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Works Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Enarrationes in psalmos (CCEL) Expositions on the Book of Psalms
Psalm VIII.

7.

"For I shall see Thy heavens, the works of Thy fingers" (ver. 3). We read that the law was written with the finger of God, and given through Moses, His holy servant: by which finger of God many understand the Holy Ghost. 1 Wherefore if, by the fingers of God, we are right in understanding these same ministers filled with the Holy Ghost, by reason of this same Spirit which worketh in them, since by them all holy Scripture has been completed for us; we understand consistently with this, that, in this place, the books of both Testaments are called "the heavens." Now it is said too of Moses himself, by the magicians of king Pharaoh, when they were conquered by him, "This is the finger of God." 2 And what is written, "The heavens shall be rolled up as a book." 3 Although it be said of this aethereal heaven, yet naturally, according to the same image, the heavens of books are named by allegory. "For I shall see," he says, "the heavens, the works of Thy fingers:" that is, I shall discern and understand the Scriptures, which Thou, by the operation of the Holy Ghost, hast written by Thy ministers.


  1. Exod. xxxi. 18, xxxiv. 28; Deut. ix. 10. [The "arm of the Lord" is understood by the Fathers of the Son; so also the "right hand of the Lord." The "finger" (proceeding from head and hand) is understood of the Holy Spirit. So the Latin hymn, "Dextrae Dei tu Digitus."--C.] ↩

  2. Exod. viii. 19. ↩

  3. Isa. xxxiv. 4. See Rev. vi. 14. ↩

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Expositions on the Book of Psalms

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Faculty of Theology, Patristics and History of the Early Church
Miséricorde, Av. Europe 20, CH 1700 Fribourg

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