THE DIVINE JUDGE AND KING OF THE EARTH This psalm provides us, in a concise way, the plan and the goal of salvation, and reveals the exalted love of God for mankind. The psalmist opens the scenery with the portrait of the Savior as a Judge who finds pleasure in His believers, who are sanctified in, and by Him; setting out of them a holy congregation, which He calls “the congregation of the mighty”. Being the Creator God, He granted His believers the sonhood to God, and stands among them, cherishing them. As to His plan for the salvation of humanity, He sums it up in the phrases 2 – 4; in which He, being the Creator and the Judge of all the world, comes down to us as a poor Man, allows Himself to be tried, and His own to deliver Him to the Gentiles who crucify Him. He accepts injustice, and does not open His mouth; to lift up the burden of sin from us. Being the Wisdom of God, He delivers Himself up to the ignorant; And being the Light, to be judged by the children of darkness. By that He destabilizes the foundation of the earth, to become Himself the foundation over which His church is built, and His kingdom is proclaimed; To judge the earth for its corruption, to destroy the corruption, and to grant His righteousness to the nations. By that He reigns over all the nations, after turning the earthly, to (almost) heavenly creatures. 1- The divine Judge and the congregation (the mighty) of gods 1 2- Delivering Himself to justice 2 - 4 3- The darkness attacks the light 5 4- Out of the dead, He sets (almost) heavenly creatures 6 – 8 1- THE DIVINE JUDGE AND THE CONGREGATION OF GODS (THE DIVINE COUNCIL): The Word of God often proclaims Himself as the ‘Divine Judge’; not to terrify men; but in truth, as He anticipates His encounter with them, to bring them forth to the eternal glories. He wishes to proclaim that He stands in the congregation of the mighty, He judges among the gods. “God stands in the congregation (assembly) of the mighty; He judges among the gods” (1) Some believe that this psalm talks about God, being the Judge of judges, and of the kings. If He allowed for setting certain human authorities, and commanded us to submit to them; Yet these rulers are committed to perceive that they are ministers to God, set to support the weak, to defend the oppressed, and to run the people’s affairs. It is befitting of them to become God’s representatives; as “Divination is on the lips of the king; His mouth does not transgress in judgment” (Proverb 16: 10). If, by sanctifying man’s free will, God allows for the presence of wicked rulers, He allows them to practice their work with the hardness of their hearts. However, He is the Judge of all; as It is said to the judges: “Take heed to what you are doing, for you do not judge for man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the judgment. Now, therefore, let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, no partiality, no taking of bribes” (2 Chronicles 19: 6-7). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 2 In a sermon on this psalm, St. Jerome’s attention was drawn that the Holy Book speaks of God in human terms, so that we could perceive His dealings with us. It sometimes speaks of Him as “standing” among the saints (see Psalm 82: 1); And we hear Him say to the prophet Moses: “As for you, stand here by Me” (Deuteronomy 5: 31); And when Adam was holy, he used to stand as though with God. But once Adam and Eve sinned, “they heard the sound of the Lord God “walking” in the garden … and they hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God” (Genesis 3: 8). The Lord moved to say to Adam: “Where are you?” (Genesis 3: 9). As to “sitting”, the Lord appears as a Judge or a King; The prophet Isaiah says: “I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple” (Isaiah 6: 1). And the prophet Daniel says: “I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of days was seated … the court was seated, and the books were opened” (Daniel 7: 9-10). … Some, therefore saw Him standing, some walking, and others sitting; And when He allows for us to pass through temptation, we even see Him as though sleeping (Matthew 8: 24); to which David say in his psalm: “Awake, why do you sleep, O Lord?” (Psalm 44: 23). According to St. Cyril the Great1, the “congregation (assembly) of the mighty” here, refers to the Pharisees (Luke 11: 42); having been greedy, lovers of ugly profit; while at the same time, they were very particular as far as the literality of the observation of the statute of tithes is concerned, despite their disregard of the truth, the justice, and the love of God. The Mighty One stands among the congregation of His mighty children, about whom He Himself says on the tongue of Isaiah: “I have nourished and brought up children; and they have rebelled against Me” (Isaiah 1: 2).. By the “congregation or assembly” we understand they are (the people of Israel); although they were sometimes called a church. The apostles never called (the church) “an assembly”, but they always called it “a church”; whether it is to distinguish between the two; or on account of that there are some differences between the word “assembly’, from which the term (synagogue) was derived, and that in which the church was called “Ecclesia “., the complex is a meeting of the flocks, named flocks As for the meeting was more appropriate for creatures reasonable such as human beings...I believe it is obvious among which “congregation of gods”, the Mighty One was standing2. (St. Augustine) Some say: Let us just draw the portrait of Christ together with His Mother ‘the Theotokos’, and that would be enough! Your non-pious words show that you utterly despise the saints. It is obvious that, in banning the icons, you refuse to give the saints their due honor. … While you draw icons of Christ, being the Glorious; you deprive the saints of the glory they are worthy of; and call the truth hypocrisy. The Lord says: “I glorify those who glorify Me”; and inspires the apostle to say: “Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4: 7); And, And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also 1 In Luc. Ser. 84. 