Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Psalms 6:4

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"Turn, O Lord, and deliver my soul" [Psalm 6:4]. Turning herself she prays that God too would turn to her: as it is said, "Turn ye unto Me, and I will turn unto you, says the Lord." [Zechariah 1:3] Or is it to be understood according to that way of speaking, "Turn, O Lord," that is make me turn, since the soul in this her turning feels difficulty and toil? …

Exposition on Psalm 6 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

And therefore he asks for help, saying, "Turn back," etc. And he touches upon three things: namely, conversion, rescue, and salvation. The eye of a person is not illuminated by the sun unless it has a direct orientation toward it; so too the soul, if it is to receive divine light, must have a direct gaze toward God. And such a direct gaze is always prepared on God's part; but a person turns away, and it is necessary that God convert him, inasmuch as he first turns to us by turning us to himself. …

Exposition on the Psalms of David ↗