Изъяснение псалма 116-го.

"Hallelujah" And this song is suitable for every person; because the grace of the Spirit commands those who have achieved salvation to sing songs to the Benefactor. Ps.116:1. Praise the Lord, all nations, glorify Him, all nations. “Praise the Lord, all you nations.” The Prophet calls everyone together to rejoice; because to all the pagans, not only the Greeks and Romans, but also to the barbarian peoples, the Lord gave the means of salvation, using the sacred Apostles as ministers of this good deed. For he said: “Go and teach all languages, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them “Keep all the commandments unto you” (Matthew 28:19-20). Submitting to this law, they went around the whole earth and sea, and brought to Christ, some the Indians, some the Egyptians, and some the Ethiopians. Blessed Paul briefly says to how many nations he brought the Divine sermon, so that “from Jerusalem and around to Illyricum he would fulfill the gospel of Christ.” (Rom. 15:19) For, not following the direct path, but bypassing those living in the midst of the nations, he brought to them also the saving dogmas. 15, 20–21). Subsequently, he came to Italy, went to Spain, and brought benefit to the islands scattered in the sea. For in the Epistle to the Romans he said: “I hope that I am coming” to Spain, to pass with you, “and to be carried on there by you, if first I am satisfied with some of you” (Rom. 15:24). And writing to the wonderful Titus, he says: “For this reason I have left you in Crete, so that you can establish a city of presbyters, as I commanded you” (Titus 1:5). Thus the great John freed Asia from its former wickedness. Thus, the divine Andrew illuminated Hellas with the rays of the knowledge of God. So the most divine Philip exposed the error of the inhabitants of both Phrygia, and so the great Peter walked from Jerusalem to the Roman city, bringing rays of truth to everyone. So everyone, having walked around the entire universe, dispelled the darkness of ignorance and showed the Sun of Truth. Therefore, the prophetic word rightly commands all nations to offer a song to God; because everyone has achieved salvation. “Praise Him, all you people” 39 From time immemorial, Judea was scattered throughout the entire universe, taught to honor the one God. And since they did not live in Palestine alone, they were not one people ruled by one king, but, scattered among pagan peoples, were subject to their sovereigns, although they observed their way of life, following the provisions of the law: the Prophet rightly calls them not a people, but nations. For very many of them accepted the Divine preaching. In Jerusalem, three thousand and five thousand were suddenly caught by fishermen; and after this, as the divine Jacob said, many darkness also believed (Acts 21:10). In Syria, in Cilicia, in Lycaonia, in Pisidia, in Asia, in Pamphylia and among all other pagan peoples, the Apostles were the first to bring divine preaching to the Jews; and some believed and enjoyed the truth, while others contradicted the teachings that were beneficial to them. Therefore, the prophetic word rightly commands them to sing songs to the Benefactor; because he calls them peoples. Ps.116:2. For great is His mercy toward us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever. Hallelujah. “For His mercy may be established upon us”; because, guided by mercy alone, He brought about our salvation. This is what Blessed Paul also said: “When the grace and love of God our Savior appeared, not from the works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His many mercy, He saved us by the washing of regeneration, and the renewal of the Holy Spirit, He was poured out on us abundantly” (1 Titus 3:4-6); and again: “Salvation is by natural grace through faith: and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8); and in another place: “The word is true and worthy of all acceptance, for Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I was the first, but received mercy” (1 Tim. 1:15-16). “God creates His love for us, because while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Therefore, the prophetic word rightly said: “For His mercy may be established upon us.” “And the truth of the Lord endures forever.” For he granted salvation, which he promised through the mouth of the holy Prophets. Blessed Paul also said this, beginning his letter to the Romans: “Paul is the servant of Jesus Christ, called an Apostle, chosen for the gospel of God, as He first promised by His prophets in the writings of the saints” (Rom. 1:1-2); and again: “I say, Christ Jesus, a servant of the circumcision according to the truth of God, to confirm the promises of the fathers, and to glorify God with his tongue through mercy” (Rom. 15:8-9). Therefore, since the God of all has fulfilled the promises, granted the salvation that he promised, and opened the sources of mercy to everyone; then we, who came from the Jews, and you, who believed from the pagans, having dissolved the harmonious hymn, will render this reward to the Benefactor. In Greek it reads: “οἱ λαοί”;, that is, peoples. You might be interested in: