Изъяснение псалма 131-го.

"Song of Degrees". This psalm has great similarity with the eighty-eighth psalm; because here, as in that, the captives in Babylon beg the God of all, instead of prayer, presenting the promises given by God to the great David, and asking for forgiveness. The psalm also contains a prophecy about the Savior of the universe, descended in the flesh from the line of David. Ps.131:1. Remember, Lord, David and all his contrition. “Lord remember David and all his meekness.” because, having sinned in many ways, we have lost all boldness; then we ask You, Master, to remember David, his meekness and piety. The previous psalm also mentioned this meekness, and clearly showed his humble way of thinking. Ps.131:2. How he swore to the Lord, made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob. Ps.131:3. “I will not enter the tent of my house, I will not ascend to my bed. Ps.131:4. I will not allow my eyes to sleep and my eyelids to slumber. Ps.131:5. Until I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” “As they swear to the Lord, promising to God Jacob”: “If I go into the village of my house, or go up to my bed.” “If I give sleep to my eyes, and slumber to my eyes everywhere, and peace to my soul,” “Until I will find the place of the Lord, a habitation for the God of Jacob.” This is revealed more clearly by the story of Chronicles. For at first he begged to have a divine church built for him. But, since God forbade this through the Prophet Nathan, and predicted that Solomon would complete the construction, David postponed this construction, however, he did not like inaction, on the contrary, he began to collect gold, silver, iron, copper, wood and stones. And all this, as I said, is revealed to those who wish to read it by the book mentioned. Ps.131:6. Behold, we heard of him in Ephrath; we found him in the fields of Jearim. “Behold, I heard in Euphrath, I found what I found in the oak fields.” David asked to build a church for God; The Only Begotten Word of God promised to create for Himself an animated and verbal church from the fruit of His loins. Therefore, the prophecy says: “Behold, I heard in Euphratha, I found something in the oak fields.” Euphratha was the name of what is now called Bethlehem: for there the Lord Christ was born, who, pointing to His body, said to the Jews: “Destroy this church” (John 2:19). The Prophet calls the site of the Jerusalem temple “fields” of “oak groves”, as empty and without buildings. For there the great David, holding back the destroying Angel with prayers to God, erected an altar, offered a sacrifice, and consecrated the place for the construction of the church. since there were two tabernacles, one of stones and wood, the other of body and soul, and one was built by Solomon in Jerusalem, and the other was woven by the grace of the All-Holy Spirit in Bethlehem, and those who lived then piously saw one and expected the other, then the prophetic word prophesied: “Behold, I heard in Euphrath,” that is, they heard about the tabernacle that the Holy Spirit would build, “I found it in the oak fields,” that is, the tabernacle built by Solomon according to the promise of the Spirit. Ps.131:7. Let us go to His habitation, let us worship at the footstool of His feet. “Let us go into His villages, let us bow down to the place where His nose stood.” The Prophet changed the times; He says: we entered there and worshiped, believing that the church will be worthy of God’s coming. For this is the meaning of the words: “where He stood before Him.” We believe that the Divine is not only incorporeal, but also indescribable. Divine Scripture speaks about him in a bodily way, proportioning the words to human hearing. Ps.131:8. Stand, O Lord, in the place of Your rest, You and the ark of Your power. "Rise, Lord, into Thy rest." The resurrection of God is the name for service performed according to the law, not because God has a need for it, but because He loves the piety of those who practice it, and they pray that His grace may appear again, and the former glory be given to the church. “You and the ark of Your holiness.” since in the Holy of Holies there stood an ark containing the tablets of the law, and on it there was a purification, through which the Bishop received some indications of God’s appearance; then the Prophet by the way mentioned the ark; because “God, who created” heaven and earth, according to Blessed Paul, “does not live in churches made with hands” (Acts 17:24). This is how the wise Solomon prayed: “if heaven and heaven do not dominate You” (2 Chron. 6:18). The God of all things himself said this: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What house will you build? and what is the place of My resting place” (Is. 66:1)? Ps.131:9. Your priests will be clothed with righteousness, and Your saints will rejoice. “Thy priests will be clothed with righteousness, and Thy saints will rejoice.” When this is accomplished, says the Prophet, the house will be built, and the ark will be placed again in the sanctuary; then the priests who serve according to the law will be justified, and those who have not received the priestly dignity, but who are zealous for piety, will be filled with all joy. Ps.131:10. For the sake of David Your servant, do not turn away the face of Your anointed. “David, for the sake of Thy servant, do not turn away the face of Thy anointed one. “Anointed” the Prophet here calls the rank of king. because their kings of that time were wicked; then they ask for the sake of David not to extinguish the royal family. Then they remind us of the former promises. Ps.131:11. The Lord swore to David in the truth, and will not deny it: “I will place the fruit of your body on your throne. “The Lord swear to David in truth, and it will not be rejected.” The Promised One is not deceitful, says the Prophet, and He is the source of truth, and it is impossible for the promise not to come true. “I will plant the fruit of your body on your throne.” Here is one Promise, and it is fulfilled; because not only Solomon, but also those descended from Solomon were awarded royal thrones. But the end of the promise is confirmed by the Lord Christ, having prevailed over the kingdom of David. Blessed Isaiah also foretold this: “For a Child was born unto us, a Son, and was given unto us, His rulership is upon His frame, and His name is called: Great of counsel, Angel, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Ruler, Prince of Peace, Father of the age to come. Amen" (Isa. 9:6). And after a few words: “on the throne of David, and on his kingdom, correct it from now on” and for eternity (Is. 9: 7). This promise, as I said, was confirmed by the Lord Christ. But God gave another, not vague promise, and said so. Ps.131:12. If your sons keep My covenant and My testimonies, which I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne forever.” “If your sons keep my covenant and these testimonies which I will teach, then their sons will sit on your throne forever.” This is the promise of the Lord, but their iniquity stopped the continuation of the kingdom. For Solomon soon fell into wickedness and incurred the wrath of God; and therefore the throne was appropriated by the kidnappers, and ten tribes recognized the kingdom of another; Subsequently, over time, the kingdom of David ceased to exist among the two tribes. Ps.131:13. For the Lord chose Zion, He desired [it] for His dwelling place. “For the Lord has chosen Zion, and will it be his dwelling place.” From time immemorial You, Lord, says the Prophet, preferred Zion to other cities, and made it Your dwelling place. Ps.131:14. “This is My rest forever: here I will dwell, for I have desired it. "This is My rest for ever and ever". You have spoken this, O Lord, and promised to always rest in Zion. And this came to fruition. For, although the ancient church, due to the fury of the Jews, was destroyed, there again the places of the cross, and the resurrection, and the ascension are honored by the grace of God, and everyone comes from all over the land and from all over the sea to draw the blessing they exude. “I will live here as I please.” And this was fulfilled, and a certain change took place in the place of residence. The prophetic word remembered Zion, and in it the place of the cross and resurrection. Ps.131:15. Blessing his food, I will bless him; I will satisfy his poor with bread. “Bless his catch, I will bless him.” And Symmachus translated: by blessing his food, I will bless him, that is, I will give them an abundance of all good things. “I will fill his needy with bread.” I will also give those in need something to satisfy their needs. Ps.131:16. I will clothe his priests with salvation, and his saints will rejoice with joy. “I will clothe his priests with salvation.” What I called truth above, I here called salvation; because salvation is the fruit of righteousness. “And his saints will rejoice with joy.” Those who love piety will be filled with all joy. Ps.131:17. There I will grow the horn of David, I will set up a lamp for my anointed. “There I will grow the horn of David.” According to the concept that appears the first time, the symbol points to Zerubbabel. But since Zerubbabel did not transfer the power of government to either his descendants or his children; then no one has the right to call him a “horn”, as he ruled the people for a short time; because the horn means something strong and permanent. since the prophecy does not become Zerubbabel; This word foretells the birth of Christ according to the flesh. So blessed Peter said in Acts: “This prophet,” David, “and knowing that God swore to him by an oath from the fruit of his loins according to the flesh, to raise up Christ, to set him on his throne, having foreseen the promise of His resurrection” (Acts 2:30-31). “I have prepared a lamp for My anointed.” The prophetic word again refers to the church existing from David as a lamp, which has received the light of the Divine. Ps.131:18. I will clothe his enemies with shame, and his crown will shine on him.” “I will clothe his enemies with cold, but in him my sanctuary will flourish.” Witnesses of this cold are the Jews, who loved enmity and suffered shame. And the “shrine” is the Church throughout the land and sea, called the body of the Lord Christ and receiving sources of sanctification from Him. You might be interested in: