Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Psalms 41:2

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"And deliver him not into the hand of his enemy." The enemy is the devil. Let none think of a man his enemy, when he hears these words. Haply one thought of his neighbour, of him who had a suit with him in court, of him who would take from him his own possession, of him who would force him to sell to him his house. Think not this; but that enemy think of, of whom said the Lord, "an enemy hath done this." For He it is who suggests that for things earthly he be worshipped, for overthrow the Christian Name this enemy cannot. …

Exposition on Psalm 41 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

"The Lord preserve him." Here he shows how one merits mercy from the prayer of the saints, who pray for the merciful. And a prayer is set forth for the merciful person in a state of prosperity; second, for one in a state of adversity. In a state of prosperity a man needs two things: namely, to be advanced and preserved in good; second, to be freed from evils. Now there is a threefold good: namely, the good of nature, the good of grace, and the good of glory. …

Exposition on the Psalms of David ↗