THE PROCESSION OF THE THANKFUL This liturgical psalm is a praise of thanksgiving, presented by those coming into the temple and the courts of the Lord. It was most probably presented together with the sacrifices of thanksgiving to God. It is an ‘antiphonal’ psalm, presented by the people or the congregation in response to the chorus of the singers of praise. It is a short poem, yet filled with vitality, used by the pure heart. The key of his psalm is that rejoicing in the Lord is the true motive for faith and worship; through which the hearts of men are lifted up to God. This psalm is Messianic, calling humanity to experience the joy in the gospel of Christ, to enjoy the life of conquest, and to enter with daring into the temple of the Lord with the spirit of exultation and shouting. Its phrases may be few, yet they are huge with their great topics. I wish its seeds are planted in your hearts; and the storehouses are prepared to receive the crop of the Lord1. (St. Augustine) 1- A call on humanity to make a joyful shout to the Lord 1 - 3 2- A call on humanity to enjoy the divine presence 4 – 5 The title: A song of praise for the Lord’s faithfulness to His people. A psalm of thanksgiving. According to the Septuagint and the Coptic versions, it came as: ‘Of David about confession’. And according to St. Augustine: ‘A psalm of Confession’. 1- A CALL ON HUMANITY TO MAKE A JOYFUL SHOUT TO THE LORD: “Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!” (1) Although this psalm concerns worship in the temple during the service of the sacrifices of thanksgiving, but the true worshipper, thanking God for His multitude of gifts, will have his heart open on all mankind, and will desire that all the lands turn into one exultant chorus, shouting with all might, and worshipping God with an unutterable joy. 1 On Ps. 100 (99). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 153 The psalmist says. ““Blessed are the people who know how to shout” . Here he calls upon all the lands to make a joyful shout to the Lord. It is as though God created all mankind, so that none of them would be denied, not only of rejoicing, but also of a un-expressible shouting. The creation of heaven and earth, and of man himself, call upon us to shout unceasingly to the Lord. For being promised to see the Creator Himself, this would surpasses any other gift, As that cost Him a salvation of non-measurable extent. This psalm instigates us to shout to the Lord; a call not confined to a particular corner of the earth, or to a particular group of people; but let us perceive that it plants blessing on all sides, and a great gladness everywhere. Can the whole earth hear His voice? Yes, it actually does, and strongly exults in the Lord … For the blessing covers all sides, as the church started to extend from Jerusalem to all the corners of the earth. Wherever preaching goes, you will find the pious mixed with the wicked; Every location is filled with the murmur and groans of the wicked, mixed with the joyful exultation of the righteous. What does shouting together with confession, which we find in the title of this psalm, mean? It is clearly expressed in another psalm, saying: “Blessed is the people who know how to shout”.. Shouting is not uttering bare words; but is an expression by a kind of mind filled with an abundance of joy, and feelings of gladness with no limit. When do we shout? When we thank for what we cannot utter by words! In the whole creation, the earth and the sea with what they contain, we notice that everything has its origin and cause, that bear the power of production, the system of birth, and a limit for existence… Generations follow one another without confusion; stars and celestial bodies move according to a certain system … I watch the whole creation as far as I can perceive… When shall I be able to perceive what is inside me? How can I perceive what is above my limitations?! Yet, the human heart was promised to sea God, according to its purity. That is the counsel of the Holy Scripture! Look into yourself, and see what are you! … What do you see? … A human being who sees God! https://coptic-treasures.com/ 154 I know for sure that this is not for the worthiness of man, but according to the mercy of God. Let us give God thanks for His mercy1! (St. Augustine) I do not dare to set limits on the whole might of God, or to confine it to a narrow part of the earth; He, whom the heaven and earth do not accommodate. Every believer is judged, not according to his dwelling place here or there, but according to the extent of the (wilderness) of his faith! … The true worshippers worship the Father, neither in Jerusalem, nor on Mount Gerzim2! (St. Jerome) By saying: “all you land” the psalmist means all the inhabitants of the earth. He calls on them to shout to God with the song of conquest, for He has conquered our enemy; and to worship the Lord with joy. For His authority is gentle, and His yoke is light, let us then not work with boredom and depression, for He is the One who made us, and brought us from nothing to existence; It is not us who created each other, nor our parents are the cause of our birth; but it is God who command the fetus to form in the womb. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing” (2) God calls upon humanity to worship Him, not as a duty, we are committed to do, but to enjoy His presence, with our hearts exultant with joy; That we rejoice in Him, and He rejoices in our joy and gladness. “Serve the Lord with gladness”. Although servitude is usually bitter, and all slaves are far from being happy; Yet do not fear the servitude to the Lord; in which there will be no sighs, no feeling of vengeance; and no selling to another master. It is a sweet servitude, for we are all saved. It is, O brethren, a great happiness to be a slave in that great household; even if you are in chains! … Do not fear, O chained slaves; Refer these chains to your worthiness; Confess to the Lord in your chains, and they will turn into jewelry … 1 On Ps. 100 (99). 2 Letter 58: 3. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 155 You are both a slave and free: You are a slave, because as such you are created, and free, because you are beloved by God who created you. Yes, you are free, because you love Him, who created you. So do not serve Him with despair, for that would not set you free of service, but would rather make you a bad slave. You are a slave to the Lord, and free in the Lord. Do not seek to be liberated; Do not forsake Him who set you free1. Whenever you lie in bed, remember the blessings of God, and His care for you, and give Him thanks. Being filled with these thoughts, you will rejoice in the spirit; Then, in the sleep of the body, there will be an exultation of your soul; and the closing of your eyes would be a true knowledge of God. With your silence, while being filled with good feelings, you would be glorifying the mighty God from the whole heart, and from all strength, and offering God a praise that is lifted up high. For, when there is no evil in man, thanksgiving alone will please God more than any valuable offering to Him; to whom is the glory, to the age of ages. Amen. (St. Anthony the Great) “Come before His presence with singing”. Do not rejoice only with your tongues; Your consciences should partake of your joy2. (St. Augustine) “Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people, and the sheep of his pasture” (3) Here he talks about the Lord Jesus, whom the Jews assumed not to be God. “Know that the Lord, He is God”. Do not let the Lord be despised in your sight! You scourged Him, spat on Him, crowned Him with thorns, clothed Him with ridicule, nailed Him to the cross, crucified Him, stabbed Him with a spear, and put guards on His tomb. “It is God who has made us, and not we ourselves.” You lifted yourselves up, and glorified yourselves, as though you created yourselves. It would be better for you, to let Him, who created you, make you perfect. 1 On Ps. 100 (99). 2 On Ps. 100 (99). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 156 “We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture” …He forsook the ninety-nine, and went to search for the one lost. And when He found him, He put him on His shoulders, and saved him with His blood. That Shepherd fearlessly died for the sake of His flock; He, by whose resurrection, He acquired His flock1. (St. Augustine) We beseech You Lord, Be our helper and keeper; Save those with sorrow; Have mercy on the humble; Lift up the fallen; Proclaim Yourself to the needy; Heal the sick; Bring back the lost of Your people; Satisfy the hungry; Liberate the captives; Give strength to the weak; Comfort the faint in heart “That all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God” (1 Kings 8: 60); that Jesus Christ is Your Son, and that “we are the sheep of Your pasture2” (3). (St. Clement the Roman) 2- A CALL ON HUMANITY TO ENJOY THE DIVINE PRESENCE: “Enter into Hs gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name” (4) “Enter into His gates with confession”. At His gates, start with confession. Confess that it was not you who created yourselves. Therefore, give thanks to Him who created you. Let your goodness come from Him, For if He forsakes you, your evil will come upon you. “Enter His gates with confession”. Let the flock enter through the gates, and not stay outside, lest they would be devoured by wolves. Let your start be “confession”; as it is written in another psalm: “Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving (confession)” (Psalm 147: 7). Even after your entrance into His courts, Confess! 