Isaias 45:8; Psalm 18:2
Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just: let the earth be opened and bud forth a Saviour. Ps. The heavens show forth the glory of God: and the firmament declareth the work of His hands. Glory be to the Father.
Haydock
Isaias 45
Verse 8. Saviour. Thus the ancient saints thirsted for the coming of Christ. His figure is styled the just. C. xli. 2. 25. — Him. Christ, born of the virgin, in time, and of God from all eternity. I have appointed Cyrus to be his precursor, to set the captives free. C. — He has been spoken of before. But now the prophet turns to Christ alone, who built his Church on a rock. W. — Cyrus had not a right faith in God, and Zorobabel was himself set free, and was not king. S. Jer.
Psalm 18
Verse 2. Firmament. Heb. “expansion,” or region of the stars, far above our atmosphere. Bert. — These two sentences express the same idea, unless the former may denote what we behold, and the firmament be explained of the higher heavens, (H.) where we imagine the throne of God to be placed. Some have taken these expressions in a gross sense, and asserted that the heavens are animated. Job xxxviii. 7. But we must allow that they are figurative expressions, which seem to give a soul to plants, stars, &c. C. — The beautiful works of God extort our admiration. H. — The silence of heaven speaks louder than any trumpet. S. Chrys. — “Who can behold the heavens, and yet be so foolish as not to acknowledge that a God exists? said Cicero, (H.) a learned pagan; (Arusp. and Nat. Deo. 2. C.) though they cannot determine of what nature the Deity may be. Leg. i. M. — Hands. Chal. “Those who look up at the heavens, publish the glory of the Lord; and those who raise their eyes towards the air, announce his works.” C. — The silent works declare God’s Majesty to those who consider them, and his preachers make the same known to their hearers by word of mouth. W. — S. Paul reproaches the philosophers of paganism for not understanding the language of the creation. Rom. i. 20. Job xii. 7. H. — The Church, which is so often styled the kingdom of heaven, makes God known, not only as a Creator, but also as a Redeemer. The figure is here most beautifully preserved. Heaven denotes the Church, as the stars represent apostolic men, who cease not to perform their duties day or night, in happier days as well as under persecution. Jesus Christ is the true sun of justice, enlightening every man that cometh into the world. S. Jo. i. — The Fathers have made these remarks. Bert. — What a consolation must it be for Catholics to think that the true doctrine will never cease, no more than the succession of day and night! We have received our creed, our orders and mission, from the apostles. The chain of succession has never been broken. Unhappy those who make a religion of their own to damn souls! who run, though God send them not! H.