Throne of judgment and the Church as the inhabited world

He prepared his throne in judgment. He judges the world with justice and judges peoples with uprightness. Therefore, one must fear such a judge, flee impious thoughts, and dread terrible things. The world is understood as the Church under the Father and the Son, as he said: I and my Father will come and make a dwelling with him; other peoples remain outside the Church. Sing to the Lord who dwells in Zion. Moreover, in every soul where Zion exists and where there is watchfulness, God dwells. He seeks the blood of the nations that have killed his people and remembers them after raising them. Therefore, their memory has perished with noise and will be lifted upon the swords. Yet he remembers those for whom they became a refuge. Arise, Lord my God; lift up your hand; do not forget your poor ones forever. Grieved by these impious words, the prophet again prays, saying these things, to show God to the trial, as he no longer robs the poor. He also remembered the blasphemy of the wicked, saying: Lord, you have heard the desire of the poor; incline your ear to the readiness of their heart. For they longed to break the arm of the sinner and be freed from his tyranny, and this has indeed come to pass. Desire of a good, active mind is prayer. Having seen the heart-knower, he filled it. For I had a heart ready to be saved and to obtain the promised kingdom. Lord.

From heaven he looked down upon the sons of men, to see if there is one who understands, or who seeks God. All that is said concerning God as incorporeal though appearing bodily must be heard in a heavenly manner. For example, it is said that he dwells in the heavens, as if using a temple for the divine powers, those which are in heaven. They are called homonymously after the places in which they are, just as also humans who name themselves after the earth. As in the passage: All the earth shall worship you, and: All the earth cries out with joy. But in the heavens he dwells and also in humans, being present to those who bear the image of the heavenly. And also as the word of creation and providence attaining in all creation. From the most excellent parts this is shown: in the Lord's Prayer, Our Father who art in heaven. And, God in heaven above. And also a small portion of the divine instruction, the appellation of heaven indicates the intelligible substance, in which especially one draws near to seek God. For the heaven of heavens belongs to the Lord. From this he looks down in turn upon those of the lower state, to see if anyone is understanding, seeking God, so that, having found, he might attain the gifts from him. This comes to pass when wickedness together with impiety holds sway, as it is said: There is no mercy, nor truth, nor knowledge of God upon the earth, and upon these things. Thus, when humanity is harmed, how should not the good one have looked upon the Savior, so that, having found some beginning of understanding, he might increase it, and reveal himself to those who seek him? For he reveals himself to those who do not disbelieve in him. Verse 3. All have turned aside. Together they have become useless. There is none doing good, no, not one. He prophesies the change of the nations toward gentleness and piety. Therefore he asks: Not, of the Lord.

When he comes, they will not abandon the beastly way of life, and they will come to know the Lord; for Isaiah also declares: Those to whom nothing was proclaimed about him will see him, and those who did not hear will gain understanding.

Verse 5, 2. There they were seized by fear, though there was nothing to fear, because the Lord is present in the generation of the righteous. For he says that when those who were foretold come to fear the Lord, it will be among those who previously had no fear.

17.109. Then, in the generation that is to come, a community will be established concerning which a decree has been fixed. Psalm 15, verse 1. An inscription dedicated to David. The others inscribed David’s name.