Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

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Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

Psalm 146 with Augustine – Hope for the Oppressed Praise the LORD, my soul (v. 1). For sometimes in the hardships and temptations of this present life, whether we want it or not, our soul is troubled. But to remove these troubles, he suggests joy, not yet in reality, but in hope; and says to us when troubled and anxious, sad and sorrowing, Blessed are those . . . whose hope is in the LORD their God (v. 5). He remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed (vv. 6–7). He avenges those who suffer unjustly. For whatever you suffer lawfully is not unjust; you should not say, I have suffered wrong, for I have suffered such a thing in such a place, and such a thing for such a reason. Consider whether you have suffered unjustly. Robbers suffer many things, but they do not suffer unjustly. Wicked men, evildoers, house-breakers, adulterers, seducers, all these suffer many evils, yet is there no injustice in their suffering. It is one thing to suffer wrong; it is another to suffer hardship, or penalty, or annoyance, or punishment. Consider where you are; see what you have done; see why you are suffering; and then you see what you are suffering. Consider what you have done. If you have done right, you are suffering wrong; if you have done wrong, you are suffering right.