1 On Ps. 100 (99). 2 Epistle, 56; 4. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 157 Once there is no more need for confession on your sins, In such comfort, you will be like angels. Notice that I say, that there will be no confession of sins; but I do not say that there will be no confession altogether. As there will be confession of thanksgiving; You will forever confess that He is God, that you are His creatures, protected by Him. (St. Augustine) His gates are the works of repentance that bring us to Him. For this, the prophet says: “Enter into His gates with (confession); Whereas, into His “courts”, which are His holy temples, enter with praise. Namely, our way will be first to purify ourselves with confession and the works of repentance; Then, we shall dare to enter into His courts, and practice praise. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) `“For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth (faithfulness) endures to all generations” (5) Do not think that you will get bored of praising Him. Your praise to Him is like food; the more you praise Him, the stronger you will be; And He, whom you praise, will be sweeter to you. “His mercy is everlasting” He will not stop being merciful after liberating you. Being merciful, He will protect you even in the everlasting life; “His mercy is everlasting, and His truth (Faithfulness) endures to all generations”. Whether in the earthly generation, which produces mortals, or the heavenly generation, that produces immortals, His faithfulness is here and there1. (St. Augustine) A Cry-out to the Holy Trinity for the enjoyment of praise: We end our commentary on this psalm, which calls upon us to praise the Lord in this world, as well as in the eternal life, with a cry-out from the depth of heart of St. (Mar) Jacob El-Serougi, seeking from the Holy Trinity to grant him the enjoyment of praise. O merciful Father, who saved us by the blood of His only-begotten Son; From You I draw the strength to describe Your Son. O the true Son, who came down to liberate us; By, and for Your sake, I talk about Your transfiguration; 1 On Ps. 100 (99). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 158 O Holy Spirit, the Instructor of the ignorant and the simple; By You I understand, and compose an amazing poem; O holy Father, Grant me a word, for Your Son’s sake, to talk with experience and with abundance. O begotten Son, Proclaim in me Your beauty for Your Father’s sake, that my mouth would sing loudly a new praise. O Holy Spirit, the Intercessor, by whom all preaching is proclaimed; By You my weak tongue would be capable of Your praise; O holy Father, who sent His beloved Son to become a Brother to us; Open my lips to talk about Your only-begotten Son. O the only-begotten Son, who gave us all the wealth of His Father, Let my word move with the riches of Your secrets to the listeners. O Holy Spirit, who came down, and paved the way before the disciples; Pave the way before this poem, which stirred-up to shine from my heart. O Holy Father, from whom all are, and all what came to be, was for His sake; From You I draw support for my limitless poem. O Holy Son, in whose hand all are, and without whom nothing would be (John 1: 3); By You I offer to Your Father a praise, filled with discernment. O Holy Spirit, the treasure of prophecy and apostles, Grant me riches from Your storehouses to distribute. O Holy Father, who, by His love He delivered His Son for the sake of the sinners, Speak on my behalf to the listeners for the sake of Your Son. O Holy Son, who condescended to become one of us, when He is our Lord; Shine in me, that Your light would shine in my words. O Holy Spirit, who brought down all the vain haughtiness, Pave a way for my weak words1. المیمر 19 على سؤال ربنا وعلى التجلي الذي قبلھ سمعان من الآب (راجع نص بول بیجان والدكتور بھن ام سوني). 1 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 159 AN INSPIRATION FROM PSALM 100 LET MY DEPTHS SHOUT TO YOU! You created me like all men; For my depths to shout, exultant by You; When I meditate in Your creation, I get lost before Your wisdom, care, and love1 All creation testify to Your greatness and care. I confess to You that I stand in awe; For I do not know, even the secrets of my own body, soul, and all my depths! If I get amazed before my own secrets, which are the works of Your hands, How could I express my amazement before Your greatness and wisdom?! I confess to You, that I do not recognize even my soul, which is in my body; It is a secret, that I, myself, do not know; But You promised me to see You; You provided me with a pious heart; To be worthy of seeing You, O Creator of all; You presented to me Your blood, an atonement for my sins; To cleanse my inner insight; To enjoy seeing Your splendor. You call on me to worship You; When You are in no need for the ministry of the heavenlies and the earthlies; You do not give a command, as a commitment we should fulfill; But with Your amazing love for us; You intend for us to enjoy Your presence, the source of joy and gladness; I will worship You, to encounter You; My depths will sing, and my depths will exult; My emotions will be overwhelmed with love; My tongue will utter praise; I shall become like a trumpet that never cease to give its sound; And a harp on whose strings, Your Holy Spirit plays; To produce an amazing tune, the work of Your Holy Spirit. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 160 With Your own free will, You forsook the heavenlies to search for the lost sheep; You emptied Yourself, and took the form of a servant; You received reproach and disgrace to bring me back to glory; You endured the sufferings even to crucifixion; To liberate me, and to lift me up to heaven; I confess to You, that You are God; You are the Gate; Without You, how can I enter into Your heaven? I confess to You that You are my Creator; Without You, I would have no existence; You are my Savior; Only You can grant me the perfection; Without You, I would never enjoy goodness; But my evil would attach to me; Your praise is a support to my soul; It is its food in eternity; By which it strengthens and grows; The more it tastes it, the sweeter it will be! https://coptic-treasures.com/ 161 TABLE OF CONTENTS PSALM 91: THE PROTECTION BY THE MOST HIGH FOR HIS PIOUS PEOPLE: The protection by the Most High for the believer; The believer who enjoys the divine protection; The divine promise of his salvation. -- An inspiration from psalm 91: Let me be covered by You; and take refuge in You. PSALM 92: A SONG FOR THE SABBATH DAY: A call to praise God; The perdition of the foolish; Blessing for the righteous. -- An inspiration from psalm 92: Let our hearts celebrate Your Sabbath day. PSALM 93: THE LORD REIGNS IN THE MAJESTY OF HIS HOLINESS: The King in His majesty; The Mighty King; The Holy King. -- An inspiration from psalm 93: Support me, O my Holy King. PSALM 94: GOD, JUDGE OF THE EARTH, AND ADVOCATE OF THE OPPRESSED. Bringing a legal case before the divine judge; God sees and perceives; God will take care of His people; The ultimate end of the wicked. -- An inspiration from psalm 94: What can the wicked do to me? PSALM 95: A COLLECTIVE SONG: Preparing the people to debate with the Creator; A commitment to obedience. -- An inspiration from psalm 95: Let me join the procession to encounter You. PSALM 96: THE DAILY BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE OF GOD: A new building, and a new song of praise; Building in every nation; The Lord reigns on a tree; Exultation of the heavenly and the earthly creatures. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 162 -- An inspiration from psalm 96: A renewable temple, and a nonaging praise. PSALM 97: THE EXULTATION AND THE RESURRECTED LIFE: The exultation and the resurrected life; The exultation and He who sits on the clouds; The exultation and the abolition of animosity; The exultation and the holy lightning’ The exultation and the spirit of conquest; The exultation and the heavenly life; The exultation and faith; The exultation and the holy life. -- An inspiration from psalm 97: My body and soul praise You, O King of kings. PSALM 98: A NEW PRAISE FOR THE SALVATION AND THE JUDGMENT: An instigation to give thanks to the Lord; The whole earth shouts to the Lord; Nature partakes of the shouting to the Lord. -- An inspiration from psalm 98: Let me join the chorus of Christians. PSALM 99: GOD’S ROYAL EXULTATION AND HOLINESS: The Lord reigns; Worshipping God; His holiness and His love; A call on humanity to enjoy the divine presence. -- An inspiration from psalm 99: Glory be to You, O King, and Holy God. PSALM 100: THE PROCESSION OF THE THANKFUL: A call on humanity to make a joyful shout to the Lord; A call on humanity to enjoy the divine presence. -- An inspiration from psalm 100: Let my depths shout to You.
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