Exposition on the Psalms of David
Above, the Psalmist presented Christ's tribulation and divine help; here he adds a prayer. Concerning this he does two things. First, the prayer is presented. Second, the merits of the one praying, "Judge me, O Lord," etc. Concerning the first he does three things. First, the prayer is proposed. Second, the confidence conceived from prayer is added, at "Sweet and upright." Third, he continues the insistence of prayer, at "My eyes." Concerning the first he does three things. First, he asks to be freed from enemies. Second, he asks to be directed toward the good of justice, at "Your ways." Third, he asks that his sins be forgiven, at "Remember." Concerning the first he does three things. First, preparation for praying is proposed, according to Sir. 18: "Before prayer, prepare your soul," etc. Second, the petition is presented, at "Let me not be put to shame." Third, the reason for the petition is presented, at "For indeed all." For one is prepared for prayer in two ways: either by the lifting up of the mind to God, because, as Damascene says, prayer is the ascent of the intellect to God; or by the confidence one has in God. As to the first he says: O Lord, I have lifted up my soul to you through contemplation, beholding your goodness, and through love: Lam. 3: "Let us lift up our hearts with our hands to God." As to the second, because no one obtains anything unless he prays confidently: Jas. 1: "Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering": Heb. 4: "Let us approach with confidence the throne of glory, or of his grace"; therefore he says, "In you, my God, I trust." 2 Cor. 3: "Such confidence we have through Christ toward God, not that we are sufficient to think anything of ourselves." Next, the petition is presented, and he sets forth two things. One pertains to himself in himself. The second pertains to himself in comparison with enemies. As to the first he says, "Let me not be put to shame." A person is put to shame for three reasons: either when he is overcome by an enemy, or when he is frustrated in hope, or when he recalls a sin he has committed. Concerning this, Rom. 6: "What fruit did you have then in those things of which you are now ashamed?" Concerning the second, Rom. 5: "Hope does not disappoint, because charity," etc. Hence he says, "Nor let my enemies mock me," that is, let them not have the ability to mock me, for which they are prepared: Wis. 5: "These are they whom we once held in derision and as a reproach": Job 12: "The simplicity of the just man is laughed to scorn."
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