Беседа 21 на псалом 110 69

Ps.110:1. I confess to You, Lord, with all my heart in the assembly and assembly of the rights of one. Sincere gratitude to God is especially pleasing to Him; it inevitably appears during an impartial consideration of the affairs of divine Providence. – And death is good for man; only bad death is evil. – The perfection of creatures, as capable of fulfilling the will of the Creator and leading man to knowledge of God. – An important lesson from creatures to man in his life. – Gratitude and praise to God are inspired by careful consideration of everything visible in the world and happening in our lives, even what is called misfortune. – Why doesn’t the Lord immediately punish people for their sins? – God never stopped working miracles. – Divine goodness, expressed in the giving of (spiritual) food to those who fear God, in maintaining the Covenant, in extraordinary help to His people, in establishing laws and giving commandments. – What does it mean: “in truth and righteousness” (Ps. 110:8)? – What “deliverance did He send to His people” (Ps. 110:9)? – What constitutes the basis of true wisdom? - An incentive to thank God. 1. What does “everyone” mean? With all readiness and zeal, renouncing worldly worries, turning to grief, freeing the soul from the bonds of the flesh. “With the heart”: not with words alone, not only with the tongue and lips, but also with the mind. So Moses commanded: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deut. 6:5). By “confession,” it seems to me that the prophet here means gratitude; I will chant, he says, I will give thanks. He spent his whole life in this; started with this, ended with this; This was his constant occupation - to give thanks to God for the benefits shown both to himself and to others. And God demands nothing more than gratitude: it is a sacrifice, an offering, a sign of a grateful soul, and at the same time a wound for the devil. Therefore, blessed Job was crowned and glorified, because when countless temptations befell him, when his wife herself tempted him, he did not hesitate, but continued to thank the Lord for everything, not only when he was rich, but also when he became poor, not only when he was healthy, but also when his body was stricken with illness, not only when all his affairs were going well, but also when a terrible storm rushed over his entire house and his very body. This is characteristic of a particularly grateful soul - to give great gratitude to God during sorrows and disasters and to always be grateful, which the prophet clearly indicated in subsequent words. Since many people thank God in happiness, and grumble in misfortune, some express their dissatisfaction with the events that happen, the prophet, wanting to show that this does not depend on the nature of the events, but on their corrupt soul, adds: “in the assembly and assembly of the righteous. Great are the works of the Lord; His desires are refined in everything!” ( Ps. 110:1-2 ). With these words he expresses that one must be an impartial judge and an unspoiled assembly, and then the works of God will clearly turn out to be great, containing many wonderful things. They are great in themselves; but they do not appear so when there is no righteous judge. So the sun itself is light and radiant and illuminates the entire universe; but for patients with eyes it is not like that; and the fault is not the sun, but their illness. Therefore, when you see that someone condemns the works of God, then do not condemn these deeds according to his malice, but consider this the greatest sign of his madness, when thinking about the providence of God. Just as the one who considers the sun dark does not disparage this luminary, but provides clear evidence of his own blindness, and just as the one who calls honey bitter does not diminish its sweetness, but reveals his own illness, so exactly does he condemn the works of God. Just as the first does not cause harm to the things themselves, and does not even change the general idea of ​​them, but only exposes his greatest madness, so those who do not have a correct understanding of the works of God do not even see real miracles, and the one who has an impartial and unspoiled soul is surprised at every event that seems unpleasant. And really, tell me, what event does not deserve surprise? If you want, then we, leaving everything else, will move on to events that seem difficult and unbearable to many, for example, death, illness, poverty and the like. He who has a right heart accepts this very willingly and with surprise. Although death occurred from sin, the power of God, love for mankind and providence are so great that He turned it for the benefit of our race. In fact, tell me, what is so serious about death? Isn't it liberation from work, deliverance from worries? Do you not hear Job, who in praise of her says: “Death is a man’s rest, whose hidden way is” (Job 3:23)? Doesn't she stop the vices? If a vicious person dies, then death puts an end to his sins: “he who died was