David

Dates: c. 1040–970 BC (traditional)
Role: King of Israel, Psalmist

King of Israel and Psalmist. Author of the Psalter.

Preliminaries

DECREES OF THE COUNCIL OF TRENT (SESSION IV). — "the Davidical Psalter of one hundred and fifty psalms" listed among Old Testament canonical books
"the Davidical Psalter of one hundred and fifty psalms"

Pope Clement VIII, Jerome's Prefaces, On Worship

I. THE HELMETED PROLOGUE. — The second book of the Hagiographa; the Psalms comprise five divisions in one volume
"The second with David, which they comprise in five divisions and one volume of Psalms."
II. JEROME TO PAULINUS. — David compared the righteous man to the tree of life in paradise; quoted the psalm about delight in the law of the Lord
"And in the description of the righteous man, when David compared him to the tree of life which is in paradise"
II. JEROME TO PAULINUS. — David says "Unveil my eyes, and I shall consider the wonders of your law"
"'Unveil, says David, my eyes, and I shall consider the wonders of your law.'"
II. JEROME TO PAULINUS. — Jerome compares David to Simonides, Pindar, Alcaeus, Horace, Catullus, and Serenus; David sounds forth Christ on the lyre
"David, our Simonides, our Pindar and Alcaeus, our Horace too, Catullus and Serenus, sounds forth Christ on the lyre"
ON THE WORSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE SCRIPTURES. — Lineage of the Messiah blossoms in David, who passes from the flocks of Bethlehem to the throne of Judah and contemplates the son born from his posterity
"blossoms in David, who passes from the flocks of Bethlehem to the throne of Judah"
ON THE WORSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE SCRIPTURES. — The Psalms of David mark a new world of poetry in Scripture; David and Isaiah are its summit of glory
"it is there that David and Isaiah, seated in the light that carries them away, await the Christian traveler"
ON THE WORSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE SCRIPTURES. — Lacordaire describes the Miserere of David as surpassing all secular poetry
"all that is nothing beside the Miserere of David, the Lamentations of Jeremiah and the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah"
ON THE WORSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE SCRIPTURES. — David wept for his sin; the prophets entrusted their memory to altars, not tombs; the psalms of David are repeated at the same altars three thousand years later
"But when David wept for his sin, when Jeremiah wept over Jerusalem"
ON THE WORSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE SCRIPTURES. — David saw Christ from the heights of Mount Zion; called "the poet of Jehovah"
"David, the poet of Jehovah"

Preface and Praise of Sacred Scripture

Chapter I: On the Excellence, Necessity, and Fruit of Sacred Scripture — The Royal Psalmist calls blessed the one who meditates on God's law day and night
"The Royal Psalmist calls blessed not the one who pours forth the words of God to others, but the one who meditates on his law day and night"
Chapter IV: The Judgments and Examples of the Fathers — The royal Prophet recognized hidden shadows within his own writings; Psalm 118: "Unveil my eyes"
"The royal Prophet, a great part of the sacred writers — that divine instrument of the Holy Spirit"
II. The Richness of the Old Testament — In single combat struck down Goliath with a sling; secured Israel's dominion over Philistines
"Who would not rather praise the courage and strength of David, who in single combat struck down... Goliath"
I. The Old Testament Establishes Faith — Calvin cites David: "The Lord commanded him to curse David" to prove God authors evil
"Calvin, from that saying of David"

Commentary on the Pentateuch of Moses

Canons Bearing a Torch Before the Pentateuch — 2 Samuel 7:12 speaks literally of Solomon yet contains things belonging to Christ alone; David's adultery taught as type of Christ's love for the Church
"by Israel understands both David and Christ"
Canons Bearing a Torch Before the Pentateuch — Balaam by Israel understands both David and Christ
"And the Psalmist in Psalm 109:6"

Chapter I (The Six Days of Creation)

Heaven and Earth: Four Interpretations — Cited for calling it "the heaven of heavens"
"David the heaven of heavens"