THE MEEK SHALL INHERIT THE LAND OF PEACE Verse 25 in this psalm shows that the prophet David wrote this psalm in his old age, after long years of experience, and of meditation in his case with king Saul, Napal, Absalom, Ahitophel, and others. According to some scholars, he wrote it three years before his departure from this world. The prophet David intended to find an answer to the question, asked by men along the generations; namely: [Why do the wicked prosper, and the righteous suffer?]. That answer to this question would become easy, if the heart goes beyond the seen world, to see by its inner insight the glories of eternity prepared for those who are unjustly oppressed; when the righteous would not envy the wicked; and would not be destroyed by what he confronts of sufferings and troubles. This psalm gives peace to the heart, and takes away every grumbling from the soul, when the believer perceives the truth of the dealings of God with him. This is the third of the alphabetical psalms, almost complete in its order. It is a great prophetic psalm that reveals the riches of the blessings granted to the church of the New Covenant. Although this psalm, in its wholeness, does not speak only about the Person of the Lord Christ, Yet its main topic is the Lord Christ. Some liken its words to a series of pearls put together in one string to form a precious necklace. This psalm is not a prayer raised to God, nor a liturgy, but a psalm of wisdom, teaching, and instruction. It goes around one idea, which it intends to confirm to man in different ways. It presents eight commandments, supported by practical experiences, the same way like psalms 73 and 94; beside the books of ‘Job’ and proverbs. Its general frame: https://coptic-treasures.com/ 1- The blessing of faith 1 -- 11 2- A comparison between the righteous and the wicked 12 -- 20 3- The end of the righteous and the wicked 21 – 40 1- THE BLESSING OF FAITH: (1 – 11) The prophet Davis, who has confronted limitless tribulations, having been often attacked, even for moments, by such a thought:[Why do the wicked prosper, and the righteous suffer?]; wrote for himself this psalm, set upon faith in God, the Just Judge. He set eight commandments to be committed to, six of which are included in this psalm; which are: a- Not to be envious of the workers of iniquity on their temporal prosperity (1) b- To concentrate his sight on God, and on dwelling in His house (2) c- To take delight in the Lord, not in the temporal things like the evildoers (4) d- To rust in the Lord (5, 6) e- To submit o the Lord (7) f- To refrain from anger and forsake wrath (8) These six commandments are set upon faith in God, who alone will lift up our inner insight, from the tribulations and pleasures of this world; from the actions and oppression of men, to enjoy God Himself, in whom we find our pleasure; who sustains, crowns, and protects us. a- The first commandment: Not to be envious of the workers of iniquity on their temporal prosperity: “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity, for they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb” (1, 2) https://coptic-treasures.com/ The psalm starts by counseling the righteous not to fret because of evildoers; confirming to them that the day of their judgment is definitely coming. When God brings them to account, they shall soon be cut down like grass, and wither as the green herb. Seeing the prosperity of the workers of iniquity, realized by their pervert ways, should not provoke us to envy them, or follow their lead, for that would bring us to a condition of grumbling even against God Himself. On the contrary, the more prosperous the evildoers are , the more sorrowful we should be for their sake, on account of that the day of their perdition is approaching, and their horrible end is neigh. The xxxx of God’s justice will come upon them all of a sudden, for their life has dried up, and would be corruptive to the earth. St. James says: “For no sooner has the sun risen, with a burning heat than it withers the grass, its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuit” (James 1: 11). + “Do not fret because of evildoers; … for they shall soon be cutt down like the grass”. … Tell me what would be the destiny of the robber after his departure? Where would be his shining hopes? Where would be his awesome name? All that will vanish from existence. All what he had, was no more than a dream and fantasy?...... This, however is not the case of the righteous; their condition would never be described as a dream or fantasy! (St. John Chrysostom) + The evildoers are valueless, they live superficially on the face of the soil, and their roots never go deep in its depths; hence they are like the green grass of winter, which will wither once the sun of the summer come with its heat. Now it is the winter, but the summer is approaching. (St. Augustine) https://coptic-treasures.com/ It is befitting of us not to be envious of someone enjoying a temporary prosperity; on account of that he may drop dead in a moment. Reaching their goal of prosperity with no repentance, God will cut off the remembrance of the workers of iniquity from the earth; the way we saw in the cases of King Saul and king Ahab, Who, after their wealth extensively grew, enemies were sent by God to take it away. That happened as well to the wicked Nabal who died ten days after the prophet David turned away from him (1 Samuel 25: 38). The evildoer is like a flower that opens up, to fall down eventually with no return. b- The second commandment: To concentrate his sight on God, and on dwelling in His house: “Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness (on its riches)” (3) Someone may wonder: [How can I not be envious of the evildoers who prosper while the righteous suffer? From where shall I get the perseverance to wait until I see the end of the workers of iniquity?]…. The answer is: From faith in God, and the enjoyment of the church life with her spiritual riches! In the first commandment, the psalmist warns us against being envious of the prosperity of the evildoers; Here, he presents to us the positive aspect; namely, to cast ourselves into the bosom of God, and to enjoy the blessings of the church evangelic life. The word “land” or “earth” was repeated several times in this psalm: “Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness (on its riches)” (3) “Those ho wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth” (9) “But the meek shall inherit the earth” (11) https://coptic-treasures.com/ What is the “land” in which, those who trust in, and wait on the Lord, will dwell, and the meek will inherit? The psalmist probably meant “the land of Canaan” or “the promised land” as a symbol of the blessed heavenly life, where the believer dwells “under the shadow of the wings of God” among His people; which was the most prominent wish of the true believer in the old covenant. According to St. Jerome, “the land” here is “the land of the living”, namely the church of the new covenant, where the believers are born anew to reach the eternal life. And according to St. Paul: “Our citizenship is in the heavens” (Philippians 3: 20)…. As to its “riches”, it is God Himself, where the Father opens His bosoms to grant us unity with Him; The Son grants us His precious blood, an atonement for our sins, and a source of our righteousness; And the Holy Spirit grants us His dwelling in our hearts. In order to gain “the riches” of the church, the land of God, the deposit of His heavens, the icon of eternity, we are committed to trust in God, His promises, His salvation work, and proclaim our faith by working and practicing the spiritual church life with all her riches. + You may be doing good, yet you do not dwell in “the land”; For God’s land is His church; “His true vine, and the Father is the vinedresser” (John 15: 1), who waters and cares for it. … Many do good, yet do not dwell in the land”, and do not belong to the vinedresser. What are “the riches of the land”?... Its Lord and God, about whom is written: “You are my Portion, O Lord”. Listen to what the psalmist adds: “Take delight in the Lord” (4) (St. Augustine) c- The third commandment: To take delight in the Lord: https://coptic-treasures.com/ “Take delight in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass” (4, 5) Every commandment lifts the soul up in the way of faith: The first commandment starts with the negative aspect, namely, not to be envious of the temporal prosperity of the evildoers; The second exhorts the soul, being His bride, to lean on the chest of her heavenly Groom, and to practice the spiritual church life; The third commandment, to give Him her heart, and to seek Him as her satisfaction; He will give the soul the desires and the longings of her heart; and will grant her Himself, being the Grantor of good and goodness, to let her need nothing more. Revealing to Him her way, telling Him all her secrets, and trusting in Him, He will work by His grace and Holy Spirit in her…. The third commandment to the soul is to get preoccupied with the Lord; Being her Groom, she is committed not to hide nothing from Him, and not to seek her needs from anyone else. … The prophet Moses, finding his joy in the Lord, sought to behold His glory (Exodus 33: 18), and enjoyed it as much as he could endure. … Solomon was thirsty to be watered by the wisdom and knowledge of God, and God made Him the wisest of all men. Comparing between taking delight in the temporal, and rejoicing in the spiritual things, St. John Chrysostom says: {I cannot count the sufferings of those who seek the temporal pleasures; But I can figure them out in the following analogy: Those who sit at a huge luxurious table, do not enjoy the food as much as those who sit at a modest one. Moderation is the father of pleasure and health; whereas the gluttony is the source and origin, not only of sickness, but of sorrows}. https://coptic-treasures.com/ + We are told by the Lord that He has an abundance of such kind of food, saying: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4: 34). We enjoy that food about which the prophet says: “Take delight in the Lord”; … Let us feed on the bread of wisdom, and fill ourselves with the Word of God! For man, who is created according to the image of God, “does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4: 4). As to the cup, as well, the righteous ‘Job’, said clearly: “They waited for me as for the rain, and they opened their mouth wide as for the spring rain” (Job 29: 23). (St. Ambrose) d- The fourth commandment: To trust in the Lord: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday” (5, 6) Finding in the Lord our gladness and pleasure, it is befitting of us to tell Him all our fears and worries, all our big and small things, and He shall bring our life to pass according to His good counsel. The word “commit” (5), in Hebrew came to mean (pass); It is as though it is befitting of the believer to get rid of all his burdens and worries by passing them to God. Believing in God in our daily practical life, we would not fear the clouds around us, but would trust in the Sun of Righteousness hiding behind them; He who shines on His godly believers to proclaim their innocence and right; the psalmist says: “He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday” (6). https://coptic-treasures.com/ While the evildoers prosper, the righteous suffer, and are unjustly accused of being evildoers. Their reputation may become distorted by slanders for some time, but they would be like a sun hidden behind clouds and fog, which once scattered, the uprightness of their life would be manifested, would shine as the light of the sun at noonday; and their life would turn into rejoicing; according to the words of the prophet Isaiah : “Then your light shall break forth like the morning; your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard” (Isaiah 58: 8). The Lord shone upon humanity at noonday when He proclaimed the perfect splendor of His love on the cross, to scatter the darkness of sin from our hearts. + At noonday, God appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre (Genesis 18: 1);shining on him with the eternal light of the divine presence. And at noonday, the true ‘Joseph’ enters into His house to dine (Genesis 43: 25). It shines more when we celebrate the holy sacraments (when the crucified Lord Christ shines on the altar among His people). + “Where you make it rest at noon?” (Songs 1: 7) Talking about the Word shining on us with His light, the soul would say to Him: “Tell me, O whom I love, Where you feed Your flock; where You make it rest at noon?”