THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE The prophet David presents to us a praise of thanksgiving to God who trains His children on resisting, and fighting against the devil; to discover the Person of the Lord, the Savior, His work, and His exalted dealings. Here, the psalmist stands confused, as he finds no human language to express the truth of God’s love for His church, and for every one of its members, believing in Him. It is one of the psalms of battles, that helps us in our spiritual battle against the devil and his hosts. We are in need of the Lord Himself to lead the battle by His cross, and to train us on the spiritual battles before entering into them. In ourselves, we are nothing, but God loves us and prepares us by Himself, to be qualified by His possibilities, to enter into the spiritual battles. Not always telling us how He prepares us, it is befitting of us to deliver our lives into His hands, trusting that He will always grant conquest to His true believers. When the Lord allowed for David, in his youth, to fight against a lion and a wolf; he did not perceive then, that He was preparing him for the battle against the mighty Goliath. It deems fit for us to arm ourselves, every morning, with the weapons of God, mentioned in Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians 6: 10-18; to be ready to hear the sound of the horn. Seeing by the living faith, God’s strong hand working in and by us, we would never fear to enter into the Lord’s battle; for He will never forsake us (2 Chronicles 20: 14- 19). It deems fit for us to present a praise of thanksgiving to the Lord for supporting us as individuals (9-11), as families (12), and as a congregation (13-15). 1- God, my Rock and my loving-kindness 1 - 4 2- When will Your incarnation be realized? 5 - 10 3- A deceptive enemy 11 4- Why does God allow for the opposition of the enemy?12 – 15 The title: A song to the Lord who preserves and prospers His people. A psalm of David. According to the Septuagint version it came as: Of David, concerning his battle against Goliath. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 178 Although the title of this psalm came with few words, yet it is loaded with secrets. About that battle of David which happened in the days of our fathers, the Holy Book tells us that David put five stones in his pouch, but he struck the Philistine with just one stone. … Five books were chosen, but their unity prevailed; … he slung it, and struck the Philistine in his forehead, who fell on his face to the ground. David then took the sword of Goliath, and cut his head with it (1 Samuel 17). … When the Lord Christ struck the devil by his weapons, the elites who were under his authority turned their tongues to work against the devil; … Goliath’s head was cut by his own sword1. (St. Augustine) 1- GOD, MY ROCK, AND MY LOVINGKINDNESS: “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle” (1) The psalmist praises the Lord; for He is everything in his battle in this life; by Him he is trained to confront the enemy; He is the Rock in whom he hides from the vicious devil, and on which the serpent cannot crawl to reach the believer dwelling in it. These are our words if we are the body of Christ. Both our “hands” and our “fingers” work; but, By the fingers we can recognize the diversity of work, with some kind of unity. By those fingers, the body of Christ fights, and make battle. By works of loving kindness, we can defeat our enemy. Which we cannot have, unless we have love. And we shall have no love, unless we receive it by the Holy Spirit. … He, therefore, “trains our hands for war, and our fingers for battle”. We can truly say to Him: “You are my loving kindness or my mercy”, as by Him we can be merciful; “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy” (James 2: 13) 2. (St. Augustine) “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle” . “Let us lift our hands in prayers, without wrath and doubting” (1 Timothy 2: 8). For every time we do that, our prayer would become a weapon against the devil. … Our prayer is our harp3. 1 On Ps. 144 (143). 2 On Ps. 144 (143). 3 On Ps., homily 54 on Ps. 143 (144). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 179 (St. Jerome) Saying that God is the Trainer on wars, fights, and battles, is not far from the truth; and is not a sin. He trains my hands for war, means that He makes me overcome my enemy. When David killed Goliath, God was the One responsible for the conquest; and the same was true when he fought several wars with success; Hence He praises the Lord in his psalms, saying: “The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle” (Psalm 24: 8). The did the same with the prophet Moses. A worse war, for which we need a special grace from high above, is when we enter into battle against opponent hosts, described by the apostle Paul by the words: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6: 12) 1. (St. John Chrysostom) This does not mean that God instigates wars, and stirs up evil, … far from it! But it means that by Him, conquest is realized for His beloved, and the defeat for His enemies…. That is why the prophet refers his conquest over Goliath to God, and not to the strength of his own hands. We, Christians, having been saved from the (mental) Babylon, namely, the sin, by the holy baptism, and faith in Christ, We still have to confront another enemy, more fierce than the seen sensed one; on account of that it is against unseen hosts of a nature different from ours; And the strife between us and those hosts is a matter of life and death; namely, for the sake of the salvation or perdition of our souls. We cannot see our adversaries, nor can we choose the field, or know the time of battle, for it is all the time and everywhere; with no pause or a time-out; with no intermediaries to go in between, and with no media to announce it. We, therefore should always be alert on every aspect; Our shields of defense are keeping the commandments of God.; Our sustaining provisions, are studying the holy books; and seeking help from God who trains our hands for war against the devilish hosts, and our fingers for crossing our foreheads, hearts, left, and right. … By such a sign we fight and overcome the adversary hosts; for it is the cross of Him, who saved us by His shrouds, let us prevail upon our enemies, and supports us by His protection. 1 On Ps. 144. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 180 (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “My loving kindness and my fortress; my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and the One in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me” (2) God deals with the true believers, who are serious in their life, on the principle of divine mercy (or His loving kindness). God embraces His believers in the midst of the battle of life; For them, He is the safe refuge, the fortress to which they flee and live in security, and the tower from which they can perceive the dimensions of the battle; … He will be the Grantor of conquest to those who trust in Him. Who is this “people” whom man needs God to subdue under him, but the senses, emotions, and thoughts, namely, his inner man?! …For Jesus Christ, the King of kings, lets us have authority over our inner depths through the work of His Holy Spirit, and of His divine grace. “My loving kindness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer”. What a great strife for the warrior, whose body covets against his spirit. Let us hold fast to this, to realize what we desire; until the time comes when, “death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15: 54); when that mortal body is transformed into an angelic form, and is lifted up to a heavenly level … When there would be life and good days, … when there is no lust against the spirit; … when it would not be said: “fight”, no more, but “rejoice”; … for then, every man would say: “Here I am”. Learn how to say: “My loving kindness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield”…. Let me say, “my high tower”, so as not to fall; … “my deliverer”, so as not to be stabbed; … “my shield”, so as not to be stricken. In the midst of all my strife, …of all my battles, … of all my troubles, I shall find in Him my hope, “the One who subdues my people under me”. Notice how our Head talks to us1! (St. Augustine) “My loving kindness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield”. That is how the psalmist talks to God, who has more of these titles. “The One who subdues my people under me”. He so says in the name of Christ concerning His incarnation. So can the apostles talk, and 1 On Ps. 144 (143). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 181 so can the head of a monastery give thanks to God, and say: [Blessed be the Lord my God who subdues my people under me; They are not subdued under me, O Lord, but under You; they obey me to serve You1]. (St. Jerome) Notice how he supplicates to God seeking salvation, based on His “loving kindness”, Or how he would rather say: ….I am not worthy of His mercy against His will; for He is my mercy. … He means to say: I do not seek it through my works. For although He is “Mercy”, yet, not everyone enjoys it on an equal basis; for “He says to Moses: ‘I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion’” (Romans 9: 15). The psalmist means to say that he receives the gift of mercy, itself, on such basis (that God is merciful); … Do you notice his contrite spirit? … Do you see His thanksgiving behavior? …. Do you see how he refers everything to the loving God? “My support, my deliverer, my shield, the One in whom I hope”. By having his hope perpetually in God, he counsels everyone not to be swallowed by troubles, but in the midst of calamities, to concentrate his eyes up there, not to despair nor be faint-hearted; for God will always be, above anything, his support and deliverer2. “The One who subdues my people under me”. There is need for help and divine grace from high above, not only to subdue enemies and adversaries, but even to subdue his own people, as well, to have them obey him, and not to rebel against him3. (St. John Chrysostom) “Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that you are mindful of him? (3) According to the Septuagint and the Coptic version, it came as: “Lord, what is man, that You appeared to him? Or the son of man that You prepared for him?” Before God’s exalted love and care for man, providing him with everything he needs for the sake of his happiness, satisfaction, joy, and perpetual growth, the psalmist stands in awe, to marvel: What is man, that God does all that for his sake? And take such knowledge of him? Man is the only creature God created according to His image, gave authority over all the other creatures on earth, honored by giving 1 On Ps., homily 54 on Ps. 143 (144). 2 On Ps. 144. 3 On Ps. 144. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 182 him His commandment; and above anything else, for whose sake, the Word of God incarnated, and became man to save him from corruption, to restore to him his lost honor, to open the gates of heaven before him, and to grant him eternal glory, etc…. Man, to whom God granted all those exalted gifts, is nothing but dust, and his days on earth pass like a swift shadow. The Lord Christ says to the wicked, on the great day of the Lord: “I do not know you” … “Knowledge” here, is not the mental knowledge, and the perception of the truth and features of the person, but that of experience and attachment of love. So is man’s knowledge of God; It is that of encountering Him, abidance in Him, and fellowship with Him. Just contemplate in the greatness of God’s perception of you; “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8: 32) 1. (St. Augustine) It is a great thing that man is the object of God’s knowledge! The psalmist does not say: “What is man to know You?”, but says: “What is man, that You take knowledge of him?”… Paul goes farther to say: “Now I know in part, but then, I shall know just as I also am known” (1 Corinthians 13: 12); And the Lord Christ also said to His disciples: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you” (John 15: 16); And, in another location Paul also says: “If anyone loves God, this one is known to Him” (1 Corinthians 8: 3) 2. (St. John Chrysostom) “Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him, or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?” (3). Here, the psalmist refers to the frailty and weakness of human body! If you consider his body, “what is man?”… But If you consider his spirit, he is of an exalted level. I wish we, therefore, not despise the body that will reign in heaven together with Christ.,,,,, for “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 15: 50). It is not the flesh and blood themselves, but the works of the body; … How will they inherit together with Christ?; “How shall we sit in heaven, together with Christ?” (Ephesians 2: 6) 3. 1 On Ps. 144 (143). 2 On Ps. 144. 3 On Ps., homily 54 on Ps. 143 (144). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 183 (St. Jerome) “Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow” (4) According to the Septuagint and the Coptic versions, it came as: “Man is like vanity; his days are like a passing shadow”. Man is like a swift passing shadow, a breath, as though he has never been…. On one aspect, we glorify God who cares for us, and prepares eternal glories for us; And on another aspect, we should have no fear of any man, who would be, but for a limited time. “Man is like vanity; his days are like a passing shadow”. What is “vanity”? It is time that passes by and disappears. “Truth” holds fast and never fails; for it is the work of God’s hand… It is written: “God has filled the earth with His goodness”; Whereas those earthly things that disappear and pass away, if compared to the “Truth” who proclaims: “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3: 14), are all ‘vanity”, that pass away with time, like smoke in the air. … And as said by the apostle James: “What is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4: 14) 1. (St. Augustine) Concerning the body, it is described by Abraham as “dust and ashes” (Genesis 18: 27), and by Isaiah, saying: “All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field” (Isaiah 40: 6). “Like vanity” means (as though nothing). Nothing human holds fast, it eventually passes away and disappears. “His days are like a passing shadow”, If you think of those who now occupy prominent positions, and have high authority, they may soon be cast in prison and scourged! … How could they differ from a shadow, not just at the moment of their death, but even before that. … Today he may be a judge, and tomorrow he would be a defendant2! (St. John Chrysostom) “Man is like a breath, his days are like a passing shadow”. I have been a child, then a teenager, then a youth, then a full grown man; and before long I will be an elder, toward which death crawls. I change on a daily basis; and do not perceive that I am actually nothing!We, not even for a single moment, notice the passing time! 1 On Ps. 144 (143). 2 On Ps. 144. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 184 No one perceive that he is heading toward death … “Life is like a passing shadow” 1. (St. Jerome) Some tend to consider the whole human race as nothing, based on what psalm 144: 4 proclaims that man is just a breath. Many wish to live long, and many count the days of youth as happy time. Yet every stage of life has its own misery: when we despise our young age, saying: Why are we not older? And when we are greyhaired, we wish to have our young days back. …. As there is no limit for the things that would make us miserable, there is only one way to escape, namely, the way of virtue. Although even this way has its own sorrows, yet, together with sorrow, it certainly has its benefits and fruits2. It so seems that the prophet means those who are sojourners from God, who pervert from the way of truth, whose life is filled with evil habits, who love vanity, and who often talk nonsense. (St. John Chrysostom) Man, created in the image of God, could not be counted as a breath; whereas he who lost this image by falling into sin, and going down into material desires, such a person is positively counted as a breath3. (St. Ambrose) 2- WHEN WILL YOUR INCARNATION BE REALIZED? “Bow down Your heavens, O Lord, and come down; Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke” (5) The Lord previously came down on Mount Sinai to give His people the law; Yet, even coming down to encounter Moses alone, the mountain, not enduring His coming down, smoked; and the people, who did not accompany Moses, got scared and horrified. In the fullness of time, however, the Lord came down as one of us, dwelt among us, and partook of our life, except for sin. He touched the mountain of our human nature; granting us the crucifixion of our old man, and the enjoyment of the new creation according to His image. What is the heavens that bow? They are the apostles who became humble; as those heavens “declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19: 1); About those heavens it is also said: “There is no speech nor language 1 On Ps., homily 54 on Ps. 143 (144). 2 Homilies on 2 Timothy, 1. 3 Isaac or the Saul, 2: 4. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 185 where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world “ (Psalm 19: 3, 4) 1. (St. Augustine) “Bow down Your heavens, O Lord, and come down”. Your scattered and dispersed sheep need You to carry them on Your shoulders. “Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke”. The psalmist did not say, “they shall burn”, but said, “they shall smoke”; which carry the sign of punishment2. (St. Jerome) How deep is the wound of human nature. “From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; they have not been closed or bound up, or soothed with ointment” (Isaiah 1: 6). Hence the prophets wailed, saying: “Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion3!” (Psalm 53: 6); and one of them says: “Bow down Your heavens, O Lord, and come down” (Psalm 144: 5). Wounds of human nature never heal. “They have torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets” (1 Kings 19: 10); Being helpless to reform evil, we need You to reform it4. (St, Cyril of Jerusalem) “Flash forth lightning and scatter them; Shoot out Your arrows and rout them” (6) When God came down to deliver the law to Moses, the people were terrified because lightning and thunder accompanied His coming down; How would the adversaries feel when the Lord comes down to condemn the devil and his hosts?! According to St. Jerome, God flashes forth His lightning on the haughty souls, not to destroy them, but to scatter them; like what He did to those who attempted to build a tower in which to take refuge from the wrath of God, when He confused their language and scattered them over the face of all the earth” (Genesis 11: 9); … which was, through God’s wisdom, for the benefit of mankind, to set many nations in diverse locations. And according to St. Augustine, as David did when he put five stones in his pouch to strike Goliath; By such praises, the believer seeks 1 On Ps. 144 (143). 2 On Ps., homily 54 on Ps. 143 (144). 7 ھنا السؤال یحمل فساد الشعب الیھودي فیسأل النبي طالبًا خلاصًا. 3 : مز 14 مقال 4.7 :12 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 186 from God to flash forth His lightning and shoot out His arrows, to disturb those who practice vanity, and who set snares for the souls. The lightning and arrows, here, do not refer to those we are familiar with, but refer to other kinds of punishment. … If you cannot endure the lightning, which God did not send as a punishment, what can you do when He does?! Now, the arrows of God are the famines, pestilences, torrent floods, tornadoes, and so on of the diverse kinds of punishments1. (St. John Chrysostom) “Shoot out Your arrows and rout (disturb) them” . I wish the unsound get wounded by the arrows of Christ, to become sound, and be in the church, the body of Christ, to say, together with the church: “I am faint with love” (Songs 2: 5 LXX) 2. (St. Augustine) “Stretch out Your hand from above; Rescue me and deliver me out of great waters, from the hands of foreigners” (7) What is the hand of the Father, but the Son, which He stretched through His incarnation, for the sake of our salvation? The psalmist cries out to God to deliver him out of great waters; which, according to St. Jerome, are the heresies and their vain baptism, by which they produce children of foreigners, and not children of God; Instead of those waters, we seek the living fountain, namely the one baptism and one faith (Ephesians 4: 5). The Savior of the body is Himself the Hand of God. The rescue from great waters; namely from many peoples. What peoples, other than the nonbelievers, the foreigners (the heretics) who attack us from outside, or set snares for us inside; … “from the hands of foreigners”. Listen carefully, O brethren; Among whom are you living?, And from whom do you seek to be rescued?: … From “Those whose mouth speaks vain words” (8) 3. (St. Augustine) The power of God is ready, not only to punish, but also to rescue. Here, He stretches His hand to rescue and to help. 1 On Ps. 144. 2 On Ps. 144 (143). 3 On Ps. 144 (143). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 187 By “great waters” he refers to the vicious attack of the enemy which causes much confusion. And by “the foreigners”, he probably refers to the sojourners from the truth; For we count those who care for the truth as friends and kinsmen1. (St. John Chrysostom) “Whose mouth speaks vain words, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood” (8) The “Hand of God” in the Old Testament, used to refer to the incarnate divine Word, sent by God the Father to consummate salvation from the devil and his servitude, and to liberate the believers from the hosts of darkness; those foreigners from mankind who have submitted them. If the right hand refers to goodness, namely the work according to the will of God; that the true believers will appear standing on the right hand of God on the day of judgment; Yet the right hand of the wicked is a right hand of falsehood; namely, they use even the holy things to the account of evil practice; like those who use the name of God in divination, the psalm in sorcery, or the edifying gifts to the account of corruption. Eli the priest’s two sons had such a right hand of falsehood. Before the ark of the covenant of God, the river Jordan split open, and the priests with the people crossed over to the promised land; But when the wicked priests, like Eli’s sons carried it, the people were defeated and the ark itself was captured by the enemy. … By the name of Christ, and the power of His cross, the disciples of the Lord performed signs and wonders; Yet, when the sons of Sceva, whose right hand was a right hand of falsehood, used the name of Jesus Christ to drive out the evil spirits, the evil spirits attacked and overpowered them (Acts 19: 14)…. It so happened, as well, with Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, with his right hand of falsehood, who benefited nothing from having Elisha’s rod with him; not for anything wrong with the rod itself, but with its bearer who lacked the grace of God. According to St. Jerome, the heretics, claim to have the right hand; yet being wicked, they have a right hand of falsehood; for “The accuser (the devil) stands at the right hand of the wicked” (Psalm 109: 6). 1 On Ps. 144. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 188 The “foreigners” are those who live in sin and oppression; who utter foolishness and nothing of benefit. They could be easily recognized by their talk and works; as, according to the Lord Christ: “By their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7: 20). Their right hand is that of falsehood. What could be worse than to turn what we are given to help us, instead to deceive us? We already have the right hand to defend ourselves and others against oppression, to take away evil, and to be a haven and refuge for those harmed. What would be the excuse for those who use it, not for the salvation of others, but for the destruction of themselves and the others1? (St. John Chrysostom) “I will sing a new song to You, O God, on a harp of ten strings, I will sing praises to You” (9) The salvation of God grants us a daily joyful experience, that of the work of the Holy Spirit of God in our life; turning it into a symphony of love, perpetually renewed, never to become lukewarm, nor boring. What is this new song, but the New Testament we aim against the devil, to destroy him, and not to let him lead us to perdition. That was the stone used by David by his sling to strike the forehead of Goliath. According to St. Augustine2, the psalmist here, connects between the new song and the harp of ten string. As we, in our battle against the devil, use the New Testament (the new song), that consummates the Old Testament (the harp of ten strings – a reference to the ten commandments), the way love consummates the law…. Those without love, cannot use the new song, nor the harp; namely the Holy Book with its two testaments. And according to St. Jerome, the psalmist uses the future tense, saying, “I will sing a new song to You”; For, when man gets the perfect conquest, he sings a new song. Having said “Stretch out Your hand, and rescue me”, … he proclaims that the new song he will sing to God is just a payback for His help; which would be nothing, compared to His great goodness. We, if we seek a payback for doing good to those in need, who possess nothing except thanksgiving and praise, it would be for the sake of our self-esteem and good reputation; While the great goodness done by God, on the other hand, is not for His own benefit, but to provide 1 On Ps. 144. 2 On Ps. 144 (143). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 189 those who praise Him with good reputation; namely, He does them an additional goodness. “On a harp of ten strings, I will sing praises to You”. In those days, they used musical instruments to sing praises; but now, we use our own body for this purpose. We can sing with the eyes, and not just with the tongue; and with the hands and feet, etc…. When we practice good deeds, we honor and praise God; … When our eyes do not look at unbecoming scenes; … when the hands do not stretch to steal, but to give; … when the ears are used to hear psalms and spiritual songs of praise; … when the feet walk to the church; … and when the heart does not produce intrigues, but love; the diverse body members transform into a harp of ten strings, and sing a new song, not by words, but by works, as well1. (St. John Chrysostom) When the poor get a gift from the king, they cannot pay him back with what fits His majesty, other than to sing him praise. So David did, when he got from God a new and magnificent salvation; He attempted to sing to Him a new song on a harp with ten strings; every string of the harp representing one of the ten commandments of God, by which David sang. We, of the new covenant, as well, sing to God, a new song, not by irrational musical tools, but by our souls and body members. We praise Him with our vision and hearing, if we keep them from enjoying worldly pleasures;… We praise Him with our lips and mouths, if we make them chaste, and if we keep them from uttering what is unbecoming, and preoccupy them with prayers and divine praises. … We praise Him with our hands, if we stretch them to give alms to the poor, and to do good deeds; and by our feet, if we hasten with them toward the houses of God. This new praise, we present to God who saves the kings and their hosts; He saves us as well, and makes us a holy nation and royal priesthood. He still is a savior of those who reign and prevail upon their body lusts. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “The One who gives salvation to kings; who delivers David His servant from the deadly sword” (10) 1 On Ps. 144. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 190 He does not mean here, the earthly kings, but the pious, about whom the wisdom proclaims: “By me kings reign” (Proverb 8: 15). Here, St. Augustine discerns between the deadly and the good sword. The sword of the wicked is their deadly, evil, and vain word; Whereas God’s double-edged sword is His good word. We have already dealt with the vain mouths of the wicked, and their right hand of falsehood (8). “Deliver me from the sword of bad intention”. As it is not enough to say: “Deliver me from the sword”, he adds: “of bad intention”. There is, no doubt, a sword of good intention, about which the Lord said: “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10: 34). He came to separate the believers from nonbelievers; the children from the fathers; and to cut off all the evil bonds. While cutting the sick members off, the sword healed the members of Christ. The good intention is a sharp double-edged sword: the Old and the New Testaments; telling the episodes of the past, and giving promises of the future. The other sword is the vain sword. God uses the sword of good intention, when He speaks the truth1. (St. John Chrysostom) “Who gives salvation to kings”. Not by armies, soldiers, and guards, but by the grace of God. “Who delivers David His servant”. After talking in a general way, the psalmist talks about what concern him, not saying. “who delivered him”, but “who delivers”, showing God’s perpetual and unceasing divine care2. (St. John Chrysostom) A DECEPTIVE ENEMY: “Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners, whose mouth speaks vain words, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood” (11) What we are committed to search for, and seek from the Lord God, is happiness. Many have entered into debates concerning the nature of happiness. But, as far as we are concerned, happiness is expressed by the concise and true word of God, saying:: “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 144: 15). The goal of God’s commandment is love from a whole pure heart, good conscience, and 1 On Ps. 144 (143). 2 On Ps. 144. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 191 true faith. We can enjoy contemplation in God, and in the everlasting life together with Him1. (St. Augustine) WHY DOES GOS ALLOW FOR THE OPPOSITION OF THE ENEMY? “That our sons, in their youth be like plants full grown; that our daughters may be as pillars carved to adorn a palace” (12) After talking about how the devil, the evil enemy, uses the mouths of the wicked like a sword of bad intention, and even the right hand, as a right hand of falsehood, the psalmist intends to put the believers’ hearts at ease; saying that those evils instigated by the enemy, when opposed by the believers, they will enjoy the many blessings, mentioned in verses 12-14, which are: a- Sons, in their youth, like full grown plants (12). b- Daughters with spiritual beauty, like the adornments in the house of the Lord (12) c- An abundance of produce of every kind (13). d- Productive sheep that fill the streets (13). e- Well-laden numerous cows (14) f- Peace, and no outcry in our streets (14) g- A blessed life, as a deposit of heaven (15). The fruits of the heretics, may look like new plants; yet they disregard the prophets and the apostles, to present new teachings of their own, although they quote texts from both the Old and the New Testaments; They see everything new, for the sake of being new; and reject the Truth, on account of that – according to them – truth is oldfashioned, and does not suit the time. In reference of the daughters who bear outer adornments; the heretics depend upon deceptive words, and glittering philosophies that do not bear the power of the Spirit. According to the scholar Origen, the faithful believers enjoy sons, as a symbol of the works of the Spirit, and daughters as a symbol of those of the body. Being sanctified, man enjoys spiritual fruits of both the soul and the body, both working together in harmony under the leadership of the Holy Spirit of God; that the woks of the Spirit become like full-grown plants, or spiritual trees in a heavenly paradise; and the works of the body become like holy pillars; that man would become a temple holy for God, where the Spirit of God dwells. 1 Letters, 130: 12: 24. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 192 O children of light, children of peace, children of the church, members of Christ; Take notice of those whom he calls “foreigners” (7), and “deadly swords” (10). I beg you to take notice of that. … Dwelling among them, you are in trouble; … Because of their tongues, you are in war against the lusts of your body; … Because of their tongues, you enter into a battle against the devil, who uses them as his hand. [The St. introduced the texts of verses 12 to 14]; then said: I ask the children of the kingdom; … the seed of the perpetual resurrection; … the members of Christ; the temple of God. … Would it not be happiness, to have sons of peace, beautiful daughters, full barns; thousands of sheep; no breaking or outcry in our streets, but tranquility and peace, goods and abundance in everything, in houses as well as in cities? … Would it not be happiness to have all that1?! (St. Augustine) “That our barns may be full, supplying all kinds of produce; that our sheep may bring forth thousands, and ten thousands in our fields” (13). By the work of the Spirit of God, man would become the field of God; his barns would be full of every holy produce; and his sheep would produce thousands and ten thousands in the fields of the heart, to offer unceasing sacrifices. The (barns) of the heretics are full of every kind of vain debates; Whereas the men of God “open their mouth wide, and the Lord Himself fills them” (Psalm 81: 10). The Holy Spirit dwelling in the man of God, fills him with the divine grace, and grants him the Word, capable of action in due time. The sheep of the heretics may also bring forth thousands and tens of thousands, but would bring them forth in the streets, and not in the house of God. They draw many, not to bring them forth to the heavenly life, but to wonder loosely in the streets. “That our oxen may be well-laden; that there be no breaching of walls, no going into captivity; no cry of distress in our streets” (14) Together with goods pouring with abundance in the depths of man, of holy crops and produce, Peace will fill his soul, to work perpetually to the account of the kingdom of God; and no evil enemy will be able to destroy his inner peace. 1 On Ps. 144 (143). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 193 “Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the Lord” (15) The people of God come to discover the exalted care of the Lord their God, through the continuous battles, to experience the blessed life, the deposit of heaven. As the life of the body is the soul, the blessed life of man is God; And like it is written: “Blessed be the people who God is the Lord”. (St. Augustine) Do you see the virtue of that man (the psalmist)? … How, after mentioning all those kinds of wealth by name, he moved to bless the true treasure, In other words, he says: [While others proclaim blessing for those who acquire those good things, I proclaim that the true blessing is for the people whose God is the Lord. By that he concentrates on the fact that their abundance and riches are their enjoyment of the Lord their God. While the other things, like the children, the flocks of cattle, the fortresses, and the vineyards, will eventually pass away and disappear, this blessing of the Lord will perpetually hold fast; promises wealth, security, and peace1. (St. John Chrysostom) 1 On Ps. 144. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 194 AN INSPIRATION FROM PSALM 144 IN THE MIDST OF THE BATTLE, I PRAISE YOU, O MY AMAZING LEADER The devil prepares a perpetual battle for my perdition; With Your goodness, You allow for that battle, for my edification; In the midst of the fighting, I hide in You, O Rock of ages; You protect me against the deadly strikes of the enemy; And train my weak hands for battle against the ruler of the darkness. By Your Holy Spirit, You grant me love; And by love, I present works of mercy, And You will have mercy on me. By the works of mercy, the devil will be burned, for he endure neither love nor mercy. You are my weapon, conquest and crown; What can the devil and his hosts do to me? By You all his evil plans and hopes will be destroyed; The battle will be for my benefit, as long as I hide in You. You grant us an amazing weapon; You grant us prayer, together with the harp of praise and thanksgiving; Nothing is a more active and a deadly weapon against the denier devil, Than a thanks-giving heart, exultant of his God. You are the Mighty One; Allowing for the battle, You grant conquest to Your children; You grant us the spirit of praise and joy; To aim it as a deadly arrow toward the denier devil; As David aimed a little stone with his sling; And struck by it the forehead of the mighty Goliath. Let us aim joy against the forehead of the enemy of joy and exultation; Let us destroy him by our Christ, the Source of joy. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, But against principalities in the heavenly places, Our weapon is not of this world, It is Your cross, the destroyer of the hosts of darkness. Our enemies are not of our human nature; Our enemies never sleep nor get calm; https://coptic-treasures.com/ 195 Our enemies are experienced in vicious battles; Yet our Trainer for the battle is You, the Savior of the world; You keep training us, and will never forsake us. You grant us Your divine commandment; You present to us Your grace, working in us; You plant Your cross in our hearts; Your fiery Holy Spirit works in us; I enter into the battle armed with Your divine promises; I resist the devil while being in Your unconquerable bosoms; You are an amazing Fortress; And a high tower from which I can perceive the dimensions of the battle; By You ,we overcome, and You set us kings, O King of kings; You lift us up, and count us as one of the heavenly ranks; You grant us authority to enjoy freedom on an eternal level; By Your grace, I get rid of my enemies and all their opposition; And enjoy an inner peace; To become by You a king, and all my energies and talents work together by Your Holy Spirit. I marvel; Who am I, that You come down from Your heavens; To incarnate for my sake; To enter into a battle against the devil, to grant me, by, and in You; the conquest over him; How great is Your love for me, and Your amazing ordinance for my salvation; You are perpetually preoccupied with me; You take knowledge of me, not as You know any other of the billions of Your creatures; You know me intimately; You make me a member of the household of God; You know me as a son of the Father; having granted me the spirit of adoption; You know me as a living member of Your holy body; You know me as a holy temple, in which Your Holy Spirit dwells; You know me, and inscribe my name on Your palm; You call me by name to inherit the eternal glories; Indeed, without You, I am no more than dust and ashes; My days are like a passing shadow, full of labor and trouble; But by You, my depths exult even in the midst of troubles; https://coptic-treasures.com/ 196 I look forward to the day of Your second coming, to live forever with You; You bowed the heavens and came down to us; You granted us salvation from our sins; And raised us from the eternal death; You flashed forth Your divine light on us, and lightened our souls; You aimed Your arrows, and destroyed our enemy the devil; Your coming restored us to life, and opened up the gates of heaven before us; Come forth again over the clouds in Your glory; To carry us together with You to Your heavens. By Your coming You presented to us an amazing heavenly harp; You even set out of our souls Your own harp; You gave me the New Testament as a harp that plays with the spirit of joy; You gave me the spiritual concept of the Old Testament , a harp with ten strings; You would entrust no one to play on it, other than Your Holy Spirit; To play a symphony of love; My heart flares with the divine love, as well as the brotherly love; My heart opens up wide for the dwelling of the Holy Trinity; And my depths turn into a joyful divine throne; No disturbance nor anxiety would enter into my heart; But only the exultation of conquest, a heavenly crown, and a magnificent glory; You pour Your splendor inside me, to become fit for a kingdom; And carry a touch of Your amazing beauty; All my body members sing to You; Becoming sanctified, they consummate their mission in harmony from exultant depths; We praise and thank You by silence, by work, and by talk. You came down to our earth, not to put an end to the battle; But to turn it for our edification and glory; Through the battle, You set out of us kings of authority; You grant us blessings in this world, as well as in the everlasting life; To enjoy the works of the Spirit, as well as the holy works of the body; Our depths would turn into a paradise with new fruition; And into a temple of magnificent beauty; We would have sons of peace, and daughter beautiful in the Lord; https://coptic-treasures.com/ 197 Our barns would be filled with the fruits of the spirit; And our pastures with a multitude of flocks; Peace would fill our depths; and good things would fill our whole being; Our Savior would never let us lack any thing; But would grant us more than what we seek; Glory be to You, O who turn the field of battle into new experiences with You.
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