Will you show wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise you? Selah.
Read Chapter 88
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
9. But as His good works profited only the predestined to eternal salvation, and not all men, nor even all those among whom they were done, he adds, "Dost thou show wonders among the dead?" (ver. 10). If we suppose this relates to those whose flesh life has left, great wonders have been wrought among the dead, inasmuch as some of them have revived: and in our Lord's descent into Hell, and His ascent as the conqueror of death, a great wonder was wrought among the dead. He refers then in these words, "Dost Thou show wonders among the dead?" to men so dead in heart, that such great works of Christ could not rouse them to the life of faith: for he does not say that wonders are not shown to them because they see them not, but because they do not profit them. For, as he says in this passage, "the whole day have I stretched forth My hands to Thee:" because He ever refers all His works to the will of His Father, constantly declaring that He came to fulfil His Father's will: so also, as an unbe...
Physicians. St. Jerome, "will the giants rise again? "(Haydock)
These were heroes of great renown. (Calmet)
But they were consigned to hell, whence there was no redemption, Job xxv. 5., and Proverbs ix.
The author insinuates that if the true adorers be cut off, God's external glory will be diminished. (Haydock)
This argument is often pressed, Isaias xxxviii., and Psalm cxiii.
Rephaim (Haydock) denotes physicians, as well as giants, Genesis l. 2., and 2 Paralipomenon xvii. 12. The Thalmud sentences "the best of them to hell. "(Amama)
Their power does not extend to the dead. (Berthier)
The psalmist prays to be preserved from death, not expecting to be raised again miraculously. (Worthington)
Yet Christ contemplates his future glorious resurrection. (Haydock)