freed from sin” (Rom. 6:7), i.e. no longer adds sins to sins; if a virtuous person dies, then all his good deeds remain safe and in a reliable treasury. But tell me, doesn’t death make the living more prudent and meek? Don’t you see how often the rich, arrogant and raising their eyebrows high, being present at the removal of the dead man and seeing his body lifeless and motionless, orphaned children, a widowed wife, sad friends, servants in black clothes and the whole house in a sad state, are touched, humbled, and contrite? Having previously heard many instructions and received no benefit, at such a sight they suddenly become wise, recognize the insignificance and corruption of human nature, the weakness and inconstancy of their power, and thus, from the misfortunes of others, conclude about their own changeability. 2. If even with the existence of death there is so much robbery, so much covetousness, and people, like fish, the strongest devour the weakest, then to what extent would covetousness not reach if there were no death? If now, when people know that they will not always use the loot and will have to provide it to others, willy-nilly or unwillingly, they reach such madness and frenzy, then how could their evil passion ever subside if they possessed it safely? Then: is it not through death that the crowns of martyrdom are woven together? Was it not through her that Paul erected countless trophies? “I die every day,” he said: “I am testified of this by your praise” (1 Cor. 15:31). Death is not evil, but bad death is evil. That is why the prophet says: “honorable before the Lord is the death of His saints” (Ps. 116:6). And in another place: “the death of sinners is cruel” (Ps. 33:22); He calls it cruel when someone departs with a bad conscience, burdened and tormented by the consciousness of many sins. And whoever has a clear conscience rushes to the rewards, moves on to the crown. In order for you to be convinced that it is not death itself, but consciousness that leads people into confusion, listen to how Paul discusses this; he says in one place: “being in this hut, we groan under the burden; and we groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption as sons, the redemption of our body” (2 Cor. 5:4; Rom. 8:23), and in another place he explains it this way: “but if I am made a sacrifice for the sacrifice and service of your faith, then I rejoice and rejoice with you all” (Phil. 2:17). If death is not difficult, but even desirable for those who live righteously, then much more poverty and everything else, and the like. “His desires are sought in every way.” Another translator (unknown translator, see Orig. Ex.) says: “researched” (έζηχριβωμένα). The Prophet speaks here, it seems to me, about creation, proclaiming the wisdom of God; and above, speaking about “deeds” - although in them we discovered other thoughts for the faint-hearted - he meant the signs and wonders that God often performed, arranging the fate of the human race. What does it mean: “His desires are sought in all things”? This means: explored, as another translator says, well-ordered, completely finished, complete, capable of fulfilling His will, ready to testify to His power, do not shy away and have no obstacles in themselves to fulfill His commands, as he says in another place: “fire, hail, snow, ice, stormy wind, doing His will,” i.e. His commandments (Ps. 149:8); and again: “He created the moon to (indicate) the times, the sun knew its west. You spread darkness, and night comes” (Ps. 103:19, 20). And not only do they fulfill what they were created for, but when God commands something contrary to it, then they show great obedience. So, He commanded the sea, and not only did it not drown the Jews, which is natural to it, but, spreading its waves, it carried them more safely than over the rocks (Ex. 14:22). The kindled furnace not only did not burn the youths, but also provided them with cooling dew (Dan.3:50). The animals not only did not eat them, but also served as Daniel’s bodyguards (Dan.6:22). The whale not only did not devour (the prophet Jonah), but kept intact the pledge entrusted to him (Jon.2). The earth not only did not destroy it, but destroyed it worse than the sea, when it opened up and swallowed up Dathan and covered the host of Abiron (Num. 16:32). And many other miracles can be seen in creation, from which madmen who idolize nature must be convinced that everything is not accomplished by the power of nature, but obeys and submits to the will of God. This will created nature and, by its own wave, controls everything that exists, either keeping the laws of things unchanged, or easily changing them when it wants, and forcing them to do the opposite. “His desires are sought in every way,” i.e. to fulfill His commandments, His commandments, and not only commandments, but also so that through them people would come to know God, which is primarily His will, for which He especially created them. Thus, the meaning of the prophet’s words is as follows: God’s creatures are so perfect that they provide accurate, clear and bright knowledge about Him to attentive and sensible people. Indeed, the will of God especially at the beginning arranged them for this purpose, so that with their greatness, beauty, order, activity, service and everything else, they would awaken the soul of the viewer and dispose his mind to seek the Creator and the most perfect Artist-God and worship their Creator, so that the entire composition of creation would serve for people instead of books and writings. 3. And not only for the knowledge of God, but also for the order of life, creations teach us the greatest lesson. The self-seeking man, seeing how day gives way to night and the sun to the moon, should be ashamed of such improvement of the elements and, if he is stronger than others, not covet what belongs to the weakest. The adulterer and the libertine, seeing how the sea is agitated and then held back by the shores, will also be ashamed of the improvement of the disordered waters, and will soon be able to tame his aroused lust, curb its desire with the fear of Christ, stop all the power of the vicious desire and return to chastity. Looking at the earth, a person can easily philosophize about the resurrection and accept what is said about this subject. Thus, when he sees how the earth receives the hard grain of wheat and first decomposes it and exposes it to rot, and then grows it in a much better form, when he notices how the vine in winter stands naked, without leaves, branches and clusters, and itself becomes a dry tree, like a skeleton, and then at the onset of spring again receives all its beauty, then he will be able to conclude from the plants and seeds that are reborn after decay and about your own flesh. He will learn hard work from the ant, love of order and community from the bee, as the parable says: “Go to the ant, sloth, look at his actions, and be wise. He has neither a boss, nor a guardian, nor a master; but he prepares his grain in the summer, and gathers his food in the harvest. Or go to the bee and know how hardworking she is, what honorable work she produces; her works are used for health by both kings and common people; she is loved by everyone and glorious; although she is weak in strength, she is honorable in wisdom” (Prov. 6:6-8). The same bee will teach you not to be surprised at physical beauty alone, when good spiritual qualities are not combined with it, and not to disdain ugliness when there is a beautiful soul with it. The Wise One expresses this very thing: “the bee is small among those that fly, but its fruit is the best of sweets” (Sir.11:3). Look at the birds and learn wisdom from them. That is why Christ said: “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feeds them” (Matthew 6:26). If irrational animals do not care about food, then what excuse will you have when you do not even show such contempt for the present as birds? If you want to learn to despise decorations, then wildflowers will teach you not to care about external decorations. Christ explained this by saying: “Look at the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like any of these” (Matthew 6:28, 29). So, when you decide to take care of the beauty of your clothes, then remember that no matter how hard you try, victory will remain behind the grass, that you will never be able to equal it - and leave your unreasonable passion. Much more can be learned from dumb animals, from flowers and from seeds. “Praise and splendor are His work, and His righteousness endures forever” (Ps. 110:3), i.e. every one of His works. The Prophet does not say this about just one thing. Another translator (unknown translator, see Orig. Ex.) says: “praise and dignity is His activity” (έπαινοζ χαί αξίωμα ή έργασία άυτου). And this one says: “praise,” i.e. gratitude and glory. Each of the visible things can dispose the viewer to gratitude, to singing, to praise, to praise. There is no need to ask: what is this for, what is this for? - but the darkness of night and day, and hunger and abundance, and the desert and uninhabited land, and the fat and fertile, and life and death, and everything visible is capable and sufficient to induce those who are attentive to gratitude. Expressing this through one prophet and presenting the very punishments for good deeds, God said: “I destroyed among you, as God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah; struck you with rust and faded bread" (Amos 4:11, 9); and through another prophet: “I brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery,” turning punishments into blessings (Mic. 6:4). Thus, God’s punishments themselves are blessings; they serve for correction, edification, instruction, and the suppression of evil. People do one thing as a benefit, another out of hatred and disgust; and God does everything out of love. For example, as a benefactor, He settled man in paradise; as a benefactor, He expelled him from paradise; as a benefactor, He caused the flood; as a benefactor, He sent fire down on Sodom; In general, no matter what you point out, He does everything for good. As a benefactor, He threatens Gehenna. Just as fathers are fathers not only when they caress their children, but also when they punish them, and by punishing they are no less fathers than by caressing them, so is God. That is why Paul said: “Is there any son whom his father does not discipline?” ( Heb. 12:7 ) And Solomon: “Whom the Lord loves, he disciplines and favors, as a father does to his son” ( Proverbs 3:12 ). “And His righteousness endureth for ever and ever.” 4. This, it seems to me, the prophet said for those who are tempted by the misfortunes that accidentally befall some, admonishing them as if this: do not be embarrassed when you see people being slandered, offended, suffering innocently; there is an impartial court, a fair verdict, giving everyone their due. If you demand this sentence now, then be careful that you do not pronounce it against yourself. Truly, if God began to immediately strike every sin with punishment and carry out His righteous judgment over every crime, then the human race would have been exterminated long ago. Why talk about such and such a person? As proof of this, I will point to the greatest of all people - Paul, the preacher of the universe, caught up to the third heaven, introduced into paradise, a communicant of terrible sacraments, a chosen vessel, a friend of Christ, who led an angelic life, who achieved such virtues. If God did not want to be long-suffering and merciful to him, but when he sinned, blasphemed and persecuted the Church, he would have immediately carried out His righteous judgment on him, then he would have long ago deprived him of the opportunity to repent. Realizing this, he himself says: “I thank him who gave me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to serve, me, who was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and an offender... but for this purpose I received mercy, so that Jesus Christ in me first would show all long-suffering, as an example to those who will believe in him for eternal life” (1 Tim. 1:12, 13, 16). If God had immediately punished the harlot, when would she have turned (Luke 7:37)? Also, Matthew, the publican, if he had been punished before his conversion, when he was a tax collector, would he not have been deprived of the opportunity to repent? The same would have happened with the robber, and with the wise men, and with each of the sinners. Therefore, God restrains His anger and postpones righteous retribution, calling people to repentance. But if they remain incorrigible, they will certainly be subject to righteous condemnation. That is why the prophet, wanting to console those who are offended and to reason with those who offend, adds: “and His righteousness endures forever.” The meaning of his words is as follows: and you, the offended one, ending your life, do not despair of righteous reward - after leaving here you will certainly receive a reward for your labors; And you, robber, covetous and violator of truth, ending your life in the world, do not remain calm - after leaving here you will give an account for everything, you will receive reward for all evil. God always exists and His truth always abides, finding in death no obstacle either to reward for deeds of virtue or to punishment for evil deeds. “He made His miracles memorable. The Lord is merciful and generous” (Ps. 110:4). What does it mean: “He made His miracles memorable”? He never stopped, he says, working miracles. This means: “He made His miracles memorable,” i.e. did not stop, did not leave in every generation to create miracles and awaken rude people with miraculous actions. A man of high intelligence and wisdom does not need signs: “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). But since God cares not only about them, but also about rude people, then in almost every generation He does not stop working miracles. All visible nature is a sufficient miracle, but wanting to awaken many from carelessness in the midst of such a spectacle, God performed many wondrous deeds, both private and general, such as the flood, the confusion of languages, the destruction of Sodom, the events with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, in Egypt, during the exodus of the Jews, in the desert, in the land of Palestine, in Babylon, upon the return from captivity, during the Maccabees, after the coming of Christ and in the time of His coming; also events that continue to this day, such as: the fall of Jerusalem, the creation of the Church, the preaching spreading everywhere, intensified by unrest, multiplied by obstacles, hosts of martyrs, and everything else. Many miracles can be seen in private life, in homes, and in cities. But we will pay attention only to the miracles that are common, obvious and known to everyone, occurring in every generation. How many such miracles were there under Julian, who surpassed everyone with his wickedness, during the persecution of the Church? How many under Maximian? How many under the kings who preceded them? If you wish, I will also point out the miracles that happened in our time, such as: crosses suddenly imprinted on clothes, the church of Apollo destroyed by lightning, the transfer of the relics of the holy martyr Babyla in Daphne and his obvious victory over the demon, the extraordinary death of the keeper of the royal treasures, the murder of King Julian himself, who surpassed everyone in his wickedness, the death of his uncle, heaps of worms and much more another, famine, drought, lack of rain, which at the same time befell the cities, and many other events everywhere. 5. You also know what happened in Palestine then. When the Jews wanted to restore the church, destroyed by God’s decree, the fire coming out of the foundation dispersed everyone, which confirms that this work remained unfinished. “The Lord is merciful and generous: He gave food to those who fear Him; He will remember His covenant forever” (Ps. 111:4–5). Having spoken about the blessings of God shown through miracles and deeds, about caring for us, the prophet further intensifies his speech, explaining that God, who has accomplished so many and such great deeds of saving people, instructing them in every way and leading them to the knowledge of God and high wisdom, arranging their lives, does this not out of duty - His greatest grace is at work here - but out of mercy and love for mankind, not because He himself needed them, but solely by His goodness. “He gave food to those who feared Him.” Why does He speak here about those who fear? God does not feed them alone; and the Gospel says: “He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). Why did he say: “to those who fear Him”? It seems to me that here He is talking about food not physical, but spiritual; That’s why I mentioned only those who fear the Lord: this food is appointed for them. As the body is nourished, so is the soul. And what she really eats, listen: “man cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4) So, he speaks of the food that God primarily gives to those who fear Him, i.e. teaching through the word, instruction, all wisdom. “He will remember His covenant forever.” Wanting to again overthrow the arrogance of the Jews and humble their pride, or better, to show that the benefits they enjoyed were received not for their own merits, but out of God’s love for their fathers and as a result of His covenants with them, he says: “He will remember His covenant forever.” So Moses, when the Jews entered the Promised Land, commanded them to speak and think. When you build, he told Israel, magnificent cities and acquire wealth, then do not say that all this was done for the sake of my righteousness, but for the sake of the covenant with your fathers (Deut. 9: 4, 5). There is nothing worse than pride, which is why God constantly defeats it with all measures. “He made known the power of His works to His people, to give them the inheritance of the Gentiles” (Ps. 111:6). From the general the prophet moves on to the particular, from events that took place in the universe to events that happened to the Jews. However, if you look closely, these events also have a universal significance. Everything that happened to the Jews served as a lesson for others: wars, trophies, and their victories can serve instead of preaching for those who are attentive. In fact, all this happened not according to the ordinary order of human affairs, but in an inexplicable way. Is it in the usual order of things that walls collapse at the sound of trumpets, a leading woman overcomes and wins, a small youth defeats enemy regiments with one throw of a stone? Many other extraordinary events happened to them. So they defeated their enemies; so they were expelled from Palestine. When, therefore, the prophet says: “He made known the power of His works to His people,” he says nothing more than that God showed His power by expelling the nations not simply, but in a way from which the Jews could especially clearly see - although the preceding events were sufficient for this - that the defeat of the enemies was inflicted by God and that under His leadership their fate was decided. And indeed, God instructed the Jews not only in words, but also in deeds, shoes, clothing, food, light at night and day, clouds, war, peace, victories, agriculture, rains, in a word - everything proclaimed the Lord to them, awakened their blinded mind, and there was no time when God did not constantly show them His signs. “The works of His hands are truth and righteousness; all His commandments are true” (Ps. 110:7). Having spoken about the power of God, the prophet also speaks about His justice, that God then showed not only power in His deeds, but also great justice. He expelled peoples from Palestine not only because he wanted to settle Jews there, but out of justice. That is why Moses said in one place: “The measure of the iniquities of the Amorites has not yet been filled” (Gen. 15:16). This must be said not about the Jews alone and not only about the events that happened to them, but about everything in general. Everything He does is truth and judgment; court, i.e. Truth. And Scripture often calls love for mankind truth. These words, therefore, mean that God does everything with justice and together with love for mankind. Truly, if He acted only according to justice, then everything would perish. 6. Therefore, the same prophet in another place says: “Do not go into judgment with Your servant, for no one living will be justified before You” (Ps. 142:2); and again: “If you see iniquity, Lord, Lord, who can stand?” ( Ps. 129:3 ) Thus, everything that comes from God is full of both. If He acted only according to justice, then everything would perish; and if it were only out of love for humanity, then many would become even more careless. Therefore, to save people, He diversifies His actions, correcting them in one way or another. “All His commandments are faithful.” As the prophet often does in other places, so here too: from the wisdom of God, which appears in creation and in various types of industry, he moves on to His legislation, showing here a new type of industry. Indeed, God admonishes the human race not only by creating so many such creatures, but also by establishing the law. That is why in the eighteenth psalm the prophet, distinguishing between these two types of industry, at the beginning of it says: “The heavens will tell about the glory of God; and in the middle, having finished his speech about creation, he adds: the law of the Lord is blameless: it converts souls; The testimony of the Lord is true: He makes little children wise. The Lord's justifications are right: they gladden the heart; The commandment of the Lord is bright: it enlightens the eyes” (Ps. 19:2, 8-9). So here too, having spoken about the signs, wonders and works of God, he moves on to the commandments and says: “all His commandments are faithful, they are established for ever and ever, written in truth and righteousness” (Ps. 111:7-8). It was not in vain that he said: “all,” but he used this expression, meaning many commandments. Thus, there are laws of creation that are observed by all creatures, the sun and the moon, day and night, the stars, the earth and the flow of all nature. There are laws given to human nature at the beginning, at the creation of man, about which Paul says: “When the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do what is lawful by nature, then, not having the law, they are a law to themselves” (Rom. 2:14); and again: “I delight in the law of God according to the inward man” (Rom. 7:22). There are written commandments: they all remain to this day; if some of them are canceled, it is because they were changed not for the worse, but for the better. Thus, the commandment: “Thou shalt not kill” has not been abolished, but strengthened; also the commandment: “thou shalt not commit adultery” has not been abolished, but has received greater strength. That is why the Lord said: “Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). In fact, he who is not even angry will much less refrain from killing; he who does not look at a woman with voluptuous eyes is the farther away from adultery. Thus, the law has the special advantage that it is immortal, constant, both the law of nature, and the natural law, and the law of (Old Testament) wisdom, and the law of the New Testament. That is why the Lord said: “heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” (Matthew 24:35), expressing their immutability. Whatever is destined to remain by the will of God, all that remains constantly, and nothing can shake it. "Inscribed in truth and rightness". What does it mean: “in truth and rightness”? There is, he says, nothing wrong in them, nothing evasive, nothing dark, nothing said out of bias or enmity, but everything is directed towards good and benefit - not like human laws, which contain much that is changeable, much that is unclear, much that is human. Many of human laws were often established under the influence of human passions; another wants to take revenge on an enemy or do something pleasing to a friend, and accordingly established laws. These are not the divine laws: they are clearer than the sun, directed towards the good of those for whom they were established, guiding them to virtue and truth, and not to false things, such as wealth and power (this is a lie, but the works of God are the truth), teaching them not to prosper here and enjoy the blessings of this life, but to acquire future blessings. They all talk about things that are true, true, and have nothing wrong with them. “All His commandments are faithful.” What does “faithful” mean? Firm, constant. When they are violated, punishment follows, but they themselves do not hesitate; when people transgress them, God avenges them. So don't say it's threatening or exaggerated. No legislator speaks only to threaten, but to admonish. If you do not believe the future, then be convinced of this from the past. The flood under Noah, the burning of Sodom, the death of Pharaoh, the