Hope and Divine Justice

"Did you see how Ahaz was consoled?" and "you gave them a spirit of consolation," a spirit of repentance. This is therefore what he says: my glory sings to you, I act according to your will, and I do not repent, I am not brought low by sorrow. He is not brought low as if by evil, so as to no longer be active. Therefore he connects the thought and says: "Lord, my God, I will give thanks to you forever" (Ps 116:17). "Lord, my God, I will give thanks to you forever." Since, therefore, I will give thanks to you forever, singing to your glory, I am not brought low, nor do I repent.

To the end: A psalm of David; of ecstasy. The name of ecstasy is homonymous; for it means many things, one of which is deviation or follye one who wanders is in ecstasy (stands outside himself). But the name of ecstasy also signifies wonder; for he who wonders is said to be in ecstasy (standing outside himself): "I perceived your works and was amazed" (Ps 138:14) having seen their greatness, the art by which they came to be. And there are many expressions declaring that wonder is made manifest by the name of ecstasy. Thus also Isaac "was in great ecstasy" when he received the blessing from Isaac. And again, ecstasy signifies becoming something outside of one's former state, as if he says: "But I said in my ecstasy, 'Every man is a liar'" (Ps 123:4). When he stood outside himself and was no longer a man, but had become God by making room for the Word of God coming to him, then he said: "Every man is a liar"; for if we take this simply, he lies. If every man is a liar and he himself is one of men, he lies. But in him saying "every man is a liar," they are not altogether liars. The things of men are uncertain, unstable. Such is also what the apostle says: "What eye has not seen, and what ear has not heard, and what has not ascended into the heart of man" (1 Cor 2:9). He is not, therefore, merely the same man, but he brings forth: "But God has revealed them to us through the Spirit" (1 Cor 2:10), to us who are no longer merely men, those who are able to say with boldness: "We have stood in ecstasy with God, we are of the same mind with you." He, therefore, who says these things in the psalm was also in ecstasy; he has become another, he has become God by participating in the Word of God; he has ceased to be a man. For certainly, observe that he does not speak human things, but things that it is fitting for a man having been made divine to proclaim.

And to sing. Upon you, Lord, I have hoped, that I might not be put to shame for ever (Psalm 25:3). For I am not put to shame when the things of the petition exist; for then the one praying suffers shame when he does not happen to get what he expected. And if we take 'the age' more simply, this says: in the time of my life, let me not be put to shame, always attaining those things which I entreat to receive from you; for it has been said many times that the time extending the life of man is called 'an age', just as: 'I will not eat meat for ever'. And it is possible also to say thus: since you are eternal and your existence and your kingdom extend through all the ages, and I too am immortal according to the soul, 'let me not be put to shame for ever'; for I am always with you. Now I know in part and I prophesy, but the one who is perfect will receive that which is in part, so that my hope becomes greater, having a greater remainder of expectation. Therefore, the one who hopes in the Lord is without shame.

Save me in your righteousness and bring me out (Psalm 70:1). The beginning of this seventieth psalm has a certain kinship and likeness. And in the seventieth lies the 'bring me out' itself, concerning which it is said: 'righteousness bowed down', when having bent the heaven, it came down. It has come to loose injustice; for the world having come about on earth was full of injustice; for 'the earth was filled' with iniquities (Genesis 6:13), just as before the flood, when 'all turned aside, at the same time they sinned, there is no one doing goodness' (Genesis 6:11). Just as the light rises and becomes there where the darkness is, and the darkness is made manifest by the presence of light, and when virtue shines forth, evil is driven away—so, when righteousness is revealed and those entreating it are saved, all injustice is dissolved.

Incline your ear toward me, hasten to bring me out (Psalm 70:5). Even if I cry out to you, I am small-voiced as toward your majesty. If you do not incline your ear toward me, my cry is not able to ascend to you. If you do not descend with me, you will not receive my voice. And in another way: since he does not observe all the lawlessness of those being judged and examined by him, it is necessary for him to incline the ear, so that he may hear; for whatever kind of knowledge and whatever kind of power...