Изъяснение псалма 106-го.

"Hallelujah" We have proven more than once that the Old Testament is the shadow of the new, but it is no less possible to learn this with ease from this psalm; because he foretells the liberation of the Jews, and foretells the salvation of all men; has a great connection with the psalms presented. The one hundred and fourth psalm contains a story about the promises that were given by God to the patriarchs, and about the gifts that were sent down to their descendants; The psalm that followed, in addition to these benefits, showed the ingratitude of the Jews and the punishments that were imposed on them for this. This same psalm predicts deliverance from captivity, accomplished through God’s ineffable love for mankind. But, as those psalms foretell what is happening to us; So in this psalm we see a prophecy about our salvation; It’s better to say that most of this prophecy applies more to us than to the Jews. Ps.106:1. Praise the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever! “Confess to the Lord that His mercy endures forever.” The prophetic word again gives advice to sing songs to the benefactor of God. The reason for singing is philanthropy. Ps.107:2. So let those who are redeemed by the Lord say, whom He delivered from the hand of the enemy. “Let them say that the Lord has delivered them; deliver them from the hand of the enemy.” It was necessary to sing songs to the Jews who were freed from the slavery of Babylon; We, who have been delivered from the torment of the devil, must always do this. Ps.107:3. And he gathered from the countries, from the east and the west, from the north and the sea. “And from the countries they gathered together, from the east, and the west, and the north, and the sea.” We do not see this happening to the Jews; because they live scattered throughout the entire universe. The Lord called and gathered the church from the pagans in all parts of the universe, eastern and western, southern and northern; and such meetings can be seen everywhere on land and sea. And this was fulfilled to a small extent over the Jews, when others returned from Babylon, and at the same time not many were gathered from Egypt and the surrounding nations. Ps.106:4. They wandered in the desert along a deserted path and did not find an inhabited city. “Getting lost in a desert without water.” And Babylon is deserted and without water; because he was abandoned by God, and the Jews enslaved in Babylon were deprived of spiritual irrigation. And those who believed among the pagans also lived in the desert, and the waterless desert, “having no hope and without god,” as the divine Apostle says (Eph. 2:12). “The path of the habitable city was not found”; because the Jews could not escape from their enslavers and return to their fatherland, and those who believed among the pagans, until the Savior became man, did not find the path leading to the divine city. And by “hail” we should here mean pious living. Ps.106:5. They endured hunger and thirst, their soul melted away within them. “Hungering and thirsting, their soul disappeared from them.” The famine of divine teaching oppressed both. How the Jews, while enslaved in Babylon, were deprived of priests and could not perform ministries according to the law; so the pagans have not yet accepted the Divine law, and have not enjoyed the spiritual teaching with which souls are usually nourished. God threatened the Jews with this famine. For he said: “I will bring a famine on the earth, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the word of the Lord” (Amos 8:11). Ps.106:6. But they cried out to the Lord in their sorrow, and He delivered them from their troubles. “And I cried to the Lord, and when I was in trouble, I delivered them from their needs.” The most pious of the Jews offered prayer to God. Daniel’s prophecy also shows us this. And Daniel himself and Ananias and Azariah and Misail, tearfully praying for everyone, asked for God’s mercy. The pagans, struggling with disasters of all kinds, although they sighed, indulged in inconsolable lamentations and tears, having no hope of resurrection, did not ask God for any kind of liberation from the evils that beset them; however, the Lover of Mankind saw their sighs and showed them mercy. Ps.106:7. And he led them on a straight path, so that they would go to an inhabited city. “And guide me on the right path, lead me into the habitable city.” He granted the Jews a return through the Persian Cyrus, and set the pagans on the path through the holy Apostles; through them he showed them the highest city, which has its foundation on the mountains of the saints, “of whom God is an artist and maker” (Heb. 11:10). Ps.106:8. Let them praise the Lord for His mercy and for His wonderful works for the sons of men. “Let the Lord confess His mercies and His miracles to the sons of men.” And Symmachus translated it like this: and His miracles on the sons of men. A song of thanksgiving is offered to God not by mercy or miracles, but by those who have enjoyed so many blessings. Wonderful and amazing is the liberation of the Jews; Much more wonderful and amazing is the salvation of the universe, change for the better, cessation of error, and knowledge of the truth. The guardian of all this is God’s mercy. “For it was not by the works of the righteous that we created them,” says the divine Apostle, “but according to His many mercy He saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, Who was poured out on us abundantly” (Titus 3:5-6). Ps.107:9. For He has satisfied the thirsty soul and filled the hungry soul with good things. Ps.106:10. They sat in darkness and the shadow of death, bound in sorrow and iron. “For you have satisfied the empty soul, and filled the hungry soul with good things”: “They who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, bound in poverty and iron.” And the Jews, who lived in slavery and suffering, were languishing with hunger, freed them from the evils that had held them; and he imbued all human nature with Divine teachings, and freed them from the darkness of ignorance, illuminated them with the light of the knowledge of God, dispelled the shadow of death that surrounded them, giving them the hope of resurrection, and dissolved the strong bonds of sin. For it is said: “everyone is burdened with the captivity of his sins” (Proverbs 5:22); and: “Woe to those who bring in sins, as if they are already long, and as the yoke is a yoke with the strap of its iniquity” (Is. 5:18). Ps.106:11. For they did not obey the words of God and were careless about the will of the Most High. Ps.106:12. He humbled their hearts by their works; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. “As if I have overburdened the words of God, and provoked the covenant of the Most High.” “And humble their hearts in their labors, and become weary, and do not help.” All these sorrows, both for the Jews and also for all people, are caused by sin. And the Jews were handed over to Babylonian slavery as punishment; and all people, by breaking the commandment, were subjected to hard labor. For after this it was said to Adam: “Cursed is the earth because of your deeds. Thorns and thistles will grow for you: bear them in sorrow all the days of your life. By the sweat of your brow you have carried away your bread until you returned to the land from which you were taken: as you are the earth, you went back to the earth” (Genesis 3:17-19). Those who were walled off by so many disasters did not find any weakness from the evils that surrounded them, but He who condemned them to these disasters Himself also granted deliverance from them; for he says: Ps.106:13. But they cried out to the Lord in their sorrow, and He saved them from their troubles. Ps.106:14. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their bonds. “And I cried out to the Lord, even when they were in sorrow, and I saved them from their needs”: “And I brought out of darkness the shadow of death, and tore apart their bonds.” For, having compassion both on the Jews and on the human race, he delivered some from the disasters that had befallen them, and freed others from the darkness of ignorance, and dissolved the bonds of slavery. Ps.106:15. Let them praise the Lord for His mercy and for His wonderful works for the sons of men. Ps.106:16. For He has broken in pieces the gates of brass and broken the ropes of iron. “Let the Lord confess His mercies and His miracles to the sons of men”: “As you break in pieces the gates of copper, and break the ropes of iron. The Prophet called the inevitability of disasters “gates of copper” and “rails of iron.” As for one for whom the exit is blocked by such doors and ropes, it is impossible to escape; so it was impossible for the Jews to escape the slavery of Babylon, and for all people to escape the dominion of death. But God’s only mercy was sufficient to destroy the power of the Babylonians and death, and to grant liberation from sorrows. Ps.106:17. The foolish suffered for their lawless ways and for their iniquities. “I have taken away their iniquity from the way: for the iniquity has been humbled for the sake of its own.” Both the Jews and all human nature were not subjected to these sorrows contrary to justice, but both of them bear punishment for what they sinned. The Lord granted salvation to both of them, overwhelmed by so many disasters. Ps.106:18. Their souls turned away from all food, and they approached the gates of death. “Their souls abhorred every waste, and drew near to the gates of mortals.” The Jews, overwhelmed by many disasters, also turned away from food itself. For this, as if on behalf of them, the Prophet said in another psalm, namely: “I forgot to take my bread” (Psalm 101:5). The pagans did not want to listen to the teachings of their own philosophers. Therefore, some condemned Socrates to death; others put Anaxarchus to extraordinary execution; and other successors of Pythagoras, after cruel tortures, were brought to premature death. However, God arranged for everyone to be given immortal food, and he convinced them to come to it with all diligence, and freed them from the gates of death. Ps.106:19. But they cried out to the Lord in their sorrow, and He saved them from their troubles. “And I cried to the Lord when they were in trouble, and I saved them from their needs.” Then he shows the very image of salvation. Ps.106:20. He sent His word and healed them and delivered them from their graves. “I sent my word, and I healed, and I delivered from their corruption.” God the Word, becoming human and being sent as a man (and as God He is indescribable, omnipresent and all-encompassing), healed all spiritual ulcers and made corrupt thoughts healthy. So he healed a sinner wife and commanded her to be bold (Matthew 9:22); Thus he gave strength to the paralytic, saying: “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 5:20); thus opened paradise to the thief; thus he made publicans teachers of the universe; Thus, those who approach all-holy baptism are renewed, cleansed and freed from sinful ulcers. Ps.106:21. Let them praise the Lord for His mercy and for His wonderful works for the sons of men! Ps.106:22. Let them offer sacrifices of praise to Him and let them proclaim His deeds with singing! “Let the Lord confess His mercies and His miracles to the sons of men”: “And let them devour a sacrifice of praise to Him, and let His deeds be proclaimed with joy.” For all this, says the Prophet, justice demands that we sing praises to the philanthropic God, who showed so much mercy and granted us miraculous salvation. We should not be the only ones to know the miracles of God, but we should also teach the ignorant and excite everyone to chant. But it is also necessary to note that the Prophet commanded here to bring to God a “sacrifice of praise,” and not a wordless sacrifice. Consequently, here too He rejects service under the law. And Aquila called the “sacrifice of praise” the sacrifice of thanksgiving (εὐχαριστίας). Ps.106:23. Those who go on ships to the sea, doing business on large waters. Ps.106:24. They see the works of the Lord and His miracles in the depths. “They who went down to the sea in ships, doing work in many waters”: “These beheld the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the depths.” The Prophet said this accurately. The following is understood: just as those sailing on ships, crossing vast seas, primarily see the great works of God, when, having been subjected to strong unrest, beyond all human hope, they receive salvation: so the Jews, having fallen into these disasters, and having received liberation, recognized God’s power; and equally, all people, seeing the extraordinary change in affairs, the cessation of the previous seduction, spiritual silence and the harbor of resurrection, are surprised at the Giver of this. Ps.106:25. He speaks, and a stormy wind arises and lifts its waves high. Ps.106:26. They ascend to heaven, they descend to the abyss; their soul melts away in disaster. Ps.106:27. They spin and stagger like drunken people, and all their wisdom disappears. “It speaks, and the spirit is stormy, and its waves rise up”: “They ascend to the heavens and descend to the abysses.” And this Prophet teaches that by the wave of God, just as sorrow befalls us, so favorable things come. “Their soul is hidden in evil:” “They were confused, moving like a drunk, and all their wisdom was quickly swallowed up.” The prophet adheres to a figurative manner of speech, and apparently speaks of sailors, but makes this understand all kinds of natural disasters, which no one is able to avert, guided by human wisdom; because the helmsmen, like drunkards, barging here and there when excitement sets in, using all their skill, cannot overcome disasters. Ps.106:28. But they cried out to the Lord in their sorrow, and He brought them out of their distress. Ps.106:29. He turns the storm into silence and the waves become silent. Ps.106:30. And they rejoice that they have calmed down, and He leads them to the desired pier. “And having cried out to the Lord, I always spoke to them, and brought them out of their needs.” “And he commanded the storm, and made it quiet, and made its waves still.” “And she rejoiced, as if she had fallen silent.” And to these swimmers, as soon as they call on the Lord, He gives His help; and by His wave, the storm immediately changes into a calm breeze and the sea is freed from excitement; and those who struggle with any sorrows, by His grace, find change in troubles. Thus the Jews were freed from their bitter slavery. “And I will guide you into the refuge of My desire.” As quickly as he wished, a cessation of troubles followed, and instead of a storm a pier appeared. And this is more applicable to us than to the Jews; because He brought us “into the refuge of His will,” bestowing His Divine knowledge. Ps.106:31. Let them praise the Lord for His mercy and for His wonderful works for the sons of men! Ps.106:32. Let them extol Him in the assembly of the people, and let them glorify Him in the assembly of elders! “Let the Lord confess His mercies and His miracles to the sons of men.” “Let them lift Him up in the church of men, and let the elders praise Him in the seats.” And this, as can be seen, is constantly being done by the believing pagans; because in all the churches throughout the universe, according to the sacred host, all the people sing songs of praise to the Benefactor, describing the miracles of God’s love for mankind. Ps.106:33. It turns rivers into deserts and water sources into dry land. Ps.106:34. The fertile land is turned into salty land, because of the wickedness of those living on it. “Thou hast made the rivers into the desert, and the flowing out of the waters into thirst,” “The fruitful land into glory, from the malice of those who dwell on it.” Those who have achieved salvation sing hymns to Him, noting the extraordinary change. For those who in ancient times were watered by many prophetic rivers and brought timely fruit to God, now do not enjoy even a little moisture, but for their wickedness are completely deprived of the previous irrigation. Ps.106:35. He turns the desert into a lake, and the parched land into springs of water. “Thou hast made the desert into a pool of water, and the dry land into a pool of water.” The ancient deserts - the pagans, who did not have even a small drop, are filled with the waters of teaching, even receiving verbal currents beyond the need. Ps.106:36. And he settles the hungry there, and they build a city to live in. “And the hungry people inhabited it, and formed mansions of cities.” Those who had previously been wasting away from famine and had no spiritual food, he settled near these rivers and established a pious lifestyle. Ps.106:37. They sow fields and plant vineyards, which bring them abundant fruit. “And she sowed, and planted grapes, and brought forth fruit of life.” The Prophet spoke all this in a figurative sense. And the Lord used similar parables; sometimes he called the Apostles reapers; sometimes He called Himself the Sower and the Tiller, and those who dutifully accepted the seeds of the word - the good land. And the Apostle says: “I planted, Apollos gave water, but God increased” (1 Cor. 3:6); and again: “God’s desires (γεώργιον), God’s building is natural” (1 Cor. 3:9). Therefore, the Apostles sowed saving preaching, planted verbal gardens for God, and brought Him ripe fruit; and everyone to whom the teaching is entrusted after them continues to do the same. Ps.106:38. He blesses them, and they multiply greatly, and He does not diminish their cattle. “And bless,” I, “and they multiplied greatly, and the cattle did not destroy them.” For “sow for blessing, and he will reap for blessing,” according to the word of the divine Apostle (2 Cor. 9:6). “Cattle” the Prophet calls those they flock, whom the Lord Himself multiplied, bestowing the power of miracles. And the witness of this is blessed Luke, who in Acts says: “But the Lord makes the church ready to be saved all the days” (Acts 2:47). And the Lord Himself calls believers sheep. For he says: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them: they will also come after Me, and I will give them eternal life” (John 10:27-28). After this, the Prophet again predicted the disasters that would befall the Jews. Ps.106:39. They diminished and fell from oppression, distress and sorrow. “And she became faint and embittered from illness and disease.” And this means: those who inhabited the desert and waterless ancient times, believing, enjoyed such a great blessing and abundance; and those who in ancient times enjoyed the irrigation of the prophetic rivers, and then lost their hearts for the wickedness, and remained completely empty and fruitless, fell into all kinds of disasters, and were scattered throughout the whole universe, so that not many of them live in the populous capital. Ps.106:40. He pours out dishonor on princes and leaves them to wander in the wilderness where there are no paths. “He poured out humiliation on their princes.” This prediction is confirmed by the deeds themselves. For their supposed leaders and teachers do not deserve any respect; having been famous and glorious in ancient times, they became completely unknown and neglected among the Jews themselves. “And I’ll go around the dead end, not the path.” Symmachus translated: he will do so that they will wander in the vanity of the mind. God does not deceive, even forbids deception; but he allows the rebellious to remain without a helmsman; and those who do not know how to establish themselves firmly, rushing here and there, wander. This also happened to Judah; because, leaving the Divine path, they follow their own thoughts. Ps.106:41. He rescues the poor from distress and multiplies his family like a flock of sheep. “And help the poor from poverty”; because the impoverished pagans of old were honored with God's help and acquired spiritual wealth. “And lay down like sheep of the fatherland.” Aquila translated it this way: and he will exalt the poor out of poverty, and set him up as a kindred flock; because He will take care of them as if they were His own sheep, will provide for them and take care of them as if they were relatives according to the flesh. Ps.106:42. The righteous see this and rejoice, but all wickedness stops its lips. “They will see the truth and be glad, and all iniquity will stop their mouth.” For, seeing this, those who are guided by the rightness of thoughts will be filled with joy, and those who decide to live in wickedness and lawlessness, curbed by righteous judgment, are forced to bow to the ground and remain silent. Ps.106:43. He who is wise will notice this and understand the mercy of the Lord. “Who is wise and will preserve this? and they will understand the mercies of the Lord"; because not everyone is able to understand and know the man-loving economy of the Savior, and preserve the Divine laws, but only those who are guided by wisdom and understanding and cry to the Master: “Open my eyes, and I will understand the wonders of Your law” (Psalm 119:18). You might be interested in: