O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endures forever.
Read Chapter 107
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
2. "Confess unto the Lord that He is sweet, because for aye in His mercy" (ver. 1). This confess ye that He is sweet: if ye have tasted, confess. But he cannot confess, who hath not chosen to taste, for whence shall he say that that is sweet, which he knoweth not. But ye if ye have tasted how sweet the Lord is, "Confess ye to the Lord that He is sweet." If ye have tasted with eagerness, break forth with confession. "For aye is His mercy," that is, for ever. For here "for aye," is so put, since also in some other places of Scripture, for aye, that is, what in Greek is called eij aiwna, is understood for ever. For His mercy is not for a time, so as not to be for ever, since for this purpose His present mercy is over men, that they may live with the Angels for ever.
1. This Psalm commendeth unto us the mercies of God, proved in ourselves, and is therefore the sweeter to the experienced. And it is a wonder if it can be pleasing to any one, except to him who has learned in his own case, what he hears in this Psalm. Yet was it written not for any one or two, but for the people of God, and set forth that it might know itself therein as in a mirror. Its title needeth not now to be treated, for it is Halleluia, and again Halleluia. Which we have a custom of singing at a certain time in our solemnities, after an old tradition of the Church: nor is it without a sacred meaning that we sing it on particular days. Halleluia we sing indeed on certain days, but every day we think it. For if in this word is signified the praise of God, though not in the mouth of the flesh, yet surely in the mouth of the heart. "His praise shall ever be in my mouth." But that the title hath Halleluia not once only but twice, is not peculiar to this Psalm, but the former also hat...
Alleluia. St. Augustine repeats this word. But it occurs in the Hebrew, at the end of the preceding psalm, of which this is a continuation, shewing how God pardoned his people, and delivered them from captivity, (Calmet) and mankind from sin. (Haydock) (Fathers) (Berthier)
Glory. Literally, "confess "your sins, thay you may praise God, (Psalm cv.; Haydock) and adore his mercy and providence. (Worthington) Ver. 2. Countries. The Jews from Babylon, and all who were redeemed by Christ. (Calmet)
He was promised immediately after the fall. (Worthington) Ver. 3. Sea. Hebrew miyam, for which we should read imim "the right "denoting the south. (Calmet)
But the sea, or ocean, is properly used in the same sense. (Berthier)
The Ammonites, Philistines, Syrians, and Idumeans, from these four quarters, often reduced the Israelites to servitude, under the judges. (Houbigant)
From all parts, the Jews of the ten tribes returned in the reigns of Darius and Alexander. (Calmet, Diss.)
But the texts ...
