A CRY TO SEEK HELP AND A THANKSGIVING TO GOD Here, the psalmist presents a cry from the heart of someone feeling cast out of his homeland and from the law of his God (1-2); and expressing grief for being denied the presence in the house of the Lord, and the fellowship in the collective worship to Him. Yet, coming to remember the mercies of God in the past, as an unforgettable experience (3), he is filled with hope. Hence, he puts in his heart to dedicate his whole life to serve God (4-5), a spiritual vow he pledges to fulfill all the days of his life. According to St. Athanasius, this psalm could be a thanksgiving to God who brought the captives back home; or presented, as well, by the people who enjoyed salvation through faith. Beside being a personal lamentation, this psalm, includes certain liturgical verses that made it a part of the collective liturgical worship. It reminds us of the importance of praying for the sake of the church and the temporal leaderships; and draws our attention, as well, to the fact that the sound spiritual life exhorts us to the unity and integration between our personal life, on the one hand, and the national, and even the international life on the other hand. In this psalm, as well as in the seven psalms to follow, the Lord Christ is shown as the Head, and the Representative of His people. 1- A cry to God his Savior 1 – 2 2- A thanksgiving to God for His mercies 3 3- A vow to dedicate his whole life to serve God 4 – 5 4- A prayer for the sake of the king 6 – 7 5- A pledge to fulfill his vow 8 The title: Assurance of God’s eternal protection. To the Chief Musician. On Niginoth or Neginath (a stringed instrument that came about 30 times in the psalms). A psalm of David. 1- A CRY TO GOD HIS SAVIOR: “Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer” (1) If it is one person who cries, who would it be? It may sound as a cry of one person, but it is actually a collective cry by all of us in the whole world from east to west; In Jesus Christ we are all one man, whose Head is in heaven, and his members still thrive on earth. Let us see what this man says. This psalm represents a cry of someone cast away and persecuted; yet he resorts to God, being the Rock, the Refuge, and the strong Tower; and seeks a perpetual dwelling with Him. Amid affliction, man, usually suffering seclusion and alienation, as though he is a stranger, with no one to partake of his feelings, or to have compassion on him, he cries to God, who alone, can hear the cries of the heart, and partake of the feeling of the one who suffers. “From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart grows faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (2) https://coptic-treasures.com/ 2 Some believe that the prophet David, when his own son Absalom rebelled against him, and he had to escape from Jerusalem, he became as though a cast-away to the end of the earth. Feeling such bitterness, man usually finds in God the Rock who, not only protects him, but His grace would lift him up high, where no one can reach him. God hears the cries of man, even if he is cast away by others to the end of the earth; like when He heard Daniel and his companions while in Babylon; and when He heard Jonah while in the belly of the great fish. He hears the sinner who cries to Him in repentance, whatever great his sins are. He is the Listener to our prayers. This cry could be of the people captivated in Babylon, far away from Jerusalem, who cried to God in their grief, with their hearts abiding on the Rock of hope. Or could be the cry of someone taken over by the devil; And feeling far from God, he say to Him: “From the end of the earth, I cry to You”. Those who are submerged in the lowly lusts of the flesh, and are preoccupied in the worldly pleasures, dwell in the depths of the earth; Whereas those who worship God on the mountains and in the wilderness, dwell in the end of the earth, and God hears their prayers, responds to their supplications; and strengthens them, when their hearts grow faint. The Rock is our Lord Jesus Christ; And he who acquires such a rock, will have his heart lifted up high to the heavenlies, and will reach God. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) According to some fathers like St. Augustine, this cry is that of the whole church, extending to the end of the earth; moaning together with the spirit of unity, being the suffering body of Christ. It is the cry of every believer, crucified together with the Lord Christ, crying on account of all those who suffer, are oppressed, and persecuted. Having forsaken the Jewish people, and unified with the church coming from far away places, Christ call her in the psalms, saying: “From the end of the world I call you!” 1. (Father Caesarius, bishop of Arle) The body of Christ is melted in the whole world, it means whole the church, regret is practiced by a firm unit, as states in the psalm ”I cry to you from the end of the world, you hear me when I am in severe pain” 2 There is no cry from the end of the world, except from the heritage, about which it is said to the Son Himself: “Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the world for Your possession” (Psalm 2: 8). It is the cry of the one church, the possession of Christ, His inheritance; His body, the one unit which is us, crying from the end of the earth. (St. Augustine) “When my heart grows faint” (2). Even though the heart of the church, as well as that of every believer, is lifted up together with the Head from earth to heaven; Being wide with love, it moans together with the moans of everyone, and is set on fire with his offense. His feelings are a mixture of the exalted glory, he perpetually experiences, and the fellowship of the sufferings and the labors of the wounded church. 1 Sermon 95: 2. 2 Sermon 21: 6. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 3 According to St. Augustine, it is the Lord Christ, the Savior, who cries in the persons of the members of His body. He manifests Himself through all nations, all over the world, in great glory; yet also in great affliction. Our life in this journey could never be without temptations; Our progress is realized through temptations; Man will not recognize himself unless he is tempted; will not be crowned, unless he overcomes; will not overcome, unless he fights; and will not fight, unless he encounters enemies and goes through temptations. Such man, therefore, as his heart grows faint, he cries from the end of the world; yet he is not forgotten. Christ intends for us, being the members of His body, to be like His body: to die, to be risen, and to ascend to heaven; So that wherever the Head goes, the other body members would be sure to follow. That is why, through the symbol, we move up in Him, when he allows for us to be tempted by the devil. (St. Augustine) According to St. Augustine, together with the cry of every believer, wherever he is in this world, the whole body of Christ cries; and even the Head Himself cries on his account; for the believer to perceive that his temptation is a marvelous chance to have a fellowship with the suffering Christ, risen from the dead, and ascended to heaven. We read in the gospel how the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, was tempted by Satan in the wilderness (Matthew 4: 1); Christ as a whole, the Head and the members – the church) was tempted; because Christ for your sake has taken a body; for your sake, received death, reviles and honor; for your sake He received temptation, and conquest. Therefore, if in Him we are tempted, in Him, as well, we shall conquer the devil.“On a Rock higher than me, You lifted me up”. From the end of the earth, the church cries, she, whom He intends to build on the Rock (Matthew 16: 18). Let us listen to Paul saying: “And the Rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10: 4). On Him, therefore, we are built. (St. Augustine) 2- A THANKSGIVING TO GOD FOR HIS MERCIES: “For You have been my refuge, and a strong tower against the enemy” (3) How amazing is the protection that a believer finds when he resorts to God! when He embraces him as a strong Tower, into which no enemy can crawl. There is no strength that man can get like when he holds fast to his faith in God, and when he enjoys the divine presence, while being inside the furnace of temptation. Blessed is that Architect who became a Tower for our peace1. (St. (Mar) Ephram the Syrian) The Lord Christ is the Tower of our salvation, by whom we, the believers are protected against all the arrows of the enemy, and against the temptations that may dwell upon us from the wicked, as well as from the heretics. Within the church herself, the grains of wheat suffer from the interference of the tares. In the midst of all that, when my heart grows faint, I cry from the end of the world. Yet, He who lifts me up upon the Rock will never forget me, but will lead me to Him. Although I labor a lot because of the enemy who persists on opposing me in several 1 Hymns on the Nativity, 2. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 4 places, times, and situations, Yet the Lord is the Tower of power to whom I flee for protection1 Christ Himself is the Tower. For our sake, He made Himself a Tower against the enemy; and a Rock on which the church is built. Do you wish not to be stricken by the devil? Flee to that Tower, where the spears of Satan would not reach you. There, you will stand fast and be protected…. The Tower is here before you; Remember Christ, and enter into the Tower! (St. Augustine) By Your leadership, O Lord, You have brought me back home, as entreated You; You became a strong tower to keep me safe against the strikes of the enemy. So will be him who gives head to the words of the Lord: “Follow me!” Therefore, calmly follow His lead; Resort to the strong Tower to protect you against the enemy; the way He was a Refuge and Help for the apostles who followed Him. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) 3- A VOW TO DEDICATE HIS WHOLE LIFE TO SERVE GOD: Having his heart grown faint, while being at the end of the world, the psalmist found no one to help him, except the Savior, the Rock of ages, who transfigured to Him, and in Him he found refuge to enter and enjoy protection. By entering into the Tower, he not only found protection against the deadly arrows and the bitter temptations of the enemy, but experienced as well, the sweetness of the fellowship with Christ, in which he wished he could spend his whole life. That is the true vow of dedicating his heart to Him. “I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings” (4) According to some, the psalmist’s request to abide forever in the house of the Lord, did not mean to dwell physically there, as the temple, at that time, was not yet built; He actually expressed this heart desire in several psalms he wrote before the temple was built (Psalm 15: 1;19: 4; 27: 5-6); because he saw in the tabernacle of the meeting, or in building a house of God (that was built later by his son Solomon), a living portrait of heaven, and of the heavenly worship; that made his heart long for the heavenly life. His request to take refuge under the shadow of God’s wings, refer to the appearance of God over the cover of the ark of the covenant; namely over the ‘mercy seat’ under the shadow of the wings of the cherubim in the Holy of Holies, into which no one, not even the king himself, could enter except the High Priest. If the psalmist counts that his great happiness would be realized by being cast down before the altar, rather than by sitting on his royal Throne; If he finds his happiness would be in standing before the ark of the covenant, feeling the divine presence, and hiding under the shadow of God’s wings; How much more would be our happiness when we encounter God Himself face to face2, and live together with Himin His heavens forever?!What would the believer enjoy through salvation from temptation, is to enter into new depths in his relationship with God. He would then, long to pass soon through this 1 Explanation of Psalms 61: 4. 2 Plumer, Ps. 61. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 5 world; not because of the bitterness of temptations, as much as of longing to dwell eternally together with God. The prophet calls Jerusalem: “the house of God”, on account of God’s appearance in it, and the presence of His temple; He also means the heavenly Jerusalem, the dwelling place of those who pleased the Lord. By the “wings of God” he means His care and protection. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) Here, we only live few days then pass away. Here, we are nomads, but in heaven, we shall be residents. Here, you are sojourners, where you hear the voice of the Lord, your God say: “Depart!’. While there, in the eternal house in heaven, no one will command you to depart! In the world it is very hot; but there, we shall enjoy great shade under the wings of God. (St. Augustine) “For You, O God, have heard my vows; You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name” (5) According to the ‘Tergum’, the ancient interpretation of the Holy Book, the king whose vows God hears, is the “King Messiah”, about whom the apostle says: “Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with vehement cries and tears, to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear” (Hebrew 5: 7). What were the vows presented by the Word of God, but to sanctify His body, or to dedicate His life for the sake of the world, and for the glory of those who believe in Him? In His farewell prayer He said: “For their sake I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth” (John 17: 19). As members of His body, we bear fellowship in His features, and present vows to live sanctified by His Holy Spirit; and work for the sake ofsanctifying every one, and for the growth of the kingdom of God in every heart, counting all sufferings as a fellowship with the crucified Christ. God the Father’s response to the farewell prayer of the Son is our heavenly deposit; as by it, our souls become sure that what we seek in the name of Christ the Savior, to the account of His kingdom, will be realized by the Father. We count that response as our personal heritage, if we are truly among those who fear the Lord. Those who have reached the climax of perfection, would have their own haven; not in this life, nor in the resurrection, or in any thing they admire; but in that beloved Himself, for whose sake they count calamity as rejoicing, labor as sweet comfort, dwelling in the desert better than dwelling in the cities, and richer than wealth… That is the reward anticipated by those who practice virtue.It is the heritage of those who minister to God, as proclaimed by the prophet (Isaiah 65: 9) 1. (Theodoret, bishop of Cyrus) What is the heritage enjoyed by the believer as a king; but to enjoy his rights as a son of God, who got the adoption in the water of baptism; and he would rejoice more, 1 On Divine Providence, Disc, 9: 11. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 6 when he sees all mankind enjoy this sonhood, and come to have the eternal right to inherit the heavenly glories. Let us then keep on fearing the name of God, as the Heavenly Father would never deceive us. The children may labor to get the inheritance from their parents, whom they succeed after their death; Do we labor to receive the heritage from God the Father, whom we shall not succeed; but will be together with Him in the same heritage; living forever? (St. Augustine) The heritage that was given to the children of Israel is the promised land that flows of milk and honey – the land of Palestine which they have eventually lost. It was called the Promised Land on account of that it was promised to their fathers. But the true heritage, of sure possession, given by God to the believers, is His heavenly kingdom, promised to them, according to the saying of the Lord of glory: “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world”.(Matthew 25: 34). (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) 4- A PRAYER FOR THE SAKE OF THE KING: “You will prolong the king’s life, His years as many generations” (6) This could not be interpreted except by applying it to the Person of the Messiah. The psalmist David, together with his father Abraham, desired to see the joyful day of the Messiah (John 8: 56); and that His days would be prolonged as many generations, through His salvation work in His holy church. Some interpret this verse literally, seeing that David was on the verge of death when his own son Absalom sought his head; Yet God granted him an age that reached up to 69 years, to see the third generation of his descendents. During those critical moments of his life, David probably looked forward to the promised Messiah, whom death could never destroy, nor corruption could come over His body. According to father Onesimus of Jerusalem, the prophet David would not seek from God to add days to his age as many generations, namely to prolong his mortal life; as much he would seek for his psalms to abide from generation to generation, and to pass over from the Jews to the Gentiles; for all to become one spiritual kingdom; one flock under One Shepherd. For the King Christ, our Head; we seek days above days, not just days of this temporal life that will eventually come to an end, but days that will never endAnything with an end is short; but the days of that King are days beyond days. In these days with no end, Christ will nor reign alone in His church, but together with Him, the saints will also reign… “You are the same, and Your years will have no end” (Psalm 102: 27). (St. Augustine) By saying: “You prolong the King’s life, His years as many generations” (6), he probably refers to that the Lord Christ, the eternal King of Kings would rejoice to see humanity receive faith in Him, and unify with Him, to come to be kings partaking of His eternal kingdom. He would count their eternal kingdom as though an addition to his days. Namely, with every believer who becomes a king, the King of Kings would exult and rejoice, as though He Himself has got what He gave to that believer. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 7 “He shall abide before God forever. Oh, prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him” (7) David reigned over Judah for only about 40 years; then who is that King who will sit before the Father forever, except the Son of Man, to whom the prophet Daniel referred, saying: “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days; and they brought Him near before Him” (Daniel 7: 13-14). The foundation of His eternal kingdom is the harmony between mercy and truth, that were together realized by His salvation work on the cross. He also says: “All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies” (Psalm 25: 10). Speaking of mercy, God does not care for our worthiness, but for His goodness, to forgive us our sins, and promise us the eternal life. He speaks as well of the truth, for He will not fail to fulfill what He promises. I wish we know that here, and to practice it, so that God would show us His mercy and truth: Shows His mercy by forgiving us our sins, and His truth by fulfilling His promises. I also say: I wish, on our side, we would show mercy and truth: show mercy on the weak and needy, and even on our enemies; and show truth by not doing wrong, and not adding sin to our sins. (St. Augustine) The psalmist ends his psalm by proclaiming the fulfillment of his vows; which is by singing praise to the name of God forever. 5- A PLEDGE TO FULFILL HIS VOWS: “So I will sing praise to Your name forever, that I may fulfill my vows day after day” (8) The psalmist moved from the cries of the heart because of affliction, to a fellowship with the suffering Christ, resurrected from the dead, and ascending to heaven. His soul sets forth to the bosom of the Lord, there to abide, to meditate in His mercy and truth, and to enjoy the fellowship in the divine nature. There, she can practice mercy and truth according to the image of her Savior; forgives those who do her wrong, have mercy with love on the weak and needy, and practice the truth by trusting and holding fast to the divine promises. “So I will sing praise (play music) to Your name, that I may fulfill my vows day after day” (8). If you play music to the name f God, do not do it just for some time; but forever. Fulfill your vows day after day For “he who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 34: 13). (St. Augustine) Beloved brethren, Friendship has numerous benefits. When someone pays his debt back before its due time, it would be a point in his favor. He would not be turned back any time he needs another debt. But he who proves that he who does not, will find all doors shut before his face; However much he cries and begs, he would go emptyhanded and rebuked.. If this applies to relationship with men, how much more would it be, if man acts with deception toward God; and despise the Lord of heavenly greatness by smooth vows, he does not intend to fulfill?! https://coptic-treasures.com/ 8 Did he say year after year? No! he said “day after day”. This is a commitment for us, beloved brethren, to work every day. It is befitting of us not to do wrong concerning our debt toward God and its fulfillment1. (Father Valerian) Jacob said to God: “If you will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat; …. Of all that You give me, I will surely give one tenth to You” (Genesis 28: 20- 22); and he fulfilled his vow. This I shall do myself when I get from God what I sought; I shall fulfill my vows; namely, I shall sing praise to His name with thanksgiving, as long as I live. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) 1 Fr. Valerian: Homilies, 4 (Frs of the Church). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 9 AN INSPIRATION FROM PSALM 61 OUR MOANS ARE A FELLOWSHIP WITH YOURS Amid my temptations, You, O crucified transfigure before me; My heart grows faint because of my weakness; But I perceive that I am a member in Your body. Together with every moaning that comes out of my heart, Your whole body cries; You moan together with me, O the Head, amazing in Your love; You lift me up with You, and bring me forth into Your heavens; Wherever You are, I shall be together with You; Allow for me to go through affliction, as long as You plant Your cross in me; For then, I shall forget all about my sufferings and temptations; and my soul would fall in love with You; I shall cast myself into Your bosom, and enter inside Your heart, O Rock of ages; Allow for me to go through affliction, as long as I hide in You; Being built on You, the storms of the world and its floods would not be able to destroy me; Lifting me up, I shall dwell together with You in heaven itself I wonder how shall I call You! You are “the Rock” on which I build my life! The enemy – the ancient serpent -- would not be able to crawl toward me; For he has no place in You! You are “my Refuge”, in whom I resort! Where the devil does not dare to approach me; You are the “high Tower”, You bear me as though to heaven! Where the arrows of the devil cannot reach me; The world is red hot with the heat of temptations; But the shadow of Your wings give me a great comfort; Amid the temptations I resort to Your compassion; I enjoy the sweetness of dwelling in You, and would never intend to forsake You; Let me dwell in Your bosom forever Dwelling in Your bosoms; By You I become a king, O King of kings; You are glad to have me as a member of Your royal body; You count the royalty You have given me, as though You have got it Yourself; O You who satisfy all! Indeed, When shall I see all mankind become kings? Abiding in Your bosoms, I shall be perpetually in Your presence; Meditating in Your mercy and truth; Sing Your love; for, by Your mercy, my sins are forgiven; https://coptic-treasures.com/ 10 And by Your truth, You offer me divine promises; I am amazed by Your mercy and truth; I desire to become an icon of You; To have my heart filled with mercy; Even toward my opponents; And to walk in Your truth; To come to despise and to hate sin; As long as I am kept safe in Your bosoms; I shall fulfill my vows day after day; With every new day, and every new morning, I shall come to experience new mercies from You; My love for You will kindle more and more; I will sing praises for the sake of Your amazing and true promises; And my life will be transformed into a song of thanksgiving and praise; How shall I pay back, O my Savior, Your abundant goodness? I shall stay all days of my sojourn praising You by my whole being; And once I set forth to Your great day; There, on the clouds, I shall join the chorus of Your exultant church; I shall stay my entire eternity in glorious joy, and in unceasing praise.
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