. … It was at noon when ‘Joseph’ took his place among his brothers to dine; when he revealed to them the secrets of the coming times (Genesis 43: 15); … And St. Paul proclaimed that light shone around him from heaven like noon, turning him from a persecutor of the church into grace (Acts 9: 3). (St. Ambrose) e- The fifth commandment: To submit to the Lord: https://coptic-treasures.com/ “Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret over those who prosper in their way; over those who carry out evil devices” (7) Enlightened by the light of the cross like at noonday, and perceiving God’s perfect love and care, man would completely submit to Him, and would never fret over the prosperity of the evildoer, nor his evil devices. He who is preoccupied with the cross of the Lord of glory, will never grumble, even if the devices of the wicked seem successful; For God the Savior and the Beneficent, will turn even the evil devices of the wicked into our salvation; as He, by His cross, will turned the oppression of the Jews, and the betrayal of Judas to the salvation of the world. f- The sixth commandment: To refrain from anger, and forsake wrath: Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret – it leads only to evil. For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait for the Lord, they shall inherit the land. Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more. Though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land, and delight themselves in an abundance of peace” (8 – 11) If the wicked are crafty and evil, it is befitting of the righteous to refrain from anger, lest they would fall into what the wicked have fallen through loss of perseverance and meekness. While, by his evil, the wicked shall be cut off; By his perseverance, the righteous shall inherit the land (the promised land, or the church of the new covenant with her spiritual riches); and by his meekness his inheritance will be confirmed, and he will enjoy the exalted peace of God. https://coptic-treasures.com/ The psalmist warns us against the anger (the light wrath), lest anger would take root in the inner life, and turn into evil hate, to end up like the deceptive wicked. Instead of grumble that provokes anger, then leads to evil; let us concentrate our sight on the eternal inheritance for which we hope with perseverance, and acquire with meekness; for then the eternal peace would dwell in our life. The psalmist presents the best definition of the meek, that they are those who chose the way of faith with perseverance, instead of trusting in pleasures …. While the whole world is overwhelmed by caring for what is vain and profitless, the meek, in an amazing peace cross over from earth to heaven. Not being filled with grumble nor anger, there will be no place in them for malice They will have God’s peace as a deposit of the perfection of the eternal blessing. In His care for us, God allowed for us to suffer troubles by the wicked, so as to experience perseverance, meekness, and peace during our journey from the valley of tears, until we come to encounter our Christ, face to face, and to have our life satisfied with eternal glories. The wicked will end up with perdition; whereas death for us is glory. + What are your pleasures? … Peace will fill every longing in you…. For you, God will be everything: He will be your food, that you will never hunger; your drink, that you will never thirst; your light, that you will never be blind; and your comfort and help, that you will never be disturbed. He, Himself, perfectly and utterly, will wholly and utterly possess you. (St. Augustine) + When the meek assumes that he has lost everything he got, he will get a different promise, saying: [The righteous who does not get haughty nor puffed up, will possess all what he has in security; whereas the wicked will most probably lose his inheritance, and even his life itself. https://coptic-treasures.com/ (St. John Chrysostom) 2- A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE RIGHTOUS AND THE WICKED: (12 – 20) a- The wicked plots against the righteous: “The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth” (12) There is an ancient plot, put for so long by the wicked against the righteous; about which the Lord Christ says: “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you” (John 15: 18). It is as though the two sides of the battle are actually, not the wicked and the righteous, but the devil and the Lord Christ. This battle started since the creation of man, and will remain in the life of every believer until the perfect conquest of Christ is proclaimed in him; … As to the land of the battle, it is the believer’s mind. The wicked – the devil – using every possible way, plots against the true believer, to make him fall into the snares of sin; and if he fails, he gnashes at him with his teeth, “like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5: 8). Since Cain killed Abel in the old; and since St. Steven was stoned to death by the Jews, and until the second coming of the Lord Christ, the true believers have been, and will be persecuted; yet will never be forsaken. b- The wicked will perish by their own weapons: “The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming. The wicked have drawn the sword, and have bent their bow, https://coptic-treasures.com/ to cast down the poor and needy, to slay those who are of upright conduct. Their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken” (13 – 15) The wicked ridiculing the saints, the Lord laughs at him, for He has set the day of his chastisement (Job 18: 20; psalm 137: 7; Isaiah 9: 4; Jeremiah 12: 3; Hosea 1: 11). The Lord despises all his evil plots. The wicked use all their weapons to cast down the poor and needy; yet God would not allow this tribulation to endure for a long time, nor leave the wicked unpunished. They draw their swords to kill the bodies of the righteous, but will never be able to touch their souls; the sword shall enter their own hearts; hence the Lord Christ says: “Do not fear those who kill the body, and cannot kill the soul” (Matthew 10: 28). Their sword shall enter their own heart, for “For all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26: 52) + What then? Will the wicked do you harm and will not himself be harmed? Will his hate, provoked by his anger, to cast you down, not destroy him first, and end up with the perdition of his own depths? Their sword shall enter their own heart. Their sward may reach your body, the way it did when it pierced the bodies of the martyrs; yet, their hearts and souls remained intact and not harmed. But definitely, he who drew his sword to slay the body of those of upright Conduct, will not go unharmed. (St. Augustine) + According to the testimony of the psalmist, “Their teeth are spears and arrows; and their tongue a sharp sword” (Psalm 57: 4). But what is amazing is that, while https://coptic-treasures.com/ attacking the righteous, they do themselves more harm, for, carrying inside them anger, hate, envy, malice, and guile, they are torn apart by their own weapons. While unable to do real harm to the righteous, their weapons shall first enter their own hearts (15); and, “His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin” (Proverb 5: 22). (Pope St. Athanasius the apostolic) That is concerning the sword that enters the heart of the wicked…. The bows that are broken, refer to the hidden plots of the evil enemies, when they become revealed and exposed. c- The wicked will be denied the blessings of God: The wicked often persecute the righteous to confiscate their possessions; but the righteous will remain rich in their faith and the blessings of the Lord that fills their depths, while the wicked will perpetually remain needy, however great they may have of temporal riches (Proverb 15: 16, 17); and according to the psalmist: “A little that a righteous man has, is better than the riches of many wicked” (16) d- The arms of the wicked shall be broken: “For the arms of the wicked shall be broken; but the Lord upholds the righteous” (17) Breaking the arms implies the utter inability to work; as it was said about Pharaoh: “Therefore, thus says the Lord, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, both the strong and the one that was broken; and I will make the sword fall out of https://coptic-treasures.com/ his hand; … I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put My sword in his hand; but I will break Pharaoh’s arms, and he will groan before him with the groaning of a mortally wounded man” (Ezekiel 30: 22 – 24). The wicked holding his weapons, God will break his arms, his power will collapse, and he loses his weapon. God Himself remains a Support for His righteous, who bear Him in themselves, as arms to perpetually work to the account of His kingdom. e- The ways of the righteous are well known by the Lord: “The Lord knows the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be forever” (18) As we already said, the word “knows” refers to the close relationship between God and His believers; He knows their way; for He is “the Way”.; He carries them in Himself, to become blameless, bearing His righteousness; and presents Himself to them an eternal Reward, and inheritance. About the suffering angel (bishop) of the church of Smyrna, the Lord Christ said: “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); … Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer, Indeed the devil is about to throw some of you into prison; … Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2: 9, 10). … God knows the works of his love; and knows that days of tribulation are waiting for him; yet He does not forsake him, and promises him the crown of life. That is what the psalmist also meant by saying: “They will not be ashamed in the evil time; and in the days of famine, they shall be satisfied” (19) The evil times are coming, and the days of famine shall dwell, yet the believers will not lose their hope, nor will be ashamed, or have an inner hunger, but will be satisfied by the Lord. The blessed St. Paul says: “We also glory in tribulations, knowing that https://coptic-treasures.com/ tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance character, and character hope; now hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5: 3, 4), “because the love of God has been poured out in our heart by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5: 5); supports us in the valley of tears, until we cross over to the higher Jerusalem.. f- Like smoke, God’s enemies shall vanish away: “But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord, like the splendor of the meadows; into smoke they shall vanish away” (20) He probably means that the enemy enters into the pasture – the church of Christ – like a lion to devour, or like a robber who daringly slays and grill the sheep to eat, but out of this sacrifice of oppression, will come dense smoke that haughtily rise up, to be smelled by God as a fragrance of pleasure; whereas their oppressors, like smoke shall vanish away. + The enemies of God – death, the devil, and the evil spirits – will all perish. We, therefore should not fret because of the prosperity of the enemies of God; for in a moment their glory will fall down, and like smoke they shall vanish away. If you see an enemy, rich, armed with weapons, and followed by many hypocrites, do not get discouraged, but you should rather have pity on him, and cry out to God to haul him up together with his company; the more intense his animosity against God becomes, the more you should grieve for him. We are committed to lament those who will perish, particularly the rich among them, who enjoy good days, on account of that they are sick and are overfeeding themselves. 3- THE END OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED: (21 – 40) https://coptic-treasures.com/ a- “The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous shows mercy and gives” (21): If the wicked do their best to rob the righteous of their possessions and rights, and even seek their souls, they will, even in this world, lose the blessing of the Lord in their life; will borrow and will not be able to repay; whereas the righteous will have the blessing of the Lord fill their life, to give mercy and joy. Borrowing here is not confined to material things, but extends to psychological needs; for the wicked may be rich with wealth, but miserably feel an inner poverty, humiliation, and deprivation; and lack love, joy, and peace…. They may seek from men a word of true love, or a jest of peace; … while the righteous , even during the moments of their martyrdom, will pour on everyone around, joy and gladness of heart; and the day of their martyrdom will turn into joyful feasts. The wicked got from God the grace of existence, and the blessings of emotion and reason; … but, instead of using them to the account of the kingdom of God, as tools of righteousness to God, he presents them as instruments of unrighteousness to sin (Romans 6: 13). He borrows and does not repay, but oppresses his creditor; whereas the righteous, bearing the nature of His Savior, is merciful, and gives, even his own soul for the sake of the salvation of his brethren. While curse will dwell upon the wicked, and perish, the righteous will inherit the promised land – the church of the new covenant, with her spiritual riches. Of the blessings promised to the believers who keep the commandment in the old covenant, was the ability to lend the others, and not to need to borrow from anyone (Deuteronomy 15: 2; Isaiah 24: 20). And of the curses to dwell upon the oppressors of God, was to have to borrow, and be unable to repay their debts (Deuteronomy 28: 44). The transgressions and ungodliness of the wicked bring them forth into need. + He borrows and does not repay; … he does not repay thanksgiving to God from whom he was given gifts; but, on the contrary, he repays His goodness by evil, blasphemy, grumble, and denial…. The righteous, on the other hand, shows mercy https://coptic-treasures.com/ and gives, his ways are generous; and even if he is poor, he is rich; probably not with external wealth, but with internal compassion. (St. Augustine) b- The wicked will lose his inheritance and his life; whereas the righteous will inherit the land of the living: “For those who are blessed by Him shall inherit the earth; but those who are cursed by Him shall be cut off” (22) It may seem that the righteous have nothing, when they actually have everything, and make many rich; as according to the apostle Paul: “As poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing but possessing all things” (2 Corinthians 6: 10); possessing the grace and blessing of God. While the wicked are filled with oppression and greed, and will end up cursed and cut off; the righteous, on the other hand, being known for generosity and compassion, will inherit the earth. + They possess the Righteous (God), the only true Righteous who justifies; He, who, although was poor on earth, yet He came forth with great gifts, to make all those He found poor and needy rich. He is the One who gives the Holy Spirit to the hearts of the poor, purifies the souls by confessing their sins, and fills them with the treasures of righteousness. He is the One who could make the poor fisherman rich by forsaking his nets aside, not caring for what he posses to put his heart upon what he does not possess (the ministry). (St. Augustine) https://coptic-treasures.com/ + God promises those who seek His kingdom and righteousness, to have more of these; For, as everything is God’s, he who possesses God will need nothing more. Daniel was given divine food when he was cast in the lions den, by the order of the king. Although the wild beasts were hungry, they did not touch him. Elijah, as well, while escaping and persecuted, was fed and ministered by the ravens (Cyprian the martyr) c- God upholds the hands of the righteous: “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord; and He delights in his way. Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholds him with His hand” (23, 24) God, on a personal level, has a plan in the life of every man; whether he is a priest, a monk, or one of the people; an elder, a young man, or a child; a man or a woman; Every soul has her own appreciation and mission in the sight of God. As a Father He does not entrust anyone else to realize this mission. He, indeed, uses angels, prophets, apostles, ministers, and even nature itself, to minister to those who are to inherit the earth; but He shall remain their true Savior, and presents Himself a Way for them. + [Neither an angel nor an archangel, neither a patriarch nor a prophet, have You entrusted with our salvation, but You without change, were incarnate and became man, and resembled us in everything, except for sin alone, and became for us a Mediator with the Father, and a middle wall You have broken down, and the old enmity You have abolished. You have reconciled the earthly with the heavenly, and made the two into one] (The liturgy of St. Gregory the theologian) https://coptic-treasures.com/ He (Christ) entered into the way of passion and crucifixion to uphold our steps; to make us love the suffering, not for their own sake, but for the sake of partaking of the way of the Lord Christ; and of Him partaking of our sufferings. + For man to love the way of God, the Lord Himself directs his steps; lest, being actually his nature, he would probably be lost on the way of sin; And being lost for long along a pervert way, it would be impossible for him to return (without His help). (St. Augustine) The Lord upholds our hands like a father training his own children, directing them, finding pleasure to lead them on His way, and they find pleasure in Him as well; For He accompanies them, proclaims Himself to them, and supports their weakness. Along the way, He may probably allow for them to fall down, to make them discover their own weakness, and perceive their needs for the leadership of His Holy Spirit, and for the support of God’s grace. They may fall, but will never be destroyed, as His eyes are on them, and will stretch His hand to lift them up if they cry out to Him. St. James says: “For we all stumble in many things” (James 3: 2). Yet we should not be discouraged, but raise our eyes up to God, who is able to set us aright. According to some, falling here does not mean falling into sin, but falling into troubles; as God will never let His believers collapse. d- The righteous experience the grace of God: “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful and lends; and his descendants are blessed” (25, 26) https://coptic-treasures.com/ Speaking about the blessings of God dwelling upon the righteous, filled with love and compassion; and about the miserable end of the oppressive wicked; If the psalmist is asked: whether his talk is practical and actual; his answer would be ““I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken” (25). God will always stand by him, and by his descendants. God may sometimes, allow for them to get hungry or needy, but, ultimately, He would never forsake them to the end; He would allow them to suffer for sometime, yet He would stay with them, partake of their troubles, and save them. He will even grant them Himself, as their satiety and riches + The Lord would never allow for the soul of the righteous to perish by hunger; the psalmist says: “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread”. Elijah has been “fed by the ravens”, and “by the widow of Sidon who prepared food for him, and not for herself and her son, despite the fact that she expected to die out of hunger together with her son on the same night (1 Kings 17). + “The love of money ia a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6: 10); The apostle talks about “covetousness which is “idolatry” (Colossians 3: 5); And the Savior Himself counsels us to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 3: 5). God will never allow for the righteous to die out of hunger, (St. Jerome) It is befitting of the righteous, who opens his heart and arms to the poor and needy, not to worry about the future of his children after his departure from this world; having given them his holy life an inheritance to support them. The wicked, on the other hand, “wanders about for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?’ (Job 15: 23); “and would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him https://coptic-treasures.com/ anything” (Luke15: 16). + Let God be the Guardian of your children; Let Him be their Surety; Let Him, by His divine majesty, be their Protector against all temporal harms. This is the secure inheritance kept safe with God. (Cyprian the martyr) + You would be counted as a traitor and an oppressor, if you do not present to your children a sound counsel, and do not keep them in true religion and godliness. You who care about providing them with temporal things, and not with the heavenly possessions; … You who put them under the guardianship of the devil, instead of Christ;… You are committing two sins, and a double crime; you deny your own children the help of God, their Father; and you instruct them to love their temporal possessions more than Christ. (Cyprian the martyr) According to St. Augustine, He who says here: “ I have been young, and now am old” , is the Lord Christ in His body, the church; presenting her experience along the generations. + The body of Christ, namely, the church, like any human being, has been lithe at the beginning of her life; Now, at the end of the world, she has reached the fruitful old age; for the words: “They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing” (Psalm 92: 14), is said about the church, flourishing among all nations. Like someone, concerning his young days and growing old; she has searched everything; by the Holy Book knew all times; and now, she warningly proclaims: “and now I am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants https://coptic-treasures.com/ begging bread”. The “bread” here is the Word of God, from which the lips of the righteous are not denied (See Matthew 4: 3, 4). (St. Augustine) e- The righteous experiences the good eternal life: “Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell forevermore” (27) This is the seventh commandment; which commits the righteous, not only to depart from evil, but to practice the positive work, “to do good”; namely, it is not only befitting of the righteous to keep from likening the wicked in practicing oppression, but it is befitting of him, as well, to walk by the good Spirit of God. This commandment carries its reward; as the psalmist adds: “and dwell forevermore”. Namely, departing from evil, and doing good, are an entrance into the deposit of the eternal life, where there is no iniquity, but perpetual goodness. Evil may give temporary pleasure, which will soon go away, and will even turn into bitterness; Whereas good will bring us forth into tasting the eternal divine rejoice. We have already dealt with the positive and the negative aspects in the life of the godly believer (Psalm 34: 13). + Do not think that you do good, if you do not rob somebody’s clothes. Yes, by that you depart from evil; but it is befitting of you not to stop at that level without giving fruit. For what is greater than not robbing somebody’s clothes, is to clothe a naked man. (St. Augustine) https://coptic-treasures.com/ + It is befitting of him who wishes to be saved, not to stop at departing from evil, but he is committed, as well, to do good…. It is not enough for him who is used to get angry, to cease to be angry, but he is committed to learn how to be meek. Every transgression has a virtue as its opposite. (Father Dorotheos) f- The righteous will forever enjoy the faithfulness of God: “For the Lord loves justice, and does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever” (28) God, being “the Truth”, loves justice or (truth), It brings Him pleasure to give it to the oppressed; and remains faithful to those He loves, and who love Him. He may allow for them to go through troubles, yet for a certain time, in order to proclaim His care for them eternally. He preserves them forever, as though they are the treasure of heaven. + “For the Lord loves justice, and does not forsake His saints”. So He does by having the life of His saints hidden in Him. While laboring and suffering now on earth, and look like trees, barren with no leaves nor fruits in winter; Once He shines on them as a new Sun, behold, the vitality hidden in the roots will suddenly emerge in their fruits. .. You may despise a saint while under chastisement, but you will tremble with surprise when you see him clothed in honor. (St. Augustine) Someone may ask: Does God indeed not forsake His saints?... Yes, He has kept the fire from touching the three young men who praised Him; But, how about the Maccabees, His saints as well, who perished in fire, although they have never forsaken their faith?! https://coptic-treasures.com/ Responding to that, St. Augustine says: [Listen to what follows: “They are preserved forever” (28). If you wish for the saints to live few additional years, your assumption would mean that God will never take His saints. … God who has not forsaken the three saintly young men in public, has not forsaken, the saintly Maccabees in a secret way. The former saints were granted the mortal life in the body, to bring the nonbelievers to shame; Whereas the later, He secretly crowned to condemn the vanity of their persecutors]. g- “The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell in it forever”(29): We have already spoken about “the land” that the “meek” (11), and “those who wait on the Lord” (9) will inherit. h- The righteous shall enjoy the heavenly wisdom: “The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom; and his tongue talks of justice” (30) This is the first time we encounter the word “wisdom” in the book of psalms; which refers to the knowledge of the divine will, and the holy things that come from the Word of God, through the dwelling of His Holy Spirit, and the experience of fellowship with the Savior. God’s gift to His saints is to let them enjoy the Lord Christ work in their mouth, on their tongue, and in their heart and behavior.; as He is the Wisdom, read by the righteous; the justice (the truth) uttered by his tongue; the law of God, transfigured in his heart, and the leader of his steps. It is befitting of the believer to strive by God’s grace, to enjoy the fellowship with the Lord Christ; and according to St. Augustine: [God will be with you, on condition that His https://coptic-treasures.com/ Word would not depart from you]. At the same time, it is befitting of him to perceives that his enjoyment of the Word, is a free gift granted by God to His beloved, who respond to His love. The Book of Psalm often concentrates upon “the mouth”, being, either a tool of the devil the liar, and father of liars; through which he presents deception, falsity, and blasphemy; Or it is the tool of God, through which He proclaims His wisdom, and His exalted secrets. The godly believer is like a harp that plays the secrets of God, whose strings are the heart, mouth, and work, play together in harmony. What the mouth utters, conforms to what is in the heart, and responded to by the behavior. i- None of his steps shall slide; nor deflect from the royal path: “The law of God is in his heart; and none of his steps shall slide” (31) The secret of his commitment to the royal path, is his love for the divine commandment from his whole heart, and obeying it in his practical life. For him, the commandment is not a burden, but a support that keeps him on the royal path, and none of his steps shall slide. By it, he likens God his Creator, and enters into the divine bosom, through the Holy Spirit, who commands us by the Word, and supports us to do according to it. j- The wicked has no authority over the righteous: “The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to slay him. The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged” (32, 33) https://coptic-treasures.com/ It may seem that the righteous is perpetually in the hand of the wicked; Yet God would never leave him as such; but will save him, as He did when He saved David from king Saul’s hand; Mordecai from Haman’s; and Peter from Herod’s. And if there is no escape from the enemies’ hands for some reason or another, according to God’s purpose, He opens up the gates of heaven, and takes His saints to paradise, like what He did with St. Steven, and the rest of the martyrs. The Father left His own Son Jesus in the hands of His enemies, Yet, not for long; as the Lord Christ said to Pilate: “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above” (John 19: 11); and, “This is your hour and the power of darkness” (Luke 22: 53). It is as though the darkness has got authority over the Lord Christ, until salvation is consummated by His crucifixion. The psalmist may refer here to the ultimate judgment, when justice is done, and the just verdict is issued; as it happened with the two women who fought against one another over a new born infant, each of them claiming him to be hers. While Solomon the Sage appeared impartial, yet he ultimately secured the right of the genuine mother. … As such, God may, for a certain purpose, keep silent for some time, but at the designate time, He issues the divine verdict. + The body may be delivered into the hands of the persecutors; but God will not leave it there; For from the captive body, God will bring forth the triumphant soul. You should be aware, not to fall prey through lust into a wicked hand; lest, through your desire for temporal life, you would fall into the claws (of the lust), and would accordingly lose the eternal life. (St. Augustine) The righteous do not fear falling into the hands of the wicked; for God with His love, righteousness, and justice, will save them from their hands; https://coptic-treasures.com/ and eternally glorifies their souls. Yet, they truly fear evil itself, lest they would fall under the verdict and perish. They are the saints of God who gain “the glorious liberty of the children of God” , and no one could do them harm; as according to St. Clement of Alexandria, [For the righteous, even earth would become heaven; And once the devil is taken away from his inner life, God will set His kingdom inside him; and no one could ever do him harm. k- By God, the righteous will be exalted , and the wicked will slide or cut off: The eighth commandment in this psalm is: “Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it” (34) Waiting on the heavenly Lord, He will “exalt” us, as though from the trash to partake of His eternal glory; while, being denied of this gift, they will be cut off from God, the Source of their life, and will slide down together with the devil, their father. l- Contrary to the righteous, the wicked, seeking the vain glory, would lack the inner glory: “I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a native green tree; yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found” (35, 36) In vain, the wicked seek the glory of this world; for they will perish together with their glory. Yes, they may look flourishing in this world, yet for sometime; they may look haughty like the cedar of Lebanon, But, “Now, the ax is laid to the root of the trees; Therefore, every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” https://coptic-treasures.com/ (Matthew 3: 10; 7: 19). The proud Nebuchadnezar, “saw himself as a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. The tree grew and became strong, its height reached to the heavens, and could be seen to the ends of all the earth. Its leaves were lovely, its fruits abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it. The birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it. … Then the Holy one coming down from heaven issued His order to chop down the tree, and to cut off its branches; strip off its leaves, and scatter its fruit; let the beasts get out from under it, and the birds from its branches. Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze to the tender grass of the field …” (Daniel 4). Nebuchadnezar, the great king was “driven from men, his dwelling came to be with the beasts of the field, was made to eat grass like oxen; was wet with the dew of heaven; and seen times passed over him, till he knew that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whoever He chooses”. According to the psalmist, the wicked pass away and behold, they were no more. They are like actors in a theatrical play, who, once they finish their act, they go on their way, together with their alleged names, riches, glory, and authority. Eliphaz the Temanite says about the foolish wicked one: “I have seen the foolish taking root, but suddenly I cursed his habitation” (Job 5: 3); and, “Dreadful sounds are in his ears; In orosperity the destroyer comes upon him” (Job 15: 21). + Pride, arrogance, haughtiness, and boasting, are all not according to the teachings of the Lord Christ, who taught us humility; but according to the spirit of the antichrist whom the Lord rebukes by the prophet saying: “For you have said in your heart, ‘I will ascend into heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God” (Isaiah 14: 13). (Cyprian the martyr) https://coptic-treasures.com/ + Let us flee; for what is there is like nothing; what we assume to be honored is empty; and what we think to be something, will soon be no more. “I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a native green tree; yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more” (35, 36). … Pass like Moses to behold the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; such a great vision; but to be able to see it, you have to take your shoes off your feet; namely, to take off all the earthly bonds of evil, all the bonds of the world; like what the Lord Christ did when He sent His apostles “without money bag, sack, nor sandals” (Luke 10: 4) so as not to carry the temporal things along with them. (St. Ambrose) + Whoever exalts himself will be brought down. Cain exalted himself over his brother Abel, and killed him, to become a cursed fugitive on earth. So did the people of Sodom, over Lot; And God brought over them fire from heaven, to be burnt together with their city. So did Esau over his brother Jacob, who got his first birth rights and blessings; So did Jacob’s children over their brother Joseph, to end up prostrating themselves before him in Egypt; and so did Pharaoh over Moses and his people, to end up drowning in the Red Sea, together with his army; etc. (Father Aphrahat) The psalm ends by confirming the commitment of the righteous to meekness and uprightness, to gain salvation and conquest from the Lord, in whom they trust, confirming that the end of the hypocrites, breakers of the law, is perdition. ------------------------ AN INSPIRATION FROM PSALM 37 https://coptic-treasures.com/ YOU ARE MY JOY AND CONQUEST + The wicked is puffed up by his temporal success; And trusts in his authority and possibilities; As for me, I find in You, O Lord, my gladness and conquest. + Open my eyes to see the land of the living; And enjoy its spiritual riches; Your church is the land of the living; Your spiritual House; And You are her riches; Hence I acquire You in my heart. + Grant me not to be envious of the wicked, lest I fall into malice; Grant me Your heavenly wisdom, to be clothed with Your meekness; Teach me to trust in You, and to anticipate Your heavenly reward.
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