Изъяснение псалма 123-го.

"Song of Degrees". Upon the return of the Jews from Babylon, all the neighboring peoples, indignant at their liberation, jointly launched a war against them, and, having gathered the barbarian peoples, collectively took up arms against them, hoping to destroy their very memory. But the God of all again helped His own, and defeated all the enemies. Many of the Prophets speak about this, Joel, Ezekiel, Micah, Zechariah, and besides them many others. Blessed David also foretells this. Ps.123:1. If the Lord had not been with us, let Israel say. Ps.123:2. If the Lord had not been with us when people rebelled against us. “For if the Lord were not in us, let Israel say”: “For if the Lord were not in us, He would have risen against us, for He would have devoured us alive.” Ascribe the victory not to your own strength, says the Prophet; because its giver is God. Therefore, rejoicingly say to each other: if we had not been worthy of God’s help, then, when so many hostiles gathered against us, we would not have been worthy of burial, but, like wild beasts, would have been devoured alive. Ps.123:3. They would have devoured us alive when their rage flared up against us. “Their rage will never be angry with us.” The Prophet expressed the hatred and hostility of neighboring peoples; because they gnashed their teeth when they saw the Jews delivered. “The water would have drowned us.” Ps.123:4. The waters would drown us, the stream would pass over our soul. Ps.123:5. Stormy waters would pass over our soul. “The stream will pass away our soul.” “For our soul must pass away from the fickle waters.” All this is said in a figurative sense. since the Prophet said: “They devoured us alive”; then it shows an excessive multitude, which rushes forward like a stream, and thinks to cover everyone with itself. By the way, I used the image of a stream; because, just as a stream, formed as a result of many rains, becomes stronger, so those who then rushed to Jerusalem gathered from many and different nations. But they were crushed by the righteous judgment of God. The Prophet shows this. Ps.123:6. Blessed be the Lord, Who did not give us as prey to their teeth! “Blessed is the Lord, who did not let us be caught by their teeth.” The Prophet made it possible to see both their cruelty and God’s help; for he used the word: “teeth,” showing their fierceness. Ps.123:7. Our soul has been delivered, like a bird, from the net of those who catch it: the net is broken, and we are delivered. “Our soul, like a bird, escapes from the snare of those who catch it.” With gratitude they confess their own weakness, likening themselves to a sparrow, and preach God’s power, showing the strength of their enemies; for they are called fishers. But the Prophet also indicates the method of salvation. “The net is broken and we are delivered.” Not only have we been granted salvation, but we also see the death of our enemies. Ps.123:8. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who created heaven and earth. “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who created heaven and earth.” Therefore, we neglect all human strength, having as our assistant the Creator of heaven and earth, Whose name alone is enough for us to be saved. You might be interested in: