Thomas Aquinas, on Ps 47:8

“With a vehement wind thou shalt break in pieces the ships of Tharsis.”

“"As we have heard." Here the confession and testimony of the witnesses is set forth. And first they confess the truth of what they have heard. "As we have heard," through the preaching of the apostles, "so we have seen," that is, we have perceived it to be true. This they said when they were converted to Christ. Or, so that it may be the conversion of the Jews: "We heard through the prophets, and behold, now we have seen." But it sometimes happens that someone hears something great and does not believe it to be so until he experiences it; and this Jacob said, Gen. 28: "Truly this place is holy," etc. 1 Kgs. 10: "The Queen of Sheba, who came to verify what she had heard, did not, however, believe the greatness of Solomon's wisdom"; and she saw more incredible things in him than she had heard. And so it is with these, who see more than they hear before they come to the faith. And where do we see? "In the city of the Lord of hosts," namely of the heavenly hosts. Here he shows that he can lead you there. And lest it be believed that he is so exalted that you cannot go to him, he says, "In the city of our God." As if to say: he is so much the God of hosts that he is nevertheless our God. And he has founded it, namely this city, not for a time, but "forever." Sir. 26: "Eternal foundations upon solid rock."”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.