Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Psalm 111 vs 4: Be a light to the world




Verse 4 of Psalm 111 reads:

Exortum est in tenebris lumen rectis : misericors, et miserator, et justus. 
To the righteous a light is risen up in darkness: he is merciful, and compassionate and just.

Looking at the words

Exórtum est (it has risen) in ténebris (in the darkness) lumen (the/a light) rectis (to the upright)
=a light to the righteous has risen in the darkness

exorior ortus sum iri  - to rise, spring up, appear
tenebrae, arum, f.  darkness; ignorancey; Sheol; misfortune. danger; horror, shuddering.
lumen, inis, n.  light
rectus, a, um, part. adj. just, right, righteous, upright; the just, just men, the good; steadfast, stable, steady

miséricors, et miserátor, et justus = [he is] abounding in mercy and merciful and just

misericors, cordis  merciful, abounding in mercy.
miserator, oris, m.  merciful, one who shows mercy.
justus, a, um  Of God: just; Of men: as a subst., a just man, the just.

Penetrating the meaning of the verse

The double meaning of the psalm as appplicable both to Christ, as the perfecxt model of the just man, and to those called to imitate him is perhaps most evident in this verse.  

The Gospels contain numerous references to Christ as the light in the darkness, a guide to us in times of trouble; the Gospels give numerous examples of his mercy, compassion and justness.  

Yet we too are called to be the light of the world, and show out our good works.

The Psalm as a whole

1 Beatus vir qui timet Dominum : in mandatis ejus volet nimis
2 Potens in terra erit semen ejus; generatio rectorum benedicetur.
3 Gloria et divitiæ in domo ejus, et justitia ejus manet in sæculum sæculi. 
4 Exortum est in tenebris lumen rectis : misericors, et miserator, et justus. 
5 Jucundus homo qui miseretur et commodat; disponet sermones suos in judicio: quia in æternum non commovebitur.  
6 In memoria æterna erit justus; ab auditione mala non timebit.
7 Paratum cor ejus sperare in Domino, confirmatum est cor ejus; non commovebitur donec despiciat inimicos suos.
8 Dispersit, dedit pauperibus; justitia ejus manet in sæculum sæculi : cornu ejus exaltabitur in gloria.
9 Peccator videbit, et irascetur; dentibus suis fremet et tabescet : desiderium peccatorum peribit.

And for notes on verse 5, continue on here.

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