2 On Psalms 82 (81). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 3 glorified together(Romans 8: 17) You are not making war against the icons of the saints, but against the saints themselves. St. John the Evangelist who leaned back on Jesus breast, said: “When He is revealed , we shall be like Him” (1 John 3: 2). As anything on fire becomes fire, not out of its nature, but by union, burning, and mixing with fire, the same way concerning the body taken by the Word of God through union with His Person: The body partook of the Divine Nature, while the manhood not losing its features; By such a union, God remains unchangeable, not only by the work of the Divine Grace, as it is the case with the prophets, but also by the coming of the Grace Himself. The Holy Book calls the saints “gods”, saying: “God stands in the congregation (assembly) of the mighty; He judges among the gods” (1). St. Gregory Interprets these words, saying: [God stands in the congregation of the saints to designate the glory that each of them is worthy of. During their life on earth the saints were filled with the Holy Spirit; And when they consummated their path, the Holy Spirit did not forsake their souls nor their bodies in the grave1. The holy dwelling places where the Holy God has found rest; namely, the ‘Theotokos’ (the mother of God), and the saints; having chosen to cooperate with the divine choice, God dwelt in them, and called them gods; not by nature, but by adoption; as we call the red hot bar ‘on fire’, not on account of its nature but because it shared work with fire. He says: “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Leviticus 19: 2). That is first, then comes the choice of goodness; which, once we choose it, God will help us have more of it; as we read in the holy Scripture: “I will walk among you” (Leviticus 26: 12). “We are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in us” (1 Corinthians 3: 16); “He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease” (Matthew 10: 1); “He who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also, and greater works than these he will do” (John 14: 12); “If indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” (Romans 8: 17); And, “God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods” (1). Hence, being gods, not by nature, but because they have partaken of the divine nature, they should be honored; not on account of that they are so worthy, but because they bear inside them, Him who is worshipped by nature. We usually keep away from a red hot iron, and refrain from touching it, not on account of its nature, but because it partook of what is hot by nature. The saints are honored because God glorified them, and through Him they became fearful for the enemies, and profitable for faith. They are not gods by nature, but on account of that they were ministers who loved God. We honor them because the King is honored through the honor presented to his beloved servants. They may indeed be obedient servants, and close friends, Yet they are not the king himself. When man prays with faith, presenting his case in the name of a certain saint, God will respond; on account of that He accepts the honor given to His faithful minister. That is why those who approached God through the apostles enjoyed healing by their shadow, and even by the aprons that touched their bodies. Yet, those who intend to worship them like God are condemned, and are worthy of the eternal fire; Likewise, those . 1 عن الصورة لمقدّسة، الدفاع الأول، 19 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 4 who stubbornly refrain from honoring the ministers of God, will also be condemned for their haughtiness, as though they refrained to honor God Himself. The children who mocked Elisha were examples of this, they were devoured by bears (2 Kings 2: 23) 1. (St. John of Damascus) 2- DELIVERING HIMSELF TO JUSTICE: “How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked? ” (2) If it is evil to do injustice, it would be more so to judge others unjustly. The wise Solomon, says: “Moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of judgment, wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, iniquity was there” (Ecclesiastes 3: 16). “And show partiality to the wicked”. If the judges and rulers judge unjustly; those who commend their evil doing, partake of their wickedness. There is nothing greater than for the Creator to deliver Himself to His creation; and for the divine Judge to be judged by human hands. He before the splendor of whose greatness, the cherubim cover their faces by their wings, calls Himself humble and poor, and even an orphan. He delivered Himself to the verdict of crucifixion and death, to take away our sins from us, to let us enjoy His righteousness, and be worthy of the eternal