Изъяснение псалма 103-го.

"Psalm to David." The grace of the All-Holy Spirit not only teaches people moral and dogmatic teaching, but also teaches exactly how to sing songs to the Creator. Therefore, having used blessed David as a servant, I wrote this psalm, so that we all would know with what hymns we should give thanks to the Benefactor. Here he depicts good deeds, and shows that the God of all is the Creator and Ruler of everything in the aggregate. Ps.103:1. Bless the Lord, my soul! Lord, my God! You are wonderfully great, You are clothed with glory and greatness. “Bless the Lord my soul.” The prophet teaches every pupil of piety to sing songs to the Benefactor God. “Lord my God,” how “thou art greatly magnified.” And here the particle: “how” serves to strengthen the speech. This: “thou art magnified” does not mean increase, but makes it possible to understand immeasurable greatness. This is how Symmachus translated: You, my God, are very great; because you were not magnified as a small one, but as great by nature, you showed yourself exalted before the pious, and showed them not all of your greatness, but how much it contained human nature. “Thou hast clothed oneself with confession and glory.” Symmachus translated this: clothed himself in song and praise; because those who use Your blessings are no longer ignorant of You, and do not give the honor due to You to idols, but praise You and offer due praise as a gift. Ps.103:2. You dress yourself in light like a robe, you stretch out the heavens like a tent. “Clothe yourself with light like a robe.” In agreement with this, the Apostle also said: “He who alone has immortality, is unapproachable in the living light” (1 Tim. 6:16). Such is the light that no one dares to approach; the abundance of luminosity forces one to avert one’s gaze. For if the sensual sun forces those who attempt to do this to look at it for a long time; then is anyone able to fix his gaze on the unapproachable light? Therefore, although God Himself is the true light; but he dresses himself in light, like a robe, and lives in the unapproachable light. “Clouds and darkness surround Him” (Psalm 96:2); “Put your dark cover” (Psalm 17:12). And this does not contradict one another; because the unapproachable light for those who cannot look at it is the same as darkness and darkness. Neither anything in the darkness nor anything in the light can be visible. Both signify the invisibility of God's nature. “Stretch out the sky like skin.” Sim the Prophet expressed the convenience of creation. Just as it is not difficult for a person to stretch his skin and make a tabernacle, so the God of all with one word spread out the great circles of heaven. Ps.103:3. You build Your heavenly palaces above the waters, You make the clouds Your chariot, You walk on the wings of the wind. “Cover Your most exalted waters.” Blessed Moses also taught this. For he said: “God said: let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let there be a separation between the waters above the firmament and the waters under the firmament” (Gen. 1:6-7). “Rely on the clouds for Your rise, walk on the wing of the wind.” The Prophet depicted providence spreading everywhere. For he says that God rules over the winds and clouds, He Himself disposes and rules them, and gives the benefits they bring in good time. And at the same time, the Prophet teaches that God’s nature is present everywhere and hovers above everyone. since the winds by their nature move faster than all sensible things (in the blink of an eye they run from west to east and from east to west); then the Prophet, not finding another more accurate image of speed in sensory things, said that God flies “on the wing of the wind,” meaning that He is present everywhere. We find that the God of all things appeared to the children of Israel in a cloud, and in the tabernacle He revealed His presence in a cloud; and as Solomon was renewing the house, a cloud covered the house; and the Lord Christ on the mountain showed the three Apostles a bright cloud around Him; and His ascending bright “clouds are lifted up from before their eyes” (Acts 1:9). Ps.103:4. You create Your angels as spirits, Your servants as blazing fire. “Angels create Your spirits and Your servants a fiery flame.” The Prophet showed that God is the Creator not only of the visible, but also of the invisible. He called the same ones spirits and fire, showing both power and speed; because the nature of the spirit is fast-moving and the effectiveness of fire is strong. The God of all, using Angels as servants, benefits the worthy and punishes those who resist. That is why the Prophet also mentioned fire, meaning a punitive force. Ps.103:5. You have set the earth on firm foundations: it will not be shaken forever and ever. “Found the earth on its firmament.” Aquila and Symmachus translated: on the basis of it. “It will not bow forever.” For, having established the earth on itself, God gave it immobility, and thus it will stand as long as it pleases Him. So in another place it is said: “hang the earth on nothing” (Job 26:7). Ps.103:6. You covered it with the abyss like a garment, and there are waters on the mountains. Ps.103:7. They flee from Your rebuke, they quickly leave from the voice of Your