Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

Chapter 8: Psalms 131–150

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Psalm 142 with Augustine – Deliverance from Distress I cry to you, LORD; I say, “You are my refuge” (v. 5). When I endured, when I was in trouble, you are my refuge. Therefore I endure. My portion is not here, but in the land of the living. God gives a portion in the land of the living; but he does not give anything without himself. What will he give to one who loves him except himself? Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need (v. 6)— humbled by persecutors, humbled in confession. He humbles himself in human eyes, in the sight of his enemies. Therefore he is lifted up by God both visibly and invisibly. Invisibly the martyrs are already lifted up; they will be lifted up visibly “when the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable” (1 Cor 15:54) in the resurrection of the dead; when this very part of him, against which alone the persecutors of the church could rage, shall be renewed. “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (Matt 10:28). And what perishes? What do they kill? Why then are you anxious about the rest of your members, when you will not lose even a hair? (Luke 21:18) Rescue me from those who pursue me. From whom do you think he prayed to be delivered? People who persecuted him? Is it so? Are mere people our enemies? We have other enemies, invisible, who persecute us in another way. People persecute to kill the body; another persecutes to ensnare the soul (Eph 2:2). There are then other enemies of ours too, from whom we should pray for deliverance, so they will not lead us astray, either by crushing us with troubles of this world, or by alluring us with its enticements. Who are these enemies? Let us see whether they are plainly described by any servant of the Lord, by any soldier, now perfected,