Bellarmine on Psalm XLV: Title, theme & verse 1

Title and theme

Unto the end, for the sons of Core, for the hidden.

In finem, filiis Core, pro arcanis. Psalmus.

A  fair number of more recent interpreters would have this Psalm to have been written in thanksgiving for David’s victories gained over his enemies by God’s help; but the wonder is that this view was held by none of the ancient Fathers. For St. Ambrose, St. Jerome, St. Augustine, St. Basil, St. John Chrysostom, Theodoretus and Euthymius in an overwhelming consensus teach that this Psalm is about the deliverance of the Christian Church from the persecutions of infidels. This interpretation can be confirmed from the Psalm’s title; For the words pro arcanis / for the hidden show plainly enough that the Prophet is not speaking about the past but about the future, and that the time would be hidden to David and he would not know about it unless God revealed it to him. This Psalm is therefore rightly placed after the previous one: in the former is foretold the Church’s exaltation resulting from the spiritual marriage with Christ her Lord and King; in this Psalm are foretold persecution and deliverance from persecution; this deliverance will most especially come to pass, as St. Basil judges, at the consummation of the world.

Verse 1

Our God is our refuge and strength: a helper in troubles, which have found us exceedingly.

Deus noster refugium et virtus; adjutor in tribulationibus quae invenerunt nos nimis.

The soldiers of Christ overcome temptations not less by fleeing them than by enduring them. When it is a question of fleeing, God is the refuge most secure for them; and when it is a question of enduring, God is their (source of) strength and valour: in either time he is “a helper in troubles:” for He helps both by proffering a refuge and by being at hand to win victory. The phrase which have found us exceedingly, indicates that the tribulations suffered by the Church in the beginning were most serious, and they erupted suddenly and unexpectedly: For, as may be read in the Acts of the Apostles, chapters ii. and iii., after the ascension of the Lord and the descent of the Holy Spirit, the Church was being built up and was growing in Jerusalem in great peace and tranquillity. “And continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they took their meat with gladness and simplicity of heart; Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord increased daily together such as should be saved.”[1] But shortly afterwards, there began a most violent persecution, the Apostles were scourged, Stephen was stoned and all the disciples were scattered, with the exception of the Apostles. In Hebrew, the text reads adjutor in tribulationibus inventus es nimis / a helper in troubles thou art found exceedingly, that is, God is found in tribulations to be a very powerful help. Either sense is very beneficial, but the one that touches the truth of the reading sticks to the Septuagint translators who without doubt read that Hebrew word nimsah slightly differently; and they would never have translated what they wrote as invenerunt /have found in any other way, unless they were inexpert. St. Basil notes that many have the words of this verse on their lips: “Our God is our refuge and strength,” but very few utter them with a true intention which may be gathered from the passion they show for running to seek human help, or even the diabolical arts, as if they hold God’s help for nothing. Contrary to such as these, St. David says: “Our God is our refuge and strength,” because he placed little trust in the strength of men, or in their arms or their plans and application.

[1] And continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they took their meat with gladness and simplicity of heart; Quotidie quoque perdurantes unanimiter in templo, et frangentes circa domos panem, sumebant cibum cum exsultatione, et simplicitate cordis, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord increased daily together such as should be saved. collaudantes Deum et habentes gratiam ad omnem plebem. Dominus autem augebat qui salvi fierent quotidie in idipsum. [Act. ii. 46-7]

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.