Saint Robert Bellarmine Collection [3 Books] by Bellarmine St. Robert S.J. 1542-1621

Author:Bellarmine, St. Robert, S.J., 1542-1621. [Bellarmine, St. Robert, S.J., 1542-1621.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781786470881
Amazon: B01KE93W88
Publisher: Aeterna Press
Published: 2016-08-13T07:00:00+00:00

PSALM 93

GOD SHALL JUDGE AND PUNISH THE OPPRESSORS OF HIS PEOPLE

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALM

1 In the beginning of this Psalm David lays down one proposition, from which all, if they choose, can plainly learn that not one of the wicked will go unpunished. Here is the proposition: The Lord God is the supreme Judge, most just and most powerful, so that none can resist him. For vengeance is the province of the Judge, and is, therefore, prohibited to private individuals. And though all judges are authorized to punish guilt and crime, yet vengeance, absolutely speaking belongs to God, who will punish the crimes not only of all people, but even of judges, princes, and kings. He, therefore, says, “The Lord is the God to whom revenge belongeth;” that is, our Lord, who, strictly speaking, is the only Lord, who is obeyed by all in heaven and on earth; he is the God “to whom revenge belongeth;” that is, the supreme Judge, who will punish all crime; “the God of revenge hath acted freely;” punished when he liked, for he fears no one, is not an acceptor of persons, no one can impede him, no one can resist him. That appeared in his ejecting the devil and his angels from heaven; in the deluge, through which he destroyed the human race, with the exception of a few; in the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah; in the overwhelming of Pharao and his host in the Red Sea; and in various other signal judgments. I come now to explain the words. The Hebrew for God, in this passage, implies that he is stout, brave, strong, to signify that he takes vengeance on crime with great severity. He is called “the God of revenge,” to give us to understand that vengeance proceeds from him, just as he is called the God of peace, the God of hope, the God of salvation. For God is really a God of revenge, because he not only punishes the guilty, when he sits in judgment on them, but he also takes vengeance on his creatures in innumerable and occult ways. For, through the justice of God, sin often becomes the punishment of sin, and the very things that men most desire and seek for become sources of punishment to them, through God’s justice. “Hath acted freely;” for he that is afraid cannot act freely, and the meaning is, that when God chooses to avenge the sins of mankind, he does so freely, and before the whole world.

2 Having said that God was the avenger of crime, he now calls upon him to do his duty, and, by punishing the wicked, to close the mouths of those who question his providence. “Lift up thyself, thou that judgest the earth;” you that are Judge of the whole world, rise, and ascend thy throne; “render a reward to the proud;” pass sentence of damnation on them, and thus punish the principal crime of mankind; for pride is the queen of vices, and once it is subdued, vice in general is conquered.

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