A LIFE OF PRAISE The last psalms in the Hebrew version (146 to 150) are considered as psalms of praise, or of ‘Hallil’, like the Egyptian Hallil psalms (113 to 118), and the great Hallil psalm (136). Each of the five psalms begins with a call to praise the Lord, and ends with the word “Alleluia” or (praise the Lord). In them we do not hear struggles, sufferings, or troubles. There is no moaning, but only joyful praise and thanksgiving for the salvation of God. What preoccupies the psalmist is the rejoicing of the saints in the glory of God. A key for the psalms of praise: The word “praise” and its derivatives or likes, are the key for these psalms. In psalm 146, it came in verse 1 and 2. In psalm 147, it came in verses 1, 7, and 12. In psalm 148, it came in three verses. In psalm 149, the word “sing” came in verse 1, and “praise” in verse 3. In psalm 150, it came twice in every verse. Saying “As for me, I am a song of praise for God “, the psalmist binds praise to all the aspects of his life. 1- No life without praise (1 – 2). Wishing to let his life be a preparation for eternity, the psalmist intends not to cease praising God while he lives. All what is in heaven is praise; whereas Hades knows nothing about it, there it does not exist. On earth, man has the choice to praise or to cease praising. 2- Praise motivates man to believe and trust in God (3 – 4). He who trusts in the nature of the Heavenly One, will never cease to praise Him in his depths, as well as before the others. Praising God, man’s faith in Him grows more and more. While he who does not trust in the nature of the Heavenly One, and only trusts in those of authority or temporal possibilities, will either praise God just a little, until he stops altogether.. 3- Praise instigates hope (5 – 7). Praise fills the soul with joy, and instigates hope in the Lord. Let us, therefore, praise God in all situations. 4- Praise instigates love for God and men (8 – 10). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 222 It is as though praise is connected to life itself, as well as to faith, hope, and love. On the liturgical aspect, this psalm may be divided into five divisions: 1- A call to the people to perpetually praise the Lord 1 - 2 2- A priestly advise to the people not to trust in men 3 - 4 3- A priestly blessing 5 4- A call to the people to proclaim faith 6 - 9 5- A conclusive song 10 The title: The happiness of those whose help is the Lord ; Praise the Lord According to the Septuagint and the Coptic version it came as: A decree Of Alleluia of Haggai and Zechariah. Father Onesimus of Jerusalem believes that the prophets Haggai and Zechariah used to praise the Lord by this psalm after the return of the Jews from captivity. 1- A CALL TO THE PEOPLE TO PERPETUALLY PRAISE THE LORD: “Praise the Lord, O my soul” (1) The psalmist begins this psalm by an enjoyable conversation with his soul; calling it, in the midst of his sufferings and affliction, to praise the Lord. Before calling others, it is befitting of man to call his own depths to praise the Lord. On one aspect, the believer perceives, and confirms to himself, his perpetual relationship with God; On another aspect, praise, according to St. John Chrysostom, is the most effective weapon against the devil; And on a third aspect, the believer becomes a practical role model to those around him. According to St. Augustine, the speaker here is not the body, giving an advice to the soul; for, it is the soul that gives advice and commands to the body, and not the other way round. He likens the soul to gold, and the body to lead. The gold, even if it is rusty, is more precious than the lead, even if the later looks pure and glittering. … Here, the soul gives advice to herself. It is the voice of someone encouraging his own soul to praise God, saying: “Praise the Lord, O my soul”. For, sometimes, amid temptations and afflictions in this world, our souls may become disturbed, whether we like it or not…. To take such disturbance https://coptic-treasures.com/ 223 away, the psalmist suggests the ‘joy’; not as a true actuality, but in hope; and says to his soul, while disturbed, anxious, and sorrowful: “Have hope in God, for to Him I confess” 1. (St. Augustine) The psalmist does not say: Praise the Lord, [O my body], but says: “Praise the Lord O my soul” Not that he condemns the body, but he rather condemns its works. The soul zealously encourages herself; It is as though the psalmist says: [Praise the Lord, O David2!] (St. Jerome) “While I live, I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being” (2) The word “Jehovah” or “God”, or “the Lord” came three times in the two verses 1 and 2; the same way it came three times in the blessings given by the priest (Numbers 6: 24 – 26); For the praise is presented to the Holy Trinity; and the Trinity in turn, presents the blessing to the people, as well as to the believer. If Christ is our life, by getting attached to Him and acquiring Him in our depths, we enjoy life, and our souls become filled with joy. Let us then Praise Him all the time. Getting preoccupied with sin, and attached to it, we are counted as dead and non-existent; We shall not be able to praise, even if our mouths and lips utter the words. When your mind say to your soul: “Praise the Lord, O my soul”; … Having slid down, having become weak and frail and unable to stand aright as it should, the soul responds to the mind, saying: “While I live, I will praise the Lord”; meaning; [I am now dead! … I am weak and frail. I shall praise as much as I can!!] … Why? “While we are at home in the body, we are absent from God” (2 Corinthians 5: 6). “While I live”. … If attachment to the Lord is life, sojourning from Him is death. … What gives you comfort? Hope! … Now, you live in hope, you swim in hope, you sing in hope; … Your death comes from the sorrow in this life; But you live in the hope for the life to come3. (St. Augustine) 1 On Ps. 146 (145). 2 Homilies on Ps., homily 55 on Ps. 145 (146). 3 On Ps. 146 (145). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 224 Notice how the soul zealously satisfies itself, and responds to that instigation coming from itself! What does it say? “While I live, I shall praise the Lord”…. Now, being under the pressure of sin, I am not able to praise, Whenever I try to open my lips to praise God, feeling my sins seals and close them shut. “While I live, I shall praise the Lord”. The psalmist says: “I shall praise”, and not “I praise”. When I shall be together with my Lord, then I shall praise Him. Now, being in death, I cannot utter praise. “While I live, I shall praise”. My life is Christ; Let us then praise the Lord while in life….When we consummate the works of righteousness, we become alive; and whenever we sin, we cease to be1. (St. Jerome) “Now” – as I always say – refers to praise by works (while I live); according to the words of the Lord Christ: “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven” (Matthew 5: 16); And to the apostle Paul: “Glorify God in your body and in your spirit” (1 Corinthians 6: 20); And to the psalmist in the last psalm: “Every day I will bless You” (Psalm 145: 2); Here he says: “While I live, I shall praise the Lord” (2) 2. (St. John Chrysostom) 2- A PRIESTLY ADVICE TO THE PEOPLE, NOT TO PUT THEIR TRUST IN MEN: “Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help” (3) The Holy Spirit calls us to praise God all the days of our life; and a sign of this praise, is not to put our trust in men, whatever are their position, authority, or possibilities; for man cannot present salvation to himself, as well as to those around him. The rest of the psalm tell us why it is God alone, and not man, in whom we should put our trust. It is befitting of us not to lean upon the arm of man, even that of rulers, for, if they cannot realize their own salvation, how could they save the others? Through a kind of weakness, the soul of man, entering into anguish, and despairing God, it chooses to put its trust in man. 1 Homilies on Ps., homily 55 on Ps. 145 (146). 2 On Ps. 146. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 225 If it is said to someone fallen into a kind of sorrow: [There is a great person who can help you], he would smile, and rejoice,. But if it is said to him: [The Lord will help you], he keeps a cold silence, because of despair filling his soul. You rejoice when you get a promise from a mortal man; How could you be sad when you get a promise from the immortal God? You exult when you get a promise to be liberated from someone in need to be liberated just like you; Now, you are getting a promise from the divine Liberator, who is in no need to be liberated, and yet you despair as though His promise is of no value to you! Woe to such thoughts, in which there is great sorrow and death1. (St. Augustine) “Do not put your trust in princes”. How could we forsake our God who has compassion on us, and put our trust in men, mortal like us? although we know for sure, that by losing them, we would lose their protection as well; we would lose our interests; and we would probably bring upon ourselves harm from the enemies of the deceased, because of referring ourselves to them….. Now, what keeps us from reconsidering our faults, regaining our reason, and putting our trust in our God? (St. John Chrysostom) Being already done with the protection of our parents2, we would, as well, do without the services of rulers, who would be delighted to give us free services. Yet, subsisting on their riches, we may cease to worry any more about preparing our own food, but we shall bring upon ourselves the curse of the prophet, saying: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man” (Jeremiah 17: 5); and of the one saying: “Do not put your trust in princes” (Psalm 146: 3) 3. (Father Ibrahim – to monks) By saying: “in whom there is no help” he means that they have no control even on their own salvation, and cannot defend themselves; If death strikes them, they will become as lifeless as a rock…. Now, How can someone so helpless to defend himself, protect others? Such trust is shaky and unsound, as shown by nature itself; hence the apostle Paul, speaking about hope in God, says: “Hope does not 1 On Ps. 146 (145). أي الذین ھم في مناصب كبیرة ویودوا أن یقوموا للرھبان خدمات لأجل راحتھم... فإنھ لا یلیق بالرعبان أن یتكلموا علیھم في 2 كسل. Cassian, Conferences 24: 2.3 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 226 disappoint” (Romans 5: 5). Human things, on another aspect are weaker than a shadow… Do not say to me; ‘He is a prince’, for a prince is nothing more than a sojourner, who, like everybody else, vulnerable to any unseen danger. We cannot lean upon man, whatever are his position, capabilities, or possibilities. On one aspect, all these are not perpetual; and on another aspect, even a prince or a ruler could even be betrayed by his own guards….. If he cannot protect himself, how can he protect others?… If he is prone to death and perdition, how much more frail and perishable his promises would be1? (St. John Chrysostom) “His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; In that very day his plans perish” (4) Far from it, to compare the arm of man to our Christ, the Arm of God! … When men die, their bodies return to dust; Whereas, when our Christ died, His body was not corrupted; He granted us the resurrected life here, and will raise our bodies up on His second coming. The great men of this world are helpless to give support to anyone, particularly after their spirit departs from their bodies, when all their threats come to nothing, as well as all their dreams. Many put their trust in a ruler, who may be here today, but will not be tomorrow; … He may be preceded by an army today, but this very night he may lie alone in his tomb2. (St. Jerome) Through death everything are no more; Listen to the prophet say: “In that very day his plans perish3”. Concerning our souls, the Scripture says: “His spirit departs, he returns to his earth” (Psalm 146: 4); And: “(The Lord) forms the spirit of man within him” (Zechariah 12: 1). About the angels, it is written: “Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers flames of fire” (Psalm 4: 4). About the winds, it is written: “When You break the ships of Tarshish with an east wind” (Psalm 48: 7); And about the good teaching, the Lord Himself says: “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6: 63), The Holy 1 On Ps. 146. 2 Homilies on Ps., homily 55 on Ps. 145 (146). 3 On Eph. Homily 13. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 227 Spirit is unutterable by human tongue, for it is a living Spirit who grants wisdom in words, talking and preaching by Himself1. (St. Cyril of Jerusalem) The plans we speak about are those concerning this world, of houses, possessions, parents and children, commercial dealings, etc. All these will perish, once the spirit departs from the body; nothing will be remembered, nor be considered2. (Father Dorotheos of Gaza) 3- A PRIESTLY BLESSING: “Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God” (5) Leaning on the God of Jacob is the way to happiness, help, and hope. What should we do, if we do not put our trust in men, nor in princes? “Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help”. Not this or that man, but the God of Jacob for his help. Jacob, becoming ‘Israel’, namely, (the vision of God), all his troubles, sighs, and worries, came to an end; to be followed by happy (blessed) songs of praise3. (St. Augustine) We have One Helper, with the authority to save. “His hope is in the Lord his God4”. (St. Jerome) Having counseled them not put their trust in men; Now he refers to the secure Refuge, and to the mighty Tower. He presents to them the best advice that surpasses all, for it leads man away from the untrustworthy way; to take the strong way; to destroy all what is vain, and set what is dependable; to forsake what is deceptive, and set what is of benefit5. Yet, I counsel you, not to leave everything to God, while you go to sleep, deeply and slothfully…. I also counsel you, when you diligently strife, not to assume that it is, by own efforts, all works were realized. … God does not want us to be lazy, and let Him مقال 1 .13 :16 2On Fear of Punishment. 3 On Ps. 146 (145). 4 Homilies on Ps., homily 55 on Ps. 145 (146). 5 On Ps. 146. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 228 consummate all the work alone. And He, as well, does not want us to do it all by ourselves, disregarding His support1! No one practices a good life, and worries about the future…. Can we owe our good present to hope? Yes we can! Yet, it is not human hope, which would most probably become vain, and only leave confusion in its wake. Our hope is in God; hence it is sure and steadfast2. (St. John Chrysostom) 4- A CALL TO THE PEOPLE TO PROCLAIM FAITH: “Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all what is in them; Who remains faithful forever” (6) According to the Septuagint and the Coptic version, it came as: “… Who keeps righteousness forever”. And to St. Augustine’s interpretation as: “… Who keeps truth forever”. The psalmist presents to us the reasons, why we should lean upon God; foremost of which, is that He is the almighty Creator. If He has created heaven, earth, and the seas, and all what in them, What can’t He do? And, being faithful in His promises, true, and trustworthy in His love, He would never lie, retract His promises, or fail to realize them. If heaven and earth have endured all those long centuries; how much more would their Creator remain faithful in His promises forever?! We have, O brethren, a great God; Let us bless His Holy name; He who has graciously condescended to acquire us as His own. If you marvel at the creation of the world; How could you not marvel Him who created it?! If You look up to heaven and marvel;… If you meditate in the earth, and become in awe; …. When will your minds accommodate the width of the sea?! It is your God who created all…. Put your trust in Him, to become happy3! (St. Augustine) Compared to heaven, earth, and the sea, we, humans, in our creation, would be not more than tiny insects! … Would it be reasonable that 1 Homilies on Matt., 82 2 Homilies on Romans. Homily 9. 3 On Ps. 146 (145). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 229 He who created heaven, earth, and the sea, has no authority to save man whom He created?! “Who keeps His covenant forever”. … If we are crushed by vanity and deception, let us then be sorrowful. The Lord is He who will eternally keep the truth. If the liar is believed more than us who tell the truth, we should not despair, for “God keeps the truth forever”. He keeps the truth in His storehouse, and will restore to us what He has kept. “Who keeps truth forever”. Christ is the Truth; … “(The Lord) executes justice for the oppressed” (Psalm 146: 7). Even though justice may come late, do not ever lose hope, for He will surely come, present salvation, and “execute justice for the oppressed”. Christ is the Truth… Let us then utter the truth; For the Truth will guard the truth for us” 1. (St. Jerome) If God’s works endure, He, Himself, is Perpetual, and Might; … And to prove it, His works demonstrate His might2. (St. John Chrysostom) “What man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?” (Matthew 7: 9-11). But, how could the “evil” give good gifts?1… He called them “evil”, for they, until now are sinners, and love the world. He called the gifts “good”; Although they are “good” according to their nature, yet they are temporal, concerning this frail life. Yet the gifts given by the “evil “ are not their own; for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness” (psalm 24: 1); “He who made heaven, earth, the sea, and all what is in them” (146: 6). Therefore, if we, “the evil“ know how to give our children what they ask from us, and we would never deceive them, How much more would be our hope in the Lord, to give us, when we ask good things from Him3?! (St. Augustine) 1 Homilies on Ps., homily 55 on Ps. 145 (146). 2 On Ps. 146. 3 Sermon on Mount, 2: 73. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 230 “Who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners” (7) According to the Septuagint and the Coptic version, it came as: “The Lord loosens the chained”. As the psalmist says: “He who keeps the justice or the truth forever”, St. Augustine wonders, what is the truth that the Lord keeps? And where does He keep it? …The answer to which came in the following phrase. He defends those who are unable to defend or protect themselves; He counts their cases as His case personally…. Although it so seem that the mighty waves are against them, and that the winds are about to destroy them; Yet the conquest for them is sure, and will come in due time. He sustains the hungry and satisfies the thirsty, spiritually and physically. He invites us to His banquet, and brings us forth into His heavens, to enjoy the bread of the angels. St. Augustine discerns between two different kinds of the hunger. To the regular hungry, God gives the material food; but to those hungry for righteousness, He provides them with special kind of food that would satisfy them. He is the Liberator of the captives from the human pressures, the shackles of sins, the hold of the world, the bondage of the devil, and even from the humiliation of selfishness that destroys our hearts. St. Augustine clarifies the meaning of the “oppressed” here. For, not all those who suffer troubles are counted as “oppressed”, to be defended by God. … He rather defends those who suffer from injustice, and not because of something wrong they, themselves, have committed. … The wicked, like the robbers, the adulterers, the deceivers, for example, may suffer from many things, yet they are not “oppressed”, those whom God defends. “Who executes justice for the oppressed”. He avenges the truly oppressed. … Here, we hear the voice of the apostle, saying: “In fact, to have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? (1 Corinthians 6: 7). … He instigates you not to be disturbed, … for not every disturbance is counted as “oppression”. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 231 You should care for what you do, and not for what you suffer from. If you do something upright, you are “oppressed”, but if you do something wrong, you , then, deserve to suffer1. It is befitting of us to be hungry to God2. Our body has been an adornment for us; but having sinned, it has got certain limitations, put on us…. These limitations are our corruption3. (St. Augustine) That is His role; That is His nature; That is His personal attribute; He does not disregard the harmed, and would never forsake the sorrowful; He raises His hand to the benefit of the victims, against the wicked; … He perpetually does all that4. (St. John Chrysostom) “Though it (justice) tarries, wait for it, because it will surely come; it will not tarry” (Habakkuk 2: 3). God brings forth salvation; “He executes justice for the oppressed”. … “He gives food to the hungry” … He gives it to the hungry, and not to the violent. Let us then, be hungry for Christ, He will give us the heavenly bread. “The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners”. If the bread He gives, the divine word, and the heavenly teaching, refresh the soul; He also liberates our feet from their chains…. He liberates the captives. … Lazarus was bound, hand and foot, with grave clothes; and the Lord commanded them to “loose” him and let him go (John 11: 44). The Lord looses the chains5. As the Lord “gives freedom to the prisoners”, and finds comfort in “him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at His word” (Isaiah 66: 2); … He may say to me, I, who lie in the tomb of sin: [Jerome! Come forth! 6]. (St. Jerome) “The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; The Lord raises those who are bowed down; The Lord loves the righteous” (8) 1 On Ps. 146 (145). 2 On Ps. 146 (145). 3 On Ps. 146 (145). 4 On Ps. 146. 5 Homilies on Ps., homily 55 on Ps. 145 (146). 6 Letter 4 to Florentius, 2. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 232 God cares for the blind, both spiritually and physically. …. Some lose sight or insight from birth; some through accidents, and some by their own choice. Yet, nothing is impossible for Him. He rather wishes to open the insight to behold Him, saying: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5: 8). God raises up all those who are bowed down, because of what dwelt upon them of despair and depression, under the burden of anxiety, troubles and sorrows. He proclaims His love and embraces for the righteous who keep his commandment, and find pleasure in His will. Saying: “The Lord opens the eyes of the blind”, It should not be understood to concern the physical eyes; the way the Lord opened the eyes of the man born blind, and healed him…. Here the Lord refers to a kind of wisdom by which the blind is enlightened1. (St. Augustine) “The Lord opens the eyes of the blind”…. According to the Greek and Hebrew versions, it came as: “The Lord makes the blind wise”. If the psalmist was talking about the physical eyes, he would say: “The Lord gives sight to the blind”, but his words are: “The Lord makes the blind wise” The lord says: [Our hearts become blind because of the darkness of sins. … That is why, when our hunger is fed, and our feet are liberated of their chains; By the eyes of our hearts we will start to see the light which we have lost, and will grow in wisdom]. What after we become wise? … “The Lord raises up all those who are bowed down” (Psalm 145: 14)…. Even if you stay cast down on the ground, albeit in peace, the Lord will stretch His hand to raise you up. “The Lord loves the righteous. He Lord loves the righteous, the perfect, and protects the stranger who did not have the chance to enter into the ministry of the Lord2. (St. Jerome) After saying: “The Lord loves the righteous”, it is so obvious that He helps many, on account of that they are passing through a kind of misery: He gives food to the hungry, because of their hunger; He gives freedom to the prisoners because they are chained and 1 On Ps. 146 (145). 2 Homilies on Ps., homily 55 on Ps. 145 (146). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 233 miserable; and gives sight to the blind because of their helplessness; and not for the sake of any virtue in any of them all1. No one who practice a good life would worry about the future … Does our goodness truly give hope” Yes it does; but not a human kind of hope that would eventually become void, and would leave confusion in its wake. Our hope, being in God, it is sure and steadfast2. (St. John Chrysostom) As it is God the Father who is “alone wise”, according to the apostle Paul; God the Son is His wisdom. “Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1: 24). And as the Son is “the Wisdom”, by receiving the spirit of wisdom, we shall have the Son in us, and by Him we become wise; according to the words of the psalm: “The Lord makes the blind wise” (Psalm 146: 8). … And being given the Holy Spirit, God becomes in us, as according to St. John: “If we love one another, God abides in us; … by this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit” (1 John 4: 12-13). … And when God the Father comes to be in us, the Son , as well, will be in us; For the Son Himself says: “(The Father and I) will come to Him, and make our home with him” (John 14: 23). And as the Son is life, for He said: “I am the life” (John 14: 6), We, therefore, live by the Holy Spirit; for, according to the apostle Paul: “He who raised Christ from the dead, will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8: 11). And when we live by the Holy Spirit, Christ Himself will be living in us; For, Paul says: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2: 20). (St. Athanasius the apostolic) The Lord will always be Philanthropic, and will always intend to uphold those who fall, as David sings in his psalm. But the deniers, not wishing to hear the voice of the Lord; and not enduring to see the Lord, confessed by all, to be God and the Son of God; They, being so miserable, wander like blind bats, searching for excuses for their atheism, together with the devil, their father3. (St. Athanasius the apostolic) 1 On Ps. 146. 