extermination of the Jews, captivity, wars - were they only a threat or an actual punishment? If the representative events really did take place, then all the more will the true ones be fulfilled, and so much more so, in proportion as the sinners of the people committed after such healing and correction are more sinful. “He sent deliverance to His people, He commanded His covenant forever” (Ps. 110:9). In a historical sense, the prophet speaks of the deliverance of the Jews; and figuratively - about the deliverance of the universe, as he explains in the following words: “he commanded his covenant forever.” Here he speaks of the new covenant. Since he mentioned the commandment and the law, which was broken and subjected people to the wrath of God, he says that “He sent deliverance to His people,” just as the Lord himself said: “I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world” (John 12:47). Since the broken law subjected people to punishment: “for the law produces wrath, because where there is no law, there is no crime”; and “because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace” (Rom. 4:15; Rom. 3:23, 24), then he says: “He sent deliverance to His people.” 7. However, not only deliverance, but after deliverance the Lord also gave the law so that we could lead a life worthy of grace. “Holy and terrible is his name” 70. Having presented everything that is exalted about the care and providence of God, both in the Old Testament, and in the new, and in deeds, and commandments, and wonders, and signs, the prophet is inspired, and, marveling at the greatness of God, ends his speech with a doxology, praising the Author of all this. “Holy and awesome is His name,” i.e. quite worthy of surprise and amazement. If this is His name, then how much more is His being? And how is His name “holy and terrible”? Demons are afraid of him, they are afraid of illness; with this name the apostles corrected the entire universe; using it instead of a weapon, David struck the foreigner; he has accomplished many great deeds; to them we perform sacred sacraments. Thus, imagining how many miracles His name performs and how many good deeds, how it amazes opponents and strengthens its own, reflecting on deeds that surpass the ordinary order of things and exceed human understanding, he says: “Holy and terrible is his name.” If it is holy, then holy and pure lips are needed for glorification. “The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord; all who are guided by it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever” (Ps. 110:10) What does “beginning” mean? Source, root, foundation. Having said so much and so great about the Lord of the universe, and filled with amazement, the prophet adds this too, expressing that he who fears Him is filled with all wisdom and becomes wise. Then, so that no one thinks that wisdom is limited to knowledge alone, you add: “the mind is good in all who are guided by it.” Faith alone is not enough if a consistent life is not combined with it. How about “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”? He removes from every vice and instructs in every virtue. The prophet speaks of wisdom, which consists not in words, but in deeds. And the pagan sages define wisdom by the knowledge of divine and human things. The fear of God teaches this knowledge, destroying vice, planting virtue, disposing one to despise the present and strive for heaven. What is wiser than such a soul? Here (the prophet) indicates not only the listener, but also the performer. “The mind is good in all who are guided by it,” i.e. for those who fulfill the rules of wisdom, for those who demonstrate it in practice, he is “good reason.” He speaks of a good mind, because there is also an evil mind, as for example: “they are smart for evil, but do not know how to do good” (Jer. 4:22). But it requires reason, which is revealed in a virtuous life. “His praise endures forever.” What kind of praise, tell me? Thanksgiving, glorification, which for His deeds will forever be sent to Him, but first of all befits His very being. God is immortal and in Himself worthy of praise; but He receives praise even when you imagine His greatness and everything else, He also receives praise for His deeds when you perceive His wisdom in visible things. The Prophet says this in order to encourage gratitude and show that those people do not deserve any leniency who are indignant at what is happening. In fact, if praise, thanksgiving and glorification belong to Him so clearly, obviously, undoubtedly, unchangeably, firmly, constantly, that it is even eternal, boundless and infinite, and they, not understanding this, say the opposite, then they contradict what is much clearer than the sun, and voluntarily remain blind - because it is not some kind of temporary, so that one could not know it, not dark and unknown, but obvious, constant, eternal, always abiding and never ending. The psalms in the text are translated by P. Yungerov - Editorial office of the ABC of Faith You might be interested in: