Lecture 8

^3:22^ Heth. The mercies of the Lord that we are not consumed: because his mercies have not ceased. (Verses 22 through 24 are missing in the Greek; one possible explanation is that the similarity between verses 21 and 24 resulted in these verses being skipped over.)

^3:23^ Heth. I know (Heb. חֲדָשִׁים֙: they are new. “They are new every morning” would perhaps be a better translation of the Latin, but Thomas Aquinas appears to have understood novi here as meaning, “I know.”) every morning, great is your faithfulness.

^3:24^ Heth. The Lord is my portion, said my soul: therefore will I wait for him.

52. Here he sets forth the experience of divine mercy in the present.

And first is the recognition of this: the mercies of the Lord; as it were, he is not punishing as one who is unmerciful, because he punishes less than what is deserved, not reducing us to nothing. Correct me, O Lord, but yet with judgment: and not in fury, lest you bring me to nothing (Jer 10:24).

Second is the Lord’s approval of this: I, I the Lord, know every morning, that is, clearly. Great is your faithfulness, that is, the faithfulness of Jeremiah, who in the midst of suffering recognizes his blessings. Great is your faith: be it done to you as you will (Matt 15:28).

Third, he puts the intended conclusion: the Lord is my portion, because unlike others who despise him, I have chosen him as my portion. The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup (Ps 15:5).