inheritance. The following phrases, if addressed to the civil judges, the meaning would be obvious; but if addressed to judges in the church, it is understood that they are the bishops and the priests: “How long will you judge unjustly?” He who corrupts the justice is an ‘unjust judge’, about whom the Holy Scripture says: “he does not fear God nor regard man” (Luke 18: 2). “How long will you judge unjustly?” I have given you authority on my flock, the people of God; you are committed to be judges rather than to be wolves2! (St. Jerome) “How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?” (2). And, “How long will your hearts be hard?” (Psalm 4: 2 The Volgata). Will it be until the coming of the Light of the heart? I gave a law, which you stubbornly opposed; I sent prophets, with whom you unjustly dealt, killed, or helped those who did Now, the Heir Himself, has come! Is it to be killed? Is it not for your sake that He intended to be like a son under guardians? Is it not for your sake that He became hungry and thirsty, as someone in need? Is it not for your sake that He cried out: “Learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11: 29)? Did He not, while Rich, become poor, that through His poverty you might become rich (2 Corinthians 8: 9) 3? (St. Augustine) “Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy” (3) Here, the Lord rebukes the judges of Israel, who: they do not defend the cause of the fatherless, the widow’s case does not come before them”(Isaiah1: 23) “They surpass the deeds of the wicked; they do not plead the cause, the cause of the fatherless, and the right of the needy they do not defend” (Jeremiah 5: 29). 1 On Psalms, homily 14. 2 On Psalms 82 (81). 3 On Psalms 82 (81). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 5 According to St. Augustine, the talk here is addressed to the Jews who rejected the Lord Christ who came to them like a fatherless, humble, poor, and miserable; whom they intended to kill, saying:” this is the heir come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance”(matthew21: 38). He does not say: Defend the righteous, the prophet, or the priest; who are supposed to endure the injustice, but He says “Defend the poor and the fatherless”; those who cannot endure injustice on a account of their poverty or weakness. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “Deliver the poor and needy; free them from the hand of the wicked” (4) Putting the unjust on the same level of the vicious beast; and the poor on that of the lamb; he says: Free him from his hands, namely from his violence and oppression. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) 3- THE DARKNESS ATTACKS THE LIGHT: There is nothing worse than to see the ignorant condemn the wisdom to death, and walk in the light to quench the divine light. How amazing, that He let them practice their hearts’ desire; so that, by His cross, the foundations of the earth would shake, the rocks Would , the creation would proclaim its; and the sun and the moon would refrain from giving their light. The foundation of the earth shake, so that He would become the Foundation of the heavenly building in us; And the outer darkness dwells, so that we would seek His divine light in our depths; He, being the Sun of Righteousness, in whose wings the healing is, would shine on us, we, who sit in the darkness, Out of us, who died of sins, like our father Adam, He would set the children of the Mighty One; … Instead of falling, we would stand to challenge death; And Hell would have no authority on us, nor its gates would be able to shut us in; But the gates would open up before us, to enter, hidden in the Firstborn, risen from the dead. “They do not know, nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are shaken” (5) Their ignorance was not something by the way, that could be excused; but it was an ignorance out of free will. It is unfortunate to see men of justice, not knowing justice, judges twisting justice, and men not understanding their duties! “They walk about in darkness”. Their inner insight is darkened, and they loved the darkness rather than light because their deed were evil (John 3: 19). “They left the path of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness” (Proverbs 2: 13). “They do not know, nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness” (5). “Had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2: 8). And those, as well, had they known, they would not have sought to have Barabbas released, and Jesus crucified. But, as blindness, we spoke about, has occurred partly in Israel, until the consummation of the entry of the Gentiles; that blindness of those people led to the crucifixion of Christ. “All the foundations of the earth are shaken”. They are, and will be shaken, until the is realized. As, the moment “the Lord yielded up His Spirit, … the earth quake, and the rocks were split” (Matthew 27: 51). … And if by “the foundations of the earth” we understand, those who are rich with the abundance of earthly things, it was previously https://coptic-treasures.com/ 6 said in truth that they will be shaken, through receiving the lowliness, poverty, and death, to become the subject of love and honor in Christ1. (St. Augustine) Those whom I called gods are wicked judges because of their iniquities; they do not know Me, nor understand My judgments (5). “They walk about in darkness”; they barely find their way in the darkness, because they