Now he adds a song in which he describes how the preaching of the new testament is. But it is, as it were, a concealed opposition to the worship of the Old Testament. As if he wanted to say: In the Old Testament there were many kinds of worship; in the New, instead of all of them, there will be this one kind of worship, namely the sacrifice of praise that
Boasting and giving thanks. In the Old Testament all kinds of cattle were slaughtered; in the New Testament the pursuit of wisdom, 1) works and our merits are as it were strangled, the old man is killed. For he who praises God from his heart and gives thanks to Him confesses that
1) Jenaer and Erlanger: sapientins, studin.
he received everything from God, that he was condemned and unskilled in all good works 2c.
V. 1. that you were angry with me.
2 He thanks God that he has removed his wrath. But the wrath is not only the killing, but that wrath which the law works, the terror of death and the sting of death.
V. 2. Behold, God is my salvation.
3. this is a description of peace in the heart. e) As if he wanted to say: Then one will preach like this: "Behold, GOtt is my salvation." I now have what to lean on; I no longer have an angry GOD, but a GOD of salvation. Although we are now in great danger, and are constantly under the arrows of Satan, yet Christ sustains us, so that he does not wound us or kill us. That is why he is called a God of salvation and not of destruction, because he does not come to destroy, but to make the faithful blessed. On the other hand, the unbelievers do not have God as their God of salvation, but they are defeated and subject to all dangers.
I am safe, and I am not afraid.
4 If there is still some fear left in us, it is either a temptation of Satan or a remnant of the old man. For in Christ there can be nothing but the highest security and joy; as it is said in Rom. 5:1: "Now that we have been justified, we have peace with God.
For God the Lord is my strength.
These words are repeated from the 15th chapter of the second book of Moses. As if to say: Then they will sing, just as Moses sang after Pharaoh was drowned, since he did not praise any of his works or deeds, but simply thanked God for the redemption.
e) In the edition of 1532 follows here in § 3 only: Those who believe have the God of salvation; but the unbelievers find cast down and subjected to all the persecutions of Satan.
And my psalm.
This is the subject of my psalm: by praising, singing and glorifying him, we overcome. That is why he talks about salvation right after that.
And is my salvation.
7. f) Isaiah did not copy this whole verse from Moses without special consideration, in which this last part in particular is to be noted, that the Christians overcome in no other way than by the word, but by boasting and singing this psalm, so that one may know that in the victory nothing at all depends on our powers, on our works, on our righteousness and merit, but only on the preaching of the oral and outward word, which neither Satan nor his members, the godless men, can suffer. Whether thou be afflicted with sadness, or with faintheartedness, or with any other evil, if thou canst break through but so far as to hear the word, thou hast overcome, even as Gideon alone by the sound of the trumpets smote the Midianites [Judges 7:22]. Therefore, it is rightly considered that the enthusiasts must be possessed by Satan, who despise the outward word as if it were invalid, and falsify it. And Satan intends through them exactly what he intended before through the pope. For at that time the holy scripture was covered with empty dreams; but now that it has been torn out of that darkness, he despises it through these vain spirits, and persuades that it should not be respected.
It is therefore no wonder that in the great light of the Word that God has revealed to us at this time, all the hatred of the world is kindled against us, and Satan looks and rages against us through his members more than ever before. For he feels the
f) Instead of § 7-10, the 1532 edition has the following: Further, because he remembereth salvation, so also is Las cross and the pursuits of Satan and the world signified, from which we shall be safe, if we have the word in our hearts. For by the word we must overcome, by thoughts we will never win. Yes, it is the most harmful thing to indulge in thoughts and dispute with Satan at the time of temptation.
Power of the word; and because he knows that we are exceedingly weak for the sake of our flesh, yet it grieves him that we retain the insurmountable weapons, namely the word, with which all his power is beaten to the ground. That he therefore hates the word does not come from a defect in the word, but from the infinite wickedness of this spirit, just as a man of impulse, because his eyes are to blame, cannot stand the sun, which in itself is good and lovely to all.
(9) But we should always remember this verse, that there is no other way to overcome Satan and all evil than the word, especially in spiritual temptations. If a man abandons the word in these temptations, and struggles and fights with his thoughts, then it is all over for him, as we will explain in more detail below in chapter 36. Therefore let us be prepared and sing this verse with Moses and Isaiah: Christ is our salvation, but in no other way than through the "Psalm".
(10) But this salvation or victory is against the conscience, against sin, against the world, against the sects, and against Satan. For one has no other need of salvation than against the cross and the evils, that one, trusting in this "psalm," says: Though I have sinned, yet have I not sinned; though I die, yet will I not die 2c. But without experience, these are empty words, and they are not understood.
V. 3. You will draw water from the well of salvation with joy.
So far he has described the service of the New Testament, namely the preaching through the oral word, with which we praise Christ. But when this word is preached, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit follows. Therefore he says: "You will draw water", that is, the power and effect and consolation of the Holy Spirit, as it is said in Joh. 7, 38. 39. Some take the fountain for holy baptism; but this seems to me to be most simple, that one takes it for the whole gospel, that where the word is, let it be where it will, there also the
Fountain. So here in Wittenberg is a fountain of salvation. So also in other places where the word is taught. The apostles and other preachers of the gospel can also be called "fountains of salvation" for the sake of the word.
V. 4. Give thanks to the Lord.
This is to be understood of the reproduction of the gospel. This water will also flow over to others: others will also be partakers of the sacrifice and spirit of God.
Preach his name (Invocate nomen ejus).
The verbum [invocare] actually means to preach. But Alan is to note that the name of Christ alone is to be preached, as he adds, "Make known his deeds." Adinventiones ejus, that is, "his deeds," that he bore our sin, that he suffered, that he rose again 2c.
Proclaim how his name is so high.
14 The pronoun "his" must be taken everywhere in such a way that there is an emphasis on it, and that all others are excluded with it. As if he wanted to say: This should be a daily practice, this should be preached daily, that Christ's name alone is high and to be exalted. But I take it as a verbal remembrance.
V. 5. for he has proved himself glorious (Quia1 ) superbe fecit).
15 That is, he gloriously overcame sin, death and Satan through his resurrection.
V. 6: Rejoice and glory, O inhabitant of Zion.
(16) You have forgiveness of sins, peace, the Holy Spirit, therefore be joyful and offer the sacrifice of praise to God. Let this be your service, let this be your sacrifice, that you first accept these benefits; then cheerfully give thanks for them, praise them, and be of good cheer.
1) Erlanger: Hui instead of: Huia.