Psalmi 98

Psalms 98

The reign of the Lord in Sion: that is, of Christ in his church.

Psalmus ipsi David. Dominus regnavit: irascantur populi; qui sedet super cherubim: moveatur terra.

A psalm for David himself. The Lord hath reigned, let the people be angry: he that sitteth on the cherubims: let the earth be moved.

Let the people be angry: Though many enemies rage, and the whole earth be stirred up to oppose the reign of Christ, he shall still prevail.

Dominus in Sion magnus, et excelsus super omnes populos.

The Lord is great in Sion, and high above all people.

Confiteantur nomini tuo magno, quoniam terribile et sanctum est,

Let them give praise to thy great name: for it is terrible and holy:

et honor regis judicium diligit. Tu parasti directiones; judicium et justitiam in Jacob tu fecisti.

And the king's honour loveth judgment. Thou hast prepared directions: thou hast done judgment and justice in Jacob.

Exaltate Dominum Deum nostrum, et adorate scabellum pedum ejus, quoniam sanctum est.

Exalt ye the Lord our God, and adore his footstool, for it is holy.

Adore his footstool: The ark of the covenant was called, in the Old Testament, God's footstool: over which he was understood to sit, on his propitiatory, or mercy seat, as on a throne, between the wings of the cherubims, in the sanctuary: to which the children of Israel paid a great veneration. But as this psalm evidently relates to Christ, and the New Testament, where the ark has no place, the holy fathers understand this text, of the worship paid by the church to the body and blood of Christ in the sacred mysteries: inasmuch as the humanity of Christ is, as it were, the footstool of the divinity. So St. Ambrose, L. 3. De Spiritu Sancto, c. 12. And St. Augustine upon this psalm.

Moyses et Aaron in sacerdotibus ejus, et Samuel inter eos qui invocant nomen ejus: invocabant Dominum, et ipse exaudiebat eos;

Moses and Aaron among his priests: and Samuel among them that call upon his name. They called upon the Lord, and he heard them:

Moses and Aaron among his priests: By this it is evident, that Moses also was a priest, and indeed the chief priest, inasmuch as he consecrated Aaron, and offered sacrifice for him. Lev. 8. So that his pre-eminence over Aaron makes nothing for lay church headship.

in columna nubis loquebatur ad eos. Custodiebant testimonia ejus, et præceptum quod dedit illis.

He spoke to them in the pillar of the cloud. They kept his testimonies, and the commandment which he gave them.

Domine Deus noster, tu exaudiebas eos; Deus, tu propitius fuisti eis, et ulciscens in omnes adinventiones eorum.

Thou didst hear them, O Lord our God: thou wast a merciful God to them, and taking vengeance on all their inventions.

All their inventions: that is, all the enterprises of their enemies against them, as in the case of Core, Dathan, and Abiron.

Exaltate Dominum Deum nostrum, et adorate in monte sancto ejus, quoniam sanctus Dominus Deus noster.

Exalt ye the Lord our God, and adore at his holy mountain: for the Lord our God is holy.

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