thunder. Ps.103:8. They ascend the mountains, they descend into the valleys, to the place that You have appointed for them. “The abyss is like a robe for his robe” 34 The Prophet said: “him” instead of: “her.” For this is how Aquila and Theodotion translated it; he clothed it with the abyss, like a robe. But the Divine Scripture calls the wet essence an abyss. So blessed Moses said about the beginning of creation: “the earth was invisible and unstructured: and darkness was on top of the abyss” (Gen. 1, 2 So, since the earth is surrounded by waters everywhere, its borders are great and impenetrable seas, and many other seas cut through its middle: the Prophet rightly said that the abyss, like a robe, encircles the earth. “There will be waters on the mountains:” “They will flee from Your prohibition, they will fear the voice of Your thunder”: “The mountains will rise, and the fields will descend to the place that You founded for them.” With all this the Prophet teaches that the providence of God is vigilant over creation. Therefore, the sea, like waves like the peaks of mountains, does not flood the land; but just as we are horrified by thunder, so it is afraid of the limit set for it. It is said: “The waters will become on the mountains; instead, they will become like a mountain; It is also said: “the mountains rise,” that is: like mountains. Ps.103:9. You have set a limit that they will not cross and will not return to cover the earth. “Thou hast set a limit; they will not pass it; they will return to cover the earth.” The sea is ashamed of the sand, and until it reaches it, it indulges in rage, but, like a bridle, held by God’s limit, it then humbles itself and returns back. Ps.103:10. You sent springs into the valleys: between the mountains [waters] flow. “Send springs into the wilds, waters will flow through the middle of the mountains.” Then the Prophet shows the benefits of this. Ps.103:11. They give water to all the beasts of the field; wild donkeys quench their thirst. Ps.103:12. Birds of the air live with them, and they make their voices from among the branches. “All the animals of the village are drinking, and they are waiting for the onagers to satisfy their thirst.” “The birds of the sky will graft in on you: from the midst of the stones they will give a voice.” And this is the greatest proof of God’s providence - to fulfill the needs of not only people, but also dumb animals. Therefore, dividing the mountains, He paved the way for the waters, so that there would be abundant water sources not only for people, but also for all kinds of animals living on land and flying through the air. Symmachus translated the words: “the onagers are waiting for their thirst” as follows: the onager will quench his thirst. Ps.103:13. You water the mountains from Your heights; the earth is satisfied with the fruits of Your deeds. “Weed the mountains from Your high ones: from the fruit of Your works the earth will be satisfied.” God not only prepares and pours out the watery nature below, but also brings irrigation from above from the clouds. Then the Prophet shows the benefits that come from this. Ps.103:14. You produce grass for livestock and herbs for the benefit of man, to produce food from the earth. “Grow grass for cattle, and grain for the service of man, to bring bread from the ground”; because grass will be born and feed the livestock, created for the needs of people. Fruits are nourished by rains, come to maturity, and are offered as a gift to people. The Prophet said this in another psalm: “Lord, save men and beasts” (Psalm 35:7). However, to meet the needs of people and animals, they take advantage of such industry. Ps.103:15. And wine that gladdens a man’s heart, and oil that makes his face shine, and bread that strengthens a man’s heart. “Wine makes a man glad; anoint the face with oil; and bread strengthens a man’s heart.” But Symmachus translated it more clearly: growing grass for cattle and grain for the service of men, so that food may grow from the earth, wine may gladden the heart of man, the face may shine from the oil, and bread may strengthen the heart of man. The God of all, says the Prophet, constantly gives rain to the earth so that all kinds of fruits vegetate, so that human nature is strengthened and nourished by bread, and wine amuses and brings great pleasure to life, and oil is not only consumed internally as food, but also imparts lightness to bodies externally. Ps.103:16. The trees of the Lord are fed, the cedars of Lebanon which He planted. “The trees of Poland will be satisfied.” The Hebrew original and other translations say: the trees of the Lord. Having listed the fruitful trees, the Prophet, of necessity, also mentioned the barren trees; because they also satisfy the necessary needs of people. Therefore he called them trees of the Lord; since they grow by themselves, they are not planted by human hands, but vegetate according to God’s word. That’s why the Prophet added: “You also planted cedars in Lebanon.” Their planters were not any guardians of the sacred groves, but the word of God made the tops of the mountains hay-leaved. And having mentioned Lebanon as a famous mountain, and the cedars on it, the Prophet meant by this other mountains and trees. Ps.103:17. Birds nest on them: spruce trees are the home of the stork. “The birds will nest there; Erod’s dwelling will lead them.” Akila translated it as follows: “there the birds will make their nests, and they will eat erodiya - a home.” And Symmachus translates: “where the sparrows make their nests, and the date is a home for the kite.” For the same trees serve people for one purpose, and birds for another purpose; They are suitable for people to build houses from, and they also serve as habitats for birds. Ps.103:18. High mountains - sernam; stone cliffs are a refuge for hares. “The high mountains are green, the stone is the refuge of the hare.” Your providence, says the Prophet, does not despise even small animals; but You gave the deer the tops of the mountains for refuge, and the smallest animals the clefts of the stones. Ps.103:19. He created the moon to indicate the times, the sun knows its west. “He made the moon to eat in time.” The Prophet, having listed everything earthly, pointing to the creation of invisible natures, presenting the creation of the heavens, makes mention of the heavenly bodies, which were brought into existence on the fourth day, and says that the moon was created for teaching how to know time; because its modifications serve to measure time: it determines the continuation of the month, increasing and decreasing precisely in the number of days that make up the month. “The sun knows its west.” Not because it is animated, or endowed with reason, but because it flows according to God’s determination, and when it appears, it produces day, and when it hides, it produces night, and always has the same flow, and retains the same measure. Ps.103:20. You extend the darkness and there is night: during it all the forest animals roam. Ps.103:21. Lions roar for prey and ask God for food for themselves. “He put the darkness to eat, and the night came.” And the need of the night is necessary; it comes after the light has withdrawn and brings peace to people. “All the beasts of the oak forest will pass through it:” “Take away the roaring ones, and seek food for yourself from God.” The night brings rest to people, and gives freedom to animals to fill their smooth belly. What is said: “seek food for yourself from God” means that Divine Providence provides them with what they need. For it is fitting for rational creatures to ask God, but for foolish creatures to seek; however, God also gives them the necessary food. Ps.103:22. The sun rises [and] they gather and lie down in their lairs. Ps.103:23. A man goes out to his business and to his work until evening. “The sun has risen, and they have gathered together and lie down in their beds”: “A man will go out to his work and to his work until the evening.” When the sun rises, the animals retire to their shelters, and the people, having folded in the fatigue of the previous day, again diligently spend the day in business. Ps.103:24. How numerous are Your works, O Lord! You have done everything wisely; the earth is full of Your works. “How great are Thy works, O Lord, that Thou hast done all things with wisdom.” The Prophet, having thought about everything that was said in order, and having recognized God’s great care, in the midst of the story about this, he lifted up a song, saying that all God’s creatures are wonderful, worthy of extreme surprise and filled with wisdom. For he found that the night, condemned by some evildoers, is also very useful, that even barren trees provide a kind of benefit, and that breeds of animals are useful for many things for people. “The earth is filled” with Your heritage. Other translators said: “Thy creatures” 35, that is, You filled the earth with blessings of every kind. The Prophet moves from the land to the sea adjacent to it and says: Ps.103:25. This is a great and vast sea: there are reptiles there, of which there is no number, animals small and large. “This sea is great and spacious: there are countless reptiles there, small animals with great ones.” This is also proof of God’s care that small animals live together with great ones and are not completely destroyed by them. Ps.103:26. There are ships sailing there, there is this leviathan, whom You created to play in it. “That’s where the ships sail.” And this is the greatest benefit for people. Through the art of shipbuilding and nautical knowledge we borrow from each other what we need for ourselves, the fruits born from us we communicate to others, and what they produce we receive from them ourselves. “You have created this serpent and curse him.” By the name of the serpent the Prophet signified the great whales that are found in the great seas. It is said: “blame him,” that is, the sea itself, because the Jew and the Syrian have a name: “sea” of the masculine gender. It is so great, says the Prophet, that it contains thousands of genera of fish, and that the greatest whales swim freely in it. If But others think that the word “serpent” is used allegorically, because in Isaiah there is “a great, holy and mighty sword against the dragon, the evil serpent that is in the sea” (Is. 27:1); then we will not reject this meaning either, because in Job we find this animal being mocked by the divine Angels, and the Lord gave His disciples the power to “tread on the serpent and the scorpion, and