Augustine. Exposition on the Book of Psalms. Schaff, Philip (editor). New York: Christian Literature Publishing Col, 1886. Nicene and Post-Nicene Church Fathers: Series 1: Volume VIII. Re-published 2014, Catholic Way Publishing. Kindle electronic edition, ISBN-13: 978-1-78379-372-3.
As he begins to comment on Psalm 6, Augustine finds a cryptic reference to “the hymns of the eighth” (Augustine Psalms, loc. 318934). Attempting to explain the reference, he suggests it refers to a time of God’s judgment and that the number eight may refer to a time, possibly 8,000 years after the creation. However, because we don’t know when the Lord will come, we avoid too much speculation. Augustine prefers to take the eighth day to indicate the end of the world, that which comes after the time of seven day cycles is broken (Augustine Psalms, loc. 318948). He further assigns the number four to physical elements and three to mental or spiritual elements, thus making seven. When that seven is surpassed, a kind of completion from God comes about.
Because of the expectation of final judgment, then, in verse one, the Church prays that the Lord would not reprove her (Augustine Psalms, loc. 318971). Augustine attempts to lessen the force of God’s anger, avoiding terms which indicate a loss of control of his tempter. All will be changed by the Lord’s correction and reproof, some will be destroyed, but God retains self-control at all times (Augustine Psalms, loc. 318979). The Psalmist goes on, in verse two, to ask for God’s pity because of a troubled soul, which is weak even to its bones. The metaphor is that of having no strength or support. There is need of the great physician, God (Augustine Psalms, loc. 318987). The cry goes out, then, that God would turn and have mercy. “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?” (Augustine Psalms, loc. 318995). The trouble of people without God is not His absence but their turning away. Verse five speaks to the need for prompt repentance. In death, no turning will happen. To describe this further, Augustine adduces the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, in which the rich man, having died, does not expect a change in his condition but hopes for a warning for his family (Augustine Psalms, loc. 319011). Verse six continues by illustrating the sorrow for sin which would move someone to a sick bed and wash that bed with tears. The day may be spent in pursuit of earthly pleasure, but the night is a time of realization and repentance (Augustine Psalms, loc. 319027). Furthermore, in verse seven, the Psalmist says, “Mine eye is disordered by anger.” Augustine asks whether that is the Psalmist’s anger or God’s, in light of a coming day of judgment. Comparing other passages of Scripture, Augustine concludes it is the anger of God revealed to the Psalmist which makes him unable to see clearly (Augustine Psalms, loc. 319042).
Along with this lack of clarity, the Psalmist is “grown old in all mine enemies.” Augustine takes this to indicate the power of habit, which draws us repeatedly into the same problems (Augustine Psalms, loc. 319050). The way to break the pattern is repentant faithfulness to God’s words. Augustine sees no alternative. This is also the conclusion which arises in verse eight, where the Psalmist calls for the ungodly to depart because the Lord has heard and answered prayer (Augustine Psalms, loc. 319066). A result, in verse ten, is that the enemies are vexed. Augustine finds this unlikely prior to the time of final judgment. However, in the last day, those who are condemned in God’s judgment will be vexed, since their mocking disobedience will be entirely ended (Augustine Psalms, loc. 319082). This judgment is entirely consistent with God’s pattern of judgment against all who reject his will.