Selected psalms interpreted by Saint Theophan the Recluse

Psalms 1, 2 and 51, interpreted by Bishop Theophan Instead of a preface A) Psalm 1. True bliss. The righteous, like a tree, blossoms 1) Traits of the activities of the righteous and sinners (verses 1–2) 2) The state of the righteous and sinners (verses 3–4) 3) Meaning: a) among people; b) before God (verses 5-6) 4) Subjects for meditation B) Psalm 2. King of Zion, Messiah - Eternal King. Tyrants, come to your senses! C) Psalm 51 Psalm 33, interpreted by St. Theophan the Recluse Preface Psalm 33 1) The occasion for writing the psalm 2) The contents of the psalm a) The first ten-line (verses 2-11) b) The second ten-line (verses 12-23) 3) The first ten-line first part (verses 2-4) a) About the everlasting for all thanksgiving to God (verse 2) b) About the “take out” praise of God (verse 2) c) Everything must be referred to God and rested on Him (verse 3) d) About the spiritual communion of God-devoted men (verses 3-4) 4) The second part of the first tenth (verses 5-11) a) Saint David inspires the meek to trust in the example of his own salvation (verses 5-7) b) The Holy Prophet inspires trust in the everlasting law of God's care for us, indicating the conditional dispositions for trustworthy recourse to God (verses 8-11) aa) The law of God's care for us (verse 8) bb) Conditional dispositions for reliable recourse to God (verses 9-11) 5) Second decimal 6) Second decimal first part (verses 12–15) a) Teaching the fear of God (verses 12–13) b) Practicing the fear of God (verses 14–15) 7) Second part of the second decimal (verses 16–22). – Fruits of Fear of God a) God’s special favor (verses 16–17) b) Quick hearing (verse 18) c) Closeness and consolation in sorrows (verse 19) d) Deliverance from sorrows (verse 20) e) Reward in death and after death (verses 21–22) 8) General conclusion of the psalm (verse 23) You might be interested in: