Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

Chapter 8: Psalms 131–150

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Psalm 132 with Augustine – True Humility Let us go to his dwelling place (v. 7). Whose? The Lord God of Jacob. Those who enter to dwell in it also enter so that he may dwell in them. You enter your house that you may dwell in it; into the house of God, so that he may dwell in you. When he has begun to dwell in you, he will make you happy. For if he does not, you will be miserable. Also, her poor I will satisfy with food (v. 15). Let us be poor, and we shall then be satisfied. Many who trust in the world and are proud worship Christ, but are not satisfied, for they have been satisfied and abound in their pride. These have abundance, and therefore eat, but are not satisfied. They worship Christ, they honor Christ, they pray to Christ; but they are not satisfied with his wisdom and righteousness. Why? Because they are not poor. For the poor, that is the humble in heart, the more they hunger, the more they eat; and the emptier they are of the world, the hungrier they are. Those who are full refuse whatever you give them, because they are full. Give me one who hungers, for “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matt 5:6). Sometimes, however, you find a poor man who is proud, and a rich man who is humble. God’s poor are therefore poor in spirit, not necessarily in their purse. Sometimes a man has a full house, rich lands, many estates, much gold and silver, but he knows he must not trust in his wealth. He humbles himself before God. He does good with his possessions. In this way his heart is raised to God, so that he is aware that riches do not profit him, but that they even impede his feet, unless he rules and aids them. One who is satisfied with bread is counted among