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

52. Homily 52 On Psalm 141 (142)

HOMILY 52 ON PSALM 141 (142) fI'JI--"I;\'7liF UNDERSTANDING for David. A prayer when he was in the cave.'l The title of this psalm agrees with history and refers to the time when David fled Saul into the wilderness of Engaddi and hid himself in a cave. Saul, unaware of David's hiding place, also entered the cave in order to take care of his needs, I presume,2 but, because the words: 'Of understanding for David' are part of the superscription , it is necessary to take into consideration, also, the spiritual significance of the psalm. Accordingly, this psalm of David is accepted for certain in the name of the Lord; Saul appears as the devil and the cave becomes this world. The devil, furthermore, does not discharge any good into this world, but only dung and corruption. Then, too, the cave symbolizes this world because its light is very imperfect when compared to the light of the future world, albeit the Lord, on coming into this world as light, brightens it up considerably. That is why the Apostle, in relation to the Father, speaks of Him 'who is the brightness of his glory.'3 Now just as David entered the cave in his flight from Saul, the Lord, too, has come into this world and has suffered persecution. 'My complaint I pour out before him.' Without the least reserve the prophet cries: I pour out my whole heart to the Lord, like a man who shows his wound to the physician and tells him of all his sufferings so he may prescribe a remedy. 1 Cf. Ps. 141 (142).1. . 2 1 Kings 24.4; cf. 1 Kings 22.1. 3 Cf. Heb. 1.3. 374 HOMILY 52 375 'Before him I lay bare my distress.' This is the kind of tribulation the Apostle welcomes, the tribulation that, when numbered with the others, works out hope; hope, moreover, does not disappoint.4 'When my spirit is faint within me.' If the evil spirit that strangled Saul does not withdraw from us, the Lord cannot watch over our paths. What are these paths of the just? Justice, good works, integrity, chastity, continency, and all the other kindred virtues. 'In the way along which I walk they have hid a trap for me.' Vices are next door neighbor to the virtues.5 In whatever path a man is determined to walk, traps are set for him: in fasting, in almsgiving, or in any other good works. 'I look to the right to see, but there is no one who pays me heed.' If we construe the psalm in the name of the Lord, it is the Lord Himself who is saying: All My disciples abandoned Me and fled. One only remained, Peter who had promised: 'Even if I should have to die with thee, I will not deny thee,'6 yet he is the one who denied his Lord. Because Peter repented, however, the Lord said: I look to the right to him, and did not say: I look to the left. 'I have lost all means of escape': when He was apprehended by the Jews. 'There is no one who cares for my life.' Indeed, they were all shouting: 'Crucify Him, crucify Him.' 'Attend to my cry, for I am brought low indeed.' Unless a man has been humbled, the Lord does not grant him gracious hearing. What avail for salvation are words. of prayer when the man who utters them is stiff-necked with pride-if we really understand that the Lord says: 'Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart'?7 'Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.' They who fight against us have more strength than we. They are the chiefs of this world. 4 Cf. Rom. 5.3-5; d. Letters 108.18, PL 22.894 (709). 5 Cf. Homily 51 on Ps. 140, p. 365. 6 Matt. 26.35; d. LWer 42.2, PL 22.478 (192). 7 Matt. 11.29; d. Letter 76.1, PL 22.689 (456). 376 SAINT JEROME 'Lead me forth from prison, that I may give thanks to your name': from the prison of this body.s 'That I may give thanks': that I may glorify with praise, like the Lord's: 'I praise thee, Father.'9 'The just wait for me, until you reward me.'10...