2 Commentary on Romans 8: 14. 3 Four Discourses against the Arians, 3: 67. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 234 What does the Lord mean by commanding us, saying: “O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you?” (Jeremiah 4: 14). While the prophet seeks from Him: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, … Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51).?! What is it, being said: “Sow for yourselves (the light of knowledge) 1” (Hosea 10: 12); and about God: “He who teaches man knowledge” (Psalm 94: 10); and “The Lord opens the eyes of the blind” (Psalm 146: 8); And what we say in our prayers by the prophet: “Enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death” (Psalm 13: 3)?! In all that, there is a proclamation of both the grace of God, and the freedom of our will; that when man intends to walk along the way of virtue, he seeks the help of God. He cannot enjoy the good heath, or free himself of weakness, by his own free will; unless he is so granted by God, who provides us with life itself. It is clear that, through the exaltation of nature, granted to us by the goodness of the Creator; the beginning of good will is, sometimes stirred up in us, which we cannot realize practically, or consummate without the guidance of the Lord; as testified by the apostle, saying: “For I know that in me (that is in my flesh, nothing good dwells; for to will is present in me, but how to perform what is good, I do not find” (Romans 7: 18) 2. (Father Sherimon) He, therefore, gave us mercy, and cured us from such a serious infirmity. …. Let us hear Him saying to us: “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you” (John 5: 14). … I wish we become humble in all things; for the humble lies on the ground; and he who lies on the ground, where will he fall?... It is obvious that it is he who is high up, who easily falls. … If we have returned, and corrected ourselves; “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2: 8); For it is written: “The Lord upholds all who fall” (Psalm 145: 14); and “opens the eyes of the blind” (Psalm 146: 8) (St. Parsnovius) “The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and the widows; But the ways of the wicked He turns upside down” (9) النص البیروتي: "ازرعوا لأنفسكم البرّ ". 1 2 Cassian, Conferences 13: 9. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 235 The Lord cares for the strangers, in particular the captives; He comforts them to let them feel that in Him, they would find their comfort, wherever they are. He supports those who have no one to help them, like the fatherless and the widow. Whereas the wicked, who count themselves above the law, and that no one has authority over them; He, although He may suffer long, waiting for them to return to Him, and to forsake their evil ways; their wickedness will snare them, and their life will end up with perdition. Every church of the Gentiles is a stranger; for she came to the fathers, though she is not of their seed according to the flesh; but became their daughter through following their example; She will be kept by the Lord, and not by anyone else.. “He relieves the fatherless and the widows”. No one should assume that the Lord will support the fatherless by restoring his inheritance; or support the widow by providing her with a job. Indeed the Lord supports them, as He does to all mankind; …. In a certain way, we are all fatherless, not because our father is deceased, but because he is absent (from our life). “”But the ways of the wicked He turns upside down”. What is the way of the wicked? … Despising the things we say, like “the kingdom of heaven”; the punishment of Hades, etc. … as Christian nonsense. They say: [What I say, I live; “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” (1 Corinthians 15: 32) Beware, lest those kind of people may draw you to a life of slothfulness. I wish they do not enter into your hearts through your ears. … Listen instead to the Lord your God, who says: “Wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go by it” (Matthew 7: 13). Such a way will be turned upside down by the Lord1. (St. Augustine) “He supports the fatherless and the widow”; The fatherless who lost God the Father through sin, and the widowed soul who lost Christ, her Bridegroom. “But the way of the wicked, He turns upside down”. The psalmist did not say that the Lord destroys the sinners…If Christ is the 1 On Ps. 146 (145). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 236 Way of the righteous, the way of the wicked is Satan; whom the Lord will turn upside down1. (St. Jerome) (In a message of condolence to a widow, St. John Chrysostom wrote): You have been enjoying honor and care when your husband was with you. Now, that God has taken him for Himself, He is taking his place for you. This I do not say on my own, but it is also said by the blessed prophet: “The Lord relieves the fatherless and the widow” (Psalm 146: 9); and “(The Lord) is Father of the fatherless, and a Defender of the widow” (Psalm 68: 5). God cares with great zeal for this category of humanity, as is mentioned in many parts of the holy Scripture2. (St. John Chrysostom) 5- A CONCLUSIVE SONG: “The Lord shall reign forever – Your God, O Zion, to all generations” (10) The psalm is concluded by instigating the spirit of hope in the life of the pious man who praises Christ, and attaches himself to the eternal One who reigns in heaven, to enjoy the joyful eternity. According to St. Jerome, the expressions “to all generations”, and “from generation to generation” in the whole text of the Holy Book symbolize the two peoples: the Jews and the Gentiles. Destroying the way of the wicked, the Lord shall reign forever. The psalmist did not say that the Lord will reign in the present world, but will reign forever. As long as we walk along the way of the devil, Christ will not reign in us. By giving place in my soul, for anger against my brother, I walk along the way of the devil, and Christ will not reign in me3. (St. Jerome) The Lord destroys the way of the wicked; How about us? … He will say to us: “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you” (Matthew 25: 34). 1 Homilies on Ps., homily 55 on Ps. 145 (146). 2 Letter to a young widow, 1. 3 Homilies on Ps., homily 55 on Ps. 145 (146). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 237 “The Lord reigns forever” … Do not think that eternity is bound by limited words….When you love eternity, and Christ is your goal, you will reign forever with Him1. (St. Augustine) If God reigns forever, and endures forever, there is no place for guessing … It is, in truth, the way by which we live our present life in security, and gain the unutterable good things, giving thanks to the grace and compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory, and the dominion, with His Father -- who has no beginning; and the Holy Spirit -- the Grantor of life, forever and ever, Amen2. (St. John Chrysostom) 1 On Ps. 146 (145). 2 On Ps. 146. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 238 AN INSPIRATION FROM PSALM 146 AS FOR ME, I AM A SONG OF PRAISE FOR GOD Grant me, O Son of David, to bear the spirit of praise; To follow the lead of David, the sweet psalmist of Israel; His whole life, he has been praising the Lord, even amid his tribulations; His guitar, harp, and psaltery, were always ready; His whole being was transformed into a harp, on which Your Holy Spirit played; By the spirit of praise and thanksgiving, he was qualified for the purity of heart ; And by Your grace, his life was qualified to become a joyful song of praise. Let me proclaim, together with the psalmist:: “Praise the Lord, O my soul!” I call all my depths to turn into a choir of praise; To be prepared for the fellowship with the heavenly hosts; And by grace, to enjoy the deposit of heaven; For heaven is the place for praise, and Hades is the dwelling place of denial; He, whose depths praise the Lord, his heart will be lifted up to heaven; Hades will not let him enter into it; As it rejects the true thanksgiving Christians. I shall praise the Lord while I live; O my God, You are my life, and by You, my soul exults; By You, I present an unceasing sacrifice of thanksgiving; Without You, I would die, and present denial and disturbance; I would bear the smell of death and darkness, Praise would escape from my heart; As long as I live by You, I shall experience the resurrected life; My soul will be filled with exultation, and will instigate the spirit of joy in all my beloved; Say a word; to let me come out of the tomb of sin; That the bonds of the enemy would be loosed, and I would breathe freedom; That my whole being would set forth to praise You, until the time comes to encounter You face to face; https://coptic-treasures.com/ 239 I do not know a particular time for praising You; My depths would dissolve with love and joy by Your presence in me; When You set the kingdom of joy within me; When grumbling and denial find no place in my depths; I would sing together with the psalmist, saying: “I shall praise my Lord, while I live” . My soul will perpetually praise You; For the sake of the amazing harp You granted me; And for the sake of Your Holy Spirit who plays on it; He plays on the strings of my senses, emotions, and thoughts; He kindles my talents, possibilities, and energies; They are Your gifts to me – precious spiritual strings; On which no one but Your Holy Spirit can play; To compose a heavenly symphony that gives pleasure to God the Father; That brings marvel to the heavenly hosts, and destruction to the hosts of darkness; How amazing! … You Holy Spirit “brings, out of the eater, something to eat”; And out of me -- the dust and trash, someone to sit together with the elites of Your people; This is the song of praise, that no human can sing; For it is a song, the cost of which is Your precious blood. As the psalmist has turned into a unique praise of thanksgiving; His mind, heart, and all his senses were lifted up; He no longer puts his trust in princes, nor on any man; You, O my Savior, became his hope, salvation, and joy; He praises You, for You are the Eternal, the Grantor of the resurrection and eternity; Whereas men are mortal, their spirits will eventually exit, and they will return to their dust. Let me praise You, O my Creator; For you are forever faithful; My soul may get disturbed for some time; On account of that the world often believe in lies; Yet, I shall not be terrified, but will praise You, for You are the Truth; Let me be attached to You, to walk in truth, namely, in You; You keep the truth forever! https://coptic-treasures.com/ 240 I praise You, for You execute justice for the oppressed; You received oppression to embrace the oppressed, and to set them exultant by You; You give food to the hungry; You became the bread that comes down from heaven; and brings us forth into Your heavenly banquet; Grant me to get hungry for you, and thirsty for Your Holy Spirit; I acquire You for free, get satisfied by You, and never hunger for the world; And drink from the fountains of Your Holy Spirit. You set the captives free; You liberate us from the humiliation of being selfish, that would destroy my heart by its bitter chains. I praise You, God of the impossible; I was blind because of the defilement of sins; Losing the light of truth, I became in pitch darkness; Open up the eyes of my heart to see the light; When I see You, O Light of the world, I can see all in, and by You; Indeed, You give wisdom to the blind, dwelling in us, O Wisdom of God; I praise You, for You look over my soul, bowed down to dust; You alone can raise me up from the burden of fear and despair; You alone can destroy the despair and depression, and grant me the joyful hope; What shall I seek from You, who Love the righteous; Grant me to fear You, to enjoy the warmth of Your divine bosom; Sanctify me by Your Holy Spirit, to taste the sweetness of Your love. I praise You, Who watch over the strangers; Keep me, until I encounter You, and unite with You; Comfort me in my sojourn, until I return to my heavenly home; I praise You, who support the fatherless and the widow; You are the inheritance of the fatherless, and the companion of the widow; Support me, until I return to the house of my heavenly Father; Support me, until I enter into the secret place of the wedding; I praise You, O my King and my God, to all generations; I praise You in this generation as a son of Yours; And praise You in the generation of eternity as a son of resurrection. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 241 My God, let me get attached to You, For You are my life; Exultant by You, my depths praise Your holy name; My body may groan amid the affliction; But my soul meditates in Your love; To exalt over the sufferings of the body; I have nothing better to do than to praise You! For You are my life and joy; I praise You every day, as long as You dwell in me; Your joyful kingdom lifts me up above all events; It draws my heart, mind, and all my depths to You; I live as though among the heavenly hosts; Anxiety would find no place in me. I praise You by dwelling in Your bosom; I put my trust in no man, whatever are his possibilities; And I would not seek the emotion or compassion of any man; Who may give me today, and oppose me tomorrow; Who may open his storehouse to me now; And I do not know where he will be tomorrow; He may die, and his body may return to his dust; I may seek him, and find him nowhere; But when You embrace me to you; By You, I challenge death itself. By You, the gates of heaven are opened to me eternally; I praise You, for You are my Almighty Helper. My soul praises You, and exults in You; If oppression dwells upon me; You alone executes justice for the oppressed; You alone satisfy the needs of both my soul and body. You present to me the food of angels; And cares even for my material bread; You liberate my soul of every bondage; For You grant me the authority to trample on the serpents and scorpions; You open my insight, to see the heavens with their amazing splendor; By a word, You heal every perversion in me; Amid my sojourn, You keep me company on the road; My soul is comforted by Your company; I often suffer from humiliation; I sometimes count myself as fatherless; And sometimes I feel like being a widow; https://coptic-treasures.com/ 242 You are my heavenly Father; And the eternal Groom of my soul; I praise You perpetually, and forever; My soul is filled with joy by You; My soul longs to encounter You face to face; To You, be praise and thanksgiving, O my God, and my King.
Welcome