Ps 39:9

“What does he mean when he says, "I have declared your justice"? He did not simply say, "I have given," but "I have declared." What does this mean? That he has justified our race not by right actions, not by toils, not by barter and exchange but by grace alone. Paul, too, made this clear when he said, "But now the justice of God has been made manifest independently of the Law." But the justice of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ and not through any labor and suffering.”

“"I have well declared Thy righteousness in the great congregation" [Psalm 40:9]. He now addresses His Members. He is exhorting them to do what He has already done. He has "declared;" let us declare also. He has suffered; let us "suffer with Him." He has been glorified; we shall be "glorified with Him." "I have declared Thy righteousness in the great congregation." How great an one is that? In all the world. How great is it? Even among all nations. Why among all nations? Because He is "the Seed of Abraham, in whom all nations shall be blessed." Why among all nations? "Because their sound hath gone forth into all lands." "Lo! I will not refrain my lips, O Lord, and that Thou knowest." My lips speak; I will not "refrain" them from speaking. My lips indeed sound audibly in the ears of men; but "Thou knowest" mine heart. "I will not refrain my lips, O Lord; that Thou knowest." It is one thing that man heareth; another that God "knoweth." That the "declaring" of it should not be confined to the lips alone, and that it might not be said of us, "Whatsoever things they say unto you, do; but do not after their works;" or lest it should be said to the people, "praising God with their lips, but not with their heart," "This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me;" do thou make audible confession with thy lips; draw nigh with thine heart also. "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; but with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." In case like unto which that thief was found, who, hanging on the Cross with the Lord, did on the Cross acknowledge the Lord. Others had refused to acknowledge Him while working miracles; this man acknowledged Him when hanging on the Cross. That thief had every other member pierced through; his hands were fastened by the nails; his feet were pierced also; his whole body was fastened to the tree; the body was not disengaged in its other members; the heart and the tongue were disengaged; "with the heart" he "believed; with the tongue" he made "confession." "Remember me, O Lord," he said, "when Thou comest into Thy kingdom." He hoped for the coming of his salvation at a time far remote; he was content to receive it after a long delay; his hope rested on an object far remote. The day, however, was not postponed! The answer was, "This day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise." Paradise hath happy trees! This day hast thou been with Me on "the Tree" of the Cross. This day shalt thou be with Me on "the Tree" of Salvation. ...”

“Blessed David promises to preach God's righteousness, the truth of inspired composition, the admirable salvation and immeasurable mercy in a great assembly gathered by divine grace throughout the whole world. And redeemed nature itself promises to give this response to its salvation by flocking to church, moving its lips in hymn singing, proclaiming God's righteous judgment, recounting his ineffable care and giving a glimpse of the truth of the inspired promises.”

“"I have proclaimed your justice in the Church." Here the manner of proclaiming is presented. Three things, therefore, we ought to proclaim about divine matters: namely the works of justice, the teachings of truth, and the benefits of divine mercy; and these three things he says he has proclaimed. First, he says he has proclaimed the works of justice: "I have proclaimed your justice," which he proclaimed or preached in three ways: publicly, readily, and purely. As to the first he says, "In the great Church." Likewise, in a gathering of many: Jn. 18: "I have spoken openly to the world." Or, "in the great Church," that is, in the Catholic Church, because it is great in power and stability: Mt. 16: "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it." And great in extent: Mal. 1: "From the rising of the sun to its setting, great is your name." As to the second he says, "Behold, I will not restrain my lips"; as if to say, I will not yield to those who forbid: Acts 4: "Grant to your servants to speak your word with confidence." As to the third he says, "You know," that is, you have approved my intention: Jer. 18: "You know all their counsel." Or, "You know," that is, you predestined from eternity.”