Изъяснение псалма 22-го.

Ps.23:1. The Lord is my Shepherd; I won't want for anything. Finally, “a psalm to David.” “The Lord feeds me and will deprive me of nothing.” And this psalm contains the same thought as in the psalms previously explained. For the Prophet, having said in the previous psalm: “The wicked eat, and are satisfied, and they that seek Him praise the Lord” (Ps. 21:27); also: “eating and bowing down to all the fatness of the earth” (Ps. 21:30), indicates here the Giver of such food, and calls this Provider a shepherd. This is how the Master Christ called Himself: “I am the good shepherd: I know Myself, and they know Me” (John 10:14). This is how he called himself through the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 34:13 et seq.). Therefore, here too, all those who have tasted the saving food cry out: “The Lord shepherds me, and will deprive me of nothing,” because this Shepherd gives all the enjoyment of good things to his flock. Ps.22:2. He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters. “In the evil place, there they installed me.” Since he called the Giver of blessings a shepherd, by the way, in a figurative sense, he also mentioned the food of the sheep. Here he calls the sacred teaching of divine words grain, because this Shepherd first feeds with words, and then offers mysterious food. “Raise me on the calm water.” Makes us understand the water of rebirth, in which, by being baptized, he who desires grace is stripped of sinful oldness, and from the old is made new. Ps.22:3. Strengthens my soul, guides me on the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. “Convert my soul, guide me on the paths of righteousness.” He informed me, says the Prophet, of these blessings, first of all, freeing me from error and preparing me to walk on the right path. "For His name's sake." Yet these are gifts of His generosity, because we do not use them out of our own virtue. Therefore, having such a Helper and Champion, I will not fear even the very gates of death, but will face every death with disdain. For this was added by the Prophet: Ps.22:4. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff - they calm me. “Even if I walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” He adds another thing to this: “Thy rod and Thy club, they comfort me.” For with a rod he strengthens my weakness, and with a club he guides me on the right path. Therefore, whoever calls the saving cross this way does not sin, because by the seal and remembrance of it we are freed from hostile demons and are guided onto the true path. Ps.22:5. Thou hast prepared a table before me in the sight of my enemies; anointed my head with oil; my cup is overflowing. “Thou hast prepared a table before me to resist those who are cold against me: Thou hast anointed my head with oil, and Thy cup maketh me drunken, like a mighty one.” This is clear to those who have been granted secrecy, and does not require any explanation. For they know the spiritual oil with which they anointed the head, and the strengthening, and not weakening, intoxication, and the mysterious food that he who has become the Bridegroom offers us in addition to his shepherding. With these blessings, says the Prophet, You have filled me, while those who are hostile to me are sad and worried that such a change has happened to their former slave. Ps.22:6. So may [Thy] goodness and mercy follow me all the days of my life, and I will abide in the house of the Lord many days. “And Thy mercy will marry me all the days of my life, and let us dwell in the house of the Lord for the length of days.” The provider of these blessings is Your ineffable love for mankind, which did not wait for our request, but, like some fugitives, pursued and befell, grants us salvation, and a place to stay in the divine abodes, both in the present and in the future life. For the Prophet expressed this by saying: “in the length of days,” that is, always and unceasingly, and this befits these centuries that have no end. You might be interested in: