Беседа 15 на псалом 46 53

Ps.46:1. To the end. Through the sons of Kore. Psalm. 54 All nations, clasp your hands. 55 Shout to God with a voice of joy. 56 For the Lord Most High is awesome, a great King over all the earth. How should we understand the Psalmist's call to clapping and shouting? – Explanation of the words of the Psalm in a figurative sense: a pre-depiction of the victory of Christ. – His divine greatness lies in his very humiliation, then in the spread of His teaching throughout the universe. – Why didn’t Christ help Himself on the cross? – His divine power is in the works of the Apostles. – Prophecy about the conversion of the Jews as the property of God. “God was exalted with shouting” (Ps. 46:6). A call from the universe to the reasonable glorification of the Lord. – “God’s chosen ones on earth are highly exalted” (Ps. 46:10). 1. This psalm has the same content (as the previous one). In it, the prophet depicts victories and trophies over enemies and calls on the entire universe to glorify what has happened. But perhaps to some it seems unworthy to begin the admonition of the divine Spirit, and this command is applause, shouts, noisy exclamations. Perhaps someone will say: it is not common for those who are going to this venerable school, but for those who act at spectacles and feasts, to applaud and make noise with their hands; For people guided by the grace of the Spirit, calmness and decorum are appropriate. What do these words mean? What kind of exclamation and applause is the prophet talking about? Indeed, in war and in battle there is such a custom, i.e. shout and applaud to frighten enemies; but this is not characteristic of a peaceful soul. Meanwhile, the psalm calls for both - clapping and shouting. What does this mean? Means nothing more than joy and victory. So in another place the prophet represents the rivers clapping their hands: “Let the rivers also clap their hands together” (Ps. 97:8). Isaiah also represents trees doing the same thing (Is. 55:12), and the Psalmist in another place represents mountains and hills jumping (Ps. 113:4), not so that we literally understand that the mountains and hills are jumping and the rivers are clapping their hands, as if having hands - this would be extremely foolish - but so that we can see the highest degree of joy. The same can be seen in people. Why didn’t the prophet say: rejoice and be merry, but: “rejoice” and “shout”? To show us the greatest joy. Just as Christ, when he says: “When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face” (Matthew 6:17), he commands not to actually anoint yourself - none of us does this - but to show joy and a cheerful disposition of spirit (after all, He commands to fast with joy, and not with despondency), - so here we are commanded not to applaud, but to have fun and rejoice, singing a psalm. However, this psalm can rightly be understood in a more figurative sense, rising above historical events. Although the prophet begins his speech with sensory images, he leads the listener to spiritual objects. As I said before, so now I will say: some things in Scripture should be understood as they are said, and others in a figurative sense, for example, when it is said: “The wolf will live with the lamb” (Is. 11:6). Here we do not mean wolves, nor lambs, nor pastures, nor ox, nor calf, but under the guise of dumb ones we represent the morals of people. But other things must be taken in a double sense, sensual and spiritual - as, for example, in the event with the son of Abraham (Gen. 22) we see that the son was sacrificed, but by this action with the son we also mean something else mysterious, namely the cross. Also in the lamb of Egypt we see an image of the suffering (of Christ). The same needs to be done here. The Prophet does not speak about the Arabs and other neighboring peoples, but calls for “all nations.” “For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King of all the earth.” At the very beginning, he excites the listener, calling for listening to such an important gospel, for general praise, for some kind of divine and spiritual celebration, for secret teaching brought from heaven. That’s why he says: “clasp your hands,” i.e. rejoice, admire. The Gospel teaching commands the same thing when it says: “rejoice” (Luke 6:23), commanding, of course, not to jump and dance - that would be indecent - but expressing especially strong joy, because what has happened is worthy of great joy. Wherever the sun shines, the gospel teaching has spread everywhere, salvation has spread throughout the entire universe, and those who were previously given over to error have shown wisdom above Jewish service. "All nations, clasp your hands." With the hands that were previously unclean, disgusting, daily defiled with blood from unclean sacrifices, with which you killed children, committed vile deeds and acted contrary to nature itself, clasp these hands now. "Shout to God with a voice of joy." With the tongue with which you have tasted unclean things, with which you have uttered blasphemous words, with this tongue shout out a song of victory. Likewise, warriors have the custom, when the enemy army yields, not to continue a stubborn battle, but with a friendly cry and cry to shake the already defeated souls of their opponents; and this serves as a sign of a brilliant victory and the greatest triumph, when it is considered sufficient to end the battle not with hands, but with one cry instead of hands and weapons. 