For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones [is] as a storm [against] the wall.
Ver. 4. For thou hast been a strength to the poor,] &c. That is, thou hast protected thy poor people from the persecution of the Antichristian rout, saith Piscator. Great is God's mercy in succouring his oppressed ones. This is here set forth by a double comparison: first,
A refuge from the storm, a shadow a from the heat, &c.] Where the Church's enemies are compared to raging waters, that bear down all before them; God to a place of refuge to fly unto. Secondly,
a Christ is a shadow, &c., whereas all worldly comforts are but as so many burning glasses to scorch the soul more.