Verba mea auribus. A prayer to God against the iniquities of men.
The Church receives her eternal inheritance through our Lord Jesus Christ who sustains us.
“The title of the Psalm is, ‘For her who receiveth the inheritance.’ The Church then is signified, who receiveth for her inheritance eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ; that she may possess God Himself, in cleaving to whom she may be blessed, according to that, ‘Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth.’ What earth, but that of which it is said, ‘Thou art my hope, my portion in the land of the living’? And again more clearly, ‘The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup.’ And conversely the word Church is said to be God’s inheritance according to that, ‘Ask of Me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance.’ Therefore is God said to be our inheritance, because He feedeth and sustaineth us: and we are said to be God’s inheritance, because He ordereth and ruleth us. Wherefore it is the voice of the Church in this Psalm called to her inheritance, that she too may herself become the inheritance of the Lord.”(4) -St. Augustine
We prove our love to God in the progress we have made in His love.
“‘Arise, O Lord,’ that is, make me arise. But this latter is taken of Christ’s resurrection: but at all events that Scripture, ‘The Lord your God proveth you, that He may know whether ye love Him,’ cannot be taken in any other sense, than, that ye by Him may know, and that it may be made evident to yourselves, what progress ye have made in His love.”(4) -St. Augustine
Sin darkens the mind and the light of understanding: blocking out truth.
“‘The malignant man shall not dwell near Thee:’ that is, he shall not so see, as to cleave to Thee. Hence follows, ‘Nor shall the unrighteous abide before Thine eyes.’ For their eyes, that is, their mind is beaten back by the light of truth, because of the darkness of their sins; by the habitual practice of which they are not able to sustain the brightness of right understanding. Therefore even they who see sometimes, that is, who understand the truth, are yet still unrighteous, they abide not therein through love of those things, which turn away from the truth. For they carry about with them their night, that is, not only the habit, but even the love, of sinning. But if this night shall pass away, that is, if they shall cease to sin, and this love and habit thereof be put to flight, the morning dawns, so that they not only understand, but also cleave to the truth.”(4) -St. Augustine
The friends of God worship in his holy temple; making progress in perfection.
“‘I will worship at Thy holy temple.’ It must be understood too to be spoken not of perfection, but of progress toward perfection: so that the words, ‘I will enter into Thine house,’ should signify perfection. But that this may come to a happy issue, ‘I will’ first, he says, ‘worship at Thy holy temple.’ And perhaps on this account he added, ‘in Thy fear;’ which is a great defence to those that are advancing toward salvation. But when any one shall have arrived there, in him comes to pass that which is written, ‘perfect love casteth out fear.’ For they do not fear Him who is now their friend, to whom it is said, ‘henceforth I will not call you servants, but friends,’ when they have been brought through to that which was promised.”(4) -St. Augustine
God’s justice allows evil doers to reap what they have sown.
“’O Lord, lead me forth in Thy justice because of mine enemies’ (ver. 8). He has here sufficiently plainly declared that he is on his onward road, that is, in progress toward perfection, not yet in perfection itself, when he desires eagerly that he may be led forth. But, ‘in Thy justice,’ not in that which seems so to men. For to return evil for evil seems justice: but it is not His justice of whom it is said, ‘He maketh His sun to rise on the good and on the evil:’ for even when God punishes sinners, He does not inflict His evil on them, but leaves them to their own evil. ‘Behold,’ the Psalmist says, ‘he travailed with injustice, he hath conceived toil, and brought forth iniquity: he hath opened a ditch, and digged it, and hath fallen into the pit which he wrought: his pains shall be turned on his own head, and his iniquity shall descend on his own plate.’ When then God punishes, He punishes as a judge those that transgress the law, not by bringing evil upon them from Himself, but driving them on to that which they have chosen, to fill up the sum of their misery. But man, when he returns evil for evil, does it with an evil will: and on this account is himself first evil, when he would punish evil.”(4) -St. Augustine
Those who love the Lord, rejoice in him and his eternal inheritance.
“‘And let all rejoice that hope in Thee;’ those of course to who taste the Lord is sweet. ‘They will exult for evermore, and Thou wilt dwell in them’ (ver. 11). This will be the exultation for evermore, when the just become the Temple of God, and He, their Indweller, will be their joy. ‘And all that love Thy name shall glory in Thee:’ as when what they love is present for them to enjoy. And well is it said, ‘in Thee,’ as if in possession of the inheritance.”(4) -St. Augustine
Women's Prayer Group In Christ 