Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

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Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

Psalm 74 with Augustine – The Sweetness of TrustingWhat We Cannot See Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace (v. 21). For pride has confounded them. May the poor and needy praise your name . You see how sweet poverty should be to you. You see that poor and helpless people belong to God, that “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:3). Who are the poor in spirit? The humble—those who tremble at the words of God, confessing their sins, neither on their own merits, nor relying on their own righteousness. Who are the poor in spirit? Those who praise God when they do anything good, but when they do anything evil, accuse themselves. Rise up, O God, and defend your cause (v. 22). Because I am not able to point to my God, they mock me as if I was following an empty thing. And not only heathen, or Jew, or heretic, but sometimes even a Christian grimaces when the promises of God are being preached, when a future resurrection is being foretold. And still even they, though already washed with the water of eternal salvation, perhaps say, “and what human has risen from the dead?” And, “I have not heard my father speaking out of the grave, since I buried him!” What shall I do with such people? Shall I show them what they do not see? I am not able. And not for their sake should God become visible. “I see nothing,” they say. “What am I to believe?” Fool, your body is seen, but who sees your soul? How do I know that you are alive, when I cannot see your soul? How do I know? They will answer, “Because I speak, because I walk, because I work.” Fool, by the operations of the body I know you are alive; can you not know the Creator by the works of creation?