on all the power of the enemy” (Luke 10:19). Ps.103:27. They all expect You to give them their food in due time. “Everyone is looking to You, give them food for the good time.” The Prophet speaks from You, at all times they receive what they need; for the dumb, although they seek their own food and do not know the Giver, nevertheless receive it from the Creator. Ps.103:28. If you give to them, they accept; if you open your hand, they are satisfied with the good. “When I give you to them, they will collect it.” Since You provide this abundance, each of the creatures uses what is useful for it. “I will open Your hand, and all kinds of goodness will be filled.” The Prophet expressed the convenience of giving blessings. Just as it is not difficult to unclench bent fingers, so it is convenient for God to bestow an abundance of all kinds of blessings. Ps.103:29. If you hide your face, they are troubled; if you take away their spirit, they die and return to their dust. “I will hide Your face, and they will rebel.” But as you bring all joy to those who enjoy blessings, bestowing blessings on them with good will; so, if you turn away, everything is filled with confusion and fear. “Take away their spirit, and they will disappear and return to their dust.” For by Your will the separation of soul and body takes place, after which the body is given over to corruption and is resolved into the primitive dust. The Prophet here called the soul spirit. Ps.103:30. You send Your spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the earth. “Thou shalt follow Thy Spirit, and thou shalt be created, and renew the face of the earth.” Here the Prophet clearly foretold to us the resurrection and revival by the All-Holy Spirit. So the great Elijah blew on the widow’s boy three times, restoring life to the spiritual grace that dwelt in him. So Elisha revived the son of the Somanite, using a spiritual breath and restoring life with the life-giving Spirit. So the Prophet, having demonstrated Divine power and its effectiveness, turns his lips to chant. Ps.103:31. May the Lord be the glory forever; May the Lord rejoice in His works! “Be the glory of the Lord forever,” that is, justice requires that everyone always praise the Lord. “The Lord will rejoice in His works.” Thus the Prophet predicted the future knowledge of God for people. For when people are freed from their former delusion and receive the knowledge of God, God will rejoice not in the fact that they worship Him, but in the fact that He sees the saved. Ps.103:32. He looks at the ground and it shakes; touches the mountains and smokes. “Look at the earth and make it shake: touch the mountains and they smoke.” By the way, the Prophet added this, teaching that the nature of God has no need for anything. Worship pleases God not because he needs it; but because he wants to save, he points out the truth; and although He can punish, He does not impose punishment, while His very appearance causes the earth to tremble, and fills the mountains with fire and smoke. He also did this on Mount Sinai, because when He descended onto it, He showed the entire mountain smoking. Ps.103:33. I will sing to the Lord all my life, I will sing to my God as long as I am. “I will sing to the Lord in my life, I will sing to my God in the Dondezh.” By the way, the Prophet also added this: “For in death I will not remember You, who in hell will confess to You” (Psalm 6:6)? So the door of the bridal chamber was closed to the foolish virgins, who used the time of meeting with the lamps to buy oil. Ps.103:34. May my song be pleasing to Him; I will rejoice in the Lord. “May my conversation delight Him.” I pray for this, says the Prophet, that this hymn of mine will be most pleasant and pleasing to Him. “I will rejoice in the Lord.” If this comes true, then the fruit of this will be joy for me. Ps.103:35. Let sinners disappear from the earth, and let there be no more lawless people. Bless the Lord, my soul! Hallelujah! “Let the sinners disappear from the earth, and the iniquities, as if they did not exist.” As far as possible for human nature, having depicted the Divine beauty and unspeakable wealth, the Prophet wants all people to partake of the same knowledge, and asks that the entire community of sinners disappear, however, he does not pray for their destruction, but asks that they change, begs for their hordes to be scattered, so that they are converted and come to know the Divine. If anyone wants to understand these sayings differently, namely, that the Prophet subjects those who live in wickedness to curses; then in this case he will find that the prophecy is in agreement with the apostolic teaching. For blessed Paul, writing to the Corinthians, made this conclusion of the letter; “If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be cursed” (1 Cor. 16:22); because this is characteristic of those who love passionately. “Bless the Lord my soul.” Therefore, those who do not want to praise the Giver of so many blessings will endure what was said; and you, my soul, continually sing the praises of your Creator and Savior. Seventy reads; » αὐτου; translated in Slavic: "her". This is how it is read in the Slavic translation, in accordance with the translation of the seventy. You might be interested in: