I suggested earlier that Psalm 113 is about Christ's baptism in the Jordan and ours.
The first sections point to its prefiguring in the escape from Egypt through the Red Sea, and the crossing of the Jordan into entry into the promised land. The second section deals with the rejection of satan and the empty promises offered by the idols of false gods. And this final section turns to the positive affirmation of our belief - our hope - in the God who created heaven and earth. The verses have something of the feel of a litany to them.
The first three verses of the set as as follows:
17 Domus Israël sperávit in Dómino: * adjútor eórum et protéctor eórum est,
18 Domus Aaron sperávit in Dómino: * adjútor eórum et protéctor eórum est,
19 Qui timent Dóminum, speravérunt in Dómino: * adjútor eórum et protéctor eórum est.
or:
The house of Israel has hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector.
The house of Aaron has hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector.
They that fear the Lord have hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector.
Read/study
Verses 17-19 set up a structure that is repeated in verses 20-22: first Israel, then the House of Aaron, then over all of those 'who fear the Lord':
Domus (the house) Israël (of Israel)...ie the entire people of Israel. Domus (the house) Aaron (of Aaron)...ie the priests. Qui (who) timent (they fear) Dóminum (the Lord)...ie all those who worship God rightly.
speravit (he/she/it has hoped)/speravérunt (they have hoped) in Domino (in the Lord)
adjutor (helper) eorum (of them) et (and) protector (protector/defender) eorum (of them) est (he is)
adjutor (helper) eorum (of them) et (and) protector (protector/defender) eorum (of them) est (he is)
domus, us, /. a house, structure; a house, abode, dwelling place;
adjutor, oris, m. a helper.
protector, oris, m. a protector, defender; a shield, buckler; a
stronghold, fortress; a refuge, deliverer, etc
Meditation
The threefold invocations can be interpreted as referring firstly to the Church, then especially to her priests, and thirdly as referring to all those who have been saved by the workings of providence.
The verses set up a contrast with the previous verses: other nations trust the impotent, man-made idols they can see; Israel by contrast trusts in the invisible but all-powerful God.
As St Augustine tells us:
"For hope that is seen is not hope; for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."
Prayer
Strengthen thou our faith O Lord, be unto us a help and protector.
Contemplation
How can we cultivate a proper filial fear of the Lord? Surely through right worship.
Final section of Psalm 113
17 Domus Israël sperávit in Dómino: * adjútor eórum et protéctor eórum est,
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17 The house of Israel has hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector.
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18 Domus Aaron sperávit in Dómino: * adjútor eórum et protéctor eórum est,
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18 The house of Aaron has hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector.
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19 Qui timent Dóminum, speravérunt in Dómino: * adjútor eórum et protéctor eórum est.
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19 They that fear the Lord have hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector.
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20 Dóminus memor fuit nostri: * et benedíxit nobis:
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20 The Lord has been mindful of us, and has blessed us.
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21 Benedíxit dómui Israël: * benedíxit dómui Aaron.
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He has blessed the house of Israel: he has blessed the house of Aaron.
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22 Benedíxit ómnibus, qui timent Dóminum, * pusíllis cum majóribus.
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21 He has blessed all that fear the Lord, both little and great.
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23 Adjíciat Dóminus super vos: * super vos, et super fílios vestros.
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22 May the Lord add blessings upon you: upon you, and upon your children.
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24 Benedícti vos a Dómino, * qui fecit cælum, et terram.
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23 Blessed be you of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
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25 Cælum cæli Dómino: * terram autem dedit fíliis hóminum.
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24 The heaven of heaven is the Lord's: but the earth he has given to the children of men
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26 Non mórtui laudábunt te, Dómine: * neque omnes, qui descéndunt in inférnum.
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25 The dead shall not praise you, O Lord: nor any of them that go down to hell.
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27 Sed nos qui vívimus, benedícimus Dómino, * ex hoc nunc et usque in sæculum.
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26 But we that live bless the Lord: from this time now and for ever.
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The next set of verse notes on Psalm 113 can be found here.
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