The Rod And Ruling

Reges eos in virga ferrea, et tamquam vas figuli confringes eos. Multis aut male opinantibus , aut virtutem et proprietatem dictorum divinorum ignorantibus, adversa haec esse bonitati Dei videntur: ut gentes quas filius Dei in possessionem poposcit, et in hæreditatem accepit, terrore virgæ ferreæ regat, et modo vasis figuli confringat. Neque enim boni cujusquam est, dare et accipere perdenda. Et qui magis vult peccatorum poenitentiam quam mortem non existimatur secundum professionem naturæ suæ esse facturus, si virgə ferrea confringat, quos dari sibi in hæreditatem poposcit. Et primum ne quis temerariae huic et impiæ præsumptioni locus pateat, proprietates ipsæ verborum in romanam linguam translatorum cognoscendae sunt. Namque id quod nobiscum est: Reges eos in virga ferrea, quamquam ipsum reges non tyrannicum neque injustum sit, sed ex æquitatis ac moderationis arbitrio regimen rationale demonstret: tamen molliorem adhuc regentis affectum proprietas Graeca significat. Quod enim nobiscum est, reges eos, cum illis est ποιμανεῖς αὐτοὺς id est, pastoraliter reges: regendi scilicet eos curam affectu pastoris habiturus: Ipse est enim pastor bonus, cujus nos oves sumus, pro quibus animam suam posuit. Ne autem jus tyrannicum significari arbitremur in virga, quæ in virgæ nuncupatione proprietas sit, ex Novo et Veteri Testamento noscendum est. Beatus Paulus ad Corinthios scribens , quos tum ex multis peccatis ad paenitentiam moderata atque utili adhortatione revocabat, ait: Quid vultis? in virga veniam ad vos, an in charitate et spiritu mansuetudinis Numquid Paulo jus prætorium erat, ut in virga comminaretur, et cum officio lictoris ad Ecclesiam Christi adesset? Non utique ita opinandum est. Sed quia omnis Dei sermo, quo ex errore in veritatem Dei retrahimur, quo per comminationem terroremque judicii ad innocentis et sanctæ vitae viam regimur, virga est nuncupatus, per quam intra disciplinam divini metus cohibiti, moderati ac providentis rectoris monitu coercemur: beatus Apostolus conditionem eligendi adventus sui his quos monebat adjecit, utrum mallent eam in severitate doctrinae atque objurgationis adesse, an in spiritu lenitatis. Quod utrumque secundum modestiæ tenorem erat necessarium, ut obedientibus lenior, insolentibus vero severior adveniret. Et hoc quidem ex Novi Testamenti auctoritate præsumptum est. Sanctus Hilarius Pictaviensis, Tractatus super Psalmos, Tractatus in Psalmum II Source: Migne PL 9.282b-283b

You shall rule them with an iron rod, and you shall shatter them like an earthen pot. 1 Because of poor opinion or an ignorance of the power and rightness of the Divine words, many consider this line to be contrary to the benevolence of God, because the peoples which the son of God asked for his possession and to receive as an inheritance, He desires to rule in terror with an iron rod and shatter like an earthen pot. Certainly it is not for anyone good to give and receive what is to be destroyed. And He who wishes more for the repentance of sinners than their death 2 should not  according to the understanding of His own nature be judged that He is going to do this, that He will shatter with an iron rod those given to him as the inheritance for which he asked. Firstly, lest someone consider this passage with such temerity and wicked presumption, the nature of the words which have been translated into the Roman tongue must be correctly understood, for what we have as, 'You shall rule them with an iron rod,' is not a matter of a tyrannical or unjust ruling, but is shown to be a ruling from equity and with a moderate reasonable will, since the Greek meaning signifies a softer intention of ruling. What with us is 'you shall rule them' in Greek is 'You shall shepherd them,' that is, you shall rule in the manner of a shepherd, which is to rule them with the care of a shepherd. Indeed He is the good shepherd, and we are His sheep, for whom He laid down His soul. 3 Therefore we should not judge that the rod signifies some tyrannical rule, but the meaning of the rod must be understood from the New and Old Testaments. The blessed Paul writing to the Corinthians, whom he was recalling from many sins to penitence with a moderate and profitable exhortation, says, 'What do you wish? That I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a spirit of meekness?' 4 Did Paul lack the right of a magistrate so that he might threaten with a rod, and draw near the Church of Christ with duty of a lictor? Let it not be thought. But because every word of God draws us out of error to the truth of God, and by their warnings and the terrors of judgement we are guided on the way of the innocent and holy life, so is the rod spoken of, by which discipline of Divine fear we are kept together, and by the warnings of the moderate and provident guide we are kept within bounds, whether they prefer to be near with strict teaching and denunciation, or they bear a spirit of meekness. Because if a spirit of modesty was necessary, so he would be gentle to the obedient, but he could come with more severity to the insolent. And this must be accepted on the authority of the New and Old Testaments. Saint Hilary of Poitiers, Homilies on the Psalms, from Psalm 2 1 Ps 2.9 2 Ezek 18.32 3 Jn 10.11 4 1 Cor 4.21