GOD IS FEARED BY THE TYRANT KINGS OF THE EARTH This psalm relates to the previous one; as we see the Lord reign through His cross, as a King-Priest, and all submit to Him. If sin corrupted the world, and man was driven out from the garden of Eden, with all its possibilities, joy, and peace, to a world, more like a perpetual battle field; he seeks peace but he does not find it, and covets the true comfort to find it as though a sort of an imaginary fantasy. But God, whole in goodness turns this battle into what is for the edification of man, his peace, and his happiness. As God Himself enters into the battle, particularly on the cross, He tears up the hand-written requirements against us, destroys the authority of the devil, makes him of no reputation; and the Lord reigns over the hearts, proclaiming His splendor and majesty in us. This psalm came conforming to psalms 46 to 48, of Korah. Its divisions: 1- The name of the King-Priest 1 – 3 2- The work of the King-Priest 4 – 6 3- The reign of the King-Priest 7 – 9 4- Worshipping the King-Priest 10 – 12 The title: It is a psalm of military conquest, realized through the presence of God in His temple in Jerusalem, destroying the arms ot the tyrants, and bringing justice to the oppressed. It could be written in any of the following occasions: inauguration of a new king; a thanksgiving service to God for a conquest realized; an anniversary of a memorial of a certain conquest; or a celebration of a feast in Jerusalem. Some however believe that the conquest mentioned here refers to the one realized by David over the Philistines in the valley of the rephaym While others believe that the psalm is a prophecy to be fulfilled later on for the people of God. And in the Septuagint version, as well as in the writings of several of the modern scholars, it came that this psalm was written on the occasion of the invasion by the Assyrians in the days of King Sennacherib. 1- THE NAME OF THE KING - PRIEST: “In Judah God is known; His name is great in Israel” (1) Great is God, His glory being within Him, He needs no further glorification; Our knowledge of His glory or of His secrets, adds nothing to His glory; but would make Him great in us, and glorified in our life. The tribe of Judah refers to Israel as a whole, being the royal tribe of authority over the whole people. And as it came in psalm 114: 2: “Judah became His sanctuary, and Israel His dominion”. No one indeed, can recognize Him unless he belongs to Judah; and no one can enjoy getting in touch with the greatness of His name unless https://coptic-treasures.com/ 148 he becomes an Israelite. Yet, this could not be in the literal sense of the tribe of Judah, and the old people of Israel; But truly applies to those who spiritually belong to Judah, who spiritually become a living member of the new Israel. The name of God became known in Judah, as He is the Son of David, the Lion who comes forth of the tribe of Judah; who grants His believers the life of conquest. The Lord Christ came as the King of kings, and the heavenly High Priest, to reign over the new Israel (the church); and to proclaim His dwelling place in Zion. Father Onesimus of Jerusalem believes that the name of God became great in the Gentile nations like Egypt, and the rest of the world, that became the new Judah, and the new spiritual Israel. Before the cross brings forth the light to the world; before the Lord was seen on earth, God was known in Judah; and in Israel, His name was great. But once the Savior came, His voice ringed high in the whole earth, and His message reached to the end of the world1. Before the resurrection of Christ, God was only known in Judea, and His name was only great in Israel2. (St. Jerome) See, even we, as well, say the same thing: Unless one is in Judah, God would not be known to him! But what does the apostle say: The Jew in secret, who is as such according to the circumcision of the heart; not in the letter, but in the spirit, is the true Jew. There are Jews in the circumcision of the flesh; and there are Jews in the circumcision of the heart. Many of our saintly fathers (in the Old Covenant), had the circumcision of the flesh as a seal of faith; and had, as well, the circumcision of the heart for the sake of faith. From those fathers came men who only had the glory of the name (as Jews), yet have lost the work; they remained Jews in the flesh, but heathens in the heart. From Judah came David; and from David came the Lord Jesus Christ. Believing in Christ, we belong to Judah, and know Christ. The word ‘Israel’ means: (He who sees God!) How could they see God who walked in flesh among them; whom counting Him as man, they killed Him? “His name is great in Israel”. Do you want to be ‘Israel’? That man about whom the Lord said: “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile” (John 1; 47). If that was indeed an Israelite in whom is no guile; he, in whom there is guile, would not be an Israelite indeed3. We seek this request, not that His name is not holy, but to see it holy; Namely, we seek to see nothing more holy than Him. It is said: “In Judah God is known, His name is great in Israel” (1). This does not mean that His name is great in one place more than in another; but it is great wherever we call Him great. The same thing is said: His name is holy wherever He is called with 1 On Psalms, homily 9. 2 Letter 60, to Heliodorus, 4. 3 On Ps. 76. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 149 reverence, for fear of opposing Him. That is what we seek to fulfill through preaching the gospel; to call the name of the One God, through the ordinance of His Son1. (St. Augustine) God was only known in Judah (1); and His name was only called in Israel. But now, “their voices have gone forth to the ends of the earth, and their words to ends of the world” (Psalm 19: 4). The servants of Isaac (as a symbol of Christ) have gone forth to the whole world to dig wells (Genesis 26: 22), and to purify the living waters for all; “baptizing the Gentiles in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28: 19); For “The earth is the Lord’s and all its fullness” (Psalm 24: 1) 2. (The scholar Origen) Before His coming, the name of Christ among the people of Israel was confined in the minds of the Jews as though in a kind of vessels; For “God was known in Judah, His name was great in Israel”; namely, the name that in the vessels of the Jews was confined in their narrow limits. But after that, He, by whose coming He shone over the whole world, has spread His divine name over extensive regions over the whole creation Having filled the void, His name became awesome in the whole world.. His name poured a kind of flowing abundance of grace and of heavenly goodness3. (St. Ambrose) Before the coming of Christ, God was only known in Judah; But after His coming, His grace filled the whole world; that the voice of the apostles rang high through the whole earth, and their message reached the ends of the world4. The Lord Himself says in the gospel: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it produces much grain” (John 12: 24). Now, as the precious grain of wheat died, and was buried through passion, from that One grain, came the produce of the church that set forth in the world. God is not any more known only in Judah as it was before; nor His name is worshipped only in Israel, but so became from sunrise to sunset5. (Father Caesarius, bishop of Arle) As ‘Isreal’ means (He who sees God), everyone should be enlightened by the grace; whether a Jew or a Greek – should be liberated from the bondage of Egypt, even from that of Pharaoh – namely, of the devil – who weighs on him with a heavy yoke6. (Deacon Codefilitides) Who is ‘Israel’, whose name is great? He is every believer who enjoys the enlightenment of the divine grace. “In Salem also is His tabernacle, and His dwelling place is in Zion” (2) 1 Sermon on Mount, 2: 19. 2 Homilies on Genesis 13: 3. 3 Of the Holy Spirit, 1: 95. 4 Sermon 169: 6. 5 Sermon 94: 1. 6 Quodvultdeus: Book of Promises and Predictions of God, 1: 32: 44. شماس بقرطاجنة، صدیق القدیس أغسطینوس. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 150 Who would not covet for the Lord Christ to set His tabernacle in His heart, and to proclaims His dwelling place in his depths? Let our hearts become the new Jerusalem, where the inner peace is; namely, become the new ‘Salem’ on which the heavenly Melchizedek would reign, as Melchizedek of the old has reigned on ‘Salem’. Indeed, His a tabernacle is set in ‘Salem’ (short for Jerusalem); namely, His church is established on the Lord Christ, who is according to the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110: 4; Hebrew 5: 6, 10, 20), King of Salem (Genesis 14: 18; Hebrew &: 1, 21), King of peace and righteousness, through His sacrifice and priesthood, to destroy the weapons of the devil (3). The dwelling place of Christ is the new Zion, namely, His church. As the word ‘Zion’ means (a stronghold or a vantage tower), Wherever there is knowledge and teachings of the Holy Book, as a stronghold in the soul. She would be the dwelling place of God. We are committed to do good if we intend to forsake evil. We are committed to seek peace if we intend to avoid war. Yet it is not enough to seek it, but once we find it, and it flees from us, we are committed to chase it with our whole energies; as “the peace of God surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4: 7); Peace is the dwelling place of God; It is according to the psalmist: “In Salem is His dwelling place” (2 LXX) 1. “In Salem”, Here you see that the literal meaning of Jerusalem is ‘Salem’, later called ‘Jebus’, and finally “Jerusalem’. That is ‘Salem’ whose King was “Melchizedek” (Hebrew 7: 1). When we read: “You are Priest according to the order of Melchizedek”, It obviously refers to Christ. Aaron offered animal sacrifices, and poured animal blood; but, as Melchizedek did nothing of the sort, but offered instead bread and wine; hence It is said “according to the order of Melchizedek. There is no tabernacle for the Lord, where there is no peace; God would not be where there is controversy and dissension, as a Protector of the place. Let us then accept the interpretation of the Septuagint version, that the dwelling place of God is only in the soul filled with peace; the soul with no peace would never be a dwelling place for the Lord who Himself says to His disciples: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you” (John 14: 27). Peace is our inheritance from the Savior2. As Zion was the city of the Jews, the true Zion is the church of the Christians. The interpretation of the Hebrew names that came to us: ‘Judah’ means (confession), and ‘Israel’ means (he who sees God). After Judah comes Israel. If you wish to see God, you should first confess, then God’s dwelling place would be within you. As long as you do not confess your sins, you are still in controversy with God3. (St. Augustine) “There He broke the arrows of the bow; the shield and the sword and the battleax” (3) The Assyrians put Jerusalem under siege, but had to lift up the siege through a miraculous act by God; as it is written: “And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and 1 Letter 125. to Rusticus, 14. 2 Homily 9. 3 On Ps. 76. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 151 eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses – all dead. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went away, returned home, and remained at Nineveh” (2 Kings 19: 35-36). What happened here, happens in some way or another, seen or unseen, in the life of the church in every generation, as well as in the life of the children of God as members in His church. According to St. Augustine, those who do not confess their sins, and haughtily enter, as though into a battle against God, all their weapons on which they depend, will be broken. Where is then the dwelling place of God? In Jerusalem, and in Zion. In Jerusalem where peace is, and in Zion, the vantage tower. I wish the human soul would have the peace of God and the meditation; I wish she would also be in the church, and bound to the Holy Books. In her there will be, most surely, peace, and the dwelling place of God; and “There He will break the arrows of the bow”, the arrows sent forth by the devil. There, God will break “the shield, the sword, and the battle-ax”1. (St. Jerome) 2- THE WORK OF THE KING - PRIEST: “You are more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey” (4) The ‘mountains’ refer to the kingdoms; the ‘mountains of prey’ to the kingdoms set upon robbery and plunder; which assume that there is no God to rein them. About such kingdoms it is written: “Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion walked, the lioness and the lion’s cub, and no one made them afraid? The lion tore in pieces enough for his cubs, killed for his lioness, , filled his caves with prey, and his dens with flesh” (Nahum 2: 11-12; 3: 1). The psalmist says that God is greater, stronger, and has more splendor than all the earthly kingdom, however great is their dominion and terror on the face of the earth. The dominion of those kingdoms is just for a certain time, whereas that of God is eternal, Their greatness will come to an end in an instant; whereas the glory and greatness of God will never end. In the Septuagint version it came as: “You amazingly shine from the eternal mountains” (75: 3 LXX). St. John the beloved looked at the churches to find them seven golden lampstands, and in their midst was the Lord Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, shining as though from His holy mountains, shining by His amazing works through them. The psalmist says: “Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your tabernacle” (Psalm 43: 3). The mountains could be interpreted in two ways: In the Old Covenant, they are the prophets, and in the New Covenant they are the apostles. About those mountains the Holy Book says: “I will lift up my eyes to the hills – from whence comes my help” (Psalm 121: 1). On these hills the city of God were comfortably established. Any city built on a hill would not be hidden. We were all before in the darkness, in the shadows of death, Then the Lord shone on us from His eternal mountains; namely from the prophets and the apostles. (St. Jrerome) 1 On Ps. Hom. 9. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 152 What are those eternal mountains? They are those whom God makes eternal, the great mountains, the preachers of the truth; The mountain first receive Your light, and from the light received by the mountains, the earth is clothed as well1. (St. Augustine) The eternal mountains could also be interpreted as the heavens from which He sent the gift of the Holy Spirit on the apostles; and through them the whole world was enlightened in a way not perceived by human mind. They could also be interpreted as the hosts of angels through whom He stirs up the souls of those worthy of enlightenment. They could also be interpreted as the saintly men like Moses and the rest of the prophets, who, before the coming of our Lord, were eternal mountains; And after His coming, like the apostles and the teachers, through whom God enlightened the souls of the believers; by amazing visions and proclamations. The eternal mountains could also be interpreted as the dogmas of the true faith, by which God enlightens every human soul coming into faith. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “The stouthearted were plundered; They have sunk into their sleep; And none of the mighty men have found the use of their hands” (5) As the Assyrians and others tried to invade some countries for spoil; Instead of taking spoil, they had to forsake their own treasures, and flee, leaving behind them as spoil what they have got in their own hands. They have sunk into their sleep, and never waked up, for “they were corpses – all dead” (2 Kings 19: 35-36). In the Old Testament, the term “sleep” was sometimes used to refer to “death” (Psalms 13: 3; Jeremiah 51: 39, 57; Nahum 3: 18). “None of the mighty men have found the use of their hands”, as they became utterly unable to bear arms, whether for offense, or even for defending themselves. This phrase also refers to those who have put their whole hope in temporal things; Yet their life would soon pass away as a dream they saw in their sleep, then woke up to find themselves got nothing! They love the present things, then they go to sleep, and dream as though they have found a treasure; they become rich as long as they are still sleeping; but once they wake up they go back to their poverty2. (St. Augustine) The prophet calls the Assyrians ignorant and stupid, for they wrongly assumed that they could prevail against the God of Israel. They have gone to sleep around Jerusalem, planning to wake up to destroy the city, and hoping to be rich through the spoil they were going to plunder. But they became instead dead corpses, emptyhanded of what they hoped for; their sleep turned into death. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) This life is indeed a dream, a dream of becoming rich. Yet, as soon as it becomes within our hands, it disappears. This view is expressed by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “It shall even be as when a thirsty man dreams, and look – he drinks; but he awakes, 1 On Ps. 76. 2 On Ps. 76. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 153 and indeed he is faint, and his soul still craves” (Isaiah 29: 8). That truly describes the riches of this world: once we reach them, they forsake us. (St. Jerome) I wish the sleep of slothfulness and of the riches, would not swallow us There are some horse riders who sink in their sleep; about whom is written: “Both the (horses and horse riders) were cast into a deep sleep” (Psalm 76: 6). Does greed wound your heart? Does lust kindle in your body? You are then a sleeping horse rider! Cast into sleep, Judas did not listen to the words of Christ; he was overcome by the sleep of wealth, having sought the wages of his treason (Matthew 26: 15). Seeing him buried in such a deep sleep of greed, “Satan entered into his heart” (Luke 22: 3); the horse was wounded, and its rider was cast away1. (St. Ambrose) Our father St. Anthony once said: [It so happened that I went to Alexandria to get the blessing of the lighted pillar, the stronghold, and the well-established foundation of the apostolic faith; the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete; whose heart became a sanctuary for the Almighty God; he who was steadfast in his belief in the one Trinity, equal in essence; he who is beloved by our Lord Jesus Christ – Athanasius, the great, the son of the apostles -- who became a martyr several times by order of kings, because of the upright Orthodox faith. I stayed two days in his company, talking things of the Holy Book. And because of the sweetness of his lifegiving talk, I slept only sporadically. Yet, whenever I was overcome by sleep, he kept on waking me up, saying: ‘Abba Anthony, you should forsake such a sleep, For the Holy Spirit said: “They have sunk into their sleep (and benefited nothing) (Psalm 75: 5)… He who watches in moderation is the one who rejoices and become filled with the gladness of the eternal life; For the joy of the present life is indeed not the true joy, and its sweetness is not the genuine sweetness]. When I heard those words, I bowed down before him; then returned to my place praising God. If you are overcome by sleep, do not surrender to it; for it is written in the gospel: “Watch and pray” (Matthew 26: 41); And, “They have sunk into their sleep (and benefited nothing) “ (Psalm 76: 5 – according to the Septuagint version). (The garden of monks) “At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse were cast into a deep sleep” (6) The wicked opponents of the divine truth are only in need of a word of rebuke from the Lord, for their chariots and horses to be cast into perpetual death. The tumult of the enemy, their haughtiness, and their violent cries turned into what is like a funeral. Either the horses died, and the charioteers lost their abilities to move; Or the charioteers themselves died, and the horses become almost dead for lacking those who lead and guide them. Who are they who ride horses? Those who refuse to be humble. 1 The Patriarchs, 7: 33. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 154 It is not a sin to ride horses, but it is a sin for man to “lift up his horn on high, and to speak with a stiff neck” (Psalm 75: 5); and to think of himself as more distinguished than others1. (St. Augustine) Those who spend their years in slothfulness and laziness, boast their power and riches, and are overcome by bodily lusts; when rebuked by our Lord Jesus Christ, on the day of judgment, they lose all their hopes, will tremble before His wrath; and will have nothing in their hands of what they have acquired in their life, (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) As there are splendid mountains and dark mountains, there are likewise, good and bad horses. When horses and chariots came to Elisha to arrest him, and his servant was terrified to see the Assyrian army surrounding the city; Elisha said to him: “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them. Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6: 16, 17). He did not see anybody in the chariots; he just saw horses and chariots; namely, hosts of angels of the Lord. … (St. Jerome) 3- THE REIGN OF THE KING – PRIEST: “You, Yourself, are to be feared; And who may stand in Your presence when once You are angry?”(7) By saying “You, Yourself”, the psalmist means to say: “You, alone, are to be feared, and there is no one like You” In the previous verse, the psalmist says that the adversaries will be cast into perpetual sleep; And now he says: “Who may stand in Your presence?”; Meaning, with the coming of the day of judgment, there would be no more chance to stand before the Lord, neither to oppose, nor to repent! In those boastful, who lean upon their abilities and possibilities, St. Augustine sees adversaries to God, who will be cast into deep sleep, not to perceive that God rebukes them; until the dwelling of the great day of judgment of the Lord, when they stand before the awesome Lord in His anger. “You caused judgment to be heard from heaven. The earth feared and was still” (8) As God condemned the wicked, and issued His judgment against them, heaven heard His judgment; as though it was astonished before the longsuffering of the Lord on the wicked. And the earth feared and was still; for no one could defend them, as the cup of their evil was full. When the Lord let the Philistines fall into the hands of His people, it was said: “There was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison and the raiders also trembled, and the earth quaked” (1 Samuel 14: 15). If heaven refers to the saintly oppressed children of God, the earth refers to the adversary wicked. In the midst of the great anguish, the souls of the righteous listen to the judgment and care of God for them; whereas the wicked who boast their power, ability, and dominion, fear, and stand still. 1 On Ps. 76. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 155 Meaning that the defeat and destruction of the Assyrians became heard by all, like thunder from heaven; which caused the earth to fear, and to stand still. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “When God arose to judgment, to deliver all the oppressed of the earth” (9) According to the wicked, God does not care for mankind, and no one could save the pious from their hands. Whereas the pious believers, the meek and the poor in spirit, on the other hand, trusting in the divine promises, will exult in God, their Savior, even before their salvation from the hands of the wicked, is fulfilled. Who are the meek in heart? They are those who do not ride horses, but will humbly confess their sins1. (St. Augustine) Once the people realize that God is their Judge, they will sin no more2. (St. Dedymus the blind) 4- WORSHIPPING THE KING- Priest: “Surely, Your wrath against men brings You praise; With the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself” (10) God, the wholly goodness, turns even man’s wrath and his evil into good; as He did with that of Joseph’s brothers to the glory of His name; with the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart to the salvation of His people; and with the treason of Judas to the fulfillment of salvation, etc. For He is the Almighty, the Beneficent. In the Septuagint version it came as: “Man’s thought confesses You, and its remainder praises You”. As a start of our thought, It is befitting of us to confess our sins, to recall the Savior’s work in our life, and to present praises of joy and exultation for His work with us. Distinguishing between men’s thought and the remainder of thought, St. Augustine says: [Thought comes first, and then its remainder follows. What is the first thought? The good thought by which we begin is the confession, which unites us to Christ. Then the confession itself, namely, the first thought, produces the remainder of thought, which praises the Lord. What is the thought that confess? It is the thought that condemns the old unacceptable life; a departure from the old life …; But, in case you forget your sins from which you intend to depart, you neither confess your Savior, nor praise Him3]. We confined all our thought on confessing Your goodness on us; we shall not preoccupy it with anything else, not even for one minute, except with glorifying You. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “Make vows to the Lord Your God, and pay them; Let all who are around Him bring presents to Him who ought to be feared” (11) God calls us to make vows and to fulfill them. Here, many fathers distinguish between the collective vow of all the believers, and the individual vow. The collective vow is the dedication of the whole heart and all its energies to God. If the Lord Christ says: “For their sakes I sanctify 1 On Ps. 76. 2 Commentary on Job 14: 6. 3 On Ps. 76. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 156 “Myself, that they also be sanctified by the truth” (John 17: 19); It is for us to say back: “For Your sake, O Lord, we sanctify ourselves, for You, and by You, O Holy One”. The individual vow is not for all, but is according to how much love for God, and longing for exaltation and perfection, the believer proclaims. As an example for this, St. Augustine says: [Every married Christian vows to commit himself to his or to her spouse, as long as he or she is alive. It is a commitment vow. But in case of the departure of one spouse, and the other spouse vows to live a widower, it would be an optional individual vow. There are, as well, one who vows to live a virgin, and not to get married all his or her life, for the sake of worship or ministry, etc. Do not linger to vow; for you will fulfill it, not through your own strength; you will fail if you do. But if you depend upon Him to whom you vow, you will be safe, and you will fulfill your vow. “Make vows to the Lord Your God, and pay them”. We should make vow to believe in Him; to hope for the eternal life from Him; and to live in piety, according to the measure befitting of all men1. “Let all who are around”. Who are they? What is common to all, has to be in the middle. Why so? For it would thus be on the same distance from everyone. If it is not in the middle, it would be as though special for a particular group. What is in there in the middle, so that all those who come to use it, and enlightened. At least this one to me, so it cannot be used to share what is in the middle of all Who know that the right is the year for all who are humble2 (St. Augustine) What should we vow, and what should we pay, O brethren? To believe in Him, and to hope to have the eternal life from Him, and the good life, according to the general level. There is a general level for all men. “Do not commit adultery” is a general commandment for all, whether married or single All of us should vow what concern faith, justice, chastity, and mercy; And, by the help of Him to whom we vow, we will pay. Those who make a vow to be chaste their whole life, even if they are unmarried, their vow would be greater than all3. (Father Caesarius, bishop of Arle) “He shall cut off the spirit of princes; He is feared by the kings of the earth” (12) Here he talks about the rulers, whether the religious, civil, or military, who oppose faith, and persecute believers; whose constitution is violence, injustice, and oppression, like Pharaoh in the days of Moses, Adoni-Bazek, king Saul, Belshazza, Sennechrib, and the two sons of Eli the priest, and Korah and his group. Interpreting this phrase, St. Jerome felt terrified, for fear that leaning upon being a monk, a priest, or a head of a monastery, he may walk with the spirit of pride, and God Himself would stand against him. 1 On Ps. 76. 2 On Ps. 76. 3 Sermon 135: 1. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 157 ”He shall cut off the spirit of princes” (12). “the spirit” here could be understood in one of two ways: Either the soul, or the spirit of pride. Let us count the saints as ‘rulers’. Solomon, for instance, as well as others, were ‘princes’; even ‘Judas’ was a ‘prince’. And having sinned, God has cut off their spirits. I wish no one says: I am a bishop; a priest, a deacon, or a monk; I am a ‘prince’ in this world; For God is awesome enough to “cut off the spirit of princes”. Again, You are committed to remember how God had rejected the spirit of pride: How the good Spirit of God forsook King Saul, whom, according to the Holy Book, an evil spirit from God disturbed God withdrew from king Saul to let him be disturbed by an evil spirit. And finally, knowing that God is capable to cut off the spirit of princes, David beseeched Him: “Do not take Your Holy Spirit from me”). “He is feared by the kings of the earth” (12). God may allow us to become “kings of this earth”, to reign upon our body; as according to the apostle: “Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body” Somewhere else in the Holy Book, it is written: “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord” The kings therefore, are the saints, and their hearts are in the hand of the Lord. I beseech God to make us kings to reign upon our bodies, to have them submit to us. The following words by the apostle apply to the situation here: “I discipline my body and bring it into submission, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” Let us then control our souls, and submit our bodies, for then Christ would come and make His dwelling in us. Every day Christ stands at the door of our souls, longing to enter. Let us open them up wide for Him; to enter, to dwell, and to dine together with us. (St. Jerome) https://coptic-treasures.com/ 158 AN INSPIRATION FROM PSALM 76 REIGN UPON MY DEPTHS, O LEADER OF THE BATTLE The enemy kindles a battle against me; He intends to turn the world that You created for my sake into hell; But You did not forsake me alone; You hid me in You to grant me conquest. You have condescended, O word of God, and incarnated in the womb of David’s daughter; You became known in Judah; For You are the Lion who came from the tribe of Judah; And Your name became great in the new Israel, Your holy church; You are High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, King of Salem; Wherever You went, You turned the location into a center of peace (Salem); And turned it into a new Zion (a stronghold or a vantage tower). Come to dwell in my depths, to turn my soul into a source of peace for others; And to open up my inner insight; To become a vantage tower to behold Your high secrets. The enemy is trying to terrorize me by his fiery arrows; But You alone can break his shield, sword, and battle-ax; You set Your believers as holy mountains, on which You transfigure; You surround them with fiery chariots and horses; And make them praise You together with Elisha the prophet, saying: “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them” You are the Leader of the battle; An awesome God; Who can stand before You?! The devil with all the hosts of darkness assumed that they could swallow us; No human possibility can stand before them; Yet, You, the Heavenly One, resurrected to save all the poor in spirit on earth; You are the God of the oppressed; You raise them up from the heap of trash; And make them kings and greats. Receive my vow to You, O King of kings; Receive my humble present; What can I offer You except perpetual thanksgiving, and continuous praise? Grant me, O Lord, the spirit of love and humility; I see You a Lover of all mankind; I see You the perpetual Light in the midst of all; You intend for all to be saved, and enlightened by You; You wish for them all to attach to You with no partiality; To grant all of them the light of Your divine knowledge; You intend for all to enjoy Your salvation; My soul exults to see Your work with all.
Welcome