Homily 24, on Psalm 96
Latin source: Germanus Morin (ed.), Sancti Hieronymi Presbyteri Tractatus sive Homiliae in Psalmos , Anecdota Maredsolana III (Maredsoli, 1897) — public domain. Psalm numbering follows the Septuagint/Vulgate (Morin).
A Psalm of David, when his land was established. We read in the books of Kingdoms and of Chronicles that David was a warlike man, that he subjected all the surrounding nations, and reduced them under his own power. This for the moment according to the letter, so that we understand it in this way: A Psalm of David which he sang to the Lord, when, his adversaries having been conquered, he restored peace to his land, that is, to Judaea. This according to the history. But if David is interpreted as "strong in hand," and no one is strong in hand except him who conquered all nations, our David, to whom the demons cried out, "Why have you come to torment us before the time, Son of David?" — then this psalm was composed by him, when his land was established. And the holy presbyter said excellently, that this land which is established is our bodies. For truly at that time ought we to sing to God, when our land has been set in order. But let us also speak of it in another way; for it does no harm, if we understand the same thing in two or three ways. For it is written in Solomon: "You shall take these things," he says, "upon the tablet of your heart threefold." It does no harm to say something different, when it is said with one spirit. When his land was established. This land, before our David conquered all, did not have peace, but everywhere there was discord. One nation worshipped Jupiter, another Mercury, another Juno, and all the nations had different idols. The standard of the cross was raised up, and all the land was established.
The Lord has reigned, let the earth exult. Let the whole earth, and all the world, which had before been subjected to demons and idols, rejoice now that the Lord reigns. The Lord has reigned. The Lord the Creator who made you, he himself has reigned. O you who before were subjected under the lord the devil, now you are subjected under the Lord the Creator. Let the many islands be glad — the holy presbyter spoke well of our souls, which are battered this way and that by various thoughts as if by various waves. But let us also call the churches islands. And indeed it is said in another place too: "Many islands shall be converted to me." Do you wish to know that the churches are called islands? It is said in the prophet in the person of the Lord: "Speak," he says, "to the inhabitants of this island." Let the many islands be glad. For just as islands are set in the midst of the sea, so also the churches are set as it were in the midst of the sea of this world, and thus they are battered by persecutions as if by diverse waves. But these islands are battered daily, yet they are not overthrown. They are indeed in the sea, but they have Christ for their foundation, who cannot be moved.
Cloud and darkness are round about him. Two things are round about the Lord, cloud and darkness. I think this is the cloud of which it is said in the Gospel: "And a bright cloud overshadowed them" — at that time when the Lord was transfigured, and the apostles fell down, and a bright cloud overshadowed them. I think these are the clouds to which the Lord commanded that they should not rain rain upon Israel. I think these are the clouds of which it is said in another place: "Your truth reaches even to the clouds" — that truth of the Lord which says in the Gospel: "I am the way and the truth and the life." The truth of God is Christ. The truth of the Lord reaches even to the clouds. The clouds are the apostles and the prophets; to these it was commanded that they should not rain rain upon Israel. For from the time — according to the history, as it is written in the book of Judges — that the fleece was dried up, the rain has run out over the whole world. What is said is this: Israel was dried up, and the rain ran out over the whole world. Cloud and darkness are round about him. "The Lord comes into Egypt upon a light cloud." See what he says. The Lord comes, the Lord and Savior, into this Egypt, in which we are: into the place of darkness, where Pharaoh is, the Lord comes. He comes only upon a light cloud. What is this light cloud? It seems to me to be holy Mary, weighed down by no human seed. This light cloud came into the world, and carries with it the Creator of the world. And what is said there in Isaiah? "The Lord comes into Egypt upon a light cloud: and the idols of Egypt shall be shattered." The Lord comes, and the idols of Egypt were shaken and struck and destroyed. This cloud destroyed the Serapeum in Alexandria; not the emperor, a mortal man, but this cloud which came into Egypt. Cloud and darkness are round about him. We have spoken of the cloud: let us speak of the darkness. The Lord is in darkness. The Lord is either in light, or in darkness. He is in light for beginners: for to beginners he speaks more simply; but those who are perfect, to them he speaks mystically. And indeed to the apostles he did not speak as to the crowds, but he spoke inwardly. And what does he say? "He that has ears to hear, let him hear." So this is what he means, and darkness is round about him: that is, and mysteries are round about him. Therefore it is said also in Exodus: "And all the people," he says, "stood below; but Moses alone entered into Mount Sinai, into the darkness." For not all the people of God could know the mysteries which Moses alone could know. It is said of God: "He made darkness his hiding-place."
Justice and judgment are the setting-right of his throne. What does he mean, the setting-right of his throne? He ought to have said, the stability of his throne. When therefore it is said, the setting-right of his throne, it is shown that whatever is set right was crooked before it was set right. The judgment of God, therefore, before it comes to judge, seems as it were crooked: now the judgment seems to be unjust and crooked. For when wicked men are made rich and the holy are poor, does not the judgment of God seem to be crooked? But when he shall come to judge, so as to render to each one according to his works, at that time his throne shall be as it were set right. And indeed, do you wish to know that it is spoken of the judge?
A fire shall go before him. Let him who is holy not fear this fire; let him who is a sinner fear it. This fire purges the holy, consumes sinners. A fire shall go before him. "Who makes his angels spirits, and his ministers a burning fire." I think these are the fires, that is, his angels. These angels, therefore, that is his fire, shall go before him. These angels — whom do they consume? Whoever is wood, hay, stubble. But he who is gold, silver, and precious stones shall indeed be cast into the fire, but shall be found the cleaner.
His lightnings have shone upon the world. The philosophers say that lightnings are generated from the collision of clouds. For unless the sound is first heard, the lightnings are not seen. This is said also of the flint-stone: that unless they are struck together, the fire in the middle does not come forth. This we have said according to the natural history, and we are still speaking to little ones. We have therefore stated the nature of things, so that from the nature of things we may bring forth something spiritual. The stone which is commonly called flint, if it is alone, cannot send forth fire: but if it is struck together with another stone, the fire in the middle is struck out. Suppose for me that Jeremiah, Isaiah, Elijah are a cloud: and that Paul too, and Peter, and the rest of the apostles are a cloud. These clouds, therefore, when they have been struck together among themselves, send forth the fire in the middle, and it gives light to the world. His lightnings have shone upon the world; the earth saw and was shaken. The lightnings of the apostles shone in the whole world, and the earth was shaken. They spoke, and the whole world heard the thunder of their voice. They had two things together: both a mighty voice, and the splendor of lightnings. These lightnings enlightened those who believed, and burned up those who did not believe.
The mountains flowed away like wax. To me these mountains seem to be the powers of the demons. Or certainly the mountains are proud men, whoever they be. This fire does not consume the humble, but whoever are mountainous. And indeed, whenever a lightning-bolt is sent forth, it strikes with difficulty those who are in the valley, but always those who are on the mountain.
The heavens have announced his justice. These are the heavens of which it is said also in the eighteenth psalm, "The heavens declare the glory of God." The heavens announce his justice: the earth does not announce it. Whoever is heaven does not fear the just God: whoever is of the heavens does not fear to announce his justice: whoever is holy and is heaven, he does not fear the just God. But the sinner seeks a merciful God.