Chapter IX.
The prophet, renewed by the knowledge of divine providence, is not unlike the celestial citizens when compared to animals; however, by the grace of God, they are brought back to human dignity.
25. Considering this, and with a focused mind, the holy Prophet was delighted, who had been troubled before. Hence he says himself: \"For my heart has been delighted, and my reins have been loosened. And I have been reduced to nothing, and I knew not: and I have been made like a beast before you, and I am always with you\" (Ibid., 21 et seq.). \"When I realized,\" he said, \"that God takes care of and regards human affairs, my reins found rest,\" that is, I found rest from great fatigue of old imprudence through knowledge of the good heavenly and grace. For there are indeed certain kidneys of the soul, which are troubled in us through the labor of ignorance: these are dissolved to rest by the heavenly knowledge of doctrine, and they are nourished as if supported by a beautiful fulcrum of heavenly precepts. Then, he says, I understood that I was foolishly weary; because I did not know what is true.
26. And I became like a beast: he added beautifully, with you; for what is man compared to the heavenly beings, if not an irrational beast? For even the stars, though they are bright, fade at the rising of the sun. And Moses said: I am not capable since yesterday, from the time you began to speak with your servant: and I am meek of speech and slow of tongue (Exod. IV). Therefore, just as a beast seems mute in comparison to man, not to mention Christ or the angels. But let no one despair; for God saves both humans and animals. And therefore, because I have learned not from myself, but from you, I will always adhere to you; so that I may cease to be a beast, and you may say to me: But you stand here with me (Deut. V, 31). For a man, encompassed by the grace of God, begins to be, who through folly pretended to be without feeling and ignorant like a beast. For a man is proven to be such if he is capable of reason and grace. Therefore, he rejoices in being separate from dumb animals and being admitted into the fellowship of men, which God visits and protects. For what is man, if not because he is mindful of his Lord, or because he is visited by the Lord?