CONDESCENSION OF GOD, WHOLE IN MAJESTY This psalm is considered conveniently short to be practiced in worshipping; a liturgical psalm for praising God, during the feast of Passover, together with psalm 114, before eating the Passover; While psalms 115 to 118 were sung after eating the Passover. This psalm was also sung in the feasts of the Pentecost, the Tabernacles, the dedication of the temple, and the head of the month; The Orthodox Jews still use it in the feast of Passover; And it is claimed that, before going, together with His disciples, to the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26: 30), our Lord Jesus sang with them psalms 113 to 118. This is one of the most famous psalms in both the Jewish and Christian religions, called “The Egyptian Hallel”, it is a magnificent praise to God, incomparably wholly in love and majesty; who, in His condescension, disregards no man, however poor, miserable, or even cast in an ash heap. This psalm binds the praise said by ‘Hannah’ (mother of the prophet Samuel), of sorrowful spirit (1 Samuel 2: 2-100, and the praise said by St. Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, exultant for the incarnation of the divine Word (Luke 1: 47-55). It reveals the harmony between the old and the new covenants, with the Savior as their Center; the Word of God who tookthe form of a servant, and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross, to exalt us to him (Philippians 2: 7-9). HALLEL PSALMS: There are three separate groups of Hallel psalms: 1- The Egyptian Hallels: Psalms 113 to 118. 2- The Great Hallels: Psalms 120 to 136, including the psalms of ascents. 3- The conclusive Hallels: Psalms 146 to 150 The first and the second groups were use in praise during the annual feasts (Leviticus 23; Numbers 10: 10). WORSHIPPING GOD AND RECOGNIZING HIM: If this psalm is a praise to God, wholly in majesty, who, in His coming to men, condescended to exalt us to Him, It actually binds between worshipping God and recognizing His Person, and His features; For worship brings us forth into a deeper recognition; and recognizing https://coptic-treasures.com/ 37 Him motivates us to worship Him more with the spirit of praise and exultation. In this psalm, the psalmist reveals to us the exultant worship: a- Who do we worship in truth? (1) b- When do we worship Him? (2). With every breath of our life. c- Where do we worship Him? (3). All over the universe, from east to west; wherever we are, whether at home, in bed, or while we work, etc. d- Why should we worship Him? (4-9). Recognizing Him, and His amazing works with us; we would offer Him the sacrifices of praise; experiencing His amazing grace, our souls would flood with unceasing thanksgiving to Him. 1- Who worship God? 1 2- When do we worship God? 2 3- Where do we worship God? 3 4- The majesty of the worshipped God 4 - 5 5- The amazing condescension of God 6 - 9 1- WHO WORSHIP GOD? “Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord; Praise the name of the Lord” (1) According to Septuagint and the Coptic version, it came as: “Praise the Lord, O young men”. The whole congregation, not just the Levites and the priests, praised God with verse 1, all being servants of the Lord. What does he mean by “servants of the Lord”, but all the believers who fear the Lord, and long to dedicate their whole life to Him. By dedication here, we mean, not the full dedication to ministry, but the dedication of the heart; that the believer feels in his worship,, in his daily work, while he drinks, eat, and even while he sleeps, that he lives to the glory of God. According to St. John Chrysostom, this is the position of the Holy Book concerning praise, being a sacrifice which brings pleasure to God, more than offering oxen and sheep. Although it costs the believer nothing, yet it should be offered according to the following two conditions: a- It is to be presented by the righteous; for praising God is realized only by the mouth and tongue, but by life, holy in the Lord. Praise is unseemly on the lips of a sinner” (Sirach 15: 9). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 38 b- B- Praise is not only by words, but should be practiced by works as well; according to the words of the Lord Christ: “Let your light shine before men” (Matthew 5: 16). That is the way the cherubim praise God, which when heard by the prophet Isaiah, he said” “Woe is me, for I am lost! Because I am a man with unclean lips” (Isaiah 6: 5) According to St. John Chrysostom: [You need to be like an angel, to praise God this way; Do not take praise lightly. … Let our life itself present the voice of praise before our mouths… Let our behavior utter praise before our tongue… That way, er can praise God, even while silent; and if we talk, we are as though playing music in harmony with our life1]. The sacrifice we are committed to offer to god is praise; according to His oracle, saying: “The sacrifice of praise glorifies Me”…. That is how the youth, the beginners in faith, and even those spiritually strong, be taught to praise the Lord; not only by their uttered words, but by their behavior as well. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) Being all, servants of their Creator, they do according to His will, and obey His commands2. (Pope St. Athansius the apostolic) When you hear the psalm saying: “Praise the Lord, O young men” (LXX), do not assume that it is not addressed to you; on account of that you are no longer “young”, and you are now fully mature, or even gray-haired elders; for the apostle say to all: “Brethren, do not be children in understanding, however in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature” (1 Corinthians 14: 20; Matthew 18: 3). What is malice but pride? For it is the proud who shows the false greatness, and keep man from going through the narrow way and door; through which a child can easily do. No man can enter into the kingdom, unless he is like a child3. (St. Augustine) 2- WHEN DO WE WORSHIP GOD? “Blessed be the name of the Lord, from this time forth and forevermore” (2) 1 On Ps. 113. الرسائل عن الروح القدس إلى الأسقف سرابیون، 3 :2 (ترجمة مؤسسة القدیس أنطونیوس). 2 3 On Ps. 113 (112) https://coptic-treasures.com/ 39 If, for the realization of our temporal affairs, we work hard and seriously, would we, as servants of the Lord, be less preoccupied with doing our work in His vineyard? We are committed to praise Him as long as we live; to praise Him both in our joy, and in our grief. The psalmist asks us to start praising the Lord now; and to count every breath we draw, as a joyful praise, we present, as a sacrifice of thanksgiving to God. St. John Chrysostom wonders: Will the name of the Lord not be blessed, unless we pray?; to which he answers, saying: As the name of the Lord is blessed inus; the blessing here is our own; according to the words of the apostle Paul, saying: “Glorify God in your in your body and in your spirits, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6: 20). … That is how the Lord commanded us to pray and say: “Thy name be hallowed” namely, to glorify His name in our life; For, the way it is insulted when our life is wicked, it will be glorified, blessed, and sanctified, when we practice virtue1. Why was it said: “from this time forth?” … Namely, from this very moment in which you utter these words, start praising, and praise forevermore2. (St. Augustine) 3- WHERE DO WE WORSHIP GOD? “From the rising of the sun to its going down, the Lord’s name is to be praised” (3) It is not befitting of us to be anywhere we cannot meditate and praise our God; praise Him wherever we are, in the east or in the west; during the day or during the night. Do not you see how he put an end to the Jewish ways and worship, and proclaimed the way of life of the church, and her worship3. (St. John Chrysostom) From one grain which died and was buried with passion, came the crop of the church in the whole world; not like before, when the name of God was only known in Judea and only worshipped in Israel; Now, “From the rising of the sun to its going down, the Lord’s name is to be praised” (3) 4. (Father Caesarius, bishop of Arle) 1 See St. John Chrysostom, Psalm 113. 2 On Ps. 113 (112) 3 On Ps. 113 4 Sermon 94: 1. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 40 If you seek a sacrifice among the Jews, you will no more sacrifice according to the order of Aaron. And if you seek a sacrifice, according to the order of Melchizedek, you will not find it among them as well, but you will find it celebrated all over the world in the church. “From the rising of the sun, to its going down, the Lord’s name is to be praised” (3) 1. I wish we praise the Lord like children; and sing: “Alleluia”. (St. Augustine) Before the incarnation of the Son of God, the name of God was known, great and glorified in Judea alone; Whereas the Gentiles, from the rising of the sun to its going down, did not know Him, nor seeking His name, but were in the vanity of idols. But after the incarnation of our Lord, and the preaching of the apostles was received by the Gentiles, the name of God became praised, and His exalted majesty recognized. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) 4- THE MAJESTY OF THE WORSHIPPED GOD: “The Lord is high above all nations, and His glory above the heavens” (4) Recognizing the Lord, and getting in touch with His works, specially with the poor and the contrite of heart, we praise Him in our depths with a language inexpressible by the tongue. Do not you see, again, how He is worshiped, not by one nation, two, or three, but by the whole world? Is there any more obvious text than this inspired one?... Now, is the Lord high above all nations, just because we glorify Him, and we do not refer His exaltation to Him”… Far from it2! (St. John Chrysostom) “Who is like the Lord our God?, Who dwells on high?” (5) He lovingly created the heavenly creatures to testify to His holiness and righteousness; and He works in men to set out of them, children who bear His image; But He stays, incomparable, and unique in His exaltation, holiness. The goal of this praise is to stir up the feelings and cherishment of the whole people of the Lord, the heavenly God. 1 In Ps 108: 8 2 On Ps. 113 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 41 How could He dwell in heavens, He who fills the heaven and earth, who is present everywhere, saying: “I am a God near at hand, and not a God afar off” (Jeremiah 23: 23); and, “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measure heaven with a spa; He who sits above the circle of the earth” (Isaiah 40: 12, 22)?... He does not look on the things down on earth, as though He is limited to heaven; For He is present everywhere, and is available for everyone… Do not you see how He gradually lifts up the mind of him who listens to Him1? (St. John Chrysostom) Although man made his idols with his own hands, yet he became their captive and worshipper … Those idols, according to the Holy Book, have eyes, but they cannot see2. (St. Augustine) 5- THE AMAZING CONDESCENSION OF GOD: “He who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth” (6) Being the Creator of all