Изъяснение псалма 98-го.

"Psalm to David" is not inscribed among the Hebrews. This psalm foreshadows the return of the Jews from Babylon, and also predicts the coming of our Savior, and the unbelief of the Jews. Ps.98:1. The Lord reigns: let the nations tremble! He sits on Cherubim: let the earth shake! “The Lord reigns, let men be angry.” For both Jews and Greeks become frantic and furious when they hear about the kingdom of the Lord Christ. And when the Jews enjoyed freedom, the inhabitants of all neighboring countries became indignant when they saw their extraordinary return. This showed the power of the One Worshiped by them. “Sit on cherubim: let the earth move.” This One whom we preach, says the Prophet, is both the God of the heavenly powers and the Lord. He said, “He who sits,” because he is speaking with people. For does the incorporeal, immense and indescribable nature, containing “the circle of the earth, and those who live on it like creatures” (Isa. 40:22), need any seat? However, the Prophet depicts in his word that the God of all kings sits on Cherubim, frightens and amazes those who listen with horror. Ps.98:2. The Lord is great in Zion, and He is high above all nations. “The Lord is great in Zion, and high above all people.” And when the Jews returned and created the divine church, God's power became visible to everyone. But primarily He revealed Himself as the Lord of the whole universe, He who endured the cross when the holy Apostles brought a saving sermon to the pagans. Ps.98:3. Let them glorify Your great and terrible name: holy is it! “Let them confess to Your great name: for it is terrible and holy.” Therefore, everyone should praise You and proclaim Your good deeds, not inquisitively explore Your ineffable nature, but honor Your name as terrible and all-holy; because it sanctifies those who believe, and terrifies those who do not believe. Ps.98:4. And the power of the king loves judgment. You have established justice; You brought judgment and righteousness to Jacob. “And the court loves the honor of the Tsar.” And it is fitting for us to fear Him as a King and one who observes righteousness; because it is characteristic of a true kingdom to govern its subjects righteously. “The court loves the Tsar’s honor,” that is, what makes a Tsar honorable is love for truth. This also makes it possible to see what is added. “Thou hast prepared righteousness, judgment and righteousness in Jacob.” For, as a truthful king, he pronounced a right and fair sentence, and freed Israel from the dominion of those who enslaved them. And according to another prophecy it should be understood as follows: You proved the truth of Your promise by fulfilling the promises given to the ancestors of Israel and granting salvation to the Seed of Abraham. Ps.98:5. Exalt the Lord our God and worship His footstool: holy is it! “Lift up the Lord our God, and worship His footstool, for He is holy.” Therefore, reward the Benefactor with what you can, show Him due honor. It is said: “exalt” instead of: preach His height. And the temple in Jerusalem was recognized as “His footstool” in ancient times, but now the churches in which we worship the all-holy God are recognized throughout the land and sea. Ps.98:6. Moses and Aaron among the priests and Samuel among those who called on His name cried out to the Lord, and He listened to them. Ps.98:7. In the pillar of cloud He spoke to them; they kept His commandments and the statute that He gave them. "Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among them that call on His name." The Prophet did not simply, leaving the other Prophets, mention only these, but thereby shows, with his very upbringing, the rage and desire to rule that was growing in the Jews; for both under Moses and Aaron they attempted to seize the priesthood, and under Samuel, to the humiliation of the kingdom of God, they loved the kingdom of man. And therefore the prophetic word teaches that they are doing nothing new, rebelling with rage against the Savior and not accepting the kingdom of salvation, but this fury has been common to them since ancient times. “I called upon the Lord, and He listened to them.” “In a pillar of cloud you spoke to them.” However, says the Prophet, they had great boldness before God; because they called, and God listened, fulfilled their requests, and, apparently for everyone, entered into a conversation with them, revealing to them His coming in the cloud. Then the Prophet shows that it was not contrary to justice that God imparted this grace to them. “For I keep His testimony and His commandments which He gave them.” God gave this grace to those who led a life in accordance with the law and acted according to His commandments. Ps.99:8. Lord our God! You listened to them; You were for them a God who forgives and punishes for their deeds. “Lord our God, you listened to them; God, you were merciful to them.” You, the Lord we preach, says the Prophet, You yourself gave them so much boldness and vouchsafed them great favor. “And taking vengeance on all their undertakings.” And Symmachus translated it like this: and he was an avenger for their insults. For those who wanted to snatch power from the great Moses he gave over to fire, and those who escaped the flame he brought down alive into the tomb, commanding the earth to open up, and the place where they thought to snatch power for themselves, making for them an unexpected tomb, those who crossed the sea, walked along the depths of it, drowned in the earth with extraordinary waves; and he handed over those who rebelled against the Prophet Samuel to the rule of Saul, and burdened them with all kinds of disasters. Ps.98:9. Exalt the Lord our God and worship on His holy mountain, for holy is the Lord our God. “Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship him in the mount of His saints: for holy is the Lord our God.” So, imitating the piety of these wonderful men, give God due honor. Zion was called “holy mountain” in ancient times, and now the height of the knowledge of God is called. For this is what both Isaiah and Micah foretold: “in the last days the mountain of the Lord will be revealed” (Isa. 2:2; Mic. 4:1), that is, the knowledge of God will become clear to everyone. The divine Apostle also knew the mental mountain of Zion; for he says: “Come to us.” to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (Heb. 12:22). Therefore, we are commanded, in accordance with the knowledge given from God, to worship Him. You might be interested in: