Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

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Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

would govern as siblings, and not as slaves; but he was allowed to exercise greater harshness upon the ungodly and the uncircumcised, so they could be subjected to his rule. By this he offers no model to conquerors who would inflict lawless oppression upon nations taken in war, for they lack the divine warrant and commission that David had. He was invested with the authority of a king, as well as the character of an avenger of the Church, especially its more ruthless enemies who had thrown off every feeling of humanity and persisted in harassing a people descended from the same ancestors as themselves. He remarks boldly that the Moabites would be a vessel in which he should wash his feet. With the same view he says on Edom I toss my sandal . This expresses disrespect, and suggests that since they had insulted the chosen people of God, they should now be reduced to servitude. God had pledged his word that every nation opposing him would be defeated, and in the face of remaining difficulties and dangers he advances with certainty of success. Two things are implied in the expression, with God we will gain the victory (v. 12). First, that if God withdraws his favor, any supposed human strength will soon fail; and on the other hand, that those whose faith is only in God are armed with courage to overcome every difficulty. To show that it is no mere half credit which he gives God, he adds that he will trample down our enemies . Even in our controversy with other humans, we are not free to share the honor of success with God. Those who attribute the least fraction of strength to themselves apart from God only ruin themselves through their own pride.