The first section of Psalm 113 concludes by telling us just why the earth was so affected:
7 A fácie Dómini mota est terra, * a fácie Dei Jacob.
8 Qui convértit petram in stagna aquárum, * et rupem in fontes aquárum.
petra
Oratio
Turn us O Lord from rock and flinty hills into flowing water; let us drink of the font of grace in your son that we might have everlasting life.
Contemplatio
Cassiodorus bids us contemplate on how all the verses so far fit together:
"We must, I think, interpret rock as the Jews' obstinacy, which He turned into the pools of sacred baptism when He caused them to pass to untroubled religion. The Lord cites this parallel in the gospel: The Lord is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. He also made cliffs, in other words, the barren and hard hearts of the Gentiles, into watered fountains of divine eloquence, for whereas previously they were arid in barren superstitions, they were later heard pouring forth abundant proclamations of the heavenly word."
The psalm so far:
This post completes the notes on the first section of Psalm 113. The next part in the series provides an overview of the second section of the psalm, and notes on the next two verses.
7 A fácie Dómini mota est terra, * a fácie Dei Jacob.
8 Qui convértit petram in stagna aquárum, * et rupem in fontes aquárum.
Or
7 At the presence of the Lord the earth was moved, at the presence of the God of Jacob:
8 Who turned the rock into pools of water, and the stony hill into fountains of waters.
Lectio
A (by) fácie (the presence/face) Dómini (of the Lord) mota est (it was moved) terra (the earth)
facies, ei, f. face, countenance, appearance;
presence.
moveo, mdvi, motum, ere 2, to move, affect, influence, tremble,
shake; to reel, stagger
a (by) fácie (the presence) Dei (of the God) Jacob ([of] Jacob)
Qui (who) convértit (he changes) petram (the rock) in (into) stagna (a pool) aquárum (of water)
converto, verti, versum, ere 3, to turn, change, alter, bring
back; quicken, refresh; bring back; convert, turn from sin;
stagnum, i, n. a pool.
et (and) rupem (a stony hill) in (into) fontes (fountains) aquárum (of water)
rupes, is, f a stony hill.
fons, fontis, m. a fountain, spring; source, fountain, origin;
water courses, channels of water.
Meditatio
Old Testament tests which this verse allude to include Exodus 17,1-17 and Numbers 20,1-13. It's true meaning though can best be seen from the New. 1 Corinthians 10:4 says For they drank from the supernatural Rock which followed them, and the Rock was Christ.
St Augustine draws out this transformation of hard things into living water through grace:
"For He melted Himself, and what may be called His hardness to water those who believe in Him, that He might in them become a fountain of water gushing forth unto everlasting life; John 4:14 because formerly, when He was not known, He seemed hard. Hence they who said, This is an hard saying, who can bear it? John 6:60 were confounded, and waited not until He should flow and stream upon them when the Scriptures were revealed. The rock, that hardness, was turned into pools of water, that stone into fountains of waters, when on His resurrection, He expounded unto them, commencing with Moses and all the prophets, how Christ ought to suffer thus; Luke 24:26-27 and sent the Holy Ghost, of whom He said, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. John 7:37"
Turn us O Lord from rock and flinty hills into flowing water; let us drink of the font of grace in your son that we might have everlasting life.
Contemplatio
Cassiodorus bids us contemplate on how all the verses so far fit together:
"We must, I think, interpret rock as the Jews' obstinacy, which He turned into the pools of sacred baptism when He caused them to pass to untroubled religion. The Lord cites this parallel in the gospel: The Lord is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. He also made cliffs, in other words, the barren and hard hearts of the Gentiles, into watered fountains of divine eloquence, for whereas previously they were arid in barren superstitions, they were later heard pouring forth abundant proclamations of the heavenly word."
The psalm so far:
1 In éxitu Israël de Ægýpto, * domus Jacob de pópulo bárbaro:
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When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a barbarous people:
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2 Facta est Judæa sanctificátio ejus, * Israël potéstas ejus.
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2 Judea was made his sanctuary, Israel his dominion.
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3 Mare vidit, et fugit: * Jordánis convérsus est retrórsum.
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3 The sea saw and fled: Jordan was turned back.
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4 Montes exsultavérunt ut aríetes, * et colles sicut agni óvium.
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4 The mountains skipped like rams, and the hills like the lambs of the flock.
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5 Quid est tibi, mare, quod fugísti: * et tu, Jordánis, quia convérsus es retrórsum?
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5 What ailed you, O you sea, that you fled: and you, O Jordan, that you were turned back?
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6 Montes, exsultástis sicut aríetes, * et colles, sicut agni óvium.
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6 You mountains, that you skipped like rams, and you hills, like lambs of the flock?
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7 A fácie Dómini mota est terra, * a fácie Dei Jacob.
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7 At the presence of the Lord the earth was moved, at the presence of the God of Jacob:
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8 Qui convértit petram in stagna aquárum, * et rupem in fontes aquárum.
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8 Who turned the rock into pools of water, and the stony hill into fountains of waters.
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This post completes the notes on the first section of Psalm 113. The next part in the series provides an overview of the second section of the psalm, and notes on the next two verses.
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