Thomas Aquinas, on Ps 49:1

“A psalm for Asaph. The God of gods, the Lord hath spoken: and he hath called the earth. From the rising of the sun, to the going down thereof:”

“Above, the Psalmist invited the nations to trust in God; here he instructs them in the worship of God. The title: "A Psalm of Asaph." This Asaph was one of those placed over the singers of the people, and over those who sang and praised with cymbals, as is said in 1 Chr. 13 and 16 and 25. And it is called a Psalm of Asaph because it is sung by the ministry of Asaph. And it is fitting to the mystery, because Asaph is interpreted as "synagogue," and thus the person of the synagogue is read here. Where, instructed concerning sacrifices, he proposes two things about the worship of God that precede the divine judgment; and this is the first. The second is the disputation of God with the people concerning his worship, at "Hear, O my people." Before the judgment there will be three things: the citation of the judge, the coming of the judge, and the preparation. First, therefore, he sets forth the citation; second, the coming, at "Our God shall come manifestly"; third, the preparation, at "A fire before his sight." Concerning the first he does three things. First, he shows who the summoner is; second, who are summoned, at "And he called"; third, in what order they are summoned, at "Out of Zion." He who summons is great, because he is the God of all, even of gods. Hence he says, "The God of gods, the Lord, has spoken." First, therefore, he is commended for the excellence of his nature, because the God of gods, not an Angel. Jerome has, "the mighty God." But are there many gods? 1 Cor. 8: "For indeed there are many gods and many lords." For "God" is said in three ways: namely, by nature -- and this is but one God. Dt. 6: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord your God is one." Likewise, by participation, and these are many. 1 Cor. 8. Likewise, by designation and opinion, such as idols and stars, Venus and Saturn. Ps. 95: "All the gods of the nations are demons." But certain ones can be called gods in four ways. In one way, by union; and thus Christ alone is called God. Jn. 20: "My Lord and my God." Others by the grace of adoption. Ps. 81: "I said, you are gods," etc. Some by participation in divine power in working miracles. Ex. 7: "I have made you the god of Pharaoh." Others by ministry, as judges. Ex. 22: "You shall not detract from the gods." Likewise, he is commended for his governance, when he says, "The Lord has spoken." He spoke interiorly through inspiration. Ps. 84: "I will hear what the Lord God speaks in me." Likewise, by exterior speech. Heb. 1: "In these last days he has spoken to us," etc. "And he called the earth," namely the whole earth, that is, all the inhabitants of the earth. Hence those summoned are not only some in the middle of the world, but "from the rising of the sun to its setting." Mk. 16: "Going into the whole world," etc. Jer. 16: "The nations shall come to you from the ends of the earth and shall say: Surely our fathers possessed falsehood," etc.”

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