The Homilies of Saint Jerome, Volume 1 (1–59 on the Psalms)

20. Homily 20 On Psalm 90 (91)

HOMILY 20 ON PSALM 90 (91) nOU WHO DWELL in the shelter [adiutorio] of the Most High.' Now, it is the name, Ezra, that is translated 'adiutorium' and means 'help.' In fact, the prophet Esdra is called Boeth6s, helper.1 He is the one who led back the Jews from the Babylonian Captivity, back into the land of promise. He, therefore, who dwells in Ezra, who dwells in Jesus (in accordance with tropology), who, as the Apostle says,2 built His house without human hands-that house that the Lord had also built for the midwives in Egypt3-'shall abide under the protection of the God of heaven.'4 'Say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, my God.'" I am hemmed in by enemies, You, therefore, are my refuge. '''In whom I will trust." For he will rescue you from the snare of the hunters.'s Note carefully that the psalmist did not say 'I trust,' but 'I will trust: As long as we continue in a life of sin, we certainly are not trusting; if we put an end to sin, then our hope is confident. 'For he will rescue you from the snare of the hunters.' There are many hunters in this world that go about setting traps for our soul. Nemrod6 the giant was a 'mighty hunter before the Lord.'7 Esau, too, was a hunter, for he was a sinner. In all of Holy Writ, 1 Cf. Letter 45.6, PL 22.482 (198); 53.8, PL 22.548 (279). 2 Cf. 2 Cor. 5.1. 3 Cf. Exod. 1.21. 4 Cf. Ps. 90 (91).1; d. Commentarioli in ps. 90.1. 5 Cf. Ps. 90 (91).3. 6 Jerome, 'Nembroth.' 7 Gen. 10.8, 9. 156 HOMILY 20 157 never do we find a hunter that is a faithful servant;8 we do find faithful fishermen. 'For he will rescue you from the snare of the hunters.' 'We were rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare; broken was the snare, and we were freed.'9 What snare is this that has been broken? 'The Lord,' says the Apostle, 'will speedily crush Satan under our feet';10 'that you may recover yourselves from the snare of the devil.'ll You see, then, that the devil is the hunter, eager to lure our souls unto perdition. The devil is master of many snares, deceptions of all kinds. Avarice is one of his pitfalls, detraction is his noose, fornication is his bait. 'And from the destroying word.'12 As long as we are in the state of grace, our soul is at peace; but once we begin to play with sin, then our soul is in trouble and is like a boat tossed about by the waves. 'With his pinions he will cover you.' We find this same thought in Deuteronomy:13 As an eagle, the Lord spreads His wings over us, His nestlings. There the Lord is compared to the eagle guarding its young. The simile, therefore, is appropriate that God protects us as a Father, and as a hen guarding her chicks lest they be snatched away by a hawk; nevertheless, a different interpretation is also permissible. 'With his pinions he will cover you': He will be lifted up on the cross; He will stretch forth His hands to shelter us. 'And under his wings you shall take refuge.' You will look upon His crucified Hands, the prophet says, and if the serpent bite you, you will be healed. Even though you are wandering about in the desert of this world, if a scorpion should sting you, if a viper, if an asp, if any other venomous creature, be assured that you will recover; the serpent has been lifted up in the desert.14 8 Cf. Commentary on Michea 5.6, PL 25.1209 (494). 9 Ps. 123.7; cf. Letter 22.3, PL 22.396 (90). 10 Cf. Rom 16.20. 11 Cf. 2 Tim. 2.26. 12 Cf. Ps. 90 (91).3. 13 Cf. Deut. 32.11. 14 Cf. Num. 21.8, 9. 158 SAINT JEROME 'His truth will surround you with a shield:15 Our shield is spherical; that is to say, it protects us on all sides. It is not only a shield, it is also a bulwark. '0 Lord, you crown us with the shield of your good will.'16 Does anyone really crown...