Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouts by reason of wine.
Read Chapter 78
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
32. "God heard, and He despised:" that is, He gave heed and took vengeance. "And unto nothing He brought Israel exceedingly" (ver. 60). For when God despised, what were they who by God's help were what they were? But doubtless he is commemorating the doing of that thing, when they were conquered by the Philistines in the time of Heli the priest, and the Ark of the Lord was taken, and with great slaughter they were laid low. This it is that he speaketh of. "And He rejected the tabernacle of Selom, His tabernacle, where He dwelled among men" (ver. 61). He hath elegantly explained why He rejected His tabernacle, when he saith, "where He dwelled among men." When therefore they were not worthy for Him to dwell among, why should He not reject the tabernacle, which indeed not for Himself He had established, but for their sakes, whom now He judged unworthy for Him to dwell among. "And He gave over unto captivity their strength, and their beauty unto the hands of the enemy." The very Ark whereb...
Surfeited. St. Jerome, Chaldean, agree in this sense. But Hebrew may admit another, not quite so harsh, (Calmet) "like a hero who shouts for (Montanus) or sing after wine "(Haydock) dialalon ex oinou, "rendered talkative by wine. "(Symmachus)
God allowed the Philistines to prosper for a time; but, at last, he covered them with ignominy. (Haydock)
We must reflect that the Oriental languages are bolder in their expressions than ours, and that this is simply a comparison, not more astonishing than that used by our Saviour, when he says that he will come like a thief in the night. (Berthier)
If the Spirit of God had not consecrated such comparisons, no one durst have used them. (St. Augustine)
God rose to punish the infidels, and to preserve his Church. (Worthington)
The psalmist speaks of him as of a man invigorated by wine, and filling all with confusion. (Menochius)
