Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

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Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

Psalm 43 with Augustine – Patience to Endure Vindicate me, my God, and plead my cause against an unfaithful nation (v. 1). I do not dread your judgment, because I know your mercy. Vindicate me, he cries. Now, meanwhile, in this life, you do not yet separate my place because I am to live with the “weeds” even to the time of the “harvest” (Matt 13:30). You do not separate my rain from theirs or my light from theirs. Plead my cause (v. 1). Let a difference be made between the one who believes in you, and the one who does not. Our weakness is the same; but our consciences are not: our sufferings are the same; but our longings are not. “The longings of the wicked will come to nothing,” (Ps 112:10) but as for the desire of the righteous, we might well doubt, if he were not sure who promised. He who promises is the object of our desires: He will give us himself. He already has! Patience is needed in order to endure until the harvest, a certain distinction without separation, for they are together with us, and therefore not yet separated, but the weeds are still weeds, and the corn still corn, and therefore they are already distinct. Since then a kind of strength is needed, let us request it from him who invites us to be strong.