BLORY BE TO THE GREAT CREATOR According to some versions, this psalm is a consummation of the last one, which presents God, as the Lord of history, while this psalm presents Him as the Lord and Shepherd of nature. According to the Septuagint, Syrian, Volgata, Arabic, and Ethiopian versions, it is referred to David. It is considered as a song dedicated to Jehovah, namely, the Word of God, the Creator, the Care-taker of creation, and their Savior. It does not talk about the incomprehensive nature of God, but about His glory, according to what God proclaims about Himself, for the sake of the edification of His creation beloved by Him, man in particular. The Jewish people used to sing this psalm on the morning of ‘yom kipper’, the Great day of atonement; the unique day in the whole year, in which the High Priest is allowed to go through the veil and enter into the Holy of Holies, only once a year, as a symbol of the entrance of the believing humanity into heaven, into a new life as though without sin. Hence they sing to the Creator, amazing in His love, Grantor of the new life1. According to some, there is an obvious degree of analogy between this psalm and the song of ‘Akhnaton’ the great pharaoh, to the Sun (the fourteenth century B.C.), especially in portraying the creatures of the day and night (20-23), of the springs and valleys (10), of the great and wide sea (25); in talking of life and death, and of the dependence of creatures on their Creator (27-30). Yet, other than that, the two songs diverge from one another to completely different directions. For example, in contradiction to the extreme Akhnaton’s song to the Sun, saying: [Whenever you rise they live, and whenever you set they die]; Psalm 104, on the other hand, talks about the exalted fact of God’s ordinance of the whole life. Between psalm 104 and the Book of Genesis: Talking about the magnificent story of creation, psalm 104 is a piece of poetry recording what came in the first and second chapters of the Book of Genesis: The first day: Creation of the light 1-2 The second day; Creation of the firmament 2-4 1 Kinder, p. 372. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 2 The third day: Separation of the earth from the water 5-9 The fourth day: Creation of the two lights as keepers of time 19-20 The fifth day: Creation of the aquatic animals 25-29 The sixth day: Creation of animals and men 27-28 Provision of food for all 29-30 In all that, the psalmist did not copy what came in the book of Genesis; While the book of Genesis parades what God created, The psalmist concentrates on the way, and the cause of creation. Talking about the intimate relationship between the Creator and the world; the psalmist concentrates more upon the Creator than the creation; and proclaims God, the compassionate, more than God the mighty One. 1- The divine Creator 1 – 9 2- The divine care 10 – 23 3- “The earth is full of His possessions” 24 – 35 4- A praise by the psalmist to the Creator 31 – 35 You should know, O believer, that we, in the East,, recite this psalm every evening; on account of all the secrets and supplications it includes, and because it tells about what we have got through the incarnation of our Lord, at the fullness of time. (Father Onesimus, bishop of Jerusalem) 1- THE DIVINE CREATOR: This psalm starts by a call to praise the greatness and the glory of the Lord in His heavenly throne. Its preface refers clearly to the works consummated in the first and second days, according to what came in the first chapter of Genesis. According to the Book of Genesis in the first day, God said: “Let there be light” (Genesis 1: 3); While here, the psalmist sees that beyond the seen light, there is the unseen light of God (2). In the second day, God said: “Let be a firmament in the midst of the waters” (Genesis 1: 6); Here, the psalmist sees “God stretches out the heavens like a curtain; He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters; makes the clouds His chariot; and walks on the wings of the wind” (Psalm 104: 2-3); What an amazing poetical expression! In the third day, God said: “Let the water under the sky gather together into one place, and the dry land (the continents) appear” (Genesis 1: 9); While here, the psalmist says: “At the voice of Your thunder, the waters hastened away, they went up over the mountains, they went down into the valleys, to the places He founded for them (7, https://coptic-treasures.com/ 3 8); God “fixed limits for them, and set bars and doors” (Job 38: 9-11); and “placed the sand as the bound of the sea; by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it” (Jeremiah 5: 22). If God does that to the waters, His good creation, how much more would he do to reign evil? “Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great; You are clothed with honor and majesty” (1) According to the Septuagint and Coptic version, it came as: “I confess that You have become clothed with the greatness of majesty”. What does he mean by saying: “You are (have became) very great”? Does God increase in greatness, He who is absolute in greatness, not to increase or decrease? .. The greatness here, does not refer to His Essence, which no one can behold; but to what He proclaims of His greatness and majesty to His creation, for the sake of their pleasure and edification; hence he adds: “You are clothed with honor and majesty”. According to the Lord Christ: “No one has ever seen God, It is God, the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made Him known” (John 1: 18) “Bless the Lord, O my soul’. I wish the souls of all of us would become one in Christ, to say: “O Lord my God, You are (have became) very great”…How did You become great? …I confess that “You are clothed with honor and majesty” … Confess, so as to become, yourself, beautiful, so that He would be clothed by you, “He is clothed with light”. He is clothed with His church, which, having been darkness before, has become light in Him, according to the words of the apostle: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the world” (Ephesians 5: 8) 1. (St. Augustine) The word “confession” (confissio) could be understood in two ways: It could be used to praise God; to confess for example, that: “With majesty You were clothed” (1); and according to the words of the Savior Himself: “I confess to You, O Father”; namely, “I praise You”. Or it could refer to confessing our sins to the Lord; For by that, we would praise, and glorify Him2. (St. Jerome) 1 On Ps. 104 (103). 2 Homily 30 on Ps. 103 (104). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 4 This psalm is considered a worship presented by the creation, praising its Creator, and blessing Him (seek His blessing) through the prophet; similar to psalm 18 (19), saying: “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork” (Psalm 19: 1) 1 (St. Jerome) God blesses man when He supports him, honors him, gives him reason, and security against his enemies, as He did when He blessed Abraham… And man blesses God when he gives Him thanks for everything He did, according to the words of the apostle: “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3: 17).. In either case, namely, whether the Lord blesses man, or man blesses the Lord, the benefit would be for man, for God need s nothing from us. The same could be said when man curses God or is cursed by God, the harm would come on man, and not on God. Saying “You have become great”, does not mean that God’s greatness increased after being smaller; Far from it! … But it rather means that if man does great works, God would be great in him; namely God’s greatness is more proclaimed in His pious men. (Onesimus, bishop of Jerusalem) As it happens if a king encounters a girl clothed in filthy rags, instead of feeling disgusted, he would take away her filthy garments (Isaiah 64: 6; Zechariah 3: 4); cleanse her blackness (Nahum 2: 10); clothe her in a nice attire; and let her sit together with him at his royal banquet; … So the Lord has done when He encountered the human soul, wounded and stricken, He treated her with soothing medication, took away her unclean rags, and the filth of her sins; clothed her with the glittering glorious, divine, heavenly, royal attire (Psalm 104: 1); crowned her, and let her sit at the royal banquet. (St. Maccarius the Great) “Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment; who stretch out the heavens like a curtain” (2) God often proclaims Himself as light and fire (Genesis 15: 17Exodus 3: 2; 19: 18; Matthew 17: 2). He is a “consuming fire” (Deuteronomy 4: 24; Isaiah 30: 33; Jeremiah 21: 12, 14); and “Light”for His people (Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 10: 17); and is called by the apostle James as “The Father of lights” (James 1: 17). 1 Homily 30 on Ps. 103 (104). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 5 According to St. Augustine, the garment of the Lord Christ is the church; That is why on the day of His transfiguration, the Lord Christ’s clothes became as white as the light. For the Sun of Righteousness dwells, and is glorified in His church, and “becomes’ extremely great, when she becomes one spirit, and confesses with one soul, to be worthy of being clothed with the divine beauty. As to saying: “Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain” (the leather cover of a tent); it is symbolically interpreted, according to St. Augustine, as the divine books that present to us the heavenly life, spread all over the earth, where mortal men dwell, like the leather cover of a tent; Namely, the Word of God grants the heavenly life to the mortals living on earth. Notice the order: Starting by confession, man receives beauty and grace; then he would receive the light. As the psalm adds: “Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment1”. You are God of all; and my God in particular; For, although I am no more a slave of sin, yet I am not worthy of being called Your slave. Great You are in truth. When I look up toward heaven, and down to earth; When I see the beasts, the birds, the serpents, and the rest of Your creation, I marvel at their Great Creator and glorify Him2. (St. Jerome) His descent is double:He once came hidden “like rain upon the mown grass” (Psalm 72: 6); And there will be His anticipated second coming. In His first coming, he was Wrapped in swaddling cloth, and laid in a manger. And in His anticipated second coming, He will appear “covering Himself with light as with a garment” (2). In His first coming, “He endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrew 12: 2); And in the second, He will be surrounded by glorifying hosts of angels3. We do not only leaning upon His first coming, but we anticipate His second coming as well. And the way we said on His first coming: “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” (Matthew 21: 9; 23: 39); We shall say the same words on His second coming. Encountering our Lord 1 Homily 30 on Ps. 103 (104). 2 Homily 30 on Ps. 103 (104). ربما اقتبس القدیس كیرلس المقارنة بین المجیئین عن الشھید یوستینو (دفاعھ 52 :1 ؛ مع تریفو 110 ). أنظر أیضًا ترتلیان 3 .( (ضد الیھود 14 ) وھیبولیتس (ضد المسیح 44 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 6 surrounded by His angels, we shall worship Him saying: “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”. He will come, not to be judged, but to judge those who have judged Him. He who kept silent during his first trial, will say to the wicked who dared to mistreat Him: “These things you have done, and I kept silent” (Psalm 50: 21). By a divine ordinance, He came before to teach men by conviction; Whereas on His second coming, they will have to receive Him as a King, even those who are not ready to do so1. (St. Cyril of Jerusalem) It would be befitting of us to add that the garment by which we are clothed, is our Lord Jesus Christ, a garment that goes down to our feet; And its diverse colors are the colors of the flowers of wisdom, of the holy books, and of the gospels, that will never fade with time … as it is written: “He who is clothed with light as with a garment” (2). That is why, when we prepare our garments, we should avoid extremes, extravagance, and keep everything within reason2. (St. Clement of Alexandria) There is a separation between those who dwell in heaven, or those clothed with the heavenly Man; … and evil. For God, in stretching out heavens, has separated the corrupt things from the good things, to keep the righteous man who considers himself a heaven, from being defiled; Hence it is said: “By His understanding He stretched out heavens”. How then were heavens stretched out? … They were stretched out by Wisdom; according to the verse: “I have stretched out my words, and you have not paid attention”. The way the words are stretched out, heavens have been stretched out3. … And as it is said in the psalm: “Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain” (2), we are as well: Our souls which were before crumbled, will become stretched out, to be able to receive the Wisdom of God. Let us now get back to our subject. We said that heavens has been stretched by Wisdom; And that those who have been clothed by the heavenly man are heaven, as well. Actually, as it is said to the sinner: “You are dust, and to dust you will return”; Could we not rather say to مقال 1 .1 :15 2Paed 2: 11. إن "السماء المنبسطة" بین الخیر والشر تتمثل في كلمات الحكمة التي تمكن الإنسان من التمییز بین الخیر والشر. 3 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 7 the righteous, who bears the image of the heavenly man: “You are heaven, and to heaven you will return”? Each one of us has his heavenly works, as well as his earthly ones. The earthly works lead to earth, for they bear the earthly nature; like him who treasures on earth, and not in heaven. On the contrary, the works of virtue lead to the places that bear the same nature, namely, to heavens. He who treasures in heaven, is he who bears the image of the heavenly1. (The scholar Origen) The light here, is the clear and prominent knowledge; namely, that man would be, as though clothed with the clear knowledge of things, like a garment. He would be able to see on all sides; and nothing would be hidden from him. According to some, the garment of light is the pure body that was worn by the Son of God, in which he sometimes felt hunger and thirst; and oftentimes demonstrated His deity when he performed miracles And according to some, that word refers to the light created by God on the first day of creation, (before creating the stars); which He spread to make day, then took back to make night. Hence the psalmist, adding what God created on the second day, said: “Who stretched heavens like a curtain” (2); namely the second heaven, by which He separated between the water He took upward, and the water He kept downward. He likened it to a tent, to demonstrate how God, marvelously stretched the vast heaven, the way man stretches a tent; and to demonstrate, as well, that we, in this world, are as though living in the shadow of a tent. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters; Who makes the clouds His chariot; who walks on the wings of the wind” (3) When man builds an upper chamber on the top of his house, he covers it with solid material to protect himself against the heat of the sun, and against the rain. God, on the other hand, covers His upper chambers with clouds full of water. He uses the clouds like horses that move His chariot everywhere He intends to go, according to His pleasure; Everything, even the clouds and winds obey Him. Often presenting to us the clouds as a symbol of heaven, the psalmist sees in them a divine chariot. … Yet ascending to heaven, the عظات للعلامة أوریجینوس على سفر إرمیا ترجمة جاكلین سمیر كوستى، 1.2 :8 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 8 Lord Christ needed no chariot, for He is the Creator of heaven, and count them as His chariot. Presenting to us a symbolic interpretation of the phrase: “He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters” (3), St. Augustine says: [The talk here concerns “the heavens”, as the divine books; whereas “the upper chambers” are the commandment of love, which no other commandment is greater (Mark 12: 31). … Love is compared to water; “because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5: 5). … How could the Holy Spirit be water? The Lord Jesus stood and cried out, saying: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7: 37, 38)…. “He who walks on the wings of the wind”; Namely, on the virtues of the souls; on love itself! … But how could He walk on them? For God’s love is greater than our love for Him1]. Why “Was He taken up, and a cloud received Him?” (Acts 1: 9). That was, as well, a sure sign that He ascended to heaven. He was not taken up by fire, nor on a fiery chariot, as it happened with the prophet Elijah, but He was taken up by a cloud, a symbol of heaven. The prophet says: “He who makes the clouds His chariot” (3); and another prophet says: “The Lord rides on a swift cloud” (Isaiah 19: 1 LXX) 2. (St. John Chrysostom) By so saying, the prophet shows that God’s care covers the water, clouds, and winds, and grants their benefits to the world. And he also shows that God’s nature is as swift, as the wings of winds. Whereas His upper chambers are the church secrets, He establishes and lays its beams by the water of baptism. He made clouds His chariot when He appeared to the children of Israel….And when our Lord ascended from the Mount of Olives to heaven, He was received by a cloud underneath His feet. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire” (4) There have to be angels responsible for the holy works, who give understanding of the eternal light; of the secrets of God, and His Deity…. Angels are preachers, as well. 1 On Ps. 104 (103). 2 On Acrs of Apostles, homily 2. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 9 The Holy Book never mentioned that the heavenly creatures have any kind of bodies, but they were generally said to be “made spirits and flames of fire” (Psalm 104: 4; Hebrew 1: 7). Angels are spirits (Habakkuk 1: 7, 14; Revelation 16: 14). The fathers of the church tend to say that angels have spiritual bodies; who, compared to men, are considered spirits; on account of that they do not have material bodies like men; and are in no need to eat, to drink, to have rest, to get married, etc. … And compared to God “the Spirit”, they are counted as spiritual bodies. … The Nicene Counsel in the year 784 A.D. proclaimed that angels are ethereal or luminous bodies; While the ‘Lateran Counsel’ in the year 1215 proclaimed that angels are without bodies altogether; Although some Catholic, Armenian, Lutheran, and Reformer Theologians, refer pure bodies to angels1. According to St. Gregory the Theologos, angels are spirits without bodies. And, responding to Deodor and Theodor, St. Cyril the Great says: [Angels are spirits from heaven, and are not bodies. And being bodiless, they appeared to the perfect men in diverse forms of imaginary bodies; like when they appeared to Elisha as chariot and horses; to Belaam as a man with a drawn-out sword; to Gideon as someone with a stick; to Daniel as someone clothed in linen, the attire of honor, his waist girded with gold of Ophaz, his body white like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightening, his eyes like torches of fire; his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude. … Angels were flying to the divine tomb, girded in white attire2]. “His ministers a flame of fire”. This is the nature of the heavenly creatures, ministering to God the “Consuming Fire”. Encountering us, they enflame our life with longing toward the Creator, through the work of His exalted grace, to burn up what is inside us of wood, grass, or hay; while making what is there glitter like gold, silver, or precious stones. That is the divine fire working in the heavenly creatures, and working by His grace in the believers. . It is, therefore, befitting of us to work under the leadership of God, who sets out of us what are like angels, moving swiftly like wind, working by His exalted grace; and bearing the spirit of strength, to become truly His ministers aflame with a holy fire. 1 Cf Charles Hodge: Systemstic Theology, vol. 1, p. 637-8 L. Berkhof: Systematic Theology, p. 144. ابن العبري: ركن 5، باب 3، فصل 2، مقصد 2 .1 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 10 Concerning the consistent fire, As God, Himself is said to be “A consuming Fire” (Deuteronomy 4: 24); and His ministers “a flame of fire” (4),the appearance of the divine chariot through a consistent fire, therefore, proclaims the presence of God (the Consuming Fire), who burns the thorns that choke the soul; and, at the same time, grants her an inner enlightenment to shine like lightning, and to glitter like bronze in the midst of fire. “The Lord descended on Mount Sinai as consuming fire; its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly” (Exodus 19: 18). “And His minister as a flame of fire”, which refers to their purity, and to the fact that they do not submit to sin. There is yet another interpretation: To a believer, a good angel of light is sent; Whereas to a sinner, an angel of wrath is sent to torture him1. This is the fire that burned in the hearts of the disciples of the Lord, walking on the way to Emmaus, and made them say: “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24: 32) 2. (St. Jerome) That divine fire burned, as well, in the bones of the prophets; that made Jeremiah say: “His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not” (Jeremiah 20: 9) 3. (St. Ambrose) Unless the minister preaches with fire, he would not be able to enflame those to whom he preaches4. (St. Augustine) If we compare the apostle Paul to angels, our daring would not be going too far. If the Holy Book calls John the Baptist an angel; and the priests as well. So, why should anyone marvel when we say that Paul is worthy of being so called, on account of the virtues he enjoyed?! The angels are so great on account of their obedience to God, and their utter refusal to disobey His commandment; that the prophet David 1 Homily 30 on Ps. 103 (104). 2 Epistle 52: 3. 3 In Luke 12: 49-50. 4 On Ps. 104 (103). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 11 says about them: “Who excel in strength, who do His Word” (Psalm 103: 20). That is exactly what Paul faithfully did; not only obeying God’s commandments, but proclaiming: “When I preach the gospel of Christ, I present it without charge” (1 Corinthians 9: 18). What the prophet David admires in the angels, to say that God “made His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire” (4), We may see, as well, in Paul, who crossed the earth length and width in his preaching mission … What makes Paul even more distinguished is that, while on earth in the mortal body, he demonstrated such courage, and conquered the unseen evil hosts1. “Who made His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire” (4). Paul presents to us the same scenery; As a spirit and fire, he traveled across the whole earth to preach and purify; And what is amazing is that, while still living in this world, clothed in a mortal body, he likened the body-less hosts2! (St. John Chrysostom) Not to let the grace of the Spirit given to us, cool off , the blessed Paul warned us, saying: “Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5: 19), to keep our partnership with Christ, if we hold fast, until the end, to the Spirit we took from Him. He does not mean to say that the Spirit is under the authority of man, nor may suffer from him; but on account of that the un-thankful man intends to quench the Spirit, and comes to be like the wicked who disturbs the Spirit by doing unholy works. Being without understanding, deceitful, sin-loving, and walking in the darkness; they would not have “the true Light that gives light to every man who comes into the world” (John 1: 9). Such a fire has caught the prophet Jeremiah, when the word in him was like fir, which he could not endure (Jeremiah 20: 9). Our Lord Jesus Christ, in His love for man, came to send fire on earth, “and how He wished it already kindled” (Luke 12: 49). Another example, Cleopas and his fellow disciple (Luke 24: 32), although weak at first because of their lack of knowledge, yet they became so enflamed by the words of the Savior, to proclaim the fruits of His knowledge. في مدیح القدیس بولس، 1 .1 الأب الیاس، ص 2 .268 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 12 And the blessed Paul, when he took hold of this fire, he did not refer it to flesh and blood, but, as one experiencing the grace, he came to be a preacher of the Word1. (Pope St. Athanasius the apostolic) In a cave, in a new tomb dug by Nicodemus, they laid the divine Son of that blessed woman. Later on, the blessed apostles, gathered together to lay the mother of the Son of God in a similar cave; But it was actually their Lord who laid her with them in that tomb, in a procession attended by a multitude of the children of light, and hosts of beings – flames of fire (Psalm 104: 4). The Seraphim with their wings of fire … the Cherubim who carry the divine throne, have all moved to praise the Lord, saying: “Hosanna”. (St. (Mar) Ephraim el-Serougi) “For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways” (Psalm 91: 11) … For the righteous is in need of the help of the angels of God, lest the devils would cast him down, or an arrow that flies in the darkness, would pierce his heart2. ‘Hermas’, in his work: ‘The Shepherd’, proclaims that two angels (one good and the other evil), keep company with every man. Whenever good thoughts come to his mind, it would be presented by the good angel; And whenever bad thoughts come to his mind, it would be through the evil one 3. Certain angels are designated to carry out the holy works, to provide the knowledge of the eternal light, and the secrets of God4. The apostles had angels to support them in their preaching ministry, and to consummate their evangelic mission5. If certain people have got the honor to minister as evangelists; And if the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, came with the good news, and preached the gospel to the poor; He would surely not exempt His angelic spirits, His ministers, the “flames of fire” (4), of being preachers as well. 1 Paschal Letters, 3: 4. 2 In Num. hom 5: 3. 3 In Luc, hom 35. 4 In Num. hom 14: 2. 5 In Luc, hom 11: 4. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 13 That is why the angel came to the shepherds, keeping watch in the field over their flock at night,… “the glory of the Lord shone around them; … and said to them: ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord’” (Luke 2: 10-11). At a time when none of the people had knowledge of the secret of the gospel; the dwellers of heaven, the army of God, praised God, saying: “Glory be to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men”. After praising God, the angels got back to heaven, leaving us to meditate in how the joy that came with the birth of Christ, is a glory to God in the highest. They condescended down to earth, then got back to the place of their comfort, to glorify God in the highest by Jesus Christ. The angels also marvel at the peace that dwells, by the birth of Christ, on earth, the cradle of wars; and toward which Satan -- the morning star – has fallen from heaven, to enter into war with Jesus, and to be defeated1. Holding fast in union with the believers in His name, we have to cross over from earth to heaven, and even beyond heaven; For the Lord Jesus has stored for us, in God – as though in a treasure – signs and wonders far greater than what are mentioned in the Holy book; which we cannot understand as long as we are still in a nature connected to the material body. … I am convinced that God has stored for us in Himself, things more amazing than anything seen by eyes, like the sun, the moon, and the stars, and even of more splendor than what the saintly angels, those whom God created spirits and flames of fire (Psalm 104: 4; Hebrew 1: 7), have seen; And that He will reveal to us those wonders, once the creation will be saved from the bondage of the enemy, to the glorious liberty of the children of God (Romans 8: 21) 2. (The scholar Origen) It is God Himself Creator of the angels from non-existence into existence; who made them according to his own image, in a nonmaterial nature, like wind and fire; described by the prophet David as: “Who made His angels spirits, and His angels flames of fire (4). God set in them light weight, heat, swiftness and sharpness of response to 1 Comm.. on John 1: 13 (ANF). رسالة إلى الشھداء (ترجمة موسى وھبة مینا)، فصل 2 .2 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 14 His commands, and the exaltation of their souls above any material thoughts1. (Father John of Damascus) Angels are described by the prophet as “spirits”, on account of that they are unseen by human eyes, and of their swift response to God’s commands and words; and as “flames of fire”, because they are as strong as fire. The apostles are “angels” as well, for they told the world about the new covenant;…. “spirits”for they are spiritual; And they are flaming “fire”, for they have got the grace of the Holy Spirit who dwelt upon them like tongues of fire, by whom they burned non-belief, and gave light to the world. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) The hosts of heaven are not holy by nature, because if they are, they would not be different from the Holy Spirit. But they are holy in a relative sense, as a privilege and not by nature. The way iron, burning hot by fire, could be seen as though it is fire itself, although different from fire2. (St. Basil the Great) A sign that a sacrifice is well received by God, is the descent of fire from heaven to burn it. When Abel and Cain, together, brought their offerings to God, the living fire that ministers to God (Psalm 104: 4), came down from heaven and consumed the pure offering of Abel, but did not touch the impure offering of Cain. By that Abel knew that his offering was regarded by God; and Cain knew that his was rejected3. (St. Afrahat, the Persian Savant) “You who laid the foundations of the earth, so that it should not be moved forever” (5) While scientists stand in awe before the ‘consistent movement’ of the earth, when the inhabitants on the earth do not sense this movement, but feel as though the earth is steady and immovable. The same could be said about the ‘force of gravity’. … God, the Creator of earth, has granted it, certain natural laws, for the sake of man’s comfort and service. 1 Orthodox Faith ترجمة الاشمندریت ادریانوس شكور 2: 3 2 The Holy Spirit, 16: 38. 3 Demonstrations, 4: 2. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 15 Although God created man out of dust, yet He cared to honor and support him, so as not to let him be moved. What is the foundation of the church, but that described by the apostle, saying: “No other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3: 11). Established on the foundation of Christ, the church would shake if her foundation is1. (St. Augustine) It is truly amazing, how the earth with its incredible weight, through the care of God, could be well-established on such an unseen power, and would never be moved2! (St. Jerome) Man is called “earth” by the prophet, for he is well-established on the foundation of faith, that would endure to the age of ages, namely to the age to come. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “You covered it with the deep as with a garment; The waters stood above the mountains” (6) Some believe that the talk here concerns the great flood that came upon earth in the days of Noah (Genesis 7: 18-19). While, according to others, it refers to what came upon earth during the process of creation (Genesis 1: 9). If the seas and the oceans are so deep to terrify man who lives on land; yet they give the earth a kind of beauty, as a garment to adorn and benefit it. According to St. Augustine, the church passes through great floods of persecution all over the world; so high to sweep its high mountains, namely, its prominent leaders. This verse refers to the ordainment of God, indescribable and nonperceivable by man. The way our eyes cannot fathom the deep ocean; we cannot meditate in God’s majesty and wisdom. “The waters stood above the mountains”. Symbolically, the waters refer to the teachings, and the mountains to the saints3. (St. Jerome) In a translation by Aquila and Thaodonion, it came as: “You made the deep its garment”. Which would mean that waters surrounded the 1 On Ps. 104 (103). 2 Homily 30 on Ps. 103 (104). 3 Homily 30 on Ps. 103 (104). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 16 earth, and covered it as a garment; And with the wind blowing hard, the waves of the sea may get so mighty like mountains, yet they come short of invading the dry land, in obedience to Your command, sounding high like thunder, that would check their advance. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “At Your rebuke they fled, At the voice of Your thunder they hastened away” (7) Here the psalmist reveals the authority of God, who created the mighty oceans to serve man, living on dry land, and to adorn his habitat. Yet, despite their extensive depth and width, they flee before the rebuke of God; according to the words of St. Mark the Evangelist, saying: “They (His disciples) feared exceedingly, and said to one another: ‘Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” (Mark 4: 41). If God allows for His church to go through afflictions, so mighty to cover the high mountains; Yet, “at the voice of Your thunder”, the waters of this great flood of persecution would retreat and hasten away. As an example, Peter and Paul, “the high mountains”, have been inundated with great floods of persecution for a limited time; but now, their memory is highly revered by emperors. The thunder is the voice of the Lord, by whose command “the waters under the sky gathered together in one place, and the dry land appeared” (Genesis 1: 9-10) 1. (St. Jerome) “They went up over the mountains; They went down into the valleys, to the place which You founded for them” (8) According to some, the talk here concerns the mountains which go up above sea level, and the valleys which, in certain locations, go down below sea level. But it is obvious that it concerns ‘the waters’ which form snow covering the tops of mountains, that eventually melt and flow down to form lakes, as in the region of “Big Bear” in California, U.S.A.; Or flow down as torrent falls, as in Niagra, Canada. According To St. Augustine, the talk here concerns the waves of persecution, that may rise up to cover the mountains – the apostles and the ministers, then eventually fall down, to rise again. “You have set a boundary that they may not pass over; that they may not return to cover the earth” (9) 1 Homily 30 on Ps. 103 (104). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 17 Watching the mighty waves of the sea, it would seem to man that nothing could stand before their violence. But God has set a boundary, over which they may not pass; amazingly by the sand which may look so weak and helpless; except by the allowance of their Creator.. If God allows for the afflictions and persecutions to stir up and to become mighty waves like high mountains; which may seem unstoppable; Yet we should not fear them; for “God has set a boundary that they may not pass over”. “You have set a boundary that they may not pass over”; It is actually awesome and amazing to hear the roar of the sea, and to see the mighty waves rising up like mountains, and rushing forward as though to sweep over the whole world; But once they reach the shore, theystop at the boundary set by God, and peacefully retreat…. Not like men who do not keep the precepts of God1. (St. Jerome) 2- THE DIVINE CARE: In the last section (verses 1 to 9), the psalmist sang for the creation that testify to the glory and greatness of God, as through them we can see God “clothed with honor and majesty, and covered with light as with a garment”; who “stretches out the heavens like a curtain”; “who lays the beams of His upper chambers in the water”; “who makes the clouds His chariot” and “who sets a boundary for the waters that they may not pass over”…. In the present section, he reveals the exalted care of the Creator; to whom the creation is indebted, not only for their mere existence, but for the continuity of their existence. For He sends rich springs of water, free to the animals of the wilderness; … He fulfills the needs of His creation freely and with the utmost compassion; … The birds, with their natural extinct, build their nests at secure places; “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Matthew 8: 20)… . How amazing that He seeks the comfort of men, birds, and beasts, while choosing for Himself the poverty and need, for the sake of His love for His creation! The psalmist talks to us about the free water (10), the bread (14), the wine that makes glad the heart of man (15), the oil, the free lodging, even for the sparrows (17), and for the wild goats (18), etc. … All those carry symbol of God’s exalted gifts to man, to whom He presents His Holy Spirit as free water; His delivered body as bread, and His shed blood as wine, to satisfy him, and to make his heart glad. He grants the 1 Homily 30 on Ps. 103 (104). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 18 oil of His grace, and presents the divine bosoms as dwelling place for His believers. “He sends the springs into the valleys, which flow among the hills” (10) Caring, even for the beasts of the wilderness, God sends springs into the valleys, and on the mountains. In many parts of the world man enjoys the scenery of water, moving among the mountains, which are called by some “the exultant, laughing, or dancing water”; as though, in their movement, they praise God, and sing for Him with their sweet voices, day and night. Some may probably say: If everything is created for the benefit of man, what is the use of water springs in the wilderness?... Yet we may say that God who created everything by His care; as all creation are His, providing even the irrational animals with their needs, would ultimately be for the benefit of man1. (St. Jerome) “They give drink to every beast of the field; The wild donkeys quench their thirst” (11) In the midst of the most desolate and barren wilderness, where no man lives, we often find springs flowing with sweet water; as for example, those around the monasteries of St. Anthony, and St. Samuel the Confessor. By that God proclaims to us that He cares even for the beasts of the wilderness, to find water to quench their thirst. Many of such springs, not known to man for a long time, have been discovered by the irrational beasts, that knew their way to them. If God cares to provide water for the beasts of the wilderness, how much more would He care to provide the water of the Holy Spirit for mankind?! According to St. Augustine, the “beasts of the wilderness” are a symbol of the Gentiles, whom God did not forsake, but provided them with the Word of salvation to let them enjoy faith. “By them the birds of the heavens have their habitation; they sing among the branches” (12) Having their habitation among the branches of trees, birds, feeling protected by their Creator, present to Him the voice of praise. … If even the irrational creation, like birds and beasts, that have no 1 Homily 30 on Ps. 103 (104). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 19 dwelling places, give thanks and praise to their Creator, How much more it is befitting of us, men, to praise and glorify Him?! According to St. Augustine, “the birds of the heavens” are the spiritual souls that have their habitation and comfort on the “ high mountains”; namely, through the prophets, apostles, and preachers of the Word of Truth. Each of them praise God by its own song, given to it1. (St. Jerome) The psalmist gives us a marvelous portrait of the irrational creation praising God, each by to its own language and way. If God has given man a mouth to praise Him, and to express the gladness of his heart for the Creator who cares for him; Yet, unfortunately, man often practices the role of denial and grumbling against God; While we find, on the other hand, the senseless nature, the earth, clothed by the oceans as a beautiful garment, glorify its Creator;… We find the movements of waters, on and among the mountains, and in the valleys, praise Him, as though with exultant dances; … We find the beasts of the wilderness discover the locations of springs of water in the midst of the barren desert; … We find the birds that have no storehouses of their own, sing over the branches of trees; sometimes even in the darkness of the night. “He waters the hills from His upper chambers; The earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your works” (13) God uses every way to quench the thirst of the beasts of the wilderness, whether through springs among the rocks, or rain that fall over the mountains. He cares to clothe the mountains with the beauty of snow crowning their peaks, with green forests, or even with grass; He cares for the land for the benefit of man, animals, and birds. If the “mountains”, as we saw, symbolize the prophets, the apostles, and the preachers; And if God from the highest, provide them with the water of “His Word” to quench their thirst; and they, in turn, present them to “the earth”; namely, to mankind; The fruit, though, is not the work of the ministers themselves, but it is the work of God; according to the words of the psalmist: “The earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your works”. According to St. Jerome, the works of God, here, that satisfy “the earth”, are the apostles who satisfy men with the word of preaching. 1 Homily 30 on Ps. 103 (104). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 20 “He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the service of man, that he may bring forth food from the earth” (14) Wherever there are no humans to farm the land, God allows for the grass to grow to sustain the wild animals. And in case man brings forth vegetation from the earth, God’s care intervenes to help them grow. Namely, God allows grass to grow to sustain the wild animals, and provide man with the possibilities to farm the land to bring forth food for himself. The apostles, while still in flesh, carried the Lord Christ, the Bread coming down from heaven; according to the words of the apostle Paul: “We have a treasure in earthen vessels” ; and they, in turn, presented that bread to those whom they preach, to enjoy. “To bring forth food from the earth”. Here, he refers to the Lord who chose to become Man; according to what is written: “I am the bread which came down from heaven” (John 6: 41) 1. (St. Jerome) He did not provide them with the material bread of the earth, but with the bread that came down from heaven2. The rational soul feeds upon the spiritual food, by the Word of God (the Logos); for the food provided by the earth does not feed the spirit3. (St. Cyril the Great) Strengthen your heart; partake of that spiritual bread; and have for yourself an exultant face4. (St. Cyril of Jerusalem) “And wine that makes glad the heart of man; Oil to make his face shine; and bread which strengthens man’s heart” (15) Grapes are a kind of fruit that was often mentioned in the Holy Book. When Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son Jephunneh, intended to prove to the people of Israel, the fertility of the promised land, they cut down, and brought forth to them, a branch with a cluster of grapes (Numbers 13: 23). Oil has been basically used in the ointment for the dedication and the gladness in God (See Exodus 30: 22-25). And it was the custom in 1 Homily 30 on Ps. 103 (104). 2 Commentary on Luke, Homily 10. 3 Commentary on Luke, Homily 12. 4 Mystagogic, 4: 9. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 21 the old, to anoint the forehead of guests for a social event with oil, as a sign of gladness. Whenever the believer looks up to God, who grants light, and goodness, and shines with His glory on His creation, his look would turn into oil and anointment that makes his face shine; and the joy for the salvation of God would shine in his depths. According to the scholar origin, the wine here, refers to the grace of teaching, that brings gladness to the heart of man; whereas the vines and fig trees of the Gentiles (Psalm 105: 33), refer to the poisonous teachings, foreign to the faith in God. Who is the wine that makes glad the heart of man and makes his face shine, but the Lord Christ who says: “I am the true vine” (John 15: 1). He is the true food and the true drink; Whoever enjoys his body and blood, would be filled with divine strength, with gladness of his depths; and the light of the Sun of Righteousness would shine on him. According to St. (Mar) Ephraim the Syrian, “the bread” that sustains the heart of man is keeping the commandments; While “the wine” that makes his heart glad, is seeking the forgiveness; And “the oil” is the repentance that purifies the soul, pours beauty on it, and qualifies it to have communion in the body and blood of the Lord1. According to St. Gregory the Nezianzen, “the wine” that makes glad the heart of man, is the sound teaching, which should not be mixed with foreign water (Isaiah 1: 22), namely, with the wrong teachings2. “And wine that makes glad the heart of man”. That is the wine promised by the Lord, not to drink from, before the day of His resurrection (Matthew 26: 29; Mark 14: 22-25; Luke 22: 18-20). “Oil to make his face shine”. The face of God makes the righteous shine with joy; Yet, it is not oil for the heads of the wicked (Psalm 141: 5). “And bread which strengthens man’s heart”. The bread that came down from heaven3. When the symbolic meal of Passover together with His disciples, came to an end, the Lord Jesus Christ moved to the Bread that strengthens the heart of men; to the true secret of the Passover, being like Melchizedek, the priest of God Most High, who was a symbol of Christ, in offering the bread and wine (Genesis 14: 18). By that He transformed the bread and wine into His true body and blood4. 1 .1 : 1- خر 28 : تفسیر خر 27 2 In Defense of His Flight, Oration 2: 46. 3 Homily 30 on Ps. 103 (104). 4 Commentary on Matt 4: 26: 27. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 22 Although the “material wine” does not make glad the heart of man, but may even bring forth foolishness to it; according to what is written, that: “It is not for kings to drink wine” (Proverbs 31: 4); and, “It is good neither to eat meat nor to drink wine, … by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak” (Romans 14: 21); … Yet, the kind of wine, told here, that brings gladness to the heart of man (15), refers to the “spiritual wine”, that makes man spiritually drunk1. (St. Jerome) It is not possible for the souls to live, unless they get the strength of being born again in the land of the living (the font of baptism), raised in it by the Spirit, and grow before God a spiritual growth (by repentance and confession); and be clothed by the deity, by the garments of the heavenly beauty, that surpasses all description; … Without such strength, it would not be possible for her to live comforted and satisfied. For, in truth, in the divine Nature, we find the Bread of life, He who said: “I am the bread of life” (John 6: 35), the water of life (John 4: 10), the wine that makes glad the heart of man (Psalm 104: 15), the oil of gladness (Psalm 104: 16), all kinds of the heavenly spiritual food, and the garments of spiritual light, that are from God; … By all that the soul shall live… Woe to the body that stays at the bottom of its nature, for it gets corrupt and dies. And woe to the soul that leans only upon the strength of its nature, on its works, and has no fellowship with the divine Spirit (1 John 1: 2), For in truth, it gets corrupt and dies, because of not being qualified for the eternal life of the Godhead(John 17: 3). (St. Maccarius the Great) Our Lord called Himself a “grain of wheat” (John 12: 24), on account of that His preaching strengthens our hearts, like with bread and wine, and brings gladness to our souls, like oil. We may also understand that His holy body, together with His precious blood, are bread and wine, coming forth from the pure and virgin earth, that strengthen and bring gladness to the heart. As to the oil, it is the gifts of the Holy Spirit. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) The church, bearing such a great grace, exhorts her children and friends to come and partake of the holy sacraments. For what we eat 1 On Psalms, homily 42 (Ps. 127). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 23 and drink are proclaimed by the Holy Spirit, by the prophet saying: “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him” (Psalm 34: 9). In this sacrament there is Christ, for it is the body of Christ, not a carnal, but spiritual food; about which the apostle says: “All our fathers ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink” (1 Corinthians 10: 3); For the body of the Lord is spiritual, the body of Christ is that of the divine Spirit; In the epistle of Peter we read: “Christ died for us” (Romans 5: 8). Finally, according to the prophet David, this food strengthens our hearts, and this drink brings gladness to the heart of man (15). “My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me: Where is your God?” (Psalm 42: 3). Tears, here, are truly called “food”, where hunger is for righteousness, according to the words: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5: 6). That is why there are tears, described as bread that strengthens the heart of man (15); which brings to mind the words of Solomon: “Cast your bread upon the water” (Ecclesiastes 11: 1 LXX); For the bread of heaven is there where the water of grace is. Truly, those, out of whose hearts flow rivers of living water (See John 7: 38; 4: 10), will get the help and support of the divine Word, and a secret kind of food. There is, as well, that living bread (see John 6: 51), where there is the water of tears and crying of repentance; for which it is written: “With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back” (Jeremiah 31: 9); That is why, blessed are they, whose bread are tears, for they deserve to laugh: “Blessed are they who weep now” (Luke 6: 21) 1. Let us learn what kind of food, God will provide those in whom He finds pleasure. He finds His pleasure in him who dies to his sin, wipes out his transgressions, destroys and buries his iniquities; and whose hands drop with myrrh (used in anointing the bodies of the dead). Sins are dead, for they cannot include the sweetness of life; Moreover, the wounds of the sinners are dampened by the oil of the Holy Book; and by the bread, the strong food of the Word (15), which is dipped in the Word of God like honey2. Fittingly, tears are called bread, where there is a famine for righteousness. “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for 1 Prayer of David 4: 2: 7. 2 Death as a God 5: 20. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 24 righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5: 6); And there is, as well, the tears, the bread that strengthen the heart of man (15); “Cast your bread upon the water” (Ecclesiastes 1: 1). For the bread of heaven is there, where the water of grace is. Those from whose hearts the living water flow (John 7: 38), will truly receive help from the Word, and feed upon a secret kind of food1. (St. Ambrose) Love is enough for man to feed upon, instead of food and drink; that is the bread that strengthens the heart of man2. (St. (Mar) Isaac the Syrian) That is the meaning of the flowering vine, whose wine brings forth gladness to the heart (15); which, one day, will fill the cup of wisdom, and will be given free to those who quench their thirst from the exalted sermons, and enjoy them, as though drunk with what goes beyond the material things, to the spiritual ones. Now the vine flowers through its blossoms, out of which a sweet and smooth fragrance will fill the air. You recognize this sweet fragrance in the person of St. Paul (2 Corinthians 2: 16), and know how it also applies to all those who are saved. The Word of God clarifies these things to the bride as a memorandum of the beautiful days of the spring for the soul; Then He exhorts her to enjoy what is before her, and encourages her, saying: “The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vine with the tender grapes give a good smell. Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away” (Song 2: 13) 3. In my previous sermons I mentioned, how the bride of the song got the grace; … how she was able to differentiate between the apple with its sweet taste, and the wild fruit; …how she longed for the shadow of her Groom; … how she enjoyed the taste of his sweet fruits; … how she entered into his inner chambers for the joy, she likened to the “wine” that brings forth gladness to the hearts of those who drink from it (Psalm 104: 15). Abiding in love, its strength increased in the bride by the sweet fragrances from the apple branches that formed a shade over her. Then she received the arrow 1 Prayer of Job and David 4: 2: 7. 2 Asetic Homilies, 46. عظة 5 على نشید الأناشید ترجمة الدكتور جورج نوّار. 3 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 25 of love in her heart, followed by the hands of Him who aimed the arrow; And allowed herself to aim an arrow for the knowledge of truth, by the strong hands of him who aimed the arrow (Psalm 127: 4). Do not perplex yourselves much with the bread. But to Him who brings the bread forth from the land; who feeds the ravens (Psalm 147: 9); who gives food to all flesh (Psalm 136: 25); who opens His hands, and satisfies the desire of every living thing (Psalm 145: 16): Say: [My life is from You; and from You, I will get all the needs of life1]. (St. Gregory of Nyssa) Unless the soul is born now in “the land of the living” (Psalm 27: 13), take spiritual food from it, grow before the Lord, and be clothed by the Divinity with the garments of heavenly beauty, that surpass every description, Unless she gets all that, she will not be able to live on her own in joy and comfort. The divine nature contains the bread of life, He who said: “I am the Bread of life” (John 6: 35), and “the living water” (John 4: 10), “the wine that makes glad the heart of man” (15), the oil of gladness (Psalm 45: 7), and all the different kinds of food of the heavenly spirit, and the garment of the heavenly light, that is from God2. (St. Maccarius the Great) Solomon, the wisest of Men, says to us: “Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those who are bitter of heart; let him drink and forget his poverty and remember his misery no more” (Proverb 31: 6-7). By this he means, [those who came to be in the anguish of sorrow and grief because of their past works, support them with the abundant joys of the spiritual knowledge “like the wine that makes glad the heart of man, like oil to make his face shine, and bread which strengthens man’s heart” (15). Reform them by the strong drink of the Word of salvation, lest they may fall into the despair of death, and, “be swallowed up with too much sorrow” (1 Corinthians 2: 7)]. … Whereas, about those who are still cool and slothful, not struck with the sorrow of heart, we read: “The idle chatter leads only to poverty” (Proverb 14: 23) 3. (Father Nestor) 1The Lord's Prayer, Sermon 4. 2 .1 : عظة 11 3 Cassian, Conferences 14: 17. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 26 It is that law, planted deep in the members of all men, which fights against the law of our minds, and keeps them from beholding God. After the earth was cursed by our works, following our knowledge of good and evil, it started to produce the thorns and thistles of thoughts, that strangle the seeds of the natural virtues; so that, without the sweat of our face we cannot eat our bread coming down from heaven (John 6: 33), which strengthens the heart of man (15). … That is why all humans with no exception, are under that law1. (Father Theonas) We have learned, and have become sure, that what looks like bread, even if tastes like it, is not bread, but it is the holy body of Christ; and that what looks like wine, even if it tastes like it, is not wine, but it is the blood of Christ; … About that David, in the old sang, saying: “Bread which strengthens the heart of man, and oil to make his face shine” (15). Therefore, strengthen your heart by spiritually partaking of that bread, and let the face of your soul shine; so that by baring your face with good conscience, you will reflect like mirror the glory of God, and will move from glory to glory in Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom is the glory, honor, and power, now and to the age of ages, amen2. (St. Cyril of Jerusalem) The house where the church dwells are the writings of the fathers, the law, and the prophets; for there, is the secret place of the King, full of the riches of wisdom and knowledge; And there, as well, is the house of wine – the teaching – whether the secret or the ethical, which makes glad the heart of man3. (The scholar Origen) According to the prophet David, God created wine to make glad the heart of man; Whereas those who drink too much of it, are wasting its joy. Drunkenness definitely happens, not from drinking wine, but from over-drinking it. Wine is granted to us, for no other cause, than to strengthen our physical health, which depends upon reasonable use4. (St. John Chrysostom) 1 Cassian, Conferences 23: 11. 2 .9 ، الاسرار 4 3 Commentary on Songs 3: 13. 4 Pom. On Eph. 19: 5. 17. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 27 He who feed upon the Word of Christ, needs no earthly food; and he who feeds upon the bread of the Savior, would not desire the food of this world. The Lord Savior, Himself, will be his bread; as He has taught us, saying: “I am the bread which came down from heaven” (John 6: 41). About this bread, the prophet David says: “bread which strengthens the heart of man” (15) 1 (Father Maximus, bishop of Turin) Blessing his son Jacob, Isaac said: “May God give you the dew of heaven, and of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and wine” (Genesis 27: 28). These things are befitting for Christ, and befitting for the new people. The dew of heaven and the fatness of the earth, namely, the Word, is given to us by God the Father, together with the fellowship of the Holy Spirit; “through which we became partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1: 4). We have also been granted plenty of grain and wine, namely, of strength and happiness. The bread is truly said to strengthen the heart of man, and the wine to make his heart glad (15). The bread is a symbol of spiritual strength, and the wine of the physical strength. They are both given to those who are in Christ. … By which other way, would we be steadfast and unshaken in piety; and in the perception of good things? … We are even given “the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy” (Luke 10: 19); which I believe is the meaning of “plenty of grain and wine”….We are given by God, as well, wine “to rejoice in hope” (Romans 12: 12), “whereof we are glad” (Psalm 126: 3). According to the Holy Book, we anticipate the heavenly dwelling places, the eternal life with no corruption, to reign together with Christ. …All those things are, therefore, written for our sake2. (St. Cyril the Great). “The trees of the Lord are full of sap, the Cedar of Lebanon which He planted” (16) According To St. Augustine: [With His bread, wine, and oil, God satisfies first the humble, the pious believers -- the trees of the valleys, then the elites, namely the kings, princes, and rulers -- the cedars of Lebanon which He planted; … Although the wicked are also called “the cedars of Lebanon”, according to what is written: “The Lord splinters the cedars of Lebanon” (Psalm 29: 5). 1 Fr. Maximus of Turin: Sermons 51: 2. 2 Glaphyra on Genesis, 3: 5. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 28 The word ‘Lebanon’ also literally meaning (glittering), may refer to the world, glittering with its worldly pleasures; The “cedars of Lebanon”, are said to be, “The trees planted by God” (16); “the glory of Lebanon” (Isaiah 35: 2; 60: 13);”full of majesty” (Psalm 29: 4-5); “hugely high” (Amos 2: 9); and “of excellent beauty” (Songs 5: 15); … It is written that “The righteous shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon” (Psalm 92: 12); And the Syrians still call it: ‘The cedar of the Lord’ “Where the birds make their nests; The stork has her home in the fir trees” (17) According to the Septuagint and the Coptic versions, instead of the ‘stork’, it came as the ‘Belshum’; and according to St. Jerome it came as the ‘Heron’, a kind of birds which has no specific nest, but settles down wherever it happens to be, and usually enters into fights against the eagle, the king of birds, and prevails on it. … In that, it represents a monk, having no cell of his own, fights against the devil, and prevails on him. The cedar tree may refers to the righteous, who embraces the poor in spirit and the weak (the birds), the way God embraces us and has compassion upon our weakness; which teaches us to do the same toward our weaker brethren. The fir tree, in Palestine, is evergreen, and compete with the cedar tree in height. By so saying, the psalmist means to say that, the way the birds differ in the type of food they take, they differ, as well, in their nests theybuild for themselves. By saying “birds”, he also means the souls that the devil attempted to catch, but the Lord has broken up his snares, and saved them from perdition. These symbolic birds build their nest on the high trees, namely the exalted teachings; and feed their young on what they themselves have collected. The ‘stork’ is a kind of birds that build their nests on the tops of trees; and in case it is caught in the net of fowlers, it would tear it up and escape; And if it gets familiar to someone, it would follow him and never separate from him; which reminds us of the apostle Peter, who, after being strong-headed and reluctant at the beginning; once he chose to follow the Lord, he never quitted (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “The high hills are for the wild goats; the cliffs are a refuge for the rock-badgers” (18) https://coptic-treasures.com/ 29 God gives every kind of creature what suits it: He lets the weak and helpless sparrow live among the tree branches, specially those of the cedar trees, being “the trees of the Lord”. It is as though God has created the cedar trees, with their beauty and plenty of possibilities, for the sake of the weak and helpless sparrows. The stork find refuge mostly in the fir trees. The wild goats(Ibex), incredibly swift, actively and freely run on the high hills; Whereas the rock-badgers (a kind of rabbits), being prone to frequent attacks by wild beasts, find their refuge in the clefts of the rocks. If God provides the birds, and animals with the habitats that suit them, how much more would He care for man and his needs; together with protecting him against the devil and his hosts, and every source of harm?! … He presents Himself to us as the “Rock of Ages”, where we find refuge against the winds and tempests of the world, as long as we are hidden down in Him. According to St. Jerome: [On this Rock, God established His church, from which the apostle Peter was given his name by the Lord Christ Himself, saying: “You are Peter, and on this rock I build my church” (Matthew 16: 18). On this rock there is no trace of the serpent; hence the prophet says: “He set my feet upon a rock” (Psalm 40: 2); And, “The cliffs are a refuge for the rock-badgers” (18). As the rock-badgers take refuge in the cliffs when it fears an enemy, the prophet Moses, (little like a rock-badger), was told by God after his exit from the land of Egypt: “While my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with My hand until I have passed by, then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back” (Exodus 33: 22-23) 1]. Feeling that we are little and helpless, and in need of a rock where we may hide, we take refuge in the “Rock of Ages”, on whom our spiritual building is set; fleeing from the serpent, which, finding no place on this True Rock, it will never touch us. As the wild goat kills the serpents, the wisest of animals, that deceived Eve. the mountain, namely the garden of paradise, is the suitable welling place for them2. (St. Jerome) 1 In Matt 7: 25. 2 Homily 30 on Ps. 103 (104). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 30 In case you are asked: Why have the mountains become a refuge; you may say, to protect the weak animals, in case they are chased by stronger animals. Like the wild goats which attack and kill the serpents, the apostles of Christ were against the Jews, called by the Lord serpents and “brood of vipers” (Matthew 12: 34). Like the wild goats, by their swift motion, they rose up to the tops of teaching; While the weak, and those of little stature among the believers, will find refuge in the “Rock of Ages”, namely, our Lord and God Jesus Christ. (Father Onesimus, bishop of Jerusalem) The wild goats refer to the saints who came to this world to wipe out the venom of the serpent. How about the high mountains that seem to be reserved for the wild goats; and no other animal can climb them? I personally believe that they are the knowledge of the Holy Trinity, called the High Mountains; For no one can achieve such a knowledge unless he is a wild goat1. (The scholar Origen) “He appointed the moon for seasons; The sun knows its going down” (19) The Book of Genesis talks about the creation of the sun and the moon in the fourth day. But here the psalmist reveals, that by their creation, God has set the seasons of the year, the day and the night, for the benefit of man. While several nations of the atheist world have so honored the sun to make it a god to worship; as did the ancient Egyptians who worshipped the god ‘Ra’; And while many peoples looked at the night as a symbol of evil; The psalmist, on the other hand sees God’s care as amazing; and in his talk he gives precedence to the moon, so as not to despise it. God cared to set a feast connected to the head of the month and the moon. As both the day and the night are created to serve us, they are holy for God. And several feasts like Passover, the Pentecost (the weeks), are governed by the moon. According to father Onesimus, bishop of Jerusalem, the moon, made to designate a certain time, refers to the Jews, on account of that the Jewish religion was to play a certain role in history, until the first coming of the Lord Christ, the Sun of Righteousness…. As to “the sun 1 Commentary on Songs 3: 12. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 31 which knows its going down” The Lord Christ , the Sun of Righteousness knew the day of His passion, crucifixion, and death. According to father Onesimus of Jerusalem; because some ignorant people, noticing that the growth of plants are somehow connected to the movement of stars, wrongly assumed that the stars have created the trees; the prophets Moses and David, in their talk, gave precedence to the trees over the stars to let those people know that it is God alone who created all things; and that it is through His command that creatures help one another. According to the Septuagint and the Coptic versions it came as : “The high mountains are for the deer, and the cliffs are a refuge for the rabbits”. The ‘deer’ are the spiritually strong men, who, in their life, passing over forests and jungles full of thistles and thorns. “He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places” *Psalm 18: 33); hold fast to the high mountains, namely, to the high commandments of God; and are justified through thinking of the exalted things in the holy books; … as the high mountains are for the deer. How about the humble animals? … How about the little, weak, and the coward rabbit of the wilderness? … How about the porcupine, covered with thorns? … What do thorns mean but the sins? … Whoever, on a daily basis, commits even little sins, would become covered with little thorns. In his weakness, he is like a wild rabbit; and being covered with little thorns, he is like a porcupine. He would not be able to hold fast to the perfect high commandments, “for the high mountains are for the deer”…. What then? Will these little animals perish? … No! For the Rock is a refuge for the rabbits and porcupines; The Lord is a refuge for the poor and weak1. “He appointed the moon for seasons”. Spiritually, we may understand that the church, in her approach toward the Sun (our Lord Jesus Christ)….has grown from a little, to a larger size, as though from death to life. When the church was first emerging from the darkness; men were still in vanity; and “the wicked bent their bows, made ready their arrows on the string, that they may shoot secretly at the upright in 1 On Ps. 104 (103). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 32 heart” (Psalm 11: 2) … How blind is he who, in his vanity, goes astray, when the moon has already become perfect1! “The sun knows its going down”. could refer to “the Sun of Righteousness” with its healing rays, about whom we read in Solomon, that the wicked will say: “The sun has not risen for us”… Christ, being the true “Sun of Righteousness”, knew the hour of His going down, when He delivered Himself to passion for the sake of our salvation; For, when He was crucified darkness and the night prevailed upon the souls of His disciples2. (Father Caesarius, bishop of Arle) “You make darkness, and it is night, in which all the beasts of the forest creep about” (20) Of the most important (double) principles of the Gnostics, is that there is ‘an exalted Being’, beside a ‘Creator of matter’, which. according to them is an element f darkness; Hence, according to them, ‘The Creator of Matter’, is a wicked god, or is inferior to ‘The Exalted Being’. By saying: “You make darkness, and it is night” (20), the psalmist mutes the followers of ‘Mercion’, who claimed that the light is created by the good god, whereas the darkness is created by Satan. Darkness is not an essential creation, but is rather ‘the absence of light’; the same way, evil is ‘the absence of good.. That is why the psalmist does not say: ‘You created darkness’, but says: “You made darkness”; As the prophet Moses wrote: “God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness He called night” (Genesis 1: 4-5). (Father Onesimus, of Jerusalem) Here, the psalmist does not speak of God as the Creator of night or darkness, but says that He brought it through the absence of the sun or light. Darkness, having no being in itself, does not need to be created, but is just the absence of light. The psalmist here, talks about the darkness and the night, being gifts of God, necessary for the life of man, and his comfort, as well as of animals and plants in general; as certain animals, specially those of the wilderness, do not practice their life during the day, but mostly hide incaves, and come out to seek their preys at night.. 1 On Ps. 104 (103). 2 Sermon 136: 3. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 33 According to St. Augustine, when the “Sun of Righteousness” sets in man’s life, darkness dwells over his depths, and the devil comes out like a lion to devour his soul. And as the Lord Christ said to Peter: “Simon, Simon, listen, Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you, that you own faith may not fail” (Luke 22: 31- 32). … When Peter denied his lord three times (Matthew 26: 70-71), Was he not in the lion’s mouth? The fathers, like St. John Chrysostom, often talking of the blessings of the night, and of the absence of the sun for the sake of the comfort of man, and the renewal of his energy through the night sleep; count the night as a divine gift, of benefit for life.. Symbolically, when the “Sun of Righteousness” sets on us, we become in complete darkness; the wild beasts start to charge against us, and the lion starts to roar in our wilderness, ready to devour us1. (St. Jerome) Once the sun rises, every ferocious beast retreats and takes refuge in his den. The same way, when the sun rays of prayer rises from our tongues, and comes out of our mouths, the savage lusts that destroy our mind retreat to their dens. When our prayer comes out of a vigil soul and alert mind, the devil retreats2. (St. John Chrysostom) The night is, however, not less than the day in its benefit to man …As much as we need the light of the day, we also need, and long, for the quietness of the night; and the other way round … The night leads men to their homesto enjoy a warm meal and a sweet sleep. It also leads the ferocious beasts to come out of their dens to seek their freedom and pasture3. (Theodoret, bishop of Cyrus) The son of darkness intends to make out of us, children of darkness like him, to plunge in deep sleep, to have the chance to devour us in the darkness. Once darkness dwells, he hastens to come out to seek his preys. … Yet, when that ferocious beast sees us in the light of prayer, watching the night with our Lord, like the angels of light, in spiritual praises and songs, glorifying our Creator God, he burns with 1 Homily 30 on Ps. 103 (104). 2 On the Incomprehensible Nature of God, homily 7: 59. 3 On Divine Providence, Discourse 1: 25-27. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 34 jealousy, and becomes filled with envy, and strives to bring us forth into deep sleep, to partake of his darkness1. (Father Martyrus (Sahdona) the Syrian) The time when our souls are attacked is a night and perpetual darkness; It is, according to the prophet David, when the beasts of the wilderness come out of their dens to seek their food by devouring the flocks of the Lord2. (St. Gregory of Nyssa) “The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their food from God” (21) At the time of the crucifixion of the Lord Christ, when the darkness of doubt dwelt upon the souls of His disciples, those spiritual beasts wandered to devour the souls. But while doing that, the Sun rose, and they had to retreat. .. The Lord is risen, and the light of faith started again to rise in the souls of the disciples. “The young lions gather together, and lie down in their dens” (22); namely in the hearts of the Jews3. (Father Caesarius, bishop of Arle) “When the sun rises they gather together, and lie down in their dens” (22) The love of God is so amazing that, once the sun rises, man sets forth to work after a period of comfort and quietness at night. And, on the contrary, the beasts of prey retreat, and gather together to seek refuge in their dwelling places. That is the exalted care of God, to keep the life His children safe. Once the “Sun of Righteousness” rises in the life of His believers, the demons gather together and hide in their dens, and lose their authority on the true believer. He who falls into a sin, should not be depressed, but repent; for the “Sun of Righteousness” will certainly rise again in his life, all the wild beasts will flee together with his sins, and he will get back to his past condition before his fall4. (St. Jerome) 1 The Book of Perfection. 2 Commentary on Songs6: 7. 3 Sermon 136:4. 4 Homily 30 on Ps. 103 (104). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 35 “Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening” (23) God allows for the darkness to dwell, for the sake of man’s comfort after laboring all the day long; and for the sake of the wild beasts to come out of their dens to seek their food; and to make the wicked men fear going out to practice their evil doings. … And by staying in their dens allday long, they do not harm men who go to their work from sunrise to sunset. Now, O man of God … O church of God,O body of Christ whose Head is in heaven!.... What are you doing for the sake of uniting with Him? …. Do the good works in the security of the peace of the church, up to the end1. (St. Augustine) Once the “Sun of righteousness” rises, we should go out to work until the evening; namely, until the day of our departure from this world. It is of utmost importance to do the works of righteousness every minute of our life2. (St. Jerome) “Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening”.(23). It is to be understood that this man who goes out to work, refers to the church – the body of Christ – before the resurrection of Christ, was formed of the disciples alone. … When a maidservant asked Peter if he was a disciple of Christ, he denied three times. But once the “Sun of Righteousness” – the Lord Christ – was risen, Peter got strengthened, and was ready to be scourged, and even to be killed for the sake of the name of Christ. Hence, once he receives the grace of the Holy Spirit, man; namely, the church of Christ, starts to go out to work; and to labor until the evening; namely until the end of the world. To refer that to the grace of God, and not to man’s own strife, the psalmist directly adds: “O Lord, how manifold are Your works” (24). They are indeed His works, and not out of our worthiness. Then the psalmist adds: “In wisdom You have made them all”.Namely, every thing is consummated by Christ, Your power and wisdom; “The earth is full of Your possessions” 3. (Father Caesarius, bishop of Arle) 1 On Ps. 104 (103). 2 Homily 30 on Ps. 103 (104). 3 Sermon 136: 5. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 36 3- “THE EARTH IS FULL OF HIS POSSESSIONS”: (24 – 30): “O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of your possessions” (24) The Lord is the Lord of life and death; On Him depends the procession from life to death, then to life anew. How wonderful is His wisdom, proclaimed in all His creation and works. Nothing in them happen by mere chance, as is thought by man in the darkness of his human mind. All creation bear the touches of a mighty and loving Creator. “The earth is full of His possessions”; bear His exalted grace, and proclaim the greatness of His glory. As for man, Why would he ever fear Satan, whom God has made a playing toy for ridicule? When all humans enjoy the Spirit of God who renews the face of the earth1?! “O Lord, how manifold are Your works” They are truly great and exalted… “In wisdom You have made them all”. You have made them all in Christ2. (St. Augustine) Flowing with gratitude, the psalmist, finding no words enough to praise God, he cries out, saying: “O Lord, how manifold are Your works”. Your Works are beyond all human understanding; “In wisdom You have made tem all”, in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Wisdom of God; according to the words of the apostle Paul: “For by Him all things were created” (Colossians 1: 16; Namely, they are created by the wisdom of God. When we perceive, how the tiny ant, knowing that winter is approaching, starts storing its food!; … How the mosquito, the flee, the bee that makes honey, and all the other creatures, including the huge elephant, all have eyes and the rest of sensory and other organs like us; … Are not all those wonders, worthy ofamazement?! … Are they not all full of His wisdom3?! (St. Jerome) As God is the eternal Fountain of the wisdom, befitting of Him, His wisdom has to be eternal as well. For, according to his psalm, David says that by wisdom all things are created; and Solomon says: “By wisdom the Lord formed the earth, and by understanding He has the 1 Cf. Gaebelein, p. 386. 2 On Ps. 104 (103). 3 Homily 30 on Ps. 103 (104). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 37 word”.And according to John the Evangelist: “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1: 3) 1. (St. Athanasius, the apostolic) I believe that the true wisdom and counsel, is the wisdom that was there before creation, by which God (the Father) has created all things, : “In wisdom You have made them all” (24); and, “Christ is the Power of God and the Wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1: 24). By Him all things were made” 2. According to the apostle Paul, It is God who has built the temple, and set its foundation on the holy mountains, namely on the prophets and the apostles? (Ephesians 2: 20); They are its living stones, set in a special order that makes them a unity, like that of faith; and by their growth in the bond of peace, they have become a holy temple, a dwelling place for the Lord in the Spirit. Solomon, with his wisdom, refers to the true Wisdom. History testifies that Solomon has gone beyond the human wisdom, having kept the knowledge of all things in his heart, surpassing all those who came before him, and those who came after him. Yet, God is the origin of power, truth, and wisdom, as, according to the prophet David: “O Lord, how manifold are Your works, In wisdom You have made them all” (24); Interpreting this psalm, the apostle says” By Him all things were created” (Colossians 1: 16); namely, were created through the wisdom of God3. He, whose essence surpasses all nature, unseen, and unperceivable; could be perceived by wisdom reflected in the universe … Through meditation in the system of creation, we do not form an image of the Essence, but of Him who made all things with wisdom4. (St. Gregory of Nyssa) Everyone of the wise, is a partner of Christ as much wisdom he possess, For Christ is the Wisdom. And everyone with power, would acquire a greater power, as much as he is a partner of Christ; For Christ is the power5. (The scholar Origen) 1 Four Discourses against the Arians, 1: 16. 2 Homilies on Ecclesiastes, 5. عظة 7 على نشید الأناشید ترجمة الدكتور جورج نوّار 3 4 On the Beatitudes, Sermons 6. 5 Commentary on John, 1: 244-246. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 38 Bowing your knees in good reverence before the Maker of the worlds of sense and mind, the manifest and the hidden; You glorify God with a holy tongue, with ever-uttering lips, and with a non-failing heart, saying: “O Lord, how manifold are Your works, in wisdom You have made them all” (24). Honor, glory, and majesty, are Yours, now and forever, Amen1. (St. Cyril of Jerusalem) Not one of His work is done without wisdom; For He does all things in befitting time, and proper way2. (St. Cyril the Great) As no language is befitting to talk about the wonders of creation; no ear is capable to hear it; and no time is long enough to perceive it; Let us then say together with the psalmist: “O Lord, how manifold are Your works; in wisdom You have made them all” (24) 3. Has the day passed? Give thanks to Him who gives us the sun to help us in our day work; the light at night, and who provides all our other needs in life. I wish the night, as well, give us the inspiration to pray. When you look at heaven, and see the beautiful stars, pray to the Lord of all the things seen, the Creator of the universe, who, “in wisdom made them all” (24). And when you see all nature falling asleep, you should again worship Him, who, even against our will, relieves us of the continuous pressure of labor; and, through a concise period of rest, restores to us again our activity to work. Do not allow the whole night to be dedicated to sleep; Do not allow half your age to pass without benefit, in a slumber of laziness and slothfulness. … Divide the time of the night between sleep and prayer; … Let your light sleep, itself, become a practice of piety; For our dreams while sleeping are mostly reflections of our thoughts by day4. (St. Basil the Great) What tongue, is capable of singing praise to the Creator, as is befitting?! What talk or words could truly fulfill the description of our Creator?! مقال 1 16 :9 2 Commentary on Luke, Homily 130. 3 Hexameron 9: 3. 4 Cf. Reg. Brev. 32. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 39 Who could have the wisdom to perceive completely the wisdom of the Creator1?! (Theodoret, bishop pf Cyrus) What could surpasses the beauty and splendor of heaven, glittering with the rays of the sun by day, as though flaringwith love; and with uncountable number of stars by night, that guide the skippers of boats and the travelers by land, as though holding their hands2?! What could surpass the beauty and splendor of heaven, stretching above your head, sometimes as a pure transparent cover; and some other time as a stretched plain adorned with flowers?! … The enjoyment of the beauty of flowers by day, cannot surpass the meditation in the beauty of heaven by night, glittering with the stars, the flowers that would never wither! In case you would not be bored by meditation, you can see God’s care in several witnesses along the seasons of the year, in the seas, and on the land, with all their inhabitants. … Is there smaller and humbler than a butterfly, an ant, or a bee? Yet, all of them proclaim God’s care, might, and wisdom. That is why, having been qualified by the Spirit to meditate in the creation as a whole, the prophet David cries out, saying: “O Lord, how manifold are Your works; in wisdom You have made them all” (24) Yes indeed, even the air is created for our own sake … to dry up the mire, to appease the heat of the summer, to make the plants grow, and to help the boats to sail, etc. During the night, you can see the care of the mighty God, in helping your tired bodies, calm down your exhausted nerves …save you from the sufferings of the day, and its worrisome anxieties…. Whoever is deprived of the comfort of the night would loose the day; and whoever gives no chance to his mind to rest and relax, would corrupt his work…. All that, O man, are for your sake3! Now, having understood that the rays of God’s care surpasses the light of life, Do not ever attempt to search, curiously, the issues that go beyond your own stature; and do not ever walk along things that do not benefit you … Our mere existence is, in itself, a gift from God, with His exalted love; For He is in no need of our servitude4! 1On divine Providence, Discourse 3. أفاض القدیس في الحدیث عن فائدة الشمس والقمر والنجوم. 2 تحدث عن الموت كعطیة حسنة، معلم لنا للنوم الروحي، وینقلنا إلى عدم الفساد... 3 4The Divine Providence. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 40 (St. John Chrysostom) “This great and wide sea, in which there are innumerable creeping things, living things both small and great” (25) If the great and wide seas and oceans terrify man, who sees them as tombs for whoever ventures through them, Yet, they embrace innumerable living things, both small and great, which can live nowhere else. Here, by this terrifying sea and ocean he means this great and wide world, teaming with snares that threaten the slothful among men; … they creep, but let us beware, lest they may catch us. In the midst of the mighty waves of these waters, let us look up toward the tree (the cross), to feel safe. Do not let faith slumber; Do not let Christ sleep; And if He does, wake Him up, to command the wind, and to calm down the waves (See Matthew 8: 24-26); then our journey would end in peace, and we would rejoice in reaching our home port. In this terrifying sea , I still see non-believers; who live in barren and bitter waters; they, both small and great, hate the church; and the name of Christ for them is something heavy to hear; they are stirred up because they are not allowed to set forth the immense violence in their hearts…. Yet, Do not ever fear them1! (St. Augustine) In this great and wide sea, Is it not amazing to find such innumerable creeping things (Reptiles), and fishes of every kind, living even in its deepest parts, where they grow and renew their life. … Man would die if he happens to be there; and on the contrary, these small and great creatures would perish if they get out of the water to dry land2. (St. Jerome) The “Wisdom” by whom God created all things is His Only-begotten Son, by whom all things were created; the Word and Power of God; who came down from heaven to earth; Who made men a new creation; renewing them by the true faith, and through the holy baptism. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “This great and wide sea, in which are innumerable creeping things” (25)… Who can describe the marvelous world of fish living in it? … 1 On Ps. 104 (103). 2 Homily 30 on Ps. 103 (104). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 41 Who can imagine the mighty whales, and how the splendid nature of Amphibians live sometimes in water, and other times on dry land?! Who can describe the depth, the vast width of those seas, and their mighty waves?! … Which, nevertheless stop at certain boundaries set for them; “This far you may come, but no further; and here your proud waves must stop” (Job 38: 11)…. There, the mighty sea, showing obvious obedience, stops at a clearly defined line, drawn by the waves, proclaiming to everyone that so far he is allowed to go, but no further1. (St. Cyril of Jerusalem) “This great and wide sea, in which are innumerable creeping things”. The sea refers to the world, full of tempests, and mighty waves; full of salinity and bitterness; where larger fish devour smaller ones. Then the psalmist adds: “… There, the ships sail about” (26); which rather refer to the church, that tends to reach the shore of paradise by the righteous and holy works, in the midst of mighty waves and the diverse tempests and winds of afflictions; despite which, being directed by the holy (oars), and led by the breaths of the Holy Spirit, they are borne to the eternal life, by the same adversaries who oppose her. In this sea there is also that mighty dragon ‘Leviathan’ created to play in it. This dragon refers to Satan, who works in the wicked, not onlyprovoking them to commit sins, but also by perpetually using them as tools to persecute the saints and the righteous. This monster has been created as agood angel in the hands of God; but once he exalted himself by pride against God, he fell down from his blessed angelic stature … Deceiving himself with pride, he also deceives the slothful among men, through the allowance of God, and His just hidden judgment2. (Father Caesarius, bishop of Arle) “There, the ships sail about, and there is that Leviathan, which You have made to play there” (26) In the episode of Noah, some believe that it was God who taught man how to build a fleet of ships. If the sea with all its dangers, was seen as the dwelling place of Leviathan, the mighty sea dragon, referring to Satan; Yet, God has given the believers the authority over the hosts of darkness, and turned them into playing toys, despised even by little children. مقال 1 .11 :9 2Sermons, 136: 6. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 42 The sea which terrifies man by its mighty waves and torrent swells, is actually the connecting link between the different countries through the marine commercial fleets of ships. In one of his Passover sermons, St. Athanasius the apostolic, the man of sufferings, presents to us a living portrait of the believer, full of hope in the Lord, who fears no one, not even Leviathan, namely, Satan. He wrote to His people, likening the world to a mighty sea, over which we sail as though in a ship led by the divine Word, sailing with our whole freedom toward our home port in peace, not fearing even Leviathan, who was created for us to play with1. There, the ships sail above the sea that disturbs you. By the ;ships’ we understand (the churches), that sail in the midst of the storms, the stirred-up temptations, the mighty waves of this world, and among the monsters, small and great. As long as Christ, on the cross, is the Skipper. I wish the ships do not fear, nor be confused where to sail; but put their trust in their Skipper… They sail diligently, and in security, until they reach their destination2. The tempter may come against me with a strong army; yet he cannot overcome me, for You, O Lord, has broken his awe down, and given me courage before him3. Many my say: [Satan has been given such a great authority, to reign over this world, and to prevail over many. … Can he do much? … To what extent, can he prevail? Unless he is given the authority by God, he can do nothing. If you know this, he would not be allowed to tempt you, but will flee defeated, and will not acquire you… He may be allowed to tempt some saintly ministers of God; yet they will overcome, because they never flee from the way; they will put their eyes on their (heels), so as not to fall. O brethren, Whoever beware of the serpent’s head, will safely cross this sea. If you fear hell, and love the Kingdom of God, you will beware of the serpent’s head; for “There is no authority except from God” (Romans 13:1)….. From whom, then, shall we fear?! 1 Cf.Paschal Letters 19: 7 (Easter 347: A, D). 2 On Ps. 104 (103). مناجاة 3 .16 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 43 Let Leviathan stay in its place in the water; while you cross through it; for he is allowed by God to live there…. You may assume that it is a great place for it. But coming to know that it became the place of dwelling for the fallen angels; what you assume to be glory for Leviathan, is actually a verdict against him1. The serpent intends to devour; While He (God), does not devour those who chooses Him. If you wish not to be food for the serpent; Do not be dust! … You may ask how? … If you have no pleasure in tasting the earthly things. Just listen to the apostle, saying: “Set your minds on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3: 2) 2. (St. Augustine) In case Satan sees you bound to heaven, watching the night, he will not dare, even to stir at you3! The good behavior will shut up the mouth of Satan, himself, and will mute him4. (St. John Chrysostom) According to St. Basil the Great, the ships refer to the souls of the saints, sailing by the sails of virtues, through the sea of this world. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “These all wait for You, that You may give them their food in due season” (27) All the heavenly and the earthly creatures wait for God with the spirit of hope, on account of that He created all, cares for all, and fulfills their needs in due season. “What You give them, they gather in; You open Your hand, they are filled with good” (28) On His side, God gives in abundance to satisfy us. On our side, we are committed not to stand negatively, but to pick up what He gives us to get satisfied. God, Himself, being called ‘Goodness’, the whole Goodness; by stretching His hands, specially on the cross, He floods us with goodness; 1 On Ps. 104 (103). 2 On Ps. 104 (103). 3 In Incompr., homily 4. الحب الأخوي، 1964 ، ص 4 .84 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 44 to become good through Him; For without Him, we would never enjoy the true goodness. Christ is the ‘Hand’ (or the ‘Arm’) of God: “To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (Isaiah 53: 1). It is revealed to whom it is opened; For revelation is an act of opening. “You open Your hand, they are filled with good”. When You reveal Christ to others, they are all filled with good; But they have no good on their own1. (St. Augustine) Saying: “You open Your hand, they all are filled with goods”, refers to the abundance by which He grants them food. And also refers to the opening, and stretching of our Lord’s hands on the cross; For, by His crucifixion, the heaven, the earth, and all creatures, were filled with God’s good and mercy. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “Do not be afraid, O little flock”. By saying: “Do not be afraid”,he means that their heavenly Father grants life to all those who love Him, and without doubt. He will not forsake His own, but will surely open up His hand, that forever fills the universe with good2. St. Cyril the Great) What is good, is from God; And what is from God, is good3. (St. Ambrose) “You hide Your face, they are troubled, You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust” (29) The life of all creatures on earth are a gift from God, and depend on Him. Once the spirit is taken away, the body returns to its origin, namely to dust…. And once God hides His face from His creation; Namely, once He takes His care away from them, they are troubled. He who repents his sins, would realize that he has no power in himself, and would confess to God, saying: ‘I am dust and ashes’. O you proud; Once your spirits are taken away from you, you will no more do what you are proud of; and you will return to your dust. Knowing that you are created from dust, Once God hides His face from you, you will return to your origin. … You should, therefore, pray, and confess your weakness1! 1 On Ps. 104 (103). 2 Commentary on Luk, Homily 91. 3 Flight from the World, 6: 36. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 45 (St. Augustine) Somewhere else, the blessed David says about those on earth: “You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. You send forth Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the earth” (Psalm 104: 29, 30). By the face of the earth, he means its beauty; and by the beauty of the human nature, he means its noncorruption2. The dead who were risen to life by Christ, as referred by the prophets, are the greatest witnesses to the resurrection from the dead; It is written: “Your dead shall live; … they shall arise; awake and sing, you who dwell in dust” (Isaiah 26: 19). Waking up, refers to the life, granted by Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit; To that, the psalmist also refers by verses he addresses to God, the Savior of the world, saying: “You hide Your face, they are troubled; You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust” (29) Because of the disobedience of Adam, God hid His face from us, and our faces got attached to dust of the earth; For God has issued a verdict on the human nature, saying: “For you are dust, to dust you will return” (Genesis 3: 19). But, at the end of time, the surface of the earth will be renewed, because God, the Father, through His Son, grants life to all those in the universe. Death brought the signs of old age and of corruption over men … But Christ is the life-Giver who renews; For He is life3. (St. Cyril the great) “You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; and You renew the face of the earth” (30) All creation is the workmanship of God, for He created the world, and keeps on caring for it, as though He renews the face of the earth. What came in verse 29 concerns the life of senses; Whereas what came in verse 30 concerns the souls of men that enjoy the first resurrection, as a deposit of the enjoyment of the ultimate resurrection. According to ‘Isitheos’: [God sent the Holy Spirit, and created the nations through the preaching of the saintly apostles]. (Father Onesimus, of Jerusalem) 1 On Ps. 104 (103). 2 Commentary on Luke, Homily 136. عظة 3 .36 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 46 According to the apostle Paul: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good work” (Ephesians 2: 10); We get grace from His Spirit to live in righteousness, for he is the One “who justifies the ungodly” (Romans 4: 5)…. Once He takes our spirits away, we return to our dust, and acknowledge our weakness for the sake of our edification; and when we receive His Spirit, we are renewed1. (St. Augustine) If creation means, giving life anew to the dead, how would the works of the Holy Spirit not be mighty, He, who, concerning us, is the Grantor of life after the resurrection; and He, who harmonizes our souls with the spiritual life in the life to come? … Creation means a change for the better, for those who have fallen into sin in the present world; as it came in the words of Paul, saying: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5: 17); And the change that happens to us in this life by the Holy Spirit,from our sensory earthly condition to the heavenly behavior, and hence lifts our souls up, to the highest state of admiration2. (St. Basil the Great) If God the Father, by the Word, in the Holy Spirit, creates and renews all things; There would be no sense in such heresy that would lead to blasphemy on the Son; For those who claim that the Spirit is created, would also say that the Word, by whom all things are created, is created as well3! (St. Athanasius the apostolic) About this, the apostle Paul says clearly: “Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4: 16). By this he intends to tell us that the renewal is realized as we grow in the knowledge of God, Namely, through meditating and having our thoughts abide in the Person of God, who is Just and Holy (2 Corinthian 4: 17). By so practicing, all what is vain and temporal, will lose their connection to us; and consequently, we would start to resist everything that may corrupt the image of God in us, and to despise such things. This is the inner change for your soul, and the continuous progress toward eternity. Stop trusting in the issues pertaining to the 1 On Ps. 104 (103). 2 On the Spirit, 19 (49). الرسائل عن الروح القدس إلى الأسقف سرابیون 24 :1 (ترجمة مؤسسة القدیس أنطونیوس). 3 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 47 seen world, more than in those of the unseen world. That will have its effect on the renewed spiritual thoughts. The inner change implies putting an end to scattering your energies, and to being preoccupied with things that bring forth carnal pleasures; through having hope in bringing forth satisfaction to your depths, and infinding the true perpetual joy inside yourself, that comes forth from the fountains of the Spirit. Through such continuous strife, we can control, and lessen our desire for life according to our body lusts, according to the earthly perception; Namely, to get bound to what is spiritual through our love for God, and our persistence on following Him by the spirit. Finally, our success in all that depends upon the divine help. The Word of God teaches us and grants us comfort, by saying: “Without Me, you can do nothing” (John 15: 5). This gives us an idea about the daily work realized in those who spiritually progress as they should1. (St. Augustine) Hovering on the earth, the Holy Spirit make it bring forth a plenty of fruits; for by the help of the Holy Spirit, the seeds of the new birth that is renewed, are brought forth, according to the words of the prophet: “You send forth Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the earth” (30) 2. (St. Ambrose) 3- A PRAISE BY THE PSALMIST TO THE CREATOR: “May the glory of the Lord endure forever; May the Lord rejoice in His works” (31) All what God has created are good, and He rejoices in His works, and not in the sin which is not His work; … He rejoices in what He did, and not in what is foreign to the nature He has created. “The Lord rejoices in His works”. Not in your works; which, in case they are evil, would be as such; and if they are good, it is because of the grace of God3. (St. Augustine) Many call themselves “men”, namely (humans); yet they are actually not so; on account of that they behave like animals, spitting their 1 On Seeing God. 17. 2 Hexameron, 1: 8. 3 On Ps. 104 (103). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 48 frustrations like reptiles, and their violence like voracious beasts; Hence the prophet David says: “Man, though in honor, does not abide, he is like beasts that perish” (Psalm 49: 12). The term “man” applies to him who carries the image of God (See Genesis 1: 27), he who befittingly protects his honor, who knows how to choose between good and evil, , and brings pleasure to God, who would rejoice in him (31). So was a “man” in the land of ‘Uz’, by the name of ‘Job’. Although the region was barren, yet it contained one fruitful plantation – a “man” called ‘Job’. He was a treasure, he lacked nothing, as a perfect creation of the true God. With no hypocrisy, he used his virtues to the account of Truth, consummating the commandments of God. He worshipped God according to His will1. (Father Hesichius of Jerusalem) “He looks on the earth, and it trembles; He touches the mountains and they smoke” (32) According to many fathers of the church like St. Augustine and St Jerome, God desires to set out of us a new heaven. In case we receive His work in us, we may enjoy His looks on us, and in Him we may find our joy and satisfaction; But if we persist on living like earthly creatures, bound to the earthly, and not the eternally issues; His looks will make what is earthly in us, tremble and shake; with the hope that we may return to Him, and become heaven. … If our souls become haughty, and we count ourselves as ‘mountains’, He will touch us, and we shall smoke. O earthly man, You who are proud of your goodness; and refers your perfection and (spiritual) riches to yourself; … Behold, God is looking on you, and makes you tremble – for trembling in humility is better than the trusting in pride – You, therefore, should act with trembling; you should listen to the psalm, saying: “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling” (Psalm 2: 11). “He touches the mountains and they smoke” … By the smoking of mountains he means that they pray to God…. Feeling that he is a mountain, man needs to be touched by God to smoke; Namely, to offer prayers to God, as sacrifices of his heart; … Smoking toward God, he strikes his chest, and starts to cry; for smoke causes tears2. 1 Homilies on Job, homily 1. 2 On Ps. 104 (103). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 49 (St. Augustine) The earth’s condition depends upon the power of God; as shown by the words, saying: “He looks on the earth, and it trembles” (32); and, “Again I move the earth”. The earth remains steady, not through its own balance, but by the allowance and free will of God. The righteous ‘Job’ says: “He shakes the earth out of its place” (Job 9: 6). … By the support of His will, God has set the earth, for “In His hands are the deep places of the earth” (Psalm 95: 4) 1. (St. Ambrose) Intending to let us know the greatness of God’s might, the prophet David says: “He Looks on the earth and it trembles” (32). Despite its hugely great weight, When God looks on it with anger, the earth trembles and shakes like a tree leaf before the wind; And tby His touch, the mountains will burn and smoke; as it happened to Mount Sinai, while God gave His law to the prophet Moses…. According to St. Athanasius and St. Asichius, all the nations on earth will tremble with fear in the day of judgment; And the evil mountains, namely, the adversary hosts, will smoke and disturbed. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being” (33) Whoever gets attached to God, will enjoy the exultant new life, and his whole being will sing to the Lord, his life. “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live”.; namely, with everything He desires… At the present time, our life is only hope now, and will later on be eternal …. Being loved forever, He will be eternally praised by us2. (St. Augustine) I mean to say that, whoever, by his mind, thinks of the past and present goodness of God’s, of His care for ordaining the world, of His might, truth, justice, and of His judgment of everyone in the ultimate day, according to his works, …. would sing praises to the Lord, not just by words; but, according to St. John Chrysostom, who says: [O man, if you spend your whole life supplicating and beseeching; and if the whole world pray for your sake, Yet your behavior in life is not proper; All those prayers and supplications would be of no avail. But 1 Six Days of Creation 1: 6: 22. 2 On Ps. 104 (103). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 50 if your works conform to your prayers, you will bring pleasure to the heart of God, will rise to the level of angels, will get your request, will hope to get other rewards, and will rejoice in the Lord]. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the Lord” (34) According to the Septuagint and the Coptic version, it came as: “My words (my talk) will be sweet to him” God will rejoice in our souls, exultant in Him; And our souls will rejoice in singing praise to Him. What is the talk of man to God, but the confession of his sins? Confessing to God what you are, you are talking to Him…. Talking to Him, and practicing good works, you enter into a dialogue with Him. According to the prophet Isaiah: “Wash yourselves; Make yourselves clean” (Isaiah 1: 16). What is the talk to God other than revealing yourself to the One who knows you; So that He would reveal Himself to you, who do not know Him. Behold, that is how your talk to God should be: an offer of humility, the labor of your heart; the sacrifice of your life; all of which would bring pleasure to God. Now, what will bring pleasure to you? “I will be glad in the Lord”…. That is the way your talk to God should be; … Your confession will bring pleasure to Him; And His grace will be sweet to you. … He will talk to you by His Word; Namely, by Christ1! (St. Augustine) How sweet will be the voice of the soul, when it utters the Word of God; when it interprets the faith and teaching of the Truth; when it reveals His dealings and judgments2. The great and wise prophet David says: “May my meditation be sweet to Him” (34) 3. When the (bride of the song) became worthy of being told, what was written about the prophet Moses: “Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice” (Exodus 19; 19); When she is told (by the Groom): “Let me here your voice” (Song 2: 14), it is a great commendation clarified by adding: “For your voice is sweet” (Song 2: 14). … When 1 On Ps. 104 (103). 2 Commentary on Songs 3: 15. 3 Origin: Comm. On the Songs of Songs, book 3 (4): 14 (ACW). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 51 the prophet David, great in wisdom, also says: “My meditation is sweet to Him” (34), it refers to that the voice of the soul becomes sweet to God, when it utters the word of God, interprets the faith and the teachings of the truth; and when it reveals the dealings and judgments of God1. (The scholar Origen) To know for sure that prayer is a talk to God, listen to the words of the prophet David, saying: “My meditation be sweet to Him” (34), Namely, let my meditation bring forth pleasure before the eyes of God….. Will God not grant us our need, even before we ask Him to? … Of Course He may, but he waits for us to give Him the chance to make us worthy of His care. And, whether our request is fulfilled or not, let us persist on our prayers, and on giving Him thanks, not only when we get our request, but also when we do not get it. If it is God’s will not to respond to our request, on account of that it is for our own good, let us give him thanks, as though we have got what we are asking for; For as we do not know what is good for us, as well as He does; it is befitting to thank Him just the same2. (St. Dedymus the blind) “May sinners be consumed from the earth, and the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul! Praise the Lord!” (35) The interpretations of the ‘Telmud’ and the ‘Madrash’ call on us to notice, that it is the first time to find the expression “Praise the Lord” in the Book of Psalms, at the end of this psalm. For it is the psalm of the glory of the Creator, who works in the whole creation to the account of man; who grants the animals and the birds their needs; who renews the face of the earth; and who makes Satan a playing toy, for ridicule. And It is the psalm of exultation in God the Philanthropic, the Lover of mankind)…. It is befitting of the believer to sing unceasingly: “Bless the Lord, O my soul”. For, discovering the light in which His God dwells, the clouds, His chariot, and His ministers the flames of fire, would bring forth joy to his heart; For, through enjoying the image of His Creator, the splendor of the divine light would be poured on him, and he would bear an exalted power, for the whole nature works to his account; and he would even be, together with the heavenly ministers of God, a fire flaring with the divine love. 1 Commentary on Songs 3: 15. 2 IN Gen. Homily 30. PG. 53: 280. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 52 This psalm proclaims the goodness of the world created by God, for there is no more place for sin in it, and the sinners are consumed (35). The Spirit of God gives power for purification, that evil would return to the dust from which God makes a new creation. According to St. Jerome1, the psalmist did not say: “May sinners be eternally consumed”, but said: “May sinners be consumed from the earth”(35). The psalmist does not seek their eternal perdition in the fire of hell, but seeks their return from evil, wishing that the wicked will be no more on earth. “May sinners be consumed from earth”. Let their spirit be taken away from them; so that (the Lord) would send His Spirit to renew theirs“ And the wicked be no more”. How could they be no more, except, being wicked?!... Let them be justified, that they become wicked no more. Seeing all that, the psalmist, filled with joy, repeated the first phrase in the psalm: “Bless the Lord, O my soul2” (Psalm 104: 1). (St. Augustine) “May sinners be consumed from earth”. The psalmist does not pray for the eternal perdition of the sinners, but for the sin to be of no avail. Once there is no more sin, there will be no more sinners, and all will be righteous3. (St. Jerome) The psalmist cries out seeking the consumption of oppression and sin; for man is not an enemy of his fellow man, but an enemy of the evil in the free will of man… About this point, the apostle Paul talks in great detail, saying: “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) 4. (St. Gregory of Nyssa) According to St. John Chrysostom: [By saying: “May sinners be consumed from earth, and the wicked be no more”, the blessed prophet does not mean their utter perdition; for God and His pious do not seek the perdition of the sinner, but his salvation and reform. … By aying: “be consumed from earth”; he means ‘Let their desire for 1 Against the Pelagians, 1: 28. 2 On Ps. 104 (103). 3 Homily 30 on Ps. 103 (104). 4 The Lord's Prayer, Sermon 1. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 53 earthly things be consumed, and become of no avail; … Let their behavior be reformed, … and let their wickedness be no more’]. According to St. Dedymus the blind: [On the day of judgment, heaven and earth will be renewed, free of any corruption and sorrow, filled with joy and gladness; and will become a dwelling place for the righteous; … But the sinners and the wicked will be consumed from earth…. Knowing that, O my soul, “Bless the Lord”, and keep on praying, supported by a new behavior]. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) AN INSPIRATION FROM PSALM 104 HOW AMAZING YOU ARE, IN YOUR CARE, O MY CREATOR! My depths praise You, and give You thanks for Your exalted care; In Your humility, You allowed us to look at Your splendid light; At how You are clothed with an unutterable light; For us to enjoy the reflection of Your splendor on us; Indeed, no creation in heaven or on earth can perceive Your Essence; But through Your exalted care, You bring us forth into Your light; What kind of garment do You need, O You, the non-perceivable? You have Your church as a garment You put on; You shine Your light in her; You set out of her a light and a splendid cloud; You make her a throne and a chariot for Yourself; You made Your angels spirits without heavy material bodies; And Your ministers flames of fire, non-quenchable by the enemy; Let the fire of Your Holy Spirit burns in us; To ignite our hearts with the fire of Your love; To enlighten our eyes; To perceive Your divine secrets. The perpetually moving earth; seem as though, established on strong foundation; As though made steady for man’s own sake, to enjoy dwelling on it; You have created me out of dust; But You granted me a breath of life; Through my sin, I became under the verdict to return back to the dust; But by Your salvation You have lifted me up; To return back to heaven, to live together with You. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 54 My soul is extremely belittled before the hugely wide earth; And before the mighty mountains and the deep oceans; And before the violence and power of the wind; But, through finding a place for myself in your bosom; I see nature with all its greatness, bows down to serve me; I see nature behave within limits according to Your command; Power and glory be to You, for the sake of Your care for me. How exalted is Your care for all Your creation; You care for the animals of the wilderness; You allow for springs to gush in the wilderness to quench their thirst; You grant the birds secure places to build their nests; You plant grass to satisfy the hunger of cattle; You provide food for humans; The earth presents vines to provide us with wine; Yet, You granted us reason not to drink too much of it, and lose our balance and peace; The earth presents to us the oil of gladness and joy You let our bodies in need of nothing; Would You let our souls in need? By Your Holy Spirit You grant us the wine of the Spirit; That our souls get drunk with Your love; And You grant us Your body and blood for an eternal life; To partake of the banquet of heaven, and to enjoy the bread of angels. You provided the animals and birds with diverse dwelling places; You let the birds build their nests among the branches of trees; You provide the stork with home in the fir trees; The high hills for the wild goats; The cliffs a refuge for the rock badgers; You are our eternal dwelling place, O Rock of ages; Your divine bosom grants us a perpetually secure place. Rejoicing in the light of the day, we go to work; And look forward to the night to give rest to our bodies; With Your Light, O Sun of Righteousness, You shine on our souls; And our souls find comfort in Your bosoms. When I look at the seas and oceans; I feel belittled in my own eyes; The dragon Leviathan (Satan) thinks he is capable of devouring me; But You destroy all the power of Satan; https://coptic-treasures.com/ 55 You even turn him into a playing toy in the hands of Your sons and daughters; We sail on the sea and oceans of this world; We sail in Your holy church; As long as You are Her Skipper, she will never shake; She will take us forth to the port of peace – the Higher Jerusalem; we shall not be preoccupied with the currents of this world; Nor be confused by its whirlpools; We shall only be preoccupied with Your Holy Spirit who renews our youth like the eagle’s; Who grants us the spirit of joy and praise; We perpetually offer to You the sacrifices of thanksgiving That we, together with the heavenly hosts, sing Your praise; Glory be to You, O Forgiver of sins; Glory be to You, O Grantor of goods; Glory be to You, O Sanctifier of the life of Your children.
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