mankind, all nations, peoples, and tongues, It is therefore befitting of all to gather together with one spirit to glorify and to praise Him. In His humility and love, God beholds the heavenlies and cares for them, How much more would be His humility when He cares for the men down on earth, lifts them up from the ash heap, and brings them forth to sit together with the heavenlies? “He who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth” … He glorifies the humble, yet not to make them proud. For He dwells in those whom He lifts up high, makes them His heaven for Himself; And seeing them not proud, but perpetually submitting to Him, He, while being in heaven, He beholds them as a dwelling place for Himself3. (St. Augusine) What are the things which we should think about at the onset of our prayer to “Our Father in heaven”? (Matthew 6: 9)…. “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before You. And I am no longer worthy to be called Your son” (Luke 15: 18-19) … Let us look downward with 1 On Ps. 113 2 City of God, 8. 3 On Ps. 113 (112) https://coptic-treasures.com/ 42 the humility of heart, and supplicate with tears from the depths of our hearts to God up in heaven, who “dwells on high, , who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in heavens and on earth”(5, 6); “Let us beat our breasts, saying, ‘God be merciful to us sinners, who are not worthy of raising our eyes up to You” (Luke 18: 13); Grant us the grace to glorify Your name on earth, as it is in heavens; For You, O Lord, are holy, and Your righteousness endures forever (Psalm 112 : 3) 1. ( Sahdona Martyrius) “He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap” (7) God has condescended to encounter those who sit on the ash heap; with the sinners, to forgive them, to sanctify them, and to prepare them to have fellowship with the heavenlies in their everlasting heavenly praise. Our heavenly Christ is the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 33, etc.), who carries us, not on His donkey, but over His own shoulders, to bring us forth to His heavenly inn, to His church clinic, to provide a heavenly treatment for our wounds. God called David to the royal work while he was shepherding his father’s sheep; called Saul the son o Kish, while searching for his father’s lost donkeys; called Gideon while threshing wheat; called the apostles while fishing on their boat; He chose the ignorant to put to shame by them the wise; the weak, to put to shame the mighty; and the poor to shame the rich. Yet all that would not be compared to His work among the sinners, the adulterers, and the tax-collectors, to set out of them apostles, saints, and angel-likes. I wish God of peace (Hebrews 13: 20), who made the two as one (Ephesians 2: 13); He who sets kings on thrones; raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap 97); He who chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfold (Psalm 78: 70), even though he was the least and the youngest among his brothers (1 Samuel 17: 14); who granted His word, strongly, to those preaching the gospel (Psalm 147: 18); … I wish He, being the Shepherd of shepherds (Ezekiel 34: 12), and the Counselor of counselors, holds me by my right hand, guides me with His counsel, and receive me to glory (Psalm 73: 23-24) 2. كتاب الكمال، 1 .11 2 Defense of His Flight to Pontus, Pration 2: 117. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 43 (St. Gregory the Nezianzen) “There was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2: 7); As the Jewish denial flowed everywhere, the divine infant had no room in the holy of holies, adorned with gold, silver, precious stones, pure silk, and was born on a heap of ash, in a manger… He was born on a heap of ash, to lift up those who come out of it (7); He was born on a heap of ash, where the righteous ‘Job’ sat, the crowned1. (St. Jerome) The “inn” is where those who become exhausted after a long travel go to relax and find comfort. To this “inn”, the Lord brings us forth, after raising the poor from the dust, and lifting the needy up from the heap of ash (7). According to the apostle Paul, once Abraham confessed that he is but “dust and ashes” (Genesis 18: 27), he found grace in the sight of God, And once the righteous ‘Job’ sat on the heap of ashes, he got back all what he lost (Job 2: 8; 42: 10-17); And quoted the prophecy of David: “He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap” (Psalm 113: 7) 2. Yes indeed, unless Paul, counted himself like rubbish, he would not have acquired Christ for himself3. (St. Ambrose) He raised the poor, namely, the idol-worshippers, from their lawlessness, from the filth of the idols, to seat them with the apostles, the princes of the Israeli people. (Father Onesimus, of Jerusalem) “That He may seat them with princes – with the princes of His people” (8) What would be poorer than our nature? Nevertheless He raised it, and set it up in heaven from the beginning, and seated it on the Fatherly throne4. (St. John Chrysostom) I probably would be counted as uttering things that would never be believed by him who witnessed your corruption and desolation; For 1 Homily 88, on the Nativity of the Lord. 2 On Penitence, 2: 1: 4. 3 The Prayer of Job and David, 3: 2: 3. 4 Psalm 113. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 44 which I wail, and will never cease to wail, until I see you again in your past splendor. Even though that would seem impossible for humans, but everything is possible for God, who “raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that he may seat them with the princes of His people” (7-8); And He who “grants the barren woman a home, like a joyful mother of children” (9). Therefore, you should not despair of being utterly changed. If the devil has the ability to cast you down to earth from such a lofty height, and exalted virtue, to the farthest limits of evil, how much more would God be capable to lift you back to your past confidence; not just to how you have been, but far better than that1. Therefore, do not despair; do not forsake the good hope; and do not fall into where the atheist are. It is not the multitude of sins that lead to despair, but the lack of piety; like those few who walk along the way of despair, who would not look upward, or climb above where they fell. Such ungodly despair, weighs upon the neck of the soul like a yoke that forces it to bow down to earth, and keeps it from looking up to God. The work of a man of courage is to break this yoke to pieces, to move aside every weight on it, and to utter the words of the prophet: “As the eyes of a maid to the hands of her mistress, so your eyes look to the Lord our God, until He has mercy on us. Have mercy on us, O Lord, , for we are exceedingly filled with contempt” (Psalm 123: 2,3). Saying: We are filled with humiliation, and under limitless afflictions; yet we will never cease to look up to God; nor to pray to Him, until He responds to our supplication. For, a sign of a noble soul is not to bow under the weight of the multiple calamities that come over it, or to be terrified by them; and to resort instead to increase and persist on prayers, until God would have mercy on her, according to the words of the blessed David. (St. John Chrysostom) “He grants the barren woman a home, like a joyful mother of children” (9) What is said here has been materialized in the cases of Hannah, Samuel’s mother, Sarah, Isaac’s mother, Rebecca, Rachel, Samson’s mother, and to Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist, and probably رسالة من القدیس یوحنا الذھبي الفم إلى ثیؤدور بعد سقوطھ، 1 .1 :1 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 45 thousands others among the people of Israel along the generations; and still happens to many up to our present time. Such a thing happened as well to the church; that after being barren, became a mother to a multitude of children; for which the prophet Isaiah says: “Sing, O barren, you who have not home; Break forth into singing and cry aloud; You who have not travailed with child! For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman” (Isaiah 54: 1), prophesying beforehand, what will happen to the church1. (St. John Chrysostom) God who took away the barrenness of Sarah, Rebecca, Hannah, Elizabeth, and others, is the same God who took away the barrenness of (the congregation of the Gentiles), made her dwell in His holy church, with a multitude of children; namely, with upright dogmas and good works; for which the church became perpetually exultant; For it is so written in the prophecy of Isaiah, the oracle of God, concerning the congregation of the Gentiles: “The place is too small for me; Give me a place where I may dwell. Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has begotten these for me, since I have lost my children, and am desolate; a captive, and wandering to and fro? And who has brought these up? There I was left alone, but these, where were they?” (Isaiah 49: 1). (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) Indeed, the joyful mother is the Virgin Mother, who by the work of the Spirit, bears the immortal children; whom the prophet called barren, only on account of her chastity2. (St. Gregory of Nyssa) 1 On Ps. 113 دیر السریان البتولیة، 1966 ، ص 2 .113 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 46 AN INSPIRATION FROM PSALM 113 FILL MY LIFE, O LORD, WITH THE SPIRIT OF PRAISE Grant me the simplicity of infancy; to have dove-like eyes; To have my insight concentrate on Your might, wisdom, and fatherhood; To have my depths exult in You; To have my whole being turn into a harp to praise You. To praise You by my tongue, as well as by my life; Thy name be hallowed in me; To make me a joyful song; To praise now and forevermore, to the age of ages; Let my praise mix with my whole life; Let me praise you in the midst of my joy, as well as in the midst of my sorrow Wherever I go to the east or to the west; While I am awake, or in my sleep; In the church, as well as at home, or even on the street; My depths will never cease to praise You. My contrite soul praises You; For, when You are Higher than any height; You are closer to my soul than all; You, the Heavenly One, condescend to look down on me; To look at my miserable self; To lift me up from the heap of ash; To seat me among the heavenly hosts. I complain against my contrite soul to You; For I have become barren; I, no more, carry the fruits of the Spirit; You gave the barren women children; You let them become mothers of multitudes; Instead of reproach, You granted them splendor and glory; Instead of barrenness, You filled their houses with holy offspring; Who will grant me the fruit of the Spirit, but You?! Who will take away my reproach, except Your grace?! Who will turn the wilderness of my heart into a heavenly paradise?! Who will open up in me, the fountains of Your Holy Spirit?! https://coptic-treasures.com/ 47 Who will kindle my depths with the fire of Your divine love?! Who will set Your joyful kingdom in me?! Who will make me join the heavenly choir?! That my depths would never cease to praise You?!
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