I will worship toward your holy temple, and praise your name for your lovingkindness and for your truth: for you have magnified your word above all your name.
Read Chapter 138
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
3. "I will worship toward Thy holy Temple" (ver. 2). What holy Temple? That where we shall dwell, where we shall worship. For we hasten that we may adore. Our heart is pregnant and cometh to the birth, and seeketh where it may bring forth. What is the place where God is to be worshipped? ..."The Temple of God is holy," saith the Apostle, "which Temple ye are." But assuredly, as is manifest, God dwelleth in the Angels. Therefore when our joy, being in spiritual things, not in earthly, taketh up a song to God, to sing before the Angels, that very assembly of Angels is the Temple of God, we worship toward God's Temple. There is a Church below, there is a Church above also; the Church below, in all the faithful; the Church above, in all the Angels. But the God of Angels came down to the Church below, and Angels ministered to Him on earth, while He ministered to us; for, "I came not," saith He, "to be ministered unto, but to minister." ...The Lord of Angels died for man. Therefore, "I will ...
Towards. Thus the Jews acted, when they were at a distance from the temple, and in captivity. (Worthington)
Truth. Which thou hast displayed in my regard.
Holy. Septuagint may have perhaps written Logion, "Word "agreeably to the Hebrew, though our version seems more easy. (Berthier)
St. Jerome (ad Sun.) explains it of Jesus Christ, the Word, whose name is so exalted, (Philippians ii. 9.; Calmet) as well as the divine majesty. (Worthington)
The holy doctor translates, "thou hast magnified thy word above every name. "But thy is joined with name in Hebrew. Others would supply, "thy name and thy word. "(Berthier)
Strength. Septuagint, add, "thy. "(Calmet)
All virtue comes from God. (Haydock)
If my prayer be granted, as formerly, I shall advance in virtue. (St. Chrysostom) (Ephesians iii. 14.)