2. All this was the work of Christ. He himself stopped the cruel war, bound the “strong man” and plundered his vessels (Matthew 12:29). But, as a lover of mankind, He allows those who have not struggled at all to enjoy victory and trophies, and commands them to sing a victory song, as if they themselves had accomplished this and won the victory. Therefore, we all exclaim not in a quiet, but in a loud voice: “Death! where is your sting? hell! where is your victory? (1 Cor. 15:55). And again: “God was lifted up with a shout.” This is what it says in this psalm (Ps. 46:6). And in another place: “You ascended on high, you led captivity captive, you accepted gifts from people” (Ps. 67:19). The Jews once sang a victory song when the army of the Egyptians drowned: “I sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted” (Ex. 15:1); but our song is much more solemn, because now it is not the Egyptians who have perished, but demons, it is not Pharaoh who has been defeated, but the devil, it is not the sensual weapon that has been taken away, but sin has been put to death, not in the Red Sea, but in the font of rebirth, and we are not going to the promised land, but are striving for heaven, we are not eating manna, but we are receiving the body of the Lord, we are not drinking water from a stone, but blood from the side of Christ. That is why the prophet calls: “clasp your hands”; you were freed from the stones and trees (of the Old Testament), and ascended into heaven and into the heaven of heavens and stood before the throne of the King. So “shout to God”, i.e. give thanks to Him, attribute the victory to Him, the trophy to Him. This is not a human war, not a sensual struggle, a feat not for anything worldly, but for heaven itself and heavenly blessings. He himself led this war and gave us victory. “For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King of all the earth.” Where are those now who humiliate the glory of the Only Begotten? The Son is called the great King, just as the Father is called. Do not swear, says Christ, “neither by heaven, because it is the throne of God..., nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King” (Matthew 5:34-35). And in another place: “Mighty God, Everlasting Father,” i.e. King (Isa.9:6). So, when you hear that your Lord was nailed, hanged on a cross, buried, descended into the nether regions of the earth, then do not be embarrassed and do not lose heart: He is “the Most High,” and the highest by nature; and that which is high by nature will not fall from height, will not become low, but even in humiliation itself His height remains and appears. So Christ, when he died, then especially showed His power against death. “And the light shines in the darkness,” says the evangelist, and the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:5). So His height was revealed in humiliation. See how He, even while in hell, shook everything that was high; then the sun hid its rays, the stones fell apart, the curtain was torn, the earth shook, Judas hanged himself, Pilate and his wife were afraid, the judge himself was justified. So, when you hear that He was bound and scourged, do not be embarrassed, but see how He demonstrated His power even in bonds. He just asked: “Who are you looking for?” , and they all fell to the ground (John 18:4). Do you see how “terrible” He is - what deeds He does with one word and a wave? When you see Him dead, then imagine the stone rolled away, the angels sitting in fear at the tomb, hell torn apart, death trampled under foot, prisoners released, and then you will understand how terrible He is. If, during His humiliation, He showed such power in heaven, on earth, in hell, then what kind of power will He show during His future coming? Listen to what the demons say during His humiliation, pouring out foam, breaking bonds, walking through impassable places: “What have you to do with us, Jesus, Son of God? You came here before the time to torment us” (Matthew 8:29). If they said so then, what will they say when He comes again, and the powers of heaven are shaken and the sun is darkened, and the moon does not give its light? That is why the prophet says: “The Most High is terrible.” Or better, who will worthily express everything, narrating the day when He will send angels throughout the whole universe, when everything will shake, the earth will shake, returning the pledge of the dead, countless bodies will rise, the sky will be folded like a woven linen; when a terrible throne is erected (Dan. 7:9), rivers of fire will flow, books will be opened, what everyone has done in darkness will become clear; when there will be unbearable punishments and torments, terrible powers, drawn swords, deportation to Gehenna; when all distinctions cease, and kings, and military leaders, and city governors, and primates, many angels and a host of martyrs, prophets, apostles, priests, monks will appear; when will unspeakable rewards, rewards, crowns, blessings that surpass understanding follow? 3. Who can express this in words? If the prophet, describing creation, got tired and retreated, saying: “How honorable are Your deeds, Lord!” (Ps. 91:6), and if Paul, considering one type of God’s providence, exclaimed: “Oh, the depth of riches” (Rom. 11:33), then what will he say who begins to describe this day? The prophet foresaw all this and said: “The Lord Most High is terrible, the great King of all the earth,” pointing to the salvation of the universe. He was a great King before, but was not known: “he was in the world..., and the world did not know Him” (John 1:10); and now He has done this too, He has become a great King for us, whom He has adopted for Himself. In fact, isn’t He great who, having sent poor, unlearned, simple fishermen throughout the entire universe, eleven in number, ignorant, leaving their fatherland, dumb as fish, with only clothes, without shoes, almost naked, caught them all as if by command? Truly He is the great King who cleansed the universe from error, spread the truth in a short time and destroyed the dominion of the devil; Even without his subordinates, He is a great King, having strength and power not from slaves, not by appearance and clothing, but by his very nature. “For this purpose I was born” (John 18:37). He is the great King, having honor not from somewhere else, not needing anything in order to be a King, doing whatever he wants. “Go into all the world and preach,” He said (Mark 16:15), and the word became deed. “I want you to be clean” (Matthew 8:3); “Jesus... rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him: a dumb and deaf spirit! I command you, come out of him” (Mark 9:25); “Be silent, cease” (Mark 4:39); “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41); “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). Do you see His power everywhere? Do you see His power? He so attracted those who submitted to Him that they were ready to lay down their lives rather than break His commandments. An ordinary king receives honor from his subjects; and He Himself bestows honor on His subordinates. That’s why there’s only a name, but here it’s the action. He is the great King who made the entire universe heaven, who taught the barbarians to be wise and imitate the angels. “He has made nations and nations subject to us under our feet” (Ps. 46:4). Oh, miracle! He persuaded those who crucified Him to worship Him; He taught those who insulted, blasphemed, and were devoted to stone images to lay down their souls according to His will. Truly, this was not accomplished by the apostles, but by the One who led them and controlled their souls. How could a fisherman or a tentmaker make such a change in the universe if His words did not remove all obstacles? The apostles scattered magicians and tyrants, orators and philosophers, and all those who opposed, like dust, and dispersed like smoke, and thus spread the light of truth, not with weapons, not with wealth, but with simple words; or better, their word was not simple, but stronger than any deed. When they called on the name of the Crucified One, death was removed, demons fled, illnesses were healed, bodily injuries were corrected, evil was destroyed, dangers disappeared, the elements changed. Therefore, when they tell us: why didn’t He help himself on the cross? – then we will answer: this is even more surprising. In fact, it is not the same thing - to come down from the cross, or, being crucified, to resurrect so many dead in His name. And that He remained on the cross then voluntarily, this was proven by the consequences. If He saved others from the death that befell them, then all the more could He save himself before it befell Him; if He gave life to others, then all the more could He give life to himself, which he did three days later, resurrecting with great power. The consequences proved this. If His name had such power over other people’s bodies that, when pronounced, it drove away death, then no one can doubt that over His own body He could show great power and conquer death. “He has brought nations and nations under our feet.” Look at the wisdom of the prophet, how he expresses everything precisely. What did the apostles later say: “Why are you astonished at this, or why do you look at us as if we, by our own strength or piety, had done that he walks?” (Acts 3:12), the prophet speaks about the same thing much earlier. The word: “under your feet” means submissive, or better, great submission. If you want to know how great this obedience is, listen: “As many as owned lands or houses, says Scripture, when they sold them, they brought the price of what was sold and laid them at the feet of the apostles” (Acts 4:34-35). Others gave up their souls along with their property. “They laid down their own lives,” says Paul, for my soul (Rom. 16:4), and about others he says: “If it were possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me” (Gal. 4:15); and in the letter to the Corinthians he says: “the very fact that you were saddened for the sake of God, look what zeal has produced in you, what apologies, what indignation at the guilty one, what fear, what desire, what jealousy, what retribution! In all respects you have shown yourselves to be clean in this matter” (2 Cor. 7:11). So they revered and feared the apostles! Luke also writes: “no one from outsiders dared to pester them, but the people glorified them” (Acts 5:13). And Paul also says: “What do you want? shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of meekness?” (1 Cor. 4:21) 4. Do you see the dignity and power of the apostles? All this was done by the word that He spoke when He sent them: “and behold, I am with you” (Matthew 28:20). He himself, preceding them, destroyed obstacles; He balanced everything himself and made the difficult easy. Before, everything breathed with war, everything was full of cliffs and abysses, and there was nowhere to put one’s feet or stop, all the piers were closed, all the houses were locked, everyone’s ears were blocked; but as soon as the apostles went out and began to preach, they destroyed all the barriers of the enemies, so that the listeners gave up their souls and were exposed to countless dangers for what they preached. “He chose for us His inheritance, the beauty of Jacob, which He loved” (Ps. 47:5). Another translator (Symmachus) says: “glorification of Jacob.” Look at the accuracy of the prophecy. Above, the prophet said: “he subjugated nations and tribes to us.” And indeed, the Jews turned forward, first in the number of three thousand, then five, and after them the pagans. And the Lord himself said: “I have other sheep which are not of this fold, and these must I bring: and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16). Further, so that someone, having heard the words: “He has chosen His inheritance for us,” does not become perplexed, doubt and say: why don’t the Jews believe now? – the prophet resolved the confusion with additional words. God, for His part, chose them too and, as much as depended on Him, did not leave anyone behind. If you want to know the reason, then listen to the following: “the beauty of Jacob, whom he loved,” adds the prophet. It seems to me that he here means believers, as Paul explained when he said: “But not that the word of God is not fulfilled: for not all are Israelites which are of Israel; and not all the children of Abraham who are of his seed, but it is said, “Thy seed shall be called in Isaac.” That is, the children of the flesh are not the children of God, but the children of the promise are recognized as the seed” (Rom. 9:6-8). Believers can rightly be called the “beauty” of the people, since what is more beautiful than the believers of that time? “Heritage m” is what the prophet calls this people, not because God ever abandoned other nations, but to express God’s strong love for them, closeness and special providence. And in order for you to see the accuracy of the prophet, look at how he uses the expression that people usually use about things they buy. Many people, when buying something, often call goodness ("beauty") that which is superior to other things. So the prophet, wanting to show that not everyone will be saved, says: “the beauty of Jacob.” The same thing is expressed in many parables in the gospels. “God was exalted with shouting” (Ps. 46:6). He did not say: ascended, but: “ascended,” expressing that Christ ascended not with the help of someone leading Him, but he himself walked this path. Elijah did not ascend in the same way as Christ, and was ascended by an outside force, because human nature cannot follow a path unusual for it, but the Only Begotten “ascended” by its own power. That is why Luke said: “When they looked at heaven, at the time of His ascension” (Acts 1:10). He did not say: when He was taken up, or when He was lifted up, because it was His own ascension. If even before the crucifixion He walked on the waters, being clothed with a material body subject to suffering, is it surprising that, having assumed an incorruptible body, He ascended through the air? Where is the “exclamation”? Who cried when He ascended? There was silence then, and only eleven disciples were present. Do you see that you do not need to take these expressions literally, but to comprehend what they mean? As I said at the beginning of the psalm that by shouting he means something else, namely victory, a trophy, so here he says: “with shouting”, i.e. expresses that Christ ascended in victory, trampling death, destroying sin, driving out demons, destroying error, changing everything for the better, elevating our nature to its former, or much better, fatherland. And when He ascended, nothing stood against Him, neither the power of sin, nor the power of death, nor the power of an oath, nor the dominion of corruption and wickedness, nor anything like that, but, breaking all this apart like a cobweb, overthrowing the hosts of demons and the powers of the devil and everything else, He ascended, having accomplished what He pleased. 5. That is why Paul, depicting the victory of Christ, said: “having taken away the strength of the principalities and powers, he powerfully subjected them to shame, having triumphed over them with Himself.” And again: “having destroyed the handwriting that was against us, which was against us, and He took it out of the way and nailed it to the cross” (Col. 2:14, 15). “The Lord is at the sound of the trumpet” (Ps. 47:6). By this the prophet expresses the same thing, i.e. a brilliant victory. However, something else can be understood here, namely fame, clarity, solemnity. Although no one knew about the event itself, it became as famous as if a trumpet had sounded, or even more. This event happened quietly at that time, but it did not hide from almost any of the inhabitants of the universe, and the very essence of things glorified it as much as if a trumpet had sounded, or even more. Indeed, a sonorous trumpet could not have called everyone to this spectacle, as the voice of affairs subsequently proved the ascension (of Christ), announcing it louder than any thunder. Thunder could not have announced the universe in the same way that deeds clearly announced people, both then and future. Thunder is audible only to those present; and these deeds announced the event to all generations clearer than a