Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary: Psalm 21 (Deus Deus Meus)
Ver. 28. Remember. Our Saviour says, Do this in remembrance of me. (Haydock) --- We must recollect what Christ has suffered and done for us, what was the condition of the world at his coming, and what the behaviour of his first disciples. These reflections will surely fill our breasts with love, admiration, and shame. The first Christians met together to break bread, they preached the word, and brought many to the faith. (Berthier) --- We cannot explain this of David, except in a very exaggerated sense. But all is clear if we understand it of Jesus Christ, whose faith many nations have embraced, assembling to celebrate his sacred mysteries, and the festivals of his birth, &c. (Calmet) --- The Gentiles shall enter into themselves, when they shall hear his doctrine, and embrace the true religion. (Worthington) --- In his. Hebrew, "in thy." The sense is the same. The German version follows the Vulgate, which Houbigant also approves. (Berthier)
Ver. 29. Nations. God placed David on the throne. He caused both Jews and Gentiles to submit to Jesus Christ, Matthew xxviii. 18., and Romans iii. 29. (Theodoret)
Ver. 30. Fat ones. Many ancient psalters read, "the rich," which is the true sense. --- Adored. This may be taken as a prediction. (Calmet) --- Hebrew is in the future, "they shall," &c. (Berthier) --- The rich of this world have no relish for the sacred nourishment. (Calmet) --- Those who understand, and comply with their duty, amid the riches with which they are not possessed, but only surrounded, find the greatest comfort in participating of it along with their poorest brethren, who may be equal, or superior to them, in the eyes of their common judge. The original dishnim, (Haydock) comes from a root, which signifies to reduce a victim to ashes, in testimony of approbation. It may here designate priests, as well as the rich, and princes. --- Earth. Dying, (Berthier) or to manifest their adoration in the Church. (Eusebius) --- All shall adore Jesus Christ, particularly those who receive his sacred body at the hour of death. Hebrew, "who go down to the dust." (Haydock)
Ver. 31. Shall. Hebrew, "and his soul he will not vivify," which gives no distinct meaning. Some join it with the preceding, All shall adore....yet he will not restore him to life. The living alone shall be able to sound forth God's praises, as it is often observed, Psalm vi. 6., and Isaias xxxviii. 18. (Calmet) --- Chaldean, "the Lord will not give life to the wicked; but the race of Abraham shall praise him." Others again explain it of Jesus Christ, "because he has not spared his life," he shall see a long-lived seed (Isaias liii. 10.) in the Church, which shall praise him for ever. (Haydock) --- V. sometimes signifies "because," and though it is not clear that it has this meaning here, the explication is very beautiful. None of the Greek versions admit the negation. They agree with the Vulgate; only Theodotion reads, "his soul;" making the prophet speak instead of the Messias. It is suspected that the Septuagint read i instead of v, and lu for la. The Masorets acknowledge 15 places in which this change would be proper. The learned observe many more. Thus 1 Paralipomenon xi. 20., in Hebrew we read that Abisai had "no (la) name among the three;" whereas it ought to be the reverse, (lu) ei nomen inter tres, "he was renowned," &c. (Berthier) --- St. Jerome agrees with the present Hebrew, "and his soul shall not live." Protestants, "and none can keep alive his own soul." Symmachus, "whose soul shall live, and seed shall serve him." (Haydock) --- "The Messias shall live for God, and his posterity shall serve him," (Berthier) as the faithful shall never cease to be influenced by his spirit, to testify their gratitude. (Haydock)
Ver. 32. To, or by the Lord, who opened the mouths of the prophets to foretell the propagation of the Christian Church. (Calmet) --- Protestants, "It shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation: They shall come and shall declare," &c. (Haydock) --- Heavens is added by the Vulgate to shew that the apostles, who are styled the heavens, (Psalm xviii.) shall proclaim these things. (Berthier) --- Septuagint, &c., omit this word, as well as many Latin copies. One generation shall deliver the true doctrine to another, as long as the world shall last. (Calmet) --- Which. Hebrew ci has this sense, (Berthier; Genesis iv. 25,) whom Cain slew, as all the versions agree, and St. Jerome renders quem fecit. (Haydock) --- Yet many translate, "that he hath done these things," (Berthier) delivering me from danger, and raising the Messias to life again, &c. (Calmet) --- Thus Jesus foretold, with his dying breath, the glory which should always be given to his Father, in his true Church. (Berthier) --- This is the generation which should be honoured with the title of children of God, and of Christ, (Haydock) and should partake of his sacraments. (Menochius)
Bible Text & Cross-references:
Christ's passion: and the conversion of the Gentiles.
1 Unto the end, for the morning protection, a psalm for David.
2 O *God, my God, look upon me: why hast thou forsaken me?
Far from my salvation are the words of my sins.
3 O my God, I shall cry by day, and thou wilt not hear: and by night, and it shall not be reputed as folly in me.
4 But thou dwellest in the holy place, the praise of Israel.
5 In thee have our fathers hoped; they have hoped, and thou hast delivered them.
6 They cried to thee, and they were saved: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
7 But I am a worm, and no man: the reproach of men, and the outcast of the people.
8 *All they that saw me have laughed me to scorn: they have spoken with the lips, and wagged the head.
9 *He hoped in the Lord, let him deliver him: let him save him, seeing he delighteth in him.
10 For thou art he that hast drawn me out of the womb: my hope from the breasts of my mother. 11 I was cast upon thee from the womb:
From my mother's womb thou art my God, 12 depart not from me.
For tribulation is very near: for there is none to help me.
13 Many calves have surrounded me: fat bulls have besieged me.
14 They have opened their mouths against me, as a lion ravening and roaring.
15 I am poured out like water; and all my bones are scattered. My heart is become like wax melting in the midst of my bowels.
16 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue hath cleaved to my jaws: and thou hast brought me down into the dust of death.
17 For many dogs have encompassed me; the council of the malignant hath besieged me.
They have dug my hands and feet: 18 They have numbered all my bones.
And they have looked and stared upon me. 19 *They parted my garments amongst them; and upon my vesture they cast lots.
20 But thou, O Lord, remove not thy help to a distance from me; look towards my defence.
21 Deliver, O God, my soul from the sword: my only one from the hand of the dog.
22 Save me from the lion's mouth; and my lowness from the horns of the unicorns.
23 *I will declare thy name to my brethren: in the midst of the church will I praise thee.
24 Ye that fear the Lord, praise him: all ye, the seed of Jacob, glorify him.
25 Let all the seed of Israel fear him: because he hath not slighted nor despised the supplication of the poor man.
Neither hath he turned away his face from me: and when I cried to him he heard me.
26 With thee is my praise in a great church: I will pay my vows in the sight of them that fear him.
27 The poor shall eat and shall be filled; and they shall praise the Lord that seek him: their hearts shall live for ever and ever.
28 All the ends of the earth shall remember, and shall be converted to the Lord.
And all the kindreds of the Gentiles shall adore in his sight.
29 For the kingdom is the Lord's; and he shall have dominion over the nations.
30 All the fat ones of the earth have eaten and have adored: all they that go down to the earth shall fall before him.
31 And to him my soul shall live: and my seed shall serve him.
32 There shall be declared to the Lord a generation to come: and the heavens shall shew forth his justice to a people that shall be born, which the Lord hath made.
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1: Matthew xxvii. 46.; Mark xv. 34.
8: Matthew xxvii. 39.; Mark xv. 29.
9: Matthew xxvii. 43.
19: Matthew xxvii. 35.; John xix. 23. and 24.
23: Hebrews ii. 12.