Send Out Your Light 1 Judge me, God, and contend my case against a nation without loyalty; from a man of deceit and injustice deliver me.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 Sometimes judgment means punishment, sometimes it means discrimination. According to that mode of speech in which judgment means discrimination, "we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ that" a man "may there receive what things he has done in the body, whether it be good or ill." For this same is a discrimination, to distribute good things to the good, evil thing…
Theodoret of Cyrus · AD 458 The psalm is without a title in the Hebrew for the reason of having a similar meaning to the preceding one.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 In the preceding Psalm, David narrated his desire; now he applies prayer to fulfill that desire. And first he sets forth the prayer; second, its effect, at "why are you sorrowful?" Concerning the first he does two things. First he proposes the prayer in general; second, in particular, at "from the unjust man." And first he asks for judgment; second, the effect of the judgment.
2 For you are the God of my refuge. Why have you cast me off? Why do I go about in gloom under the oppression of the enemy?
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 And since patience is needful in order to endure, until the harvest, a certain distinction without separation, if we may so speak (for they are together with us, and therefore not yet separated; the tares however being still tares, and the grain still grain, and therefore they are already distinct); since then a kind of strength is needful, which must be implored of Him who bid…
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 "Because you are my God." Here the reason for the deliverance is set forth; and it is twofold: one on God's part, who has the power; hence he says, "you are my strength." Is. 12: "My strength and my praise is the Lord." And He is called our strength effectively, because it comes from Him. Is.
3 Send your light and your faithfulness — let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain and to your dwellings.
Diodorus of Tarsus · AD 390 Dispatch your reliable assistance (by "light" referring to the support, and by "truth" to its reliability) … so that your reliable help may conduct me to the holy places and your holy temple.
Arnobius the Younger · AD 460 Send your light and overcome my shadows. Send your truth and conquer my lying. Your light and truth lead me to your holy mountain and into your tabernacle. When I draw near, you lead me to the altar of God, where, although old, I become as a youth.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 "Send forth." Here he sets forth advancement in good. And first he asks for the divine goods by which he is advanced; second, he asks for the advancement itself. He asks for two goods: light and truth. One arrives at God by steps of the mind and through knowledge. Heb.
4 And let me come to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and I will give you thanks with the lyre, God my God.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 Now then that we have been led on even to "the Tabernacle," and are placed on "His holy Hill," what hope do we carry with us? "Then will I go in unto the Altar of God." For there is a certain invisible Altar on high, which the unrighteous man approaches not. To that Altar he alone draws nigh, who draws nigh to this one without cause to fear.
5 Why are you bowed down, my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Wait in hope for God, for I will yet give him thanks — the salvation of my face and my God.
Diodorus of Tarsus · AD 390 I shall console myself and … not allow myself to be alarmed by my thoughts but to hope in you, my God, to whom I should also give thanks, for from you it is also possible to hope for salvation.
Theodoret of Cyrus · AD 458 From this it is clear that both psalms have the same meaning. Those using them encourage themselves to have stronger hope, overcome the feeling of discouragement and await the salvation from God that will doubtless be given them.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 "Why are you sorrowful?" etc. All that follows has been expounded above in the preceding Psalm.