trumpet and louder than thunder. However, he would not have sinned if he called the mouths of the apostles trumpets, not copper trumpets, but better than gold and more precious than precious stones. Why did the prophet not say: in the trumpet, but: “at the sound of the trumpet”? In order to express their unanimous agreement, just as Paul says: “Whether I or they, so do we preach” (1 Cor. 15:11), and it also says: “The multitude of those who believed had one heart and one soul” (Acts 4:32). The apostles sounded like trumpets, not calling for war, but proclaiming victory. Just as troops, when they go to battle, are preceded by trumpets along with banners to encourage those present, affecting not only the eyes, but also the ears - so it was then. When the apostles entered a city, trumpets seemed to sound, and everyone flocked to listen to them. “Sing to our God, sing! Sing to our King, sing! For God is the King of all the earth, sing wisely! God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne” (Ps. 46:7-9). Having spoken about the greatness of the event, the prophet calls on the universe to glorify God with great zeal, which is why he repeats several times: “sing”; and, moreover, calls for singing not simply, but with great understanding. What does it mean to “sing wisely”? Having learned what happened, speak, realizing the greatness of the events. And something else, it seems to me, he expresses with the word: “reasonably,” namely, to sing not only with the voice, but also with deeds, not only with the lips, but also with life. “God reigned over the nations.” Another translator (unknown translator, see Orig. Ex.) says: “above (Êpánw) languages.” What kingdom is being talked about here? Not about the kingdom as a result of creation, but about the kingdom as a result of our assimilation to God, God reigned over everyone before, as Creator and Maker; and now he reigned over the people who voluntarily and gratefully submitted to Him. Indeed, it is worthy of the greatest praise and wonder how Christ, reviled by the Jews, brought about such a change in people that he is glorified throughout the entire universe. Those who had never read the prophets, did not know the law, but were like wild beasts in their way of life, suddenly changed, abandoned all errors and submitted, not two, three, four, or ten nations, but living throughout the entire universe. “God sits on His holy throne.” What does it mean: “sits on the throne”? Reigns, rules. The prophet said well: “in the holy,” because He not only reigns, but also reigns holy. What does it mean: reigns holy? Purely. People, having achieved such power, use their power for unrighteousness, and His dominion is alien to all such things, pure and holy. His judgment seat does not change and is not distorted by deception or anything similar, but is always pure, righteous, shining brighter than any purity, shining with indescribable glory. “The princes of the nations gathered to God with Abraham, for the mighty (chosen ones) of God on earth are highly exalted” (Ps. 46:10). 6. Here is indicated the spread of the gospel, which affected not only the common people, but also those who put on the diadem and sat on the royal throne. Then expressing that the same God of both the New and Old Testaments, the prophet says: “To God is Abraham”; in other words; one and the same God is the God of the forefathers and the One who gave the law. That is why Jeremiah said: “The covenant that I will make with the house of Israel is not the same covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt” (Jer. 31:32, 33), expressing that the same Lawgiver of both the new and the old covenant. Baruch also said: “This is our God, and no one else can compare with Him. He found all the ways of wisdom and gave it to His servant Jacob and His beloved Israel. After this He appeared on earth and spoke among people” (Bar.3:36–38), expressing that He who gave the law was also He who became incarnate, and He who became incarnate is also He who gave the law. This prophet says the same thing in the words: “They gathered to God with Abraham.” In Hebrew, instead of: with God, it is said: “Eloi Abraham eats.” How did this happen? “The powerful (chosen ones) of God on earth are highly exalted.” Who are these “chosen ones of God” if not the apostles and all believers? Since their power shone so much, the prophet says that they rose above everyone. Well he called them sovereign. In fact, aren’t those powerful who resisted the entire universe, demons, the devil, nations, cities, pagans, tyrants, punishments, torment in frying pans and ovens, customs, the power of nature, overcame everything, became above everything and were not defeated by anything? Are they not sovereign who have shown such power even after death? Are they not powerful ones whose words are stronger than adamant, and no time crushes them, but every day they grow more and more, since the preaching of the Gospel spreads everywhere, throughout all countries of the universe? For all this, let us give thanks to the philanthropic God, to whom be glory and power, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. The psalms in the text are translated by P. Yungerov - Editorial office of the ABC of Faith Another translator (Aquila) says: to the conqueror of the sons of Kore. Another (unknown translator, see Orig. Ex.): “by hand.” Another (unknown, see Orig. Ex.): “mark with the voice of praise.” You might be interested in: