A UNIQUE FRIENDSHIP In the introduction to the psalms of Ascents, we saw that the fifth group (Psalms 132 to 134) correspond to the book of Deuteronomy, where the believer desires to enter into a friendship with God, the way the prophet Moses did. Now, in the present psalm we find a kind of a covenant between God and David. The later, in meekness and humility said, “he will not go into the chamber of his house, or go up to the comfort of his bed, will not give sleep to his eyes, or slumber to his eyelids, until he finds a place for the Lord, a dwelling place for the mighty God of Jacob” (3-5). On God’s side, “The Lord has sworn in truth to David, … He will forever set upon his throne, the fruit of his body; if his sons will keep the Lord’s covenant” (11-12). This is what the true believer desires, to enter into a friendship with the Lord his God; in which the Lord finds comfort in the believer’s heart as His dwelling place. And on God’s side, His desire is to bring the believer over into the experience of the royal heavenly life. Some believe that the psalmist David wrote down this psalm, by the Spirit of God, on the occasion of bringing the Ark of the Covenant to the holy city (2 Samuel 6: 14, 15); And they consider it a prophetic Messianic psalm. There is no doubt that those joyful moments lived by David together with all the inhabitants of Jerusalem on that day, will never go away from his memory; and were even a perpetual source of comfort for him in the moments of his affliction. His whole being was shaken, that he danced before the Ark of God like a little child; and the choirs of singers sang holy songs, using every musical instrument known at the time (2 Samuel 6). While others believe that it was Solomon, who was called by the Lord to build the temple, according to His promise to David his father (2 Samuel 7: 13), who wrote this psalm to reveal his father’s efforts, and his longing to build a house for the Lord. Solomon wanted the people to remember always the promise of the Lord to his father David concerning the building of a dwelling place for Himself. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 170 Still a third group believe that it was written at the end of the Babylonian captivity, when the temple was rebuilt, and the Ark of the Covenant was put in it. This psalm is one of the psalms of the hour of ‘Compline’, in which the church proclaims, that she will not have comfort, and enjoy a peaceful sleep, unltil the Lord dwells in her believers’ hearts; and seeks from Him to find in us His sanctuary, the place of His comfort. It was a praise, sung in a joyful liturgical procession, on the way of the Ark of the Covenant to the temple. Attachment to the Lord make out of Zion a center of divine blessing, fruitful life, joy, and security for those who lean upon the Lord. In this psalm the psalmist reminds the people of the promises of the Great Lord to his father David, that he will reign in Zion; and of how David vowed to build a house for the Lord (1-5); and in it he proclaims the Lord’s promise to David to bless his seed (10-13), and to make Zion His own capital city (14-18). ‘Gabelein’ says that there is no need to draw attention to the fact that the psalm looks forward to Him who is greater than Solomon; who became the King in Zion -- the Son and the Lord of David1. 1- A longing to build a house for the Lord 1 - 5 2- The divine Word came down to dwell among us 6 - 10 3- He will set us up as kings 11 - 13 4- His resting place is in our comfort and our conquest14 – 18 1- A LONGING TO BUILD A HOUSE FOR THE LORD: Bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem was a proclamation of a true practical longing, and a true warm desire to build a house for the Lord. David vowed to the Lord, the mighty God of Jacob, that he will not find comfort until he realizes his vow. He talked to the prophet Nathan about this issue (2 Samuel 7: 1-2). If this was how the prophet David longed to establish a building as a house for the Lord, how would be his longing for man to become a dwelling place for the Lord? … This was realized, not by bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, but by the coming down of the Word of God incarnate to dwell among us. 1 Gabelein, p. 464. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 171 Here, David says: I do not seek a place for my comfort, save Christ who is to be born of my seed. … He whom you praise is the frui of my body1. (St. Jerome) A Song of Ascents “Lord, Remember David, and all his afflictions” (1) According to certain versions: “… David, and (his meekness or lowliness of heart”. Responding to those who marvel, how could David be described as “meek and lowly in heart”, when he was a man of war?! And how could it be said about the prophet Moses that “he was very humble, more than all men on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12: 3); despite his stand against Pharaoh concerning the ten plagues, and against the Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew … He answers that the meekness of both men was demonstrated by refraining from defending themselves, bearing a personal grudge, nor seeking revenge against those who did them wrong. St. John Chrysostom believes that the secret of the meekness of the prophet David, shown by his behavior and dealings with those who did him wrong, was in two things: The first is that he feared God, and the word of God was always before his eyes, and the cause of his piety. The second thing was that, together with his longing to build the temple, and Jerusalem the city of God; he cared for the renewal of the spiritual life; … With a spirit of meekness and humility, he bound between the outer temple, and that of the inner soul. David, son of Jesse, king of Israel, according to history, and as testified by the Holy Books themselves, was meek, did not pay back evil with evil to his persecutor king Saul, but kept himself before him very humble, addressed him as the king, and counted himself, compared to him, as a dog. He never answered him back with haughtiness or rudeness, although he was stronger than him by the Lord; but always sought to win his favor by humility, and was keen not to stir up his wrath by pride. Saul was delivered under David’s authority by the Lord God, to do with him as he 1 Homilies on Ps. Homily 44.on Ps. 132 (131). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 172 found suitable; Yet, having not got a divine command to kill him, he presented to him the mercy given to him by God1. (St. Augustine) To speak about his meekness, we have to mention how he dealt with Saul, with his own brother, with Jonathan, and how he endured the man who poured on him curses without limits (2 Samuel 16: 5-13); and several other more important things that led him to adopt his main line of thought, and constituted a sensitive point that was clear in (his program) of zeal. … He did all that for two reasons: 1- God’s pleasure in him. As it is written: “On this one will I look; on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word” (Isaiah 66: 2). 2- His main motive toward building the temple and the holy city, and reforming the old system of life; things that he cared for2. Oh, how great was that man, and how exalted was his spirit; he whose law sought from him to take “eye for eye, and tooth for tooth” (Deuteronomy 19: 21); but he surpassed that level, to a higher one of wisdom. His wisdom did not stop at refraining from killing Saul, his violent adversary, but he even refrained from uttering an unbefitting word against him. … We, unfortunately, often utter evil, even against our friends, in their absence. How compassionate was his spirit! He was truly justified, as it came in his psalm: “Lord, Remember David and all his meekness” (1) Let us follow his lead; … Let us utter no word against our adversary, nor do him evi, but present to him goodness as much as we can; As by that, we do good to ourselves more than to him; according to the Lord’s command to forgive our enemies, so that God will also forgive us (Matthew 6: 14) 3. (St. John Chrysostom) The meek are the gentle, the humble, who do not care for appearances, the simple in faith, and the patient when confronting an insult. Being saturated with the commandments of the gospel, 1 On Ps. 132 (131). 2 On Ps. 132 (131). 3 رسالتك في الحیاة للقدیس یوحنا الذهبي الفم تعریب القمص یعقوب ملطي. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 173 they follow the example of the Lord who says: “Learn from Me, for I am gentle, and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11: 29). Moses found the greatest favor in God’s sight, because “he was very humble, more than all men on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12: 3) 1. (Father Chromattheus) “How he swore to the Lord, and vowed to the Mighty God of Jacob” (2) We did not hear about such a vow by David, concerning building a house for the Lord except in this place. We do hear about his flaring zeal, concerning the collective worship, and his longing to build a house for the Lord, for this worship to settle down. Sometimes St. John Chrysostom assumes that it was David who wrote this psalm, and some other times, that it was Solomon, David’s son, seeking from the Lord to realize what He promised his father. David swore to the Lord, as though it is within his ability; and prayed to God to realize his vow. By his vow he presented dedication, and by his prayer humility. I wish no one would think that he can realize his vow by his own strength; He who exhorts you to vow, will, Himself help you to realize it. (St. Augustine) “Surely I will not go into the chamber of my house, or go up to the comfort of my bed” (3) “I will not give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids” (4) By so saying, he proclaims that not a single day of his life will pass without working diligently and zealously on building the temple of the Lord. The true believer is keen on being serious to enjoy the dwelling of the Lord in his heart, growing in this living experience every day with no slothfulness or postposition to the morrow. We shall indeed not cease to watch, pray, strive, and work, until the Lord is pleased by our souls, and choose them as His dwelling 1 Tractate on Mathew 17: 4: 1-2. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 174 place, saying: “This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it” (Psalm 132: 14) 1. (Father Martyrus the Syrian) God guides all by the work of His grace. Therefore, do not lose heart, but cry to God day and night, to draw His compassion, that He will tell you what you should do. “Do not give sleep to your eyes, or slumber to your eyelids”, until you present your souls pure burnt offerings, and see God; As, without holiness no one can see God (Hebrew 12: 14) 2. (St. (Abba) Anthony the Great) According to father Cronius: If the prophet Moses did not lead his sheep to Mount Saini, he would not have seen the fire in the burning bush. And when a brother asked him: To what does the burning bush refer?, he said: The burning bush refers to the labor of the body, as it is written: “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field” (Matthew 13: 44). And when the brother said to the elder: Man, therefore, will not reach any reward without the affliction of the body; The elder said: Yes indeed, It is written: “Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Minister of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross” (Hebrew 12: 2); And the prophet David also said: “I will not go into the chamber of my house, or go to the comfort of my bed, … until I find a place for the Lord” (4). (Paradise of the fathers) When God the Word comes, and the progress of this life comes to an end, He will gather those who “did not give sleep to their eyes, or slumber to their eyelids” (4); and who kept the commandments of Him who said: “Watch … always” (Luke 21: 36) 3. (The scholar Origen) “… And find a dwelling place for the Mighty God of Jacob” (5) Where did he look for a place for the Lord? Being meek, he looked for it inside himself. How would man become a dwelling place for 1Book of Perfection. . 2 رسالة 5 3 Commentary on Matt., 56. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 175 the Lord? … Listen to the prophet, saying: “Where is the place for my rest?... But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word” (Isaiah 66: 2). Do you wish to become a dwelling place for the Lord? Be poor, of a contrite spirit, and tremble at the word of God1. Seek the friendship of Christ without fear; as he wants you to receive Him in your house; Prepare a place for Him! … How? Do not love yourself, but love Him; For, if you love yourself, you would be shutting the door before Him; but if you love Him, you would be opening it before Him; and once you open it, He will enter, and you will find yourself with the One who loves you2. (St. Augustine) Man can support himself with” bars” when he binds himself with the unity of love. He can stand on the silver “bases” when he is founded on the word of God, the prophetic and apostolic. He can adorn the “heads” of the “pillars” by “crowns” if his crowns are the faith in Christ, for “The head of every man is Christ” (1 Corinthians 11: 3). And man can set in himself ten houses; by going deep, not in one, two, or three words of the statute, but by enjoying the spiritual meaning of the ten commandments of the law; and by producing the fruits of the Spirit: joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; and in particular when he adds love to these fruits (Galatians 5: 22). … Let his soul be alert; Let her not “give sleep to her eyes, or slumber to her eyelids, until she finds a dwelling place for the Mighty God of Jacob” 3. (The scholar Origen) Choose for yourself a kind of work in which you abide to the end. Put your hand on the plow, and do not look backward, but concentrate your sight on what is ahead, crying out: “I shall give no sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling place for the Mighty God of Jacob” (4-5). For he who seeks God will not find rest until God listens to him; as 1 On Psalm 132 (131). 2 On Psalm 132 (131). 3 Origin: In Exod. Hom 9: 4. (Ronald E. Heine). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 176 it is written: “This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles” (Psalm 34: 6). (St. Steven of Thebes) Let us then confront the evil one, armed with undefeatable weapons. … Let us be alert, and well prepared as though it is daylight. … Let us stab him by the arrows of the words of the Spirit, and cut all hope off him … For we have sworn to the Lord, and vowed to the Mighty God of Jacob: “We shall give no sleep to our eyes or slumber to our eyelids, until we find a place for the Lord, and a dwelling place for the Mighty God of Jacob”, to let Him dwell inside our hearts. We shall certainly not cease to watch and pray with diligence, until God is pleased with our Spirits and choose them as His dwelling place, saying: “This is My resting place forever, Here I will dwell for I desired it” (14) 1. (Sahdona – Martyrius) Do not seek the rest of the body; but pray with diligence and strife, even after a long day of work. Do not be slothful in praying, but stand aright and say your prayer to its end, for it is your commitment before God: “I shall give no sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling place to the Mighty God of Jacob”. But if you allow yourself to pray without diligence, and not from your heart, you will not find rest in your prayer, nor after your prayer. If you truly wish to find rest, cleanse your sins with your tears before God, “All night I make my bed swim, I drench my couch with my tears” (Psalm 6: 6). Therefore beware not to stretch your body before God, and despise the prayer for the sake of the rest of your body! (St. (Mar) Isaac the Syrian) Because You are of his seed; and on account of his zeal, You said that You will establish his seed and kingdom; We now ask You to realize that covenant. …. He did not say: “until I build the temple”, but said: “until I find a place, a dwelling place for the Lord” (5)… By that he reminds the Lord that He Himself is the Builder … Notice his enthusiasm: He did not only say that he will not get into the chamber of his house, or go up to the comfort of his bed; but . 1 كتاب الكمال، 72 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 177 added that he will not even find comfort in enjoying those necessities of life, until he finds a place, a dwelling place for the Mighty God of Jacob. … Again, notice his zeal and the contrition of his heart: The king who has authority on everything says: Until I find a place, a dwelling place for the Mighty God of Jacob. … His goal was not just to build, but to find a place that befits the temple; something that needs diligent search, of which he was aware, and for which he was well-prepared1. (St. John Chrysostom) 2- THE DIVINE WORD CAME DOWN TO DWELL AMONG US: “Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; We found it in the fields of the woods” (6) Those were probably the words of the prophet David and his pious friends who heard of the Ark of the Covenant when they were in Ephrathah or Bethlehem, found it in Kiriath Jearim (1 Samuel 7: 1; 2 Samuel 6: 3-4), and from there they took it up to Zion. The two verses 6 and 7 actually refer to the Ark which was taken by the Philistines, and remained twenty years in Keriath Jearim. Some believe that ‘Ephrathah is Bethlehem; but actually, the Ark was never there; Ephrathah was probably the name of the province of Keriath Jearim; a view confirmed by the fact that this place was the portion of Caleb Ephrathah. (1 Chronicles 2: 19). We can simply take it that Ephrathah refers to Bethlehem, where Christ was born. Truly blessed is the place celebrated by the prophet with this psalm, a long time before His incarnation. Indeed, all the locations where Christ was born, and crucified are holy, yet this particular location had a greater honor. … Just meditate in the compassion of God! There, a little poor infant was born, and was laid in a manger “because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2: 7) 2. (St. Jerome) According to St. Augustine, the word ‘Ephrathah’ means a (mirror); We heard of Him in the prophecies of the prophets as 1 On Psalm 132. 2 Homilies on Psalms, homily 44. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 178 though in a mirror, but we found Him in the fields of the wood; namely in the Gentiles, who forsook the idol worship and believed in Him. The prophets presented the Lord Christ as though in a mirror, Whereas faith dwelt in the hearts of the Gentiles. He says: “We heard of Him in Ephrathah”; Namely we were so told by our fathers, by the hearing of the ear, that there, He wandered in the fields, and finally came to the place of His comfort …Let that also happen now1! (St. John Chrysostom) “Let us go into His tabernacle; Let us worship at His footstool” (7) The prodigal son coveted to forsake his father’s house, and to dwell in it no more; with the assumption that he would enjoy freedom, and be his own master; but he ended up scattering his wealth. The psalmist, on the contrary, coveted to enter into the dwelling place of his heavenly Father, and to do according to His will. Worshipping at the Lord’s footstool is a sign of complete submission with joy, to do according to the will of the Savior, and not according to his own will. Don’t you see the greatness of accuracy of the expression he uses concerning the dwelling place of the Lord: “His footstool”; referring to the location of the Ark of the Covenant, from which horrifying noises used to come, to solve riddles, and to prophesy events of the future2. (St. John Chrysostom) Those who preach the gospel in the whole world, testify to the feet of the lord; about whom the Holy Spirit prophesied in the psalm, saying: “worship at His footstool”; namely, where the apostles – His footstool – have reached; as by them, He was preached, and by them, He came to the end of the earth3. (St. Clement of Alexandria) In a talk by father John of Damascus about the different kinds of prostration (worship), he distinguishes between prostration to worship, which only concerns God; prostration to honor, as that done 1 On Psalm 132. 2 On Psalm 132. 3 Paedagogus 2: 8. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 179 by Joshua son of Nun, and Daniel, before the angel of God, and by David before the Ark of the Lord “at His footstool”; and prostration for respect and thanksgiving, as that done by Abraham before the sons of Heth, when they gave him a plot of earth to bury his wife Sarah. Prostration, as a way to show righteousness and honor, have different levels: First of all is the prostration presented to God, who, alone is worthy of worship. Then for His sake, to His servants and subjects, as when Joshua and Daniel prostrated before the angel of God; or when David did before God’s sanctuaries, saying: “Let us go into His tabernacle; Let us worship at His footstool” (7); Or when the children of Israel presented burnt offerings and worshiped in His tabernacle; or when, by the command of their king, they surrounded the temple in Jerusalem, concentrating their eyes on it from all sides, and worshipping; Or when Jacob prostrated to the ground before his older brother, and before the Pharaoh, the one with authority given to him by the Lord (Genesis 47: 7); Or when Joseph’s brothers fell down before him (Genesis 50: 18); And a prostration as a sign of respect, as when Abraham prostrated before the sons of Heth. … We therefore, should either cancel prostration altogether, or take it in the way it is meant to be1. (St. John of Damascus) “Arise, O Lord, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength” (8) This same phrase was used by Solomon when he dedicated the new temple (2 Chronicles 6: 41-42). And was also used by the Jews on their way back from captivity, longing to rebuild the temple, for the Lord to proclaim His glory there. And it is, as well, the cry of every believer coming out daily of the depths of his heart, coveting that the Lord would proclaim His glory in it, and finds His resting place in his depths; … He who proclaimed: “The Son of Man has no place to lay His head” (Luke 9 57). All those things prophetically refer to that great renewal; realized by the true Son of David, the anointed Lord Jesus Christ. . 1 عن الصور المقدسة، الدفاع الأول، 14 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 180 “Arise, O Lord”. Was repeated during the celebration of the procession, whenever the ark set out (Numbers 1: 35; Psalm 132: 7)). This military expression echoed as a complete trust in king David, as well as in the holy Ark. He who slept, And He who is risen, is our Head; And His Ark is His church. He first arose, and so will His church. It was not possible for the body to dare promise itself the resurrection, unless the Head arises first. The body of Christ, taken From St. Mary, is understood by some to be the Holy Ark of the Sanctuary; As though the words mean: “Arise with Your body, so as not to deny those who believe (of the resurrection) 1. (St. Augustine) Come, O beloved brethren, let us sing this song that we learned by the inspired harp of David, saying: Arise, O Lord to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength” (8). The holy Virgin is indeed an “ark”, coated with gold in and out; having received the perfect Treasure of Holiness. “Arise, O Lord, to the place of Your rest”… Arise from the bosom of the Father (without ever being separated from Him), to lift up the fallen human race (John 16: 28) 2. (St. Gregory, the wonder-worker) By such a way, the Lord testified to the greatness of His strength, once, twice, and several times; as it happened when the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it to Ashdod (1 Samuel 5: !-8) … Now what does it mean by saying: “Arise, O Lord to the place of Your rest”? except to say: Put an end to that wandering, and taking of the ark; Let it settle down for good3. (St. John Chrysostom) “Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness; And let Your saints shout for Joy” (9) According to St. John Chrysostom, the psalmist’s mind was preoccupied, not with building the house of the Lord, and providing it with befitting precious vessels, etc., as much as it was preoccupied 1 On Psalm 132 (131). . 2 البشلرة بالتجسد الإلهي، 2005 ، تعریب القمص یعقوب ملطي ونادیة أمین مرقس، عظة 1 3 On Psalm 132. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 181 with the purity of the hearts of the priests and the people; for the priests to be clothed with righteousness, and the people to praise with the spirit of shouts and exultation, coming out of the depths of their hearts. According to the scholar Origen, the righteousness with which the priests are to be clothed, is the Lord Christ who, for us He became righteousness, by whom we stand before the Father, to be justified; For when Christ dwells by faith in our hearts, our souls become filled with exultation, and our depths shout for joy. The priests are clothed with the liturgical garments of church service (Zechariah 3: 4-5); but it is befitting of them to be clothed, as well, with righteousness, with personal holiness, which is a divine gift given to the serious faithful, to be worthy to intercede in the realization of the covenant between God and His people; Hence these garments were called “the garments of salvation” Isaiah 61: 10). The priests are clothed with the garments of righteousness; And all – priests and congregation – being the pious or the saints of the Lord, offer the sacrifice of praise, and would not cease spiritual shouting. The whole people take part in the procession of triumph in the Lord. This phrase is uttered by him who prays, and not by him who seeks to acquire a virtue. The word “righteousness” here, applies to the rite, the priesthood, the worship, the sacrifices, the offerings, and to the type of life associated with all that; as this is a supplication presented for the sake of the priests. “and Your saints shout for joy”, something that actually happened. Notice that he was not preoccupied with building the house, nor with providing it with an abundance of precious vessels, or any other form of luxury; but with the settling down of the ark, the consummation of the number of the priests, the rites, the worship, and the priesthood1. (St. John Chrysostom) That is why Moses was instructed that when the priest enters into the tabernacle of meeting, he should have little bells of gold attached to his garment all around, that “Its sound will be heard when he goes into the holy place before the Lord, and when he 1 On Psalm 132. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 182 comes out, that he may not die” (Exodus 28: 33, 35), which refers to that the priest should have the talent and the ability to give sermons, and to preach; lest by his silence, he would be worthy of judgment by the Lord who sees from above. What does clothing of the priest mean, but his good works; as testified by the words: “Your priests be clothed by righteousness, and Your saints shout of joy” (9). Those little bells were, therefore, fixed to the hem of the priest’s garment, to proclaim his life, through his good works and words1. (Father Gregory the Great) These are the elements by which the tabernacle of meetings was made; and by which the priests and the high priest were clothed. “Your priests are clothed with righteousness, and Your saints shout for joy”; These are the garments of justice and of mercy; as according to the apostle Paul: “ the elect of God… put on tender mercies” (Colossians 3: 12). And talking about greater and more splendid Garment, he says: “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision of the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Romans 13: 14). These are the garments worn by the church2. (The scholar Origen) The required garment is deep in the heart and not on the body from outside. As we learn from the words: “Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness” (9). About which the apostle Paul says: “If indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked” (2 Corinthians 5: 3). That was how the man who was unprepared with the proper wedding garment, was exposed by the Lord of the banquet, tried, chained, and cast away. And he is one of many3. (St. Augustine) “For Your servant David’s sake, do not turn away the face of Your anointed” (10) Some believe that it was Solomon who sought from God to listen to his prayer, and not to turn away his face; through the intercession of his father beloved by God. 1 Pastoral Core, 2: 4. 2 In Exod. Hom 9: 3(Ronald E. Heine). 3 Sermon 90: 4. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 183 And St. Augustine believes that the talk here is addressed to God the Father concerning His anointed, the incarnate Word; whom they crucified, and shouted blasphemy against Him; then they believed when they saw the miracles performed in the name of the crucified Jesus. Here, the psalmist refers to the few who believed in the Lord Christ after His resurrection. He says: Not only for his virtue, nor for his zeal to build the temple; but also for the sake of the covenant with him: “For Your servant David’s sake, do not turn away the face of Your anointed”. Whose face is that? Of him who was anointed at that time as a guide and leader of the people1. (St. John Chrysostom) 3- HE WILL SET US UP AS KINGS: “The Lord has sworn in truth to David; he will not turn from it: I will set upon your throne the fruit of your body” (11) The King of kings, intending “to make His people kings and priests to His God and Father” (Revelation 1: 6); Here, He swears to David to set upon his throne the fruit of his body. In ‘Keriath Jearim’, David swore to the Lord, not to go to the comfort of his bed until he finds a dwelling place for the Lord among His people (2). Here, begin the celebrations in Jerusalem, of the Lord’s vow to set up a king of the fruit of David’s body. In the Holy Book there are three important vows: 1- The Lord swore to Abraham to make his offspring as numerous as the stars in heaven (Genesis 22: 15-18) 2- The Lord swore to Israel to let them possess the land (Exodus 6: 8). 3- The Lord swore to David to set upon his throne the fruit of hid body, if they practically keep the divine covenant. Here we remember the long prayer of Solomon the day he dedicated the temple, reminding the Lord of His promise to his father David (1 Kings 8: 25-26); and a confirmation of the enjoyment by the people of the divine blessings: “when he comes and prays toward this temple” (1 Kings 8: 42). 1 On Psalm 132. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 184 The Lord swore to David to set upon his throne the fruit of his body; which was realized in setting Solomon a king. And when the Word of God came incarnate from the Virgin St. Mary, the daughter of David, a King on the hearts, and to sit in His kingdom forever; being the Son of David and His God at the same time. What does he mean by “swore”? He established His vow by Himself. And what does he mean by “He will not turn from it”? He promised not to change what He promised. (St. Augustine) St. Matthew left all the other names to mention only Abraham and David (Matthew 1: 1); For, only to them, God has sworn (straightforward) about Christ (Genesis 22: 18; Psalm 132: 11) 1. (St. Jerome) When the Lord asked the Jews: “What do you think about the Christ?” (Matthew 22: 42), they answered: “”the Son of David”. That they easily knew, having learned it from the prophecies. He was truly the seed of David , yet “according to the flesh” from the virgin St. Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph. And when He said to them: “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord’, saying: ‘The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool’” (Mathew 22: 42). “If David calls Him ‘Lord’, how is He his Son?” (Mathew 22: 45). No one was able to answer Him. This is what we find in the gospel. He did not deny His sonhood to David, even if they could not comprehend His Lordship to him, as well. They comprehended in Christ what came according to the time, but they could not comprehend what it is according to His eternity. Intending to teach them about His divinity, He posed for them a question concerning His manhood; As though He intends to say: You know that Christ is the Son of David. Tell Me, how could He be His Lord as well?. And lest they might say that He is not a Lord of David, He came up with the testimony by David himself. What does David say? He says the truth; As you find David say in his psalm: “I will set upon your throne the fruit of your body” (Psalm 132: 11). Therefore, He is the Son of David; Then, How could the Son of David be His Lord as well? “The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at 1 In Matt. 1: 2. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 185 my right hand” (Psalm 110: 1). How could you marvel that the Son of David is his God, when you see Mary the mother of her God? … He is the Lord of David, being a God, being the God of all; And He is the Son of David, as the Son of Man is a Lord and a Son at the same time. He is the Lord of David “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped” (Philippians 2: 7); And the Son of David, having “made Himself nothing taking the very nature of a servant” (Philippians 2: 7) 1. (St. Augustine) The bride of the song charges the daughters of the heavenly Jerusalem (in the form of a vow) that love could double and continuously increase until His will is consummated, he who “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2: 4).The text says: “I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, Do not stir up or awaken love until it pleases” (Song 8: 4). The vow is what is uttered, together with a guarantee of its truth. It is done in two ways: Either to tell the one who vows to confirm the truth to the listener; or to commit him not to tell lies. According to the psalm, “The Lord has sworn in truth to David; He will not turn from it: ‘I will set upon your throne the fruit of your body’” (11). In this case, the promise is confirmed by a vow2. (St. Gregory, bishop of Nyssa) Having been granted a prior knowledge by a higher enlightenment, the prophet presented a clear prophecy of what is going to happen. It was said to the blessed David by the Lord of all: “I will set upon your throne the fruit of your body” (11). And having knowledge of everything, God planted in the saintly prophets a prior knowledge of what is going to happen, proclaiming through them that the secret, testified to on all sides, is to be believed as an actual fact. He says: “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of the roots” (Isaiah 11: 1) 3. (St. Cyril the Great) We know that the Lord is to be born by a virgin. whose (familial background) is revealed by the following prophesies: “The Lord 1 Sermon on NT Lessons, 1: 20. 2 عظة 4 على نشید الأناشید ترجمة الدكتور جورج نوّار. 3 Is 2: 4 PG 70: 309 C-D. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 186 has sworn in truth to David, He will not turn from it: ‘I will set upon your throne the fruit of your body”. And, “Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David; his seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me; It will be established forever like the moon”; And, “His seed also, I will make to endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven” (Psalm 89: 29; 35) 1. “If your sons will keep My covenant, and My testimony which I shall teach them; Their sons also shall sit upon your throne forevermore” (12) David got a special covenant that his reign shall endure in his time and that of his sons; Yet, it was a conditional covenant; Namely, if his sons will keep the covenant and the testimonies that God will teach them. “For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation” (13) There is a great difference between hearing that the ark of the covenant was moved from one place to another; and hearing that “The Lord has chosen Zion, He has desired it for His habitation”. He, the Creator of heaven and earth, has chosen it by Himself and desired it for his habitation…. What is Zion but a symbol of the church of the living God, “the pillar and the ground of truth” (1 Timothy 3: 15). How amazing is the exalted love of God; He desires to set of every soul a city for Himself, where He dwells and which He desires; makes it His kingdom, and proclaims His glory in it. Therefore, it is befitting of every believer to look at every soul of his brethren with reverence and respect, for the Lord seeks it as His habitation where He dwells. 4- HIS RESTING PLACE IS IN OUR COMFORT AND OUR CONQUEST: “This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it” (14) If God desires to set His people kings, While granting this free gift, He find His pleasure, as a Father to rejoice in the joy of His children, and to find rest in their comfort. That is how God proclaims . 1 مقال 23 :12 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 187 His desire to dwell among His people, granting them satisfaction, glory, exultation, strength, enlightenment, and conquest. This psalm begins with the moaning of David, who was in affliction (1); But he gets a divine promise with a vow in His Son; not Solomon, but the Messiah the Son of David, the good news of whose birth was given by the angel Gabriel to the virgin St. Mary, as such: “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus … and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1: 32-33). By this promise the psalm ends with exultations and glories on a heavenly level. We often talk of the greatness of the Mighty God, and also of His justice and love; but we do not dare to talk of His humility. What humility is more than His talk about His dwelling inside us, saying: “Here I will dwell, for I have desired it”. We do not hear of His desire to dwell in any of the pure heavenly hosts, who are very beloved by Him; but He desires to set out of us a dwelling place for Himself. These are God’s words: “This is My resting place”; How great is God’s love for us, O brethren! Wherever we find rest, He says that He finds rest as well. … He is not like us, sometimes get disturbed, then finds rest; but says that, there He finds rest, for we find our rest in Him; “Here I will dwell, for I have desired it” 1. (St. Augustine) “I will abundantly bless her provision, I will satisfy her poor with bread” (15) When God dwells in the soul of the believer, it becomes like a paradise filled with the fruits of the Spirit, Blessing will dwell, and the heavenly creatures will rejoice. There will be no more poor, as in it will flow rivers of divine grace. Look, how prosperity will dwell on all sides together; There will be no lack of necessities (bread); the priests will live in security, the people in happiness, and the king in power (with a lamp) (17). And the best form of prosperity is to be bound to this; “the enemies 1 On Psalm 132 (131). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 188 will be clothed with shame; but upon Himself His crown shall flourish” (18) 1 (St. John Chrysostom) “I will satisfy her poor with bread”. What does this mean, O brethren? … Let us be poor, for then, we shall be satisfied. … There are many who trust in the world, while proud. They are Christians, worship Christ, yet they are not satisfied, for they are satisfied with their pride, and have plenty of it … They worship Christ, revere Him, and pray to Him, yet they are not satisfied with His wisdom and righteousness. Why? For they are not poor! The poor. Namely, the humble in heart, whenever they are hungry, they eat; And once they wash their hands of this world, they become more hungry for Christ. The Lord Himself is their Bread. The Bread came down to earth to become milk for us. He says to His own: “I am the bread which came down from heaven” (John 6: 41) 2. (St. Augustine) When will the church be considered a widow? If Christ her Groom departs from her. About whom the apostle says: “For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11: 2).”Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church” (Ephesians 5: 25). And when will the church be considered poor? If she put all her hope in the honor and riches of this world, and not in the Lord God alone. Hence we read: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5: 3). And when will the church be likened to orphans? About that our Lord and Savior Himself says: “Do not call anyone on earth your father; For One is your Father, He who is in heaven” (Matthew 23: 9). … I wish those who have no father, appear humble3! (Father Caesarius, bishop of Arle) “I will also clothe her priests with salvation; And her saints shall shout aloud for joy” (16) 1 On Psalm 132. 2 On Psalm 132 (131). 3 Sermons 49: 1. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 189 A joyful portrait of the church of the New Covenant which became a dwelling place for God, where He finds His resting place, flows His grace, satisfy her poor with bread, clothe her priests with salvation; where the baptized are clothed and covered with Christ; and their language will become that of joy and unceasing exultation. Who is our Salvation but our Christ?... What does it mean then, that “her priests I will clothe with salvation?” … “For as many of you, as were baptized into Christ, have put on Christ” (Galatians 3: 27) 1. (St. Augustine) “There I will make the horn of David grow; I will prepare a lamp for My Anointed” (17) The horn refers to power. … And how did David’s power grow?, By the incarnation of the Word of God, who came from the seed of David according to the flesh. He who gave light to the whole world by the light of His cross, proclaiming His practical love for the world His coming was not sudden without preparation; As He, along the generations, sent men of God and prophets to testify for Him; and finally, sent St. John the Baptist to prepare the way for Him, and to testify publicly for Him; -- “the lamp” who directly preceded the coming of the Lord Christ, and testified to Him, saying: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1: 29) 2. John was not only called ‘an angel’ for Christ, but was rather called “a lamp” who shined before Christ; according to David’s prophecy: “I will prepare a lamp for My Anointed” 3. (The scholar Tertullian) The law was symbolized, as well, by ‘a lamp’, commanded to stay perpetually aflame. John was “a lamp” who preceded Christ for those who were under the law, dwelling in Judea, about whom God said: “I will prepare a lamp for My Anointed” (17). … Yet the Jews were pleased with it for some time, hastened to be baptized by him, and were impressed by his way of life; but they soon killed him, doing their best to quench that burning lamp forever. 1 On Psalm 132 (131). 2 Commentary on Luke. 3 An answer to the Jews, 9. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 190 Hence the Savior describes him as “a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light” (John 5: 35)1. (St. Cyril the Great) When Christ came, the Jews rejected Him, while the demons confessed Him (Mark 1: 34) David, His grandfather, was aware of Him, when he said: “I will prepare a lamp for My Anointed” (17); the lamp, interpreted by some as “the Splendor of Sonhood” (2 Peter 1: 19); And by others as the Body taken from the virgin Mary. The prophet Amos was not ignorant of the issue of the Christ, when he said: “He was proclaimed among men by His Anointed” (The Septuagint version). Moses knew Him, as well as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and all the prophet; He was even known by the demons, whom He . The high priest did not recognize Him, while the Samaritan woman proclaimed Him, saying: “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (John 4: 29) 2. (St. Cyril of Jerusalem) “What woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweeps the house, and seek diligently until she finds it?” (Luke 15: 8). … Who is the woman? She is the body of Christ. … And who is “the lamp” in “I will prepare a lamp for My Anointed” (17). … That is why we were sought for until we were found; … I wish we do not boast with pride; having been lost before, and would have stayed lost, if we were not sought for3. (St. Augustine) “His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon Himself, His crown shall flourish” (18) In some versions it came as “Upon Himself, My holiness will flourish” The psalmist ends the psalm in a joyful way. If the devil does not cease to oppose and to persecute the church of God; It is for his cup of evil to get filled, and for him to be clothed eternally with 1 Comm.. on Luc. Ch1. . 2 مقال 15 :10 3 On Luc.12: 8-10. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 191 shame; … And for the children of God to be be justified and flourish with the crown of holiness through the divine grace. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 192 AN INSPIRATION FROM PSALM 132 COME, O LORD, AND DWELL IN ME O Lord, You are my life, comfort, and peace; Dwell, O Lord in my depths, that by You, my soul will find rest; With every morning, I call on You to proclaim Yourself in my depths; And all the day long, my heart and mind are preoccupied with You. No day passes without having a new experience with You. My soul will not find rest except in Your bosom; My body may find sleep, but my soul stays awake talking to You; Let me find rest in Your bosom; And may You accept to find Your rest in my depths; Arise. O Lord, in my depths, to Your resting place; You and the ark of Your strength. Grant me every day a new experience; When Your grace works in me; I will not cease to strive; To have You transfigure in me; To live diligently, and with no slothfulness; So that not a single day of my life will be lost. For my days are few; Like vapor that will soon vanishes. Adorn Your temple in me with Your righteousness, to be clothed with it; And grant me Your fear, to live with the spirit of piety; Your dwelling fills my depths with gladness and spiritual beauty; Your dwelling lights my depths with Your splendor. The devil will never cease his opposition; But how could he stand before You? By his opposition he will be clothed with shame; And You will be glorified in Your children.
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