Изъяснение псалма 61-го.

Ps.61:1. To the head of the choir Idifumov. Psalm of David. “At the end, O Idithum, a psalm to David.” Symmachus translated it like this: “victorious from Idithum, a song to David.” And this makes it clear that the psalm belongs to the blessed David, but he was Idithum, because he, being the head of the choir in the Divine Church, sang songs to the God of all, as the book of Chronicles says about this (1 Chronicles 16:41). The psalm foreshadows the rebellion of the Macedonians and the evil intentions of Antiochus Epiphanes against the Maccabees, and teaches what thoughts should guide the ascetics of virtue during the invasion of the opposing forces. Ps.61:2. My soul rests only in God: my salvation comes from Him. Ps.61:3. He alone is my rock, my salvation, my refuge: I will not be shaken any more. “Does not my soul submit to God?” The Jews, forced to transgress the Divine law, offer sacrifices to idols and eat pork, arouse their thoughts to piety, and encourage them to zeal for piety, saying: would you not, soul, prefer serving God to everything? Then they point out the benefits that come from this. “From this is my salvation.” “For this is my God and my Savior, my intercessor: I do not move in the least.” This ministry gives you, soul, salvation, because He is God and the giver of good things and can strengthen those who waver. Therefore, calling on His help, I will get rid of those who are trying to overthrow me. Thus, having inflamed their thoughts with zeal for piety, the Jews turn their speech to their opponents. Ps.61:4. How long will you lean on the person? You will be cast down, all of you, like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence. “How long will you stand on a person? You all kill, as if you have bowed to a wall and built a stronghold.” The thought contained in this verse is not stated in the usual order of speech, and it is the following: how long will you treat us cruelly, regardless of our common nature with you? Having this murderous intention, hasten to push us away and throw us down like some leaning wall and stronghold that is in danger of falling from the wind. And this means: do not be too proud of us, as if we are weak, because we have the God of all as our helper. Ps.61:5. They plotted to overthrow him from above and resorted to lies; They bless with their lips, but curse in their hearts. “Otherwise, reject the price of my meeting.” They have one goal, says the Prophet, to deprive me of God’s providence for me, from which all my value and glory come; because the glory of the godly is to serve God; why the divine Paul everywhere calls himself a servant of Christ. "Tekosha is thirsty." But this malice is not a foreign matter to them; on the contrary, they are engaged in it with all zeal, eager to cast me into the abyss of wickedness. And the Prophet explains what tricks are used to achieve this. “I will bless my lips, and I will bless my heart.” They use seductive words, trying to deceive me, but within them lies hidden destruction. So the Jews, having shown the evil intentions of their enemies, again make it a law for themselves to remain patient and wait for Divine help. Ps.61:6. Rest in God only, my soul! for in Him is my hope. “Before God, submit my soul: for from Him is my patience.” Do not, soul, abandon serving God, but, strengthened by the help given from Him, endure the blows of disasters. Ps.61:7. He alone is my stronghold and my salvation, my refuge: I will not be shaken. “For this is my God and my Savior, my intercessor: I will not pass away.” Knowing that He is the true God and the source of salvation, I will not agree to leave His service and resort to another dominion. The Prophet used the word: “I will move” instead of: I will change, that is, I will not become a renegade and a slave of wickedness. Ps.61:8. In God is my salvation and my glory; The strength of my strength and my trust are in God. “O God is my salvation and my glory. God is my help, and my trust is in God." They often use the same words, calling the God of all God, and Savior, and glory, and helper, in order to repel the attacks of wickedness. That is why they incite all other fellow tribesmen to the same piety, not wanting them alone to be called victorious. Ps.61:9. People! trust in Him at all times; pour out your heart before Him: God is our refuge. “Trust in Him, all the company of people: pour out your hearts before Him, for God is our helper.” Leaving all people in disdain, place your trust in Him firmly, fellow tribesmen, and devote all your thoughts to Him, undoubtedly expecting help from Him. This is what the words mean: “pour out your hearts before Him,” that is, devote all your thoughts to Him, and do not allow any division in your thoughts. Ps.61:10. The sons of men are but vanity; sons of husbands - lies; if you put them on the scales, all of them together are lighter than emptiness. “Besides the vanity of the sons of humanity, the lies of the sons of humanity are in the measure of untruth.” Theodotion translated this more clearly: “However, the sons of men are vapors, the sons of a man are deceitful, like the fluctuation of scales.” There is nothing permanent in human affairs, says the Prophet, they are like steam rising upward and immediately disappearing, and the oscillation of a rocker on a scale, which moves first down, then up, without stopping at anything. And the translation of the seventy should be understood as follows: everything human is vanity, yet many rely on the fleeting as if it were something permanent, and are not careful about maintaining equality, do not hold the scales of the mind evenly, neglect what is fair, and rejoice in unrighteousness. “Tia from the bustle together.” However, they do not derive any benefit from this, because everything is vain and subject to rapid change. This is how Symmachus translated: “they disappear together.” From here begins the admonition to opponents who are proud of wealth. Ps.61:11. Do not rely on robbery and do not be vain about theft; when wealth increases, do not put your heart on it. “Do not trust in untruth, and do not desire admiration.” Do not consider human well-being achieved by untruth as worthy. “Even if wealth flows, do not apply your heart.” Seeing that wealth, like a river, flows into your homes, do not enslave your thoughts to it. And why do you advise this and offer such an admonition? Ps.61:12. God said once, and I heard it twice, that God has the power. Ps.61:13. And You, O Lord, have mercy, for You reward everyone according to his deeds. “By one did I hear the word God, but by two I heard, for the power of God was born.” “And your Lord is mercy: for you have rewarded everyone according to his deeds.” I heard, says the Prophet, that it is so determined by the God of all that there will be judgment and reward for good and evil. The word “one” is used not to mean number, but in the sense that this will certainly happen. “One” was determined by God, and it is impossible for this not to happen. The Prophet says: “two,” that is, the punishment of the lawless and the love of mankind shown to the pious. And God declared this when he gave the law. For he says: “I am the Lord thy God, a jealous God; give away the sins of the father on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, and show mercy in thousands and thousands to those who love Me and keep My commandments” (Ex. 20:5-6). You might be interested in: