Psalm 147: verse 7 - The thawing of our hearts through God's grace

Les Très Riches Heures
du duc de Berry: March

The previous verse we talked about the hard, crystallized ice and hail of winter; today's takes us to spring, as the Word of God is sent out, and his spirit melts hard hearts, and makes the waters of baptism flow within us.

The Greek and Latin:

 

7	V	Emittet verbum suum, et liquefaciet ea: * flabit spiritus ejus, et fluent aquæ.
		ἀποστελεῖ τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ καὶ τήξει αὐτά πνεύσει τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτοῦ καὶ ῥυήσεται ὕδατα

Text notes:

Word by word:

Emíttet (he sends forth) verbum (the word) suum (his) et (and) liquefáciet (he/it will melt) ea (them) flabit (it will blow) spíritus (the spirit/wind) ejus (his) et (and) fluent (they will flow) aquæ (the waters).

Key vocabulary: 

liquefacio, feci, factum, ere 3 to melt, dissolve.

flo, flavi, flatum, flare, to blow.

spiritus, us, m.  breath;  wind;  breath of life, vital spirit; the soul; spirit, disposition; Divine assistance, grace

fluo, fluxi, fluxum, ere 3, Of water, to flow; Of wax, to melt.

Selected translations: 

DR	He shall send out his word, and shall melt them: his wind shall blow, and the waters shall run
Brenton	He shall send out his word, and melt them: he shall blow with his wind, and the waters shall flow.
MD	He sendeth forth His word and it melteth them, He maketh His wind to blow and the waters run
RSV	He sends forth his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow.
Cover	He sendeth out his word, and melteth them; he bloweth with his wind, and the waters flow.

 The seasons as a message from God

Although we have the benefit of Scripture and the Tradition entrusted to the Church to instruct us. several of the Fathers see this verse as a reminder that God's revelations are also embedded in nature as we experience it, and can be deduced from it.

We should meditate then, on the changing seasons and their meaning, rather than just taking them for granted.

St John Chrysostom for example said:

So when it happens each year and comes before your gaze, do not regard the marvel as of little significance: think how wonderful it is, at one time snow coming into view, at another time water, such changes happening in a short space of time. You see, in case any stupid person should think they happen by the natural operation of the elements, and simply regard these things responsible for them in­stead of knowing who is the one giving the commands, he directs his attention to God's ordinance about all these things...It was not the nature of the winds taking the initiative and causing this, you see, but the God who made the winds. 

So what is the key take out message?  It is that we should never despair of God's grace and mercy, for he can melt even the hardest heart, and turn it to repentance.  St Jerome says:  

If anyone, then, should grow cold and die, God will send His Word and melt him. May the Lord grant that our frigidity, too, may thaw, that this crystal of ice be dissolved and melt. Give me any sinner who has no regard for God, who has no heat, but is thoroughly frozen and dead; if at the word of God he is roused to compunction and begins to repent and the hardness of his heart is softened, at that moment are the words fulfilled: 'He sends his word and melts them.'  The Father sends; the Word is sent; the Holy Spirit is given. 

Psalm 147 – Lauda Jerusalem 

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
Lauda, Jerúsalem, Dóminum: * lauda Deum tuum, Sion.	Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem: praise your God, O Sion.
2  Quóniam confortávit seras portárum tuárum: * benedíxit fíliis tuis in te.	Because he has strengthened the bolts of your gates, he has blessed your children within you
3  Qui pósuit fines tuos pacem: * et ádipe fruménti sátiat te.	Who has placed peace in your borders: and fills you with the fat of corn.
4  Qui emíttit elóquium suum terræ: * velóciter currit sermo ejus.	Who sends forth his speech to the earth: his word runs swiftly.
5  Qui dat nivem sicut lanam: * nébulam sicut cínerem spargit.	Who gives snow like wool: scatters mists like ashes.
6  Mittit crystállum suam sicut buccéllas: * ante fáciem frígoris ejus quis sustinébit?	He sends his crystal like morsels: who shall stand before the face of his cold?
7  Emíttet verbum suum, et liquefáciet ea: * flabit spíritus ejus, et fluent aquæ.	He shall send out his word, and shall melt them: his wind shall blow, and the waters shall run.
8  Qui annúntiat verbum suum Jacob: * justítias, et judícia sua Israël.	Who declares his word to Jacob: his justices and his judgments to Israel
9  Non fecit táliter omni natióni: * et judícia sua non manifestávit eis.	He has not done in like manner to every nation: and his judgments he has not made manifest to them. Alleluia.