AMONG LIONS OR THE PSALMIST REJOICES IN THE MESSIAH, HIS SAVIOR Its occasion: David sang this psalm, as it came in the title, when he was hiding in a cave; whether it is the cave of ‘Adullam’ (1 Samuel 22: 1-5), or the cave of ‘En Gedi’ (1 Samuel 24: 1-22); and when Saul, his pursuer, fell into his hands, and he refrained from killing him. This psalm may represent the whole life of David in general, for he kept taking refuge in the caves of his land. David was escaping from the face of saul; as though consummating what the Lord said; “When they persecute you in this city, flee to another” (Matthew 10: 23). David kept fleeing from the face of Saul, so as not to stir up his wrath by his presence before him. This psalm reveals the extent of danger that dwelt upon him, expressing it as: “There is but a step between me and death” (1 Samuel 20: 3); It reveals, as well, the extent of God’s care for him in the midst of all dangers. The key of this psalm is the verse: “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth” (5, 11). In the midst of troubles, God, who dwells in heaven, is glorified, the High by His appearance, and His transfiguration in our life in the midst of suffering. Even if we, on the earth, among the lions, yet our joy is unceasing, for the sake of Him, who saves our souls from the lions, and cast the evil enemy into the the same pit which he prepared for us. What preoccupies the heart of David, amid his anguish, in his relationship with God Himself. He begins by crying out to Him, seeking His divine mercies, together with testifying by his great trust in God, who hears the prayers and the cries of the heart (1). If he portrays his enemies as vicious lions (4); Yet he gives God thanks beforehand, as though his salvation has been already realized (5). At the same time, what occupies him was that the day will come when he would praise God together with his people (6 – 10). A Messianic psalm: As verse 9 was quoted in the New Testament; many scholars believe that this psalm is Messianic. If David was victorious and conqueror, It would be the Son of David who would rather be as such, having conquered to our account. And if David has submitted all his enemies; the Lord Christ has rather more done by His cross and His resurrection for our sake1. Many fathers believe that David, hiding in the cave, and the conqueror of king Saul and his men by his humility, has been filled with joy and exultation; not for the sake of his conquest over Saul, but on account of that, by the eye of prophecy, he saw the Messiah, coming hidden in Manhood, to proclaim conquest over the devil and his hosts. The prophecies that came concerning the Son of David in this psalm: 1 Cf. W. Plumer. The Psalms, p. 598. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 104 a- In the title of this psalm, the cause of crucifying the Lord Christ, was proclaimed. b- In the title of this psalm, as well, it was referred to the conquest of the crucified Christ, by destroying the devil “up to the end”. c- The title of this psalm referred to the incarnation of the Word, together with hiding His Divinity as though in a cave. d- The crucifixion of Christ proclaims the flow of the divine mercies (1). e- The encounter of the divine mercy and Truth on the cross (3) f- The opposition of the wicked against the Savior (4). g- The ascension of Christ (5). h- By the cross, the devil was destroyed (6) i- By the cross, we enjoy the Spirit of God, the Grantor of abidance and praise (7). j- By the cross, the Gentiles came to believe, and to be among those who praise (9). k- By the cross, the believers became like clouds rising up to heaven (10). 1- The cross, and the flow of divine mercy 1 - 2 2- The encounter of mercy and truth 3 3- The opposition of the Jews against the Messiah 4 4- The ascension of Christ 5 5- The destruction of the devil by the cross 6 6- The cross, the grantor of strength, joy, and glory 7 - 8 7- By the cross, the door of faith was opened before the Gentiles 9 8- By the cross we became like clouds 10 – 11 The title: Prayer for safety from enemies To the Chief Musicians. Set to “Do not destroy” A Michtam of David when he fled from Saul into the cave. Or: “Up to the end”, “Do not destroy” (Al. taschith) A Michtam of David When he fled from Saul into the cave. 1- We have already dealt with almost all what came in this title when we taled about the titles of the previous psalms. Yet, it is the first time we encounter. the term Al, taschith, which, although almost unanimously agreed that it means “Do not destroy), yet it is differently interpreted: a- Some believe that it refers to a musical instrument of nine strings, b- Some others believe that it refers to the tune or the music used in singing this psalm. c- Some others believe that the saying “Do not destroy” refers to Saul; As though its goal is to sing this psalm in this memorial occasion. Either because God has put in the heart of David, not to stretch his hand to God’s anointed, or that David has kept his men from killing Saul. d- This expression bears a little prayer coming forth from the believer’s heart, who does not seek the destruction of his enemies, but their salvation. He rather seeks the destruction of their animosity, evil, wicked deeds, plots, and not their souls. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 105 e- According to St. Augustine, this title is a prophecy that is completely realized in the title put on the cross, as a reason for the death of Christ “The King of the Jews”. Although they sought His death by crucifixion, Yet, on the contrary, by the cross, His kingdom was realized on the New Israel. What Pilate wrote, he did not change, according to the request of the non-believers (John 19: 22), as it was previously been prophesied; when it came in the psalms: “Do not destroy” as a title. The Gentiles came to believe in Jesus Christ the King of the Jews; He reigned on the Gentiles as well1. (St. Augustine) 2- In the title it came: “Up to the end”, a reference to the Lord Christ, who came in the fullness of time, and consummated the work of salvation “up to the end”. As this psalm came to praise the passion of the Lord; Look at its title: “Up to the end”. The “End” is Christ. Why was He so called? It is not because He comes to an end, or that He is consumed, but because it is He who consumes. (St. Augustine) 3- “He fled from Saul into the cave”. Many scholars, including the scholar Origen, and St. Augustine, believe that David, hiding in a cave, refers to the hiding of the Word of God in the Manhood; as “He emptied Himself” (Ephesians 2: 7), and hid His glory by His incarnation. What does hiding in a cave means? A hiding in the earth. He who hides in a cave is (covered) by the cave, not to be seen. Christ, on the other hand, carried the earth, namely, the body He took from the earth, in which He hid Himself, so that the Jews would not recognize Him as God, “Had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2: 8). They could not recognize Him because He hid Himself in a (cave); namely, He revealed to them the weakness of the body; while the majesty of Divinity has been as though hidden in a secret place – in a (cave), namely, clothed by the body. … The cave could be understood as the lower reaches of the earth. (St. Augustine) 1- THE CROSS AND THE FLOW OD DIVINE MERCIES: “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings, I will make my refuge; until these calamities have passed by” (1) The repetition of the expression “Be merciful to me” in the beginning of this psalm, probably refers to the need of both the Jews and the Gentiles for the divine mercies, which was realized by the cross… As according to the apostle: “Since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith” (Romans 3: 30). The psalmist David was in great danger; but God’s mercies were greater and mightier. That is why he repeats his request “Be merciful to me”; as there will be no salvation for him, except through hiding under the wings of God; namely, by putting his life in His hands. 1 Sermon 218: 7; see sermon 201: 2. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 106 In His love for man, and in his humility, God is like a bird that puts her little ones underneath her wings to protect them from danger. “Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings” (Psalm 17: 8). “How precious is Your loving kindness, O God; The children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings” (Psalm 36: 7) “I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings” (Psalm 61: 4). “Because You have been my help; Therefore, in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice” (63: 7) “He shall cover you with His feathers; and under His wings you shall take refuge” (Psalm 91: 4) “The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wing you came for refuge” (Ruth 2: 12) “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing” (Luke 13: 34). The repetition of the expression “Be merciful to me”, refers to our need for the mercy of God in the two times: the present time, and the time to come, I also refers to the abundance of God’s mercy. “The shadow of the wings of God” is His Power that cares for the world, about which He talked in the gospel of St. Mathew, saying: “How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing” (Matthew 23: 37). In the present world we take refuge in the shadow of God’s wings; whereas in the one to come, we take refuge in what is greater than a shadow. It is said that God’s wings, here, are our faith in Him, and our thoughts lifted up, through which our minds are lifted up. The righteous who is supported by such thoughts trust in God, trusts in the shadow of god’s wings, until the iniquities have passed by; because iniquities do not last, but pass by. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) According to the scholar Origen, the prophet desired to enjoy the shadow of the divine wings; namely, the law and the prophecies. Whereas the believers of the New Covenant seek what is greater, they seek the two wings themselves; namely, to be lifted up by the Holy Spirit, and to enjoy the Truth Himself, and not just His shadow. By these words, the (bride) shows that the time has come when all the shadows disappear, and the Truth Himself abides1. (The scholar Origen) According to St. Augustine, by this phrase, the Lord Christ Himself cries out praying, to teach the believers how to cry out, and how to seek in the midst of anguish, until the calamities pass by, and they come to enjoy the hope for resurrection. For it is for this goal He prayed, to teach us how to pray; And for this goal he suffered, to teach us to suffer; and for this goal He resurrected, to teach us how to hope for the resurrection. 1 Commentary on Songs, 3: 5. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 107 (St. Augustine) If the psalmist David cries out seeking the divine mercies, the whol;e world, with all its peoples are in need of those mercies. St Jacob El-Serougi meditates in the birthday celebration of the Lord Christ, who came to offer Himself a sacrifice on behalf of the whole world, to liberate it from the bondage of the devil. He was crucified to let the nations that were enslaved to the devil for so long, that the time has come to be liberated through the crucifixion of the divine savior. By the cross He proclaims that He is the Mighty Liberator; the Artist, capable of reforming the distorted human image; the Architect to reconstruct the falling house; the Shepherd to bring back the prodigal sheep; the Physician to heal the soul, together with the bodies, to bandage the wounds and fractures, and to grant strength to the weak. How great are the mercies of God, the crucified Almighty, and the amazing in His love. On that day, freedom was issued for the enslaved, who was bound for the service of atheism. On that day, the bound for so long was loosed ; for the Mighty One resurrected and broke the shackles of her prison. On that day, the Great lord has overcome the nation of the devils, and taken back his own. On that day, the imprisoned came out of the darkness; for the Light shone, and broke down the gate of the darkness. On that day, the Great Architect reconstructed the fallen building; And in order to keep it from falling again, He brought into it the support of the Divinity. On that day, the Lord reconciled with Adam; For the Son who shone, brought up peace in between the two parties. On that day, the Shepherd found the prodigal sheep, put it over His shoulders, and brought it forth into paradise. On that day, the flock of nations came back, for the hidden wolf was destroyed by the Shepherd of all. On that day, those on the outside came inside; and those of the household came out of the King’s house angry. On that day, the Mighty One came over the rebel, held him tight, the great Warrior came tied him up, and devastated his house. On that day, the great Warrior came to the land of captivity, tied the captor tight, and took back His own from him. On that day, came the healer of the broken, to strengthen the weak, to bandage, to cure, and to satisfy by His care1. (St. (Mar) Jacob El-Serougi) “I will cry out to God Most High, to God who performs all things for me” (2) The psalmist David felt his weakness compared to the power of his adversary; Yet, at the same time he was sure that God remains above all, not to be scorned; and that He is capable to perform what seems impossible to protect him, and to grant him the abundance of His peace and joy. 1 Mamer 201 on Nativity of our Lord (see Dr. Behnam Sony). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 108 It is as though the psalmist looked forward to the Son of David who accepted to be tried, and be hanged on the cross, to redeem him by His precious blood, and to bring him forth up to the High dwelling places. The leaderships, together with the people cried out seeking His crucifixion, and bringing Him down to the pit, to get rid of Him forever. Whereas the psalmist, on the other hand, cried in his depths by the language of the Spirit, recognizing in the Crucified, the “Almighty God”, the Judge, who intercedes for the psalmist to bring him up high. When the Righteous cries out to God, it would not be by loud voice, as much as by the abidance and strong activity of the soul; about which the apostle says in his epistle to the Romans: “The Spirit Himself makes intercession for us, with groaning which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8: 26). As to saying, “God Most High”, it refers to the fact that, as iniquity is lowly and mean, the need is for Him who is up High. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) The Fearsome Judge came to be an Intercessor on my behalf, by his blood shed as atonement for my sins; whom St. John described Him as being like “A Lamb as though it had been slain” (Revelation 5: 6). His wounds remain visible in His body, in a way that surpasses our minds; and His blood remains interceding for us. “He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrew 7: 25). To put our souls at ease, St. John the beloved says: “My children these things I write to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Righteous. He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world” (1 John 2: 1, 2). The Judge became an Intercessor on behalf of the accused, who received Him, believed in Him, attached themselves to Him, and lived by His Spirit dwelling in them. Hence we anticipate the day of Judgment with joy, saying: “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercessions for us” (Romans 8: 33, 34). So, I fear the day of judgment no more, nor is terrified of my sin, however heavy and evil; yet it is helpless to deny me the love of my Lord Jesus Christ, or to preoccupy my mind away from Him; as long as I come forth to Him, attached to the cross with a contrite heart. For, at the cross, the powers and defilements of sin are broken, and hope will remain working in me. The cross will remain a sign of God’s love for us; draws our hearts to Him; however sad our iniquitous hearts, and however much we feel our disobedience and transgressions on God’s commandments. Through the role of the cross, the deceit brought forth by the old serpent was exposed (Revelation 12: 9). The lust of the riches and the authority, that came through eating from the tree of knowledge, was loosed by the fruit that appeared from the Tree of Life (The Crucified Christ). The guard of paradise (Genesis 3: 14) was dismissed, and the keys of paradise was given to the robber who became worthy of standing on the right side of God (Matthew 17: 31). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 109 He took over the spear of the cherub who was guarding the tree of life (Genesis 3: 24), He opened up the way to paradise, stabbed its corruptor with the spear, and opened up the paradise to let in the heirs who were cast away1. He let the robber in, and opened the gate of hope before the household of Adam. The mercies were opened up for the sinners. Te gates of the pit were closed shut, after being wide open. He brought forth gladness to paradise, by opening up its closed gates. The evil times that were for the household of Adam passed away. And on came the good times, for those who were cast away to inherit. He cancelled the great bill signed by eve, our mother, and written by the serpent. He accepted to fulfill every debt on Adam our father. For this goal He came down, became one of us, and bore our death, for he made us of him. He became like us when He condescended, came to be beside us; and made us like Him before His Father. He granted health, and bore the pains of the sick. He visited the sick, and endured the pains on the hands of His crucifiers. He killed the dragon who devoured Adam, the dust. He gave Eve back the attire of glory by which she was clothed, and which was robbed from her by the serpent in paradise. From Adam he took away the miserable cover made of tree leaves, and gave him instead the attire of glory, from which he was bared. Behold, He is Emanuel, our God, as He was preached; With Him we live by His life. Glory be to Him forever. (St. (Mar) Jacob El-Serougi) The cries of the Lord Christ, being a Representative of humanity, proclaim our need to cry out to God, to seek His mercies; trusting that He will always work for our edification and our good; “Does good for us and protects us”. If He is the Most High, how come that we hear Him cry out? Trust is realized through experience, saying: “To God who performs all things for me” (3) If He, even before I search for Him, has performed all things for me, Will He not listen to me when I cry out to Him? … God the Father did good by delivering our Savior Jesus Christ to die for our offenses, and to be raised because of our justification (Romans 4: 25).For For what kind of men did He accept to die ? For the sinners! Yet, although the sinners did not seek God, God sought them. That is why, being the Most High, our groaning are not far from Him; as”The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart” (Psalm 34: 18).”God performs all things for me”. (St. Augustine) Among all those who are clothed with a body, He is the only Righteous; Jesus Christ; as He testifies to Himself, saying: “I have overcome the world” (John 16: 33); and to Him the apostle Peter testified (quoting the prophet Isaiah), saying: “He committed no sin, nor was guile in His mouth” (1 Peter 2: 22).; and the apostle, saying: “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5: 21). How did He make Him a sin? 1 الرسالة الأولى (د. بھنام سوني). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 110 He bore the sin without committing it, and nailed it to the cross (Colossians 2: 14). About which the apostle also says: “Those who run in a race, all run, but one receives the prize” (1 Corinthians 9: 24). Besides, No one among men, who went down to the battle, and was not wounded or struck; For sin prevailed since Adam transgressed against the commandment (Romans 5: 14). It struck many, wounded many, and killed many; and no one of those many was able to kill it, until our Savior came on His cross. It had a thorn that prickled many, until the end came, and its thorn was broken when You were nailed on the cross1. (St. Aphrahat) 2- THE ENCOUNTER OF MERCY AND TRUTH: “He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. God shall send forth His mercy and His truth” (3) The two terms “mercy” and “Truth” came personalized; referring to the Person of the Savior who says: “I am the Truth”, He is also “Mercy” and “love”. If “He sends His angels to encamp all around those who fear Him” (Psalm 34: 7); He, Himself, the Lord of angels, comes down to make us enjoy the divine love, and the joyful evangelic truth. Considering this psalm as Messianic, the way he does for most of the psalms, St. Augustine sees in it the image of the Lord Christ in His passion, that grants the conquest. In the name of all mankind, whom the incarnate Word of God represents, and whose sins He bears, the Lord Christ cries out to the Father to send from heaven, and save Him. He obeyed even to death – death on the cross, And has the authority to rise; yet presenting to the Father His saving passions, He seeks from Him to raise Him up and glorify Him; so that, in Him, we would rise and be glorified, in and with Him, as the Head of the whole church. By the resurrection of Christ, what came in this psalm was realized; which the Lord Christ proclaimed by saying to the Jews: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will rise it up” (John 2: 19); on which St. John the Evangelist comments, saying: “He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He had risen, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them, and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said” (John 2: 21, 22). We find that Christ Himself is Mercy and Truth. He is ‘Mercy’ in His suffering for our sake; And He is ‘Truth’ in judging us. (St. Augustine) This saying concerns the human nature, that, after the disobedience of our father Adam, was taken over by death, sin, and the devil. Those three enemies have trodden on her, and she was among them as though fallen asleep among the young lions; namely, unconscious, and not moving.. Then God the Father sent His only begotten Son; Namely He was pleased and satisfied to send Him to the world; He who descended from heaven, yet not location-wise, nor through any change in essence (the Godhead); nor from the physically seen heaven; but, by saying: “He descended from heaven”, we mean that He condescended and accepted to become a completer man, and to come to earth incarnate. 1 Demonstrations, 7: 1. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 111 He received human humility, while still a Mighty God, with His Divinity and Majesty. He is the “Truth”, for He is the True God ffom the True God. And He is the “Mercy” as well, for his mercy let Him be compassionate upon his creation, and by His passion, He saved them from the mentioned young lions, waked them up from their sleep, took away their disturbance, kept them from perdition, and turned their humiliation and shame back to their enemies who trampled upon them. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) Like men who do not wish to live a weak life in their old age, so are the believers, who wish to live in the truth and all righteousness, up to the day when they stand before God, who will judge everyone according to his works in justice and truth. For our Lord Jesus Christ died for our sake, to resurrect from the dead, in the last day, not only by the body, but to resurrect now, as well, from the death of sin. Those who died in sin, after living for long in evil, wasting their life in defilement, will rise up by the command of Him who died for our sake and resurrected. And while some will continue in repentance, glorifying God for His salvation and His blessing; others will continue to be ignorant, not recognizing who has done them good! What an honor, bestowed by our Lord Jesus Christ on those who honored Him in their true sufferings; granting them the eternal life; and not letting them die again in sin, but live in justice, and rise up in the body, to live forever. And how greatly despised will the others be, as they are once again delivered to their defilements, and delivered to Hades, because of their sins, up to the Day of Judgment. (St. Abba Shenouda – the Archimandrite) “Look ,the lamb of god ,who takes away the sin of the world” (john1:29) He alone, showed this mercy to those who believed in Him among humans, and were redeemed from sin; Such un-expressible salvation will come over those who patiently wait for the Lord, seek Him, and trust in Him (Psalm 40: 1-3). (St. Maccari the Great) 3- THE OPPOSITION OF THE JEWS AGAINST THE MESSIAH: “My soul is among lions, I lie among the sons of men, who are set on fire, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword” (4) The psalmist David sees his enemies like fierce beasts; lions who bear the thoughts of the devil, who “walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5: 8). He is an enemy set on fire to burn and scatter. The words of the enemies come out from between their teeth that gnash with malice and hate; as though deadly arrows; and their tongue as sharp as the sword. It is a serious portrait of the situation of those leaders who persisted on crucifying the Lord Jesus Christ. By saying “teeth”, the prophet means their words coming out from their mouth and teeth of the wicked against the righteous, to stab them like arrows aimed from afar, and like sharp swords; the way the Jews did against our Lord, in His presence, and absence. (Father Onesimos of Jerusalem) https://coptic-treasures.com/ 112 Such kind of people, who slander their brethren, do not look at them, nor mix with them; “Do not incline your heart to the evil words” (Psalm 141: 4 – Vulgate); lest the psalmist will say to you: “You sit and speak against your brother; You slander your own mother’s son” (Psalm 41: 20); Lest you become “like the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword” (4); or become like him whose words are “softer than oil, yet they are drawn swords” (Psalm 55: 21); and properly expressed by the words: “A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; a babbler is no different” (Ecclesiastes 10: 11) 1. (St. Jerome) The household of ‘Caiaphas’, the company of all evil; and those of ‘Annas’, who bore the sword against our Savior;Judas preceding them, like a leader of a bloodthirsty gang; Like patients, out of their minds, who bore the sticks and swords against their physician, to strike the one who healed them. Threats, hate, insolent words, insults, ridicule, and gnashing of teeth against the Victorious. Men of dust, out of their mind, threatened, and came out against the waves; and the thorns and thistles, came out against the fire. The chaff hastened to fight against the fire; and the dust against the wind that could wipe out the mountains. Clouds came out to threaten the daylight; and the shadows to face the Sun; When He asked them: “Whom do you seek?”, they fell back; as the chaff has no power against the wind; The rays of the sun scattered the shadows, and found no place to go to! When He answered: “Here I am”, the wicked fell back; for the whole world could not stand before His might; His sea of fire could consume them; and His mercies could quench His fire to keep them safe; His power could bring them down; but His mercy supported them and set them up2. (St. Jacob El-Serougi) Those did not bite with their teeth; and I wish they would have, and not stabbed by the spears of hate, which are more deadly. Who would suffer from a worse pain? He who is struck once, and got healed or he who is continuously eaten by the teeth of need? Need could be worse than a furnace or fierce beasts3! (St. John Chrysostom) In his interpretation of the verse of the song, saying: “I am wounded with love” (Songs 2: 5), the scholar Origen says: [The Lord Christ is the divine arrow that pierces the heart, not to tear it apart by a deadly wound, but He grants the sweet wounds of love]. From him St. Augustine quoted, and, comparing the wounds caused by the arrows of the wicked to those by the Lord Christ, he says: [the former seeks the killing and perdition, 1 Letter 125 to Rusticus, 19. 2 Mamer 53 on Eve Holy Thursday (see Dr. Behnam Sony). 3 On Matthew, homily 81. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 113 crying out: “Crucify Him, crucify Him”; while the arrow by the Lord Christ wounds the heart with love, and seek fellowship with God, and love for humanity]. Do not think of the unarmed hands, but of the armed mout, as from it came out a sword by which Christ was killed. In the same way a sword will come out of the mouth of Christ, to kill (the denial of faith) of the Jews. This sword is sharpened twice (Revelation 1: 16); by it He sets up those whom He strikes; and separate from them those whom He intends as believers in Him. They are an evil sword; But He is a good sword. They are evil arrows, and He is a good arrow; from whom good words come out, when He stabs the heart of the believer to love! (St. Augustine) 4- THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST: “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth” (5) If the enemy intended to bring the psalmist David down to the pit; God, on the other hand, carried him in His bosom, to bring Him forth, not to earthly glories, but to heaven itself. Likewise, the killers of the Lord Christ thought that they have sealed the tomb on Him; Yet, was risen, and ascended to heaven, to raise us up together with Him, to raise our hearts up to His heavens. In the midst of His passion, our Lord Jesus cried out to the Father: “Glorify Your Son that Your Son also may glorify You” (John 17: 1). About this saying, St. Athanasius the apostolic says: [That saying concerns the ascension of our Lord to heaven, and the filling of the whole world of His knowledge and faith in Him]. (Father onesimus of Jerusalem) Our nature, in the Person of the incarnate God, rose up above heaven; exalted above the angels, above the archangels, and the cherubim, and soared above the seraphim, and all the heavenly hosts; and settled down in the true divine throne. You can see how heaven exalts above the earth; But let us rather start by looking downward. Don’t you see how far is Hades from the earth? Earth from heaven? And heaven above us from the heaven of heavens?! Look at how our nature has gone down, then rose up! … There would never be a going down more than what man has gone! And, there would never be an ascension higher than what Christ has ascended! To clarify this, the apostle Paul says: “He who descended is the One who ascended”… Where did he descend? Into the lower parts of the earth, and ascended far above all the heavens” (Ephesians 4: 9-10) 1. (St. John Chrysostom) After His resurrection, He remained forty days on earth, before ascending to His Father. He did not intend to ascend directly from the tomb to His Father, before confirming His resurrection. He gathered together the church for whose sake He died, on the Mount of Olives, to watch Him ascending to His Father. 1 In Ascensione PG 50. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 114 The great Savior walked His walk, consummated His mission, and went out to go, and to send the riches to the bride whom He chose. He chose the poor, the needy, and the suffering; and promise to send to her the treasures of His Father. She came back naked from captivity; … He ascended and sent down the Holy Spirit, the Giver of clothes to all those who are naked. He brought the captives forth, who got nothing; And ascended to send them treasures and riches. He came and died in our place; then ascende to the place of His Father; to give, by His death, life to the world, which was not living1. (St. Jacob El-Serougi) 5- THE DESTRUCTION OF THE DEVIL BY THE CROSS: “They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen” (6) While the enemy prepares nets to bow the believer’s soul down to earth, and digs a pit to let him fall in it, never to stand aright, or to keep his heart from rising up to heaven; Behold, the enemy himself falls in the net which he prepared, and into the pit he dug. Whereas the believer , on the other hand, will enjoy the Holy Spirit who renews the depths and the mind forever; His heart will be lifted up to heaven; and his inner man will turn into a harp on which the Spirit of God plays a symphony of love, praise, and thanksgiving to God. Although the wicked use their evil means to charge against us, Yet it is not befitting of us to defend ourselves by similar ways; We should not use nets before their nets; nor pit before their pit. Let us believe that what they prepare and dig is for their destruction; for in them they will certainly fall. A Greek proverb says: [The evil counsel will mostly be for the perdition of the wicked counselor]. And a Roman proverb says: [There is no law more just than the death of him who condemn man to death, by the same way he invented to destroy the life of others. ‘Guillotine’ who invented the instrument which bears his name ‘the guillotine’, was condemned to death by the guillotine2. And the wicked ‘Haman’ was crucified on the gallows which he prepared for ‘Mordecai’ (Esther 7: 10). “They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me , into the midst of which they themselves have fallen” (6). He who is fond of the temporal things, his soul would bow down to earth; as was the woman whom Satan has bound, and bent over for eighteen years, whom the Lord loosed of her infirmity (Luke 13). (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) The whole race of mankind is like that woman (Luke 13: 11), who was bowed down to earth, bound by Satan. Against such enemy, the psalmist cries out, saying: “They caused my soul to bow down” (6). The devil and his hosts bow the souls of men and 1 Mamer 204 on Ascension of our Lord Jesus (see Dr. Behnam Sony). 2 Plmer, P 597-598. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 115 women down to earth, to let them seek the earthly temporal things, and to keep them from seeking the high things1. If Christ was not put to death, death would not have been put to death. Satan was defeated by his own conquest; For he rejoiced when he deceived the first Adam, and delivered him to death; Yet, by killing the second (Adam), he lost the first one he caught in his nets2. (St. Augustine) The crowd of Jews, together with their leaders stod against Christ, struggled against the Lord of all; but they could not perceive that what they did has been against themselves, preparing a net for themselves, and digging a net for their own perdition (Psalm 9: 15). … For the Savior, the Lord of all; although His right hand and might could destroy the corruption, and put death to death, yet He submitted by His own free will; for He became man to taste death for the sake of all, to make corruption to no avail, to take sin away from the world, and to save those who are under the hand of the tyrant enemy3. (St. Cyril the Great) “Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped” (Psalm 124: 6, 7). The psalmist did not dare to say “I broke the snare“, but says: “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 124: 8); prophesying about Him who will come to destroy the snares prepared by the devil. Yet, the best way to destroy such a snare is to put a bait for the devil; so that, once he charge against his victim, he would get caught by the net;… Then I can say: ‘They have prepared a net for my steps, in which they themselves have fallen” (6). What was that bait? He had to take on Himself our humble and weak body, to crucify that humility and weakness. Because if He chose to take for Himself a spiritual body, He would not say: “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26: 41). Liste, therefore to the voice of both: the voice of the weak body, and that of the willing spirit. “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Mathew 26: 39). He condescended and took on Himself our body; condescended and bore our misery and weakness. Definitely, His Divinity did not suffer by that; And even His Manhood despised those pains. Let us therefore follow Christ; As, according to the Scripture: “You shall walk after the Lord your God, fear Him, … and hold fast to Him” Deuteronomy 13: 4). To whom shall I hold fast, if not to Christ?!; as, according to the apostle Paul: “He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him” (1 Corinthians 6: 17). By following the steps of the Lord, we shall return from the wilderness to paradise (St. Ambrose) 1 Sermon 162 B. 2 The Ascension, 263. 3 In Luc. Sermon 1: 40. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 116 Who are those wicked adversaries, other than those said by the prophet to “prepare net for my steps” (7), by which they catch the souls for sin? Those God will destroy, until there would be no more of them to catch anyone who peacefully “sits under his vine, and under his fig tree” (Micah 4: 4) 1. 6- THE CROSS, THE GRANTOR OF STRENGTH, JOY, AND GLORY: The five last verses came conforming to psalm 108: 1 – 5; despite the difference in the occasions of the two psalms. The psalmist often used to begin his psalm by crying out to seek the divine help, and ends it by giving praise and thanksgiving to God his Savior. “My heart is steadfast, O Lord, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise” (7) Concentrating his eyes on his Savior, and putting trust in Him, He who is capable of lifting him from the pit up to heaven, the psalmist’s heart become steadfast; so that the enemy – whatever his strength is – would not be able to lead him astray from his goal. The psalmist was ready to endure all temptations that might come upon him, as long as God, his Savior, supported him. According to St. Athanasius the apostolic, the prophet says: [I am ready, and well prepared to receive the Holy Spirit, promised by the only begotten Son, who inspires giving praise and singing for the sake of God’s great works. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) Man should not glory in his own temporal honors; but should prepare his heart to endure all things; so as to be able to sing with joy, together with the prophet, saying: “My heart is steadfast, O Lord, my heart is steadfast” (7) 2. (St. Augustine) What does “My heart is steadfast”, but (My will is strong) 3? (Father Caesarius, bishop of Arle) While I am preparing my heart, the adversary enemy prepares a pit for me. Should I not prepare my heart to endure? … He prepares a pit to catch me! Should I not prepare myself to endure? … That is why he will fall in it, while I sing… Let us listen to the heart prepared by the apostle, following the lead of his Lord, saying: “We also glory in tribulations; knowing that tribulations produces perseverance; and perseverance character; and character hope. Now, hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5: 3-5). Although the apostle was under pressure, in chains, and in prison, yet he says,”I also glory in tribulations”. When? When his heart is prepared – steadfast! (St. Augustine) “Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn” (8) According to the Syrian version, the word “glory” came as (harp). 1 On Joshua, homily 16: 4. 2 Sermon on Mount, 1: 19: 58. 3 Sermon 226: 1. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 117 And according to the Jewish tradition, the psalmist David used to take his lute or harp, wherever he goes, even while fleeing away before the faces of his enemies. He could not sleep before playing one or two psalms; and could not start work early in the morning before practicing the same. He knew how to praise God, even in the moments of tribulation and anguish. Help me, O Lord, You are my glory; for You glorify me by Your help. Come now to my help; as I am ready to praise You, and to give You thanks by my lute and harp. The prophet calls the coming of the spiritual hosts together with the physical senses, “lute and harp”. Whereas St. Athanasius the apostolic, on the other hand, calls the grace of sonhood, as glory; and calls his soul and his body “lute and harp”; as he gets up to praise God with his (soul and body). As to saying: “I will awaken the dawn”, it means, that because of my enlightenment by the spirit of sonhood, I will praise You, not only now, but also with the shining of faith in You in the whole world, in the anticipated daylight, which is that of Your divine incarnation. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) According to St. Jerome, It is the Lord Christ talking here, He who hid the glory of His Divinity by His incarnation. In the midst of his passion, He seeks the proclamation of His hidden glory. “Awake, my glory, Awake”. Let this be our thought. The reference here, is to the glory of the Savior, that the apostles have perceived in the humility of His body (the body of Christ); and saw by keen eyes, not what is visible, but what is hidden in the body1. (St. Jerome) Let the saying: “Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it”(psalm 81: 10) be realized in us. ; “The Lord gave the word; great was the company of those who proclaimed it” (Psalm 68: 11). I am utterly sure that your prayers are like mine, concerning our struggle to realize the conquest of the truth. You seek the glory of Christ, not your own glory. If you are conquerors, I, as well acquire the conquest, if I discover my sin2. (St. Augustine) Many fathers present symbolic concepts of the “lute and harp”, as referring to the believer’s body, talents, and energies, that awake to praise and glorify God. Seeing this psalm as Messianic, St. Augustine believes that the “lute and harp” are the work of the Lord Christ, whether according to His Divinity, like performing miracles, or according to His Manhood, like feeling hunger and thirst, and falling asleep, etc. The “lute” is the body that practices the divinities; while the “harp” is the body that endures the sufferings. Let the lute play; let the blind see; the deaf hear; the paralyzed be filled with strength; the lame walk; the sick heals; and the dead gets up alive. That is the voice of the “lute”. … And let (Christ) be hungry, thirsty, asleep; Let him be scourged, scoffed, crucified, and buried. That is the voice of the “harp”! … When you see in that body things that give voice from above and from below; it is in one and the same body, that both “the lute and the harp” play together. These two kinds have been realized in the gospel, and preached in the nations: the miracles and passion of Christ. (St. Augustine) 1 The Fathers of the Church, vol. 57, on Ps. 15 (16). 2 Letter 75: 2. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 118 7- BY THE CROSS, THE DOOR OF FAITH WAS OPENED BEFORE THE GENTILES: “I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations” (9) According to father Onesimus of Jerusalem, the prophet David, by the spirit of prophecy, saw the heathen nations receive faith in Jesus Christ; Seing them praise and sing, he put himself as their partner in giving praise and thanksgiving to God. How exultant the psalmist’s heart became, to see, before a thousand years, the heaten nations perceive the concepts of his psalms, and come to use them to praise God. The church of the peoples, the betrothed of the Sun of Righteousness, has, together with the daughter of the Jewish people, a joint song to praise her Lord. Come forth, O those with upright heart. Sit and listen to both of them! Let us see who of them is the bride of the divine household! And who of them is the one who holds the ring of the Groom, and keep His treasures! Let us search and see where the truth is between the two of them! She, who say the facts will be glorified! Debate stirred up in the church. Let us silence her, and let her works enter without noise. Light shone on me, for I was before in darkness. Jesus the Light opened up my eyes, for I was blind. The prophet cried out, and said to me: “Forget your people, and your father’s household”. So I forgot them for the sake of the Groom whom I love. How beautiful you are; How beautiful you are, O daughter of Aram; Your words are sweeter than honey. You look like light; Your words are life and pleasure. The Groom is your beauty; and His blood is like a necklace around your neck. His forgiving cross is a glorious crown put on your head; and His body is in your mouth, an endless medication for life. He is portrayed upon your lips like a scarlet thread; and the color of His blood drives the wicked away from you. You have all the treasures of God’s household. Blessed is Christ, through whom His Father gave you riches1. (St. Jacob El-Serougi) 8- BY THE CROSS WE BECAME LIKE CLOUDS: “For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens; and Your truth unto the clouds” (10) The psalmist perceived that God’s mercies are great and high. As much as heaven soars above the earth, God’s mercies soar above the thoughts and plans of men; No one could oppose, or keep from the men of God. The evangelic truth is like clouds; Who can destroy them, or take away from the men of God?! 1 Mamer 212 Against the Jews 6 (see Dr. Behnam Sony). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 119 Your compassion on humans, made the angels in heaven glorify You; for You lifted the fallen man up to heaven. You have realized what You proclaimed to Your prophets. Like the clouds that go up high from the earth, take up the strength of rain, water the earth; So are the prophets and the apostles, who rose up above the earthlies by their virtues; and took up from God a grace to water the souls of the earthly creatures, out from what they have got of God’s proclamations; hence they are called “clouds”. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) In heaven, the angels praise God. Seeing the form itself of the Truth, without any darkness in vision; and without any mixing with fantasies, they see, live, and praise without any worries. There, is the Truth; while here, it is our misery; for which mercy is given. There, there is no need for mercy, as there is no miserable being …. The “cloud” is understood as being the preachers of the truth. God shines upon those people who bear the body in a dark way, by the glimpses of miracles; and thunders on them by the thunder of the commandments1. (St. Augustine) “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth” (11) The psalmist ends the psalm by asking the Savior to come to set up His suffering church, and to lift her up as though to heaven; to bear the fellowship of His exalted glories. When the truth appeared through the preaching of the prophets and the messengers, People knew that You are the High God, Creator of heaven and earth, and all creation. (Father onesimus of Jerusalem What is Your glory, above all the earth? It is Your church, your bride, above all the earth2. To whom this was said? Is “Be exalted” said to the Father who did not empty Himself? … No, but is said, “Be exalted”, to You who came downto the womb of a woman3. (St. Augustine) 1 Sermon 363: 4. 2 Sermon 147 A. 4. 3 Sermon 262: 4. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 120 AN INSPIRATION FROM PSALM 57 LET ME, TOGETHER WITH THE PSALMIST, CROSS OVER TO YOUR CROSS Let me, together with David enter into the cave; To forget Saul and all his evil plots; But to set forth together with my father David to Your cross. I see You, O my Lord, have accepted the cave of our nature; You who exalt above heaven and earth; You became man to hide the majesty of Your Divinity. For my sake You were hanged on the cross; How amazing to see Pilate write the cause of Your crucifixion: “The King of the Jews”; Did that Gentile perceive the secret of Your cross? Did he perceive that You are the King of kings? Did he perceive that, by Your cross, You destroy the devim and all his hosts forever? Your cross is an unceasing flood of mercies! Your cross is a heavenly cave, in which I hide from the evil one; Your cross is two heavenly wings under which I find shade; Could the arrows of the enemy reach me, while I hide in the cross of Your exalted love? On the cross Your mercy will encounter Your righteousness. By Your righteousness You glorify me in You, O the divine Truth. I will not fear the great day of judgment. As You are the Judge who covers all my being. Why do I see all stirred up against You? They became like young lions who intend to devour You; Their evil tongues turned into sharp swords; They aimed their arrows toward You, O Giver of life. They fell into the net thy hid; And slid into the pit they dug; As for You, You carried Your believers in Yourself; And ascended, together with them to Your heavens; To grant them all the fellowship of Your glories. Your cross became a unique fountain; That sets in my depths strength, steadfastness, and an unceasing joy. Your cross turned my life into a harp; On which Your Holy Spirit plays; Plays praises that no human musical instrument can express. Your cross opened the doors of hope before all the peoples; lifted humanity up from corruption; And out of them, You set a heavenly cloud of witnesses. Glory be to You, O who is crucified for the sake of humanity.
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