Psalms 72:17

And if, as David says in the seventy-first [LXX] psalm, "His name remains before the sun and before the moon, from one generation to another," how did he receive what he always had, even before he now received it? Or how is he exalted, being before his exaltation the Most High? Or how did he receive the right of being worshiped, who before he now received it, was always worshiped? It is not an obscure saying but a divine mystery. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God"; but for our sakes afterwards the "Word was made flesh." And the term in question, "highly exalted," does not signify that the essence of the Word was exalted, for he always existed and is "equal to God," but the exaltation is of the human nature.

"Be," therefore, "the name of Him blessed for ever: before the sun endures the name of Him" [Psalm 72:17]. By the sun times are signified. Therefore for everlasting endures the name of Him. For eternity does precede times, and is not bounded by time. "And there shall be blessed in Him all the tribes of the earth." For in Him is fulfilled that which has been promised to Abraham. "For He says not, In seeds, as though in many; but as though in one, And to your Seed, which is Christ." [Galatians 3:16] But to Abraham is said, "In your Seed shall be blessed all the tribes of the earth." [Genesis 22:18] And not the sons of the flesh but the sons of promise are counted in the Seed. [Romans 9:8] "All nations shall magnify Him." As if in explanation there is repeated that which above has been said. For because they shall be blessed in Him, they shall magnify Him; not of themselves making Him to be great, that of Himself is great, but by praising and confessing Him to be great. For thus we magnify God: thus also we say, "Hallowed be Your name," [Matthew 6:9] which is indeed always holy.

And as they kept silence, I went on: "[The Scripture], speaking by David about this Christ, my friends, said no longer that `in His seed' the nations should be blessed, but `in Him.' So it is here: `His name shall rise up for ever above the sun; and in Him shall all nations be blessed.' But if all nations are blessed in Christ, and we of all nations believe in Him, then He is indeed the Christ, and we are those blessed by Him. God formerly gave the sun as an object of worship, as it is written, but no one ever was seen to endure death on account of his faith in the sun; but for the name of Jesus you may see men of every nation who have endured and do endure all sufferings, rather than deny Him. For the word of His truth and wisdom is more ardent and more light-giving than the rays of the sun, and sinks down into the depths of heart and mind. Hence also the Scripture said, `His name shall rise up above the sun.' And again, Zechariah says, `His name is the East.' And speaking of the same, he says that `each tribe shall mourn.'"