Augustine of Hippo

"I will incline mine ear to the parable, I will show my proposition upon the harp" [Psalm 49:4]....And why "to a parable"? Because "now we see through a glass darkly," [1 Corinthians 13:12] as says the Apostle; "while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord." [2 Corinthians 5:6] For our vision is not yet that face to face, where there are no longer parables, where there no longer are riddles and comparisons. Whatever now we understand we behold through riddles. …

Exposition on Psalm 49 ↗

Ambrose of Milan

The Lord opens up a theme or problem that has been closed when he finds an apt organ and a chosen instrument. Call it a harp. Such as this was Paul. He rang out the sweet canticle of grace, awaking all the strings of his harp in harmonious sound; plucking the inner chords by grace of the Holy Spirit and playing in ringing tones both interiorly and exteriorly.… Excellent harp, where a person's life is in tune with his faith, and his flesh with his soul. Sweet harp, where discipline of lifestyle sings a canticle.

Commentaries on the Twelve Davidic Psalms, On Psalm 49 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

"I will incline." Here he treats of the second kind of teaching, namely of obscure words; and two things are necessary concerning them. First, that one study to understand. Second, that one study to explain them to others. With respect to the first he says, "I will incline my ear to a parable." A parable is a certain saying when it has an obscure similitude; as if to say: I will devote study to understanding the sayings of others. Prov. …

Exposition on the Psalms of David ↗