THE JOY IN THE CROSS, GRANTOR OF MATURITY This is the last psalm of the fourth group of the psalms of Ascents which correspond to the book of Numbers. If the book of Numbers ends with the preparation to enter into the promised land, the psalmist feels that he enjoys the promised land, not for the sake of his righteousness, nor of his capabilities and possibilities, but as a gift presented by God like a Father to his son, the weaned infant. If the journey in the wilderness represents the crucifixion together with the Lord Christ; and as we saw in psalm 129, a call to be crucified together with the Lord Christ; and in psalm 130, that by the cross, the door of hope is opened up before us, and we enjoy the joy and the power of the resurrection; In the present psalm (131), we see the psalmist realize that by rejoicing in the cross, he will enjoy continuous maturation and growth. This short psalm reveals the spirit of humility enjoyed by the prophet David to whom God Himself testified, saying: I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart” (Acts 13: 22). .“Some believe that this psalm came as a reaction to the words said by ‘Michal’, David’s wife and daughter of king Saul, when she saw David dance before the ark of the Lord, and said: “How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself in the eyes of his maidservants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself” (2 Samuel 6: 20); to which he responded by saying: “I will even be more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight, But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor” (2 Samuel 6: 22). This psalm came to oppose the haughtiness of those of authority. As it was said to the fallen cherub: “Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground” (Ezekiel 28: 17); and “Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Be assured, they will not go unpunished” (Proverbs 16: 5). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 163 If Adam and Eve, by the spirit of pride, dared to wish to be like God, the psalmist David, longed to be like a weaned child on the chest of God; And longed for all the people of God, or His church, to be like weaned children who lean upon God, and trust in Him. The occasion of writing this psalm: 1- David sang this psalm remembering that he lived as a young boy tending sheep; and has never dared to dream to sit on the throne of the kingdom. He was unjustly accused by his older brother Eliab of being proud, when he said to him: “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle” (1 Samuel 17: 28). 2- According to others, he sang it to defend himself, when some of king Saul’s men accused him of wishing and planning to have the crown of the kingdom1. 3- Some others think that it was written in the land of captivity, when the Jews proclaimed their submission to those who took them captives to Babylon. 1- A weaned infant with his mother 1 - 2 2- The perpetual hope 3 1- A WEANED INFANT WITH HIS MOTHER: A song of Ascents. of David “Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters. Nor with things too profound for me” (1) The psalmist presents this praise to the Lord, proclaiming the gift of humility, coming up from the depths of his heart, as a gift given to him by God; which he ignited by not lifting his eyes up to look for higher things; nor by attaching himself to great men foe a temporal earthly goal; or by seeking things beyond his capabilities or talents. He presented this praise, not out of pride, but as thanksgiving to the Lord. If temptations have chased him since the days of his youth; though them he enjoyed the spirit of humility. He cherishes the 1 Adom Clarke Ps. 131. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 164 cross, allowed by God for him, for the sake of his edification and his spiritual growth. St. John Chrysostom is amazed to see how the psalmist boasts, not before a single person, two, or ten persons, but before the whole world, saying that he is meek, humble, and simple like a weaned infant with his mother (2); when man is sometimes committed to boast, as did the apostle Paul. “He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord” (2 Corinthians 10: 17; and see Jeremiah 9: 24). He who does not boast in the cross is utterly stupid, and contradicts the law (the Christian law); He who does not boast in the faith is more miserable than all. He who does not boast and publicly talk of these things, will be on his way to destruction. That is why the apostle had trust enough to say: “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galtians 6: 14).. And in a similar way: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom; … Nor let the rich man glory in his riches,. But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me (God)” (see Jeremiah 9: 23-24). Now, his rejection of haughtiness, and his hate and avoidance of vain appearances, is not a small achievement. It is a very strong security of virtue, and a great protection of humility1. (St. John Chrysostom) The apostle talked about this spirit … And so did the blessed David, although he was very keen to watch over the treasures of his heart, to the degree that he dared to address God, to whom no secrets of the conscience are concealed, as in psalm 130 (131): 1-2; Psalm 100 (101): 1-2). But, together with all that, having known the difficulty of watching, even for the perfect, he did not lean upon his personal efforts, but prayed to God, asking for His help, to become able to come out triumphant from the strikes of his enemy, saying: “Plead my cause, O Lord, with those who strive with me; Fight against those who fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help” (Psalm 35: 1, 2). And because he feared and was terrified lest he may fall in what is said about pride, he says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace 1 On Ps. 131. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 165 to the humble” (James 4: 6; 1 Peter 5: 5); and, as said by Solomon: “Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Be assured they will not go unpunished”(Proverbs 16: 5) 1. (St. John Cassian) “Lord, my heart is not haughty” (1). He offers a sacrifice!… How could we prove that he offers a sacrifice?... For the humility of heart is a sacrifice! Where there is no sacrifice, there is no priest. But, if we have a High Priest in heavens who intercedes for us before the Father (Entering into the Holy of Holies beyond the veil), we are secure, having such a Priest. Let us then offer our sacrifice there. But let us take into consideration what kind of sacrifice we are committed to offer; for “God does not delight in burnt offerings”, as is testified by Psalm 51: 16; But “The sacrifices of God are broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart – These, O God, do not despise” (Psalm 51: 17) (St. Augustine) “Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother. Like a weaned child is my soul within me” (2) As it was mentioned by the Evangelist St. Matthew: “Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them (his disciples), and said: ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will, by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18: 1-3). The Lord confirms to those who seek the kingdom, their commitment to be converted to become like little children, to enter the kingdom of heaven. It is not a retreat backward, but a growth toward the simplicity and humility of childhood. As man’s ego, through his experiences on earth, becomes too puffed up, to be no more able to enter through the narrow door. Therefore, it is befitting of him to forsake all pride to let his ego become smaller and smaller, and be utterly crucified, to be able to cross over by his crucified Lord through the door of humility, the royal door, and the only entrance into the heavenly kingdom. The greatest and most beautiful ornament in the sight of God is meekness; which, according to the apostle Peter: “Let it be the 1 De institutis caenoborum, Book 12: 6. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 166 hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God” (1 Peter 3: 4). According to St. Augustine, It is befitting of the believer to keep his humility; And the more the gifts and talents given to him by God, the less puffed up he should be, and the more humble; and as it is said: “The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself; so you will find favor in the sight of the Lord” (Sirach 3: 18). I am not proud; I do not wish to be known among men for having supernatural powers; I do not seek anything beyond my abilities; by which I would boast among the ignorant; as done by the Simon the sorcerer who was more impressed by the authority of the apostles more than by the righteousness of the Christians1. (St. Augustine) Let our exaltation be in our humility, and our glory be in our rejection of glory. Let our longing be concentrated on what brings pleasure to God; taking into consideration the wise words: “The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself, so you will find favor in the sight of the Lord” (Sirach 3: 18). As the Lord despises the arrogant, and counts the haughty as His enemies; but crowns the meek and the humble in mind by honors2. (St. Cyril the Great) Who is this little child, like whom the disciples of Christ should become, except him, about whom the prophet Isaiah said: “For unto us a child is born; Unto us a son is given” (Isaiah 9: 6); … He who said: “Take up your cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16: 24); … He who was distinguished as “Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten” (1 Peter 2: 23). … Here is the perfect virtue in childhood; bearing the old honored things, as the old age bears the innocence of childhood3. (St. Ambrose) 1 On Ps. 131 (130). 2 In Luc. Ser. 143. .17- 3 تفسیر او 15 :18 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 167 I chose the virtue, that contradicts the exaggeration; I chose humility , moderation, and regret; the same commandment given by the Lord Christ to His disciples, saying: “Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will, by no means, enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 1*: 3); And the words of the psalmist saying: In my relationship with God, I practiced such humility like that of a weaned child on his mother’s chest, away from any haughtiness, in simplicity and innocence. … I unceasingly attach to Him1. (St. John Chrysostom) St. Augustine presents to us many views concerning this analogy to a weaned child with his mother, made by the psalmist; among which is that God seeks from us to be humble, not to seek what is beyond our abilities; and to rise and be exalted by being weaned off milk, and feeding on solid food. {I wish to clarify, O brethren, that God wishes us to know, when to be humble, and when to rise up. … To be humble is to keep ourselves away from pride; and to rise up toward wisdom. … To feed on milk to grow; and grow to feed on bread. But once we start eating bread, we should be weaned from milk, and feed on solid food. … He means to say, we should not be children in mind; but children in evil2]. Along the way in the wilderness, the people’s sight, although concentrated on the land of Canaan, yet they often suffered the deprivation from the smell of meet, fish, leeks, onion, and garlic, which they used to have in Egypt (Numbers 11: 5). which, in their sight, was like crucifixion; Not realizing that it was the practical beginning of the way to enjoy the promised land. 2- THE PERPETUAL HOPE: “O Israel, Hope in the Lord, from this time forth and forever” (3) The church (the New Israel) keeps hoping in the Lord until she reaches eternity, where hope comes to an end, as she comes to enjoy the true fact itself. 1 On Ps. 131. 2 On Ps. 131 (130). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 168 We should lean upon the Lord God, until we reach eternity; For then, there will be no more hope, but the true fact itself will be ours1. (St. Augustine) Mentioning his own achievements to give comfort to the listener, and to exhorts him to follow suit; the psalmist says: “O Israel,, Hope in the Lord from this time forth and forever” (3) 2. (St. John Chrysostom) AN INSPIRATION FROM PSAM 131 WEAN ME OFF THE TEMPORAL PLEASURES BY THE SWEETNESS OF YOUR CROSS I often was drawn by the pleasures of the world; But Your cross has the sweetness of exalted love; You cross weans me off the temporal pleasures; Bringing me over to the heavenly goods. Embrace me to Your compassionate chest; There, my soul will find complete comfort; And I become like a little infant who grows by the riches of Your grace. 1 On Ps. 131 (130). 2 On Ps. 131.
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