forgot the light. Those to whom I said: “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5: 14), have forsaken the light and became darkness2. “All the foundations of the earth are shaken” (5). Here you see the kind of punishment that would dwell on the wicked rulers; Because of the wicked judges the foundations of the earth are shaken …They rejected Christ who should have been their Foundation, on which the architect built (1 Corinthians 3: 10), and put their own foundations on the ground3. (St. Jerome) 4- OUT OF THE DEAD, HE SETS ALMOST HEAVENLY CREATURE: It was not possible for the Hades to close its gates on Him, nor for the grave to shut Him in; But He is raised to condemn in us every earthly desire, and to destroy the authority of death on us; Reigning on us, we, who were previously earth, by Him we shall be almost heavenly creatures. “I said, ‘You are gods’, and all of you are children of the Most High” (6) To the Jews who got furious against the Lord Christ, because He said that He is the Son of God, making Himself equal to God, He said: “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, ‘You are gods’? If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken); do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming’, because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?” (John 10: 35- 36). As the wicked judges and rulers shut up their ears, could not endure the word of advice, and persisted on walking in the darkness, the psalmist asks God to condemn the earth by Himself, and to give justice to the oppressed. On another aspect, the believer seeks from God to judge the earth, and to take away from him and his brethren the temporal desires and the love of the earthliest; that all may bear the heavenly mind. Presenting a spiritual commentary on what came in Leviticus 16: 17: “There shall be no man in the tabernacle of meeting when he goes in to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out, that he may make atonement for himself, for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel”; the scholar Origen says: [I believe that he who follows Christ would force his way together with Him into the tabernacle, and ascends together with Him up to heaven, would still be called human, but would become, “like an angel of God”, in whom the words of the Lord are consummated, saying: “I said, ‘You are gods’, and all of you are children of the Most High” (6). Let us then be one Spirit with God; and in the glory of His resurrection, cross over to the level of “angels”, and no 1 On Psalms, homily 14. 2 On Psalms, homily 14. 3 In Lev. Hom. 9: 11. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 7 more be men1]. In other words, as our Lord Jesus Christ sets forth to the Sanctuaries to atone for us, no man could be with Him, unless he is unified in Him as a member in His Holy body; to be counted as a heavenly creature who bears His heavenly life in him, There are many children of God, according to the Scripture, saying: “You are gods, and all of you are the children of the Most High” (6) But only One is the Son of God by nature; the only begotten Son of the Father; through whom all the rest are called children. The same way, there are many Spirits, but only One Holy Spirit who truly proceeds from the Father Himself, and who grants the grace of His name and sanctification2. (The scholar Origen) We are gods, not by nature, but by grace; “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1: 12). I have created man for this goal, that all mankind would become gods, “I said, ‘You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High” (Psalm 6; and John 10: 36) I made you gods, the way I made Moses a god to Pharaoh (Exodus 7: 1) We were born equal, whether emperors or commons; and we shall die equal; Our humanity is of one kind3. (St. Jerome) As I said to Moses: “I have set you today god to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet”; I have likewise set you gods to judge among people, the way God judges; and you will be called the children of the Most High, having partaken of His justice. St Cyril says that the Christians, by receiving the Son of God, and confessing His deity, have become “gods, and the children of the Most High”, by grace and not by nature; for God the Father and His Son, by nature, are One; Namely our Lord Jesus Christ. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) What names has God taken from me, and what names has He given me? He who Himself is ‘God’, called me the same. Yet, concerning Him, He is God, according to the nature of His essence; whereas I, have only got the honor of the name. “I said You are gods, and all of you are the children of the Most High” (6). He called me god, only as an honor. And He Himself is called “Man”, “the Son of Man’, “the Way”, “the Gate”, “the Rock”, etc. All these names He has taken from me4. (St. John Chrysostom) “I said you are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High” (6). When those are so told by God, they receive a sonhood they did not have before. He, on the other hand, is born from the beginning as the Son of the Father; He, beyond any beginning and any time, is the Son of the Father, like Him in everything.; eternal from an 1 Commentary on the Epistle t the Romans (8: 14). 2 On Psalms, homily 14. 3 عظتان عن أتروبیوس. 4 یرفض البابا أثناسیوس كلمة "مشابهّا" بل كما سبق و أ رینا أن إیماننا الأرثوذكسي یستخدم لفظًا دقیقًا وهو "واحد مع الآب" أو مساوي للآب في ذات الجوهر". https://coptic-treasures.com/ 8 eternal; Life from Life; Light from Light; Truth from Truth; Wisdom from Wisdom; King from King; God from God; and Power from Power1. (St. Cyril of Jerusalem) We are committed to pray for those who are still “earth”, and who did not start yet to become “heaven”, to have the will of God consummated in them as well as it did in heaven, namely in us; we, who by our faith, have become “heaven”. We should pray that those who have not yet believed those who are still “earth”, because their initial birth from it would be reborn from water and Spirit, and start to become “heaven” 2. If we are the children of God; if we have already become His temple; If we (by receiving the Holy Spirit), live sanctified and spiritual; … If we lift our eyes up from earth to heaven; If we lift up our hearts, filled with God and Christ, to the high and the divine places; I wish we do not do anything unbefitting of God and Christ, as we are exhorted by the apostle3. (Cyprian the martyr) St. Clement of Alexandria says: [The Word of God became Man (John 1: 14) to learn from the Man (the Lord Christ), how can man become god]. And he adds: [It is also possible for the Gnostic to become god, according to the saying: “I said you are gods; and all of you are the children of the Most High”]. We are enriched by the Spirit of God, for His Spirit came to dwell in us. We took our place among the children of God. Yet we did not lose what we actually are – humans according to nature; although we cry out, saying: “Abba, Father” 4 (Romans 8: 15)! (St. Cyril of Alexandria) The inner work together with the labor of love from the heart, bring forth purity; and purity brings forth the true peace of heart; and this peace brings forth humility; and humility makes man a dwelling place of God. Whereas the evil spirits together with the devil their leader, are cast away from that dwelling place; by which man becomes a temple of God, holy, enlightened, pure, rich with grace, and filled with every sweet fragrance, compassion, and gladness; becomes a bearer of God (Theophorus), and would rather become god, according to the saying: “I said you are gods, and all of you are the children of the Most High” (6). (St. Parsnovius) If you lift your inner sight up to God, and make sure of seeing Him fully; then seek from Him anything you want in the name of Christ Jesus; It will be given to you the moment you ask. For through your true belief in Him, your union with Him will be realized; and what you seek will be according to His will; whether it is for the sake of your own salvation, or for that of your neighbor. At this very moment, you will have a fellowship with the divinity through the spiritual union with God, according to the words: “(I said you are gods” (6). At that time, there will be nothing between you and God; neither distance, nor time; and the instant you utter your words, there will be the response to them; For “He spoke and it was done; He commanded and it stood fast” . 1 مقال 4 :11 2 On the Lord Prayer, 17. 3 Jealousy and Envy, 14. 4 Letter 1: 35. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 9 (Psalm 33: 9). … Is this not what happens with the transformation of the Holy Sacraments?! (Father Gregory the Great) In strong words, St. Clement of Alexandria, speaking about the activity of baptism in the life of believers, says: [The same thing happens with us as well, to whom Christ became an Example: Once we are baptized, we become enlightened, and being enlightened, we become children, and as children we become perfect; and being perfect, we come to be immortal; according to the words: “I said you are gods; and all of you are the children of the Most High” (6)]. [This work is called by many names; namely: grace, enlightenment, perfection, and cleansing. It is cleansing, as by it we are cleansed of our sins. It is grace, as by it the punishments of our transgressions are taken away from us. And it is enlightenment, as by it we see the holy light of salvation; Namely, by it we clearly behold God in a way we call perfection; lacking nothing; as what would be lacking in him who knows God1?] You will notice how the wisdom of God gives the title ‘gods’, not only to the heavenly beings, who are more exalted than us, but gives it likewise to the holy men among us who are distinguished by the love of God (Psalm 82: 1; 95: 3) 2. (Father Dionosius the) If they believe that Christ is called God on account of that Deity dwells in Him; It is the same case in many saints, whom the Holy Book calls gods, “to whom the word of God came” (John 10; 35); By that, they put Him among men, and they even compare Him with them, the same way it was said to Moses: “I made you god to Pharaoh” (Exodus 7: 1); and the way it is said in the psalm: “I said you are gods” (6) 3. (St. Ambrose) “I said you are gods; and all of you are children of the Most High” (6) … Yet we are gods, not by nature, but only by grace. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1: 12). I have created man for this goal, to make gods out of men. Just imagine the greatness of our honor; being called both gods and children! I shall make them gods the way I made Moses god to Pharaoh; so that, being gods, you become children of the Most High4. (St. Jerome) He is the true God, the One with the true Father; Yet all the other creatures, to whom He said: “I said you are gods” (6), they only have this grace from the Father, by their fellowship in the Word by the Spirit; In Him who is the Light from Light, and the power of the essence and the image of the Father5. (Pope Athanasius the apostolic) 1 Paed 1: 6. 2 Celestial Hierarchy, 12: 3. 3 On the Christian Faith 5: 1: 23. 4 On Psalms, homily 14. 5 Four Discourses Against the Arians, 1: 3: 9. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 10 “But you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes” (7) As some have become haughty on account of their positions or the authority given to them, the psalmist confirms to them that they are still like all other men; and it is befitting of them to perceive that death will eventually come to them, to take away their positions and authority,and to bring them down from their thrones, to stand like all men before the Great Judge. According to father Serinus, “the princes” are the angels who fell off their diverse ranks and from their heavenly positions, as a fruit of their evil. He also believes that, the same way they have got diverse ranks according to their previous angelic life; they got diverse contradictory ranks according to the level of their evil. “But you shall die like men” (7). So you can see that men die; while God does not. Adam, as long as he obeyed the divine command, did not die, he was like a god; but once he tasted the forbidden fruit, he died, according to the words of God: “In the day that you eat of it, you shall die” (Genesis 2: 17) 1. (St. Jerome) As long as someone is not a liar, and still holds fast to the truth; he would not be a man, but to him and to those like him, God would say: “I said you are gods; and all of you are the children of the Most High” (6); and the phrase “But You shall die like men” (7) would not be added. It is obvious that the killer Satan did not, from the beginning, hold fast to the truth “because the truth is not in him”. And the truth is not in him because he deceived himself by himself. Accordingly, he is counted as the most evil among those deceived; on account of that they are deceived by him, while he has created the deception for himself2. I am not like you; and I do not practice the lowliness you are well-trained to do. I have not come on My own, nor Am I self-sent like you; but I come from heaven, and He who sent Me is True, and not like Satan Your sender, the devil of lies, whose spirit you have received, to dare to prophesy lies; he who stirred you up to invent words of God; ; he is not the truth, “for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8: 44). (St. Cyril the Great) As it is by a kind of violence that man sins; it is therefore required to reform him through meekness (humility). By pride man sins, and he is committed to go through humility to be chastised. All the proud call themselves ‘mighty people’; That is why others come from East and West, to sit together with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 8: 11) See, You are mortal, and bear a corruptible physical body; “Like one of the princes you shall fall, and like men you shall die” (7). Satan is proud because, being an angel, he has no mortal body; whereas you, having received a mortal body, you should be humble because of your great weakness that makes you fall like one of the princes. This, therefore, is the first gift from God that leads us to confess our weakness; “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1: 31); As “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12: 10) 3. (St. Augustine) 1 On Psalms, homily 14. 2 Commentary on John, Book 20: 242-244. 3 On Ps. 39 (38). 18. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 11 As long as you corrupt the truth, and cheat your wisdom by injustice, you will die the way those with human counsel die, the kind of death resulting from sin; and you will fall by your own free will from the honor given to you, the way the heathen rulers fall, and the way Satan, one of the archangels has fallen. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) Some demons tempt man as human; and some others tempt him as an irrational animal. The first kind of temptations brings forth unto us vain glory, pride, envy, judgment; those kinds which do not come upon the dumb animal. Whereas the second kind provokes into us wrath and sexual desire, things we share with the irrational animals; which are horrible, and degrade the rational nature. Concerning the thoughts that come forth over man as human, the Holy Spirit says: “I said you are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High”; but you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes” (6-7). Whereas, concerning the thoughts that come over man as an irrational animal, the Holy Spirit says: “Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come to you” (Psalm 32: 9) 1. (Father Oghris the monk) As the grace we have got could be taken away from us, or could change; as it was the case with the Jews; what they were told, do not apply to us; namely: “I said you are gods, and all of you are the children of the Most High; but you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes” (6-7). The reason is that, while they received the grace of bondage to God, we received that of adoption which would never change; as we are taught by the apostle Paul: “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father’” (Romans 8: 15). We, in truth, call God “Our Father who art in heaven” when we approach to receive the Holy Sacraments, on account of the grace given to us by the Spirit… For it is the Spirit who qualifies us to call God “Our Father”. Being all sinners, and because of the sins we committed, and still commit since our baptism, we should get communion in those Sacraments on a regular basis2. (St. (Mar) Feloxinus) Lamenting the fall of Satan and his angels, the prophet Ezekiel, says: “Son of man takes up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God: You were seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty, You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every precious stone was your covering: the sardus; topaz;, diamond; Beryl; onyx; jasper; sapphire, turquoise; and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes, on the day you were created. You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. . 1 الفلیوكالیا: الأي أوغریس ال ا رهب 7- عن "الأفكار الشریرة الأخرى"، 19 . 2 حول سكنى الروح القدس، 2003 ، ترجمة نانسي جرجس، صوم 27 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 12 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you. By the abundance of your trading, you became filled with violence within, and you sinned; Therefore, I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub from the midst of the fiery stones. Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, that they might gaze at you. You defiled your sanctuaries by the multitude of your iniquities; by the iniquity of your trading” (Ezekiel 28: 11-18). And the prophet Isaiah says: “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning?! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation, on the farthest side of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14: 12-14) The Holy Book tells us that Satan was not the only one who fell down from his previous blessed status; but the dragon, and one -third of the stars, will fall as well (Revelation 12: 4). The apostle Jude says: “And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own habitation, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day” (Jude 6). And we, as well, were told: “… But you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes” (Psalm 82: 7); which indicate that several princes have fallen1. (Father Serinus) “Arise, O God, judge the earth; For You shall inherit all nations” (8) He did not say: ‘Judge the heaven and earth’, because heaven is sinless. He who is earth will be judged; but he who, by Jesus Christ, became heaven, will be glorified, and will not be judged. “Arise, O God, judge the earth”; Arise, for our boat is tossed by the mighty waves. Arise, O God, judge the earth, for the wicked judges will dies like Adam, and will fall like one of the princes. Arise and judge; bring forth salvation to Your creation … Arise, You have suffered for our sake, died for our sake, and resurrected to give us salvation. Let us say it in another way: You who came in humility, Come as a Judge and liberate us2! (St. Jerome) Now, He sits and grants forgiveness; But when the end comes, He arises for judgment; as it is written: “Arise, O God, judge the earth” (Psalm 82: 8) 3. (St. John Chrysostom) 1 Cassian Conferences 8: 8. 2 On Psalms, homily 14. 3 On the Epistle to the Hebrews, 7: 6. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 13 Arise from the dead and judge the earth, that was puffed up when it crucified You. His inheritance is realized by love, by which He plants the earth by His commands, and by His mercy filled with compassion; destroying the earthly desires1. (St. Augustine) 1 On Psalms 82 (81). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 14 AN INSPIRATION FROM PSALM 82 HOW AMAZING YOU ARE, O THE GREATEST JUDGE How amazing You are, O Divine Judge in Your work and love; While You are the Judge of all, You still tell us to submit to every human ordinance; To give honor to whom honor is due; And to submit to those of authority. But You remain the Judge of judges, and rulers. Above every high;… Who could be higher than Him? Do not let humanity devour one another. In humility, while being the Judge of the whole world, You sit together with Your believers and honor them. You set out of them children for Yourself; not by nature, but by adoption. You honor Your servants by calling them gods; For the sake of the authority You give them. In Your humility, You set Your servants judges. For our sake, You accepted to bear the oppression of Your creation with an amazing longsuffering. You came to be together with the fatherless, the poor, and the miserable. As though You are one of the poor! The hearts of those who suffer and are forgotten were comforted; When they found the Savior as one of them. It is befitting of the judges to defend the humble and the fatherless; And to do justice to the afflicted and the needy; As that would be to the account of the Savior Himself. Mankind got clothed in darkness; And charged against the true Light; The sun, the moon, and all nature, were ashamed because of the corruption of men; The earth was shaken, and the rocks were split; To proclaim their protest unto mankind; Yet the Divine Judge abides on His love, enduring suffering and disgrace, even to the death of the cross. By His death He brought death to death; And by His resurrection He granted us the resurrected life. By His ascension He turned our earth into heaven; We no longer fear the judgment; For we have become heaven; He will arise, and judge the earth; But heaven will be filled with glory.
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