows: in order that he that lives, no longer for himself may live, but for Him that for all men has died. [2 Corinthians 5:15] — Exposition on Psalms 61

Psalms 61:8

Augustine of Hippo: “So I will play music to Your name, that I may render my vows from day unto day” [Psalms 61:8]. If you play music to the name of God, play not for a time. Will you for ever play? Will you for everlasting play? Render to Him your vows from day unto day. What is, render to Him your vows from day unto day? From this day unto that day. Continue to render vows in this day, until you come to that day: that is, “He that shall have continued even unto the end, the same shall be saved.” [Matthew 24:13] — Exposition on Psalms 61