Изъяснение псалма 96-го

“To David,” 27, “when his land was settled, it was not written among the Hebrews.” And the one who attached this inscription admitted that he did not find it among the Jews, but added it on his own. Therefore it is not prophetic; because it does not correspond to the meaning of the psalm. The prophet speaks about the dispensation of the whole earth, and not just the land of Judea. But, probably, the one who added the inscription under the earth of the Prophet, since all people enjoy his sweet singing, meant the whole universe. However, the psalm foretells both the first and second coming of God and our Savior, the knowledge of God among the pagans, and the future judgment. Ps.96:1. The Lord reigns: let the earth rejoice; let the numerous islands rejoice. “The Lord reign, let the earth rejoice; let the many islands rejoice.” In these words, the Prophet predicts the first coming of the Savior, which is why he encourages the inhabitants of the mainland and the islanders to rejoice and rejoice; since both of them, consoled by the hope of the future, rejoice. He said that the Lord reigned, not because only then did He accept the kingdom, but because then only then did He reveal His kingdom to people. And in order not to fall into identical language, those who wish to find out this more precisely, we ask you to read what we have already interpreted. Ps.96:2. Cloud and darkness surround Him; righteousness and judgment are the foundation of His throne. “Clouds and darkness are all around Him: righteousness and judgment are the correction of His throne.” With the words: “darkness” and “cloud” the Prophet showed the invisibility of the Divine nature. Just as it is impossible to see what is covered by clouds and darkness, so it is absolutely impossible to see the invisible nature. However, the Prophet reminds us that He is on Mount Sinai, revealing His coming with a cloud and darkness, and teaches that although it is not possible to see the nature of God, it is nevertheless possible to discern His power in actions; because God taught people the truth, and taught those who do everything without reasoning how to lead a life according to the law. This is what “corrected” His throne and kingdom. Ps.96:3. Fire comes before Him and burns His enemies around. “Fire will go before Him, and His enemies will burn all around.” This is said about the second coming. The divine Daniel also saw this. For he says: “His throne is a flame of fire, His wheels are scorching fire. A river of fire flowed forth before Him: thousands of thousands served Him, and ten thousand stood before Him: the judgment sat, and the books were opened” (Dan. 7:9-10). Ps.96:4. His lightning illuminates the world; the earth sees and trembles. “The lightning illuminated His universe.” The effect of fire is twofold: it can not only burn, but also illuminate. But one will enjoy the face of the Saints, and the other will be experienced by those who lived in lawlessness. The Lord Himself likened His coming to lightning. He said this: “Just as lightning comes from the east and appears to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:27). “Look, and the earth moved.” For who will not fear this terrible judgment? Ps.96:5. The mountains melt like wax from the presence of the Lord, from the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. “The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord: at the presence of the Lord of all the earth.” Not only those who are subject, but also those who rule and reign, like wax approaching the fire, will, as it were, be destroyed from fear. For the more cases the supervision of which is entrusted to them, the more responsibility they are subject to; and the higher the responsibility, the greater the fear. Ps.96:6. The heavens declare His righteousness, and all nations see His glory. “The heavens declared His righteousness, and all men saw His glory.” This has been and will be. For, when the Lord Christ was born, the face of the Angels, appearing, offered up a song to God about the salvation of men, and the singers cried out: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). Therefore, the Prophet called the heavenly Powers heaven, just as he repeatedly calls those who dwell on earth earth. And the peoples of the universe, in their own change, saw the power of God and our Savior. The second coming will clearly reveal the kingdom of the Lord to all people; then we will all hear the songs of the Angels. Ps.96:7. Let all those who serve idols, those who boast in idols, be ashamed. Bow down before Him, all you gods. 28 “Let all who worship idols, who boast about their idols, be ashamed.” for the true light has arisen; then let darkness be removed, let those who are enslaved to error be ashamed, and let those who serve idols be hidden. “Worship Him, all His angels.” And blessed Paul added this prophecy to the Savior; He says this in the Epistle to the Hebrews: “When he again brings the firstborn into the world, he says: And let all the angels of God worship Him” (Heb. 1:6). The Prophet placed this here at the right time: for having shown that the worshipers of idols are ashamed and are hiding, he also shows that countless thousands of Angels worship our God. Ps.97:8. Zion hears and rejoices, and the daughters of Judah rejoice because of Your judgments, O Lord. “When Zion heard and rejoiced, and the daughters of Judah rejoiced, O Lord, for Thy judgments.” And here the Prophet calls the pious society Zion, and the daughters of the Jews the Churches in the universe; because the Apostles of the Savior who planted and gave birth to them were descended from the Jews. And the witness of this is the divine Paul, who in his letter to the Corinthians clearly says: “For in Christ Jesus I brought you forth the gospel” (1 Cor. 4:15). since the Church of the Savior is one (all believers form one body), and again there are many churches (many members in the body): then the Prophet called the general composition of the pious Zion, and called the daughters of the Jews the gatherings of believers in cities and villages, and in secluded places. He says that both of them are filled with joy about the righteous destinies of the Judge. Ps.96:9. For You, O Lord, are high above all the earth, exalted above all gods. “For You are the Lord who is highest above all the earth, You have greatly exalted yourself above all gods.” Everyone rejoices and is delighted, having acquired the knowledge of the true God and King, and having seen the revelation of the non-existent gods. For their vanity is exposed, but Your height is revealed. And since we need not only faith, but also good works, the Prophet, of necessity, offers the following advice: Ps.96:10. Lovers of the Lord, hate evil! He guards the souls of His saints; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked. “You who love the Lord, hate evil.” If good is kind to you, then abhor the opposite. “For what fellowship is there between light and darkness” (2 Cor. 6:14)? And in the word: “evil” the Prophet forbade all types of vice. “The Lord protects the souls of His saints, I will deliver sinners from the hand.” By turning away from vice and taking care of living a right and truthful life, you will have the Lord of all as your guardian and guardian, and you will overcome the hostiles who rise up against you. Ps.96:11. Light shines on the righteous, and joy on the upright in heart. “Light comes to the righteous, and joy to the upright in heart.” For not all people wanted to enjoy the light, not all received the joy of faith. The Sun of Truth itself poured out rays of salvation on everyone, but there are also those who closed their eyes and did not want to see the light. Ps.96:12. Rejoice, O righteous ones, in the Lord and glorify the memory of His holiness. “Rejoice righteously in the Lord, and confess the remembrance of His holiness.” Therefore, all who have enjoyed the light and loved the property of virtue, rejoice and praise God, telling of the many good deeds. For the Prophet here called thanksgiving by confession. According to glory. The translation reads: “Psalm to David.” According to the translation of the 70: all are His angels. You might be interested in: