St. Andrea Corsini
Guido Reni
1639
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (To the Greater Glory of God)
From: Sirach 47:2-11
Nathan and David (Continuation)
-------------------------------
[2] As the fat is selected from the peace offering, so David was selected from the sons of Israel. [3] He played with lions as with young goats, and with bears as with lambs of the flock.[4] In his youth did he not kill a giant, and take away reproach from the people, when he lifted his hand with a stone in the sling and struck down the boasting of Goliath? [5] For he appealed to the Lord, the Most High, and he gave him strength in his right hand to slay a man mighty in war, to exalt the power of his people. [6] So they glorified him for his ten thousands, and praised him for the blessings of the Lord, when the glorious diadem was bestowed upon him. [7] For he wiped out his enemies on every side, and annihilated his adversaries the Philistines; he crushed their power even to this day. [8] In all that he did he gave thanks to the Holy One, the Most High, with ascriptions of glory; he sang praise with all his heart, and he loved his Maker. [9] He placed singers before the altar, to make sweet melody with their voices. [10] He gave beauty to the feasts, and arranged their times throughout the year while they praised God’s holy name, and the sanctuary resounded from early morning. [11] The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his power for ever; he gave him the covenant of kings and a throne of glory in Israel.
***********************************************************************
Commentary:
47:1-11. The eulogy of David recalls, above all, his love for God, which led him to give thanks for his victories, acknowledging that it was the Lord who made it possible for him to achieve them (cf. vv. 6-8). One expression of that love was the ends he went to to ensure the splendor of the liturgy (cf. vv. 9-10); in this he (as Aaron before) anticipated the example that would later be set by the high priest Simon. As a reward for the care he took over the liturgy, the Lord showed him great kindness and took away his sins (v. 11).