Беседа 43 на псалом 133 103

Ps.133:1. Song of degrees. Now bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand in the church of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. General content of the final psalm of the degrees. – A Christian is required to have higher holiness than those who lived under the law. – “Raise up your hands at night” (Ps. 133:2) – He who does this will receive a blessing from the Lord. – Why was it added: “from Zion and: who made heaven and earth” (Ps. 134:3)? Here the prophet ends the “Songs of Degrees”, giving his speech a wonderful conclusion - doxology and blessing. He wants the servants of the Lord to be like this not only in religion, but also in their way of life. That’s why he adds: “those standing in the church of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.” The unclean and defiled are not allowed to even enter the sacred enclosure. Therefore, whoever is worthy to enter is worthy to bless. The house of God is like heaven; just as no opposing force is allowed to enter there, so the house of God is not allowed to enter. Imagine, man, what dignity you have received, and, since you yourself have become a church (of God), what purity you must observe. How can you keep clean? If you begin to reject every vicious thought, if you make the area of ​​your thoughts inaccessible to the devil’s suggestions, if you constantly adorn your soul like an impregnable sanctuary. If in the Jewish church not every place was accessible to everyone, but there were many different departments, of which one was assigned for proselytes, another for Jews by origin, another for priests, another for one high priest, and even for him not always, but only once a year, then imagine what kind of holiness you need to have, having received signs much more important than what the Holy of Holies had then! It is not the cherubim, but the Lord of the cherubim himself who dwells in you; you do not receive stone, manna, tablets of stone, or Aaron’s rod, but the body and blood of the Lord, the Spirit instead of letters, and grace that surpasses human understanding, and a gift unspeakable. And the greater the signs and terrible sacraments you are awarded, the greater holiness is required of you, and the greater the punishment you will be subject to if you violate what is commanded to you. “At night lift up your hands to the holy places and bless the Lord” (Ps. 133:2). Other (unknown, see Orig. Ex.): "holy" (αγίως). Third (unknown, see Orig. Ex.): “sacred” (ηγιασμένως). "And bless the Lord." Why did he say “at night”? Wanting to teach us not to spend the whole night sleeping, and to show that then prayers are purer when the mind is lighter and there are fewer worries. If one must go to the sanctuary at night, then imagine whether one who does not pray at home at this time can receive forgiveness. The Prophet lifts you out of bed and leads you to the church, commanding you to spend the night there; and you, even staying at home, don’t do this. Well said: holy; This suggests that one should pray without vicious thoughts, without remembrance of malice, without covetousness, without any other similar sin that destroys the soul. "And bless the Lord." A perfect blessing occurs especially when life agrees with the words, when you glorify the God who created you with your deeds, according to the word of the Gospel: “let your light shine before people, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). “The Lord from Zion, who made heaven and earth, will bless you” (Ps. 133:3). That is, if you do this, then you yourself will receive a blessing from God - if you spend your nights like this, if you pray holy, if you are worthy to stand in the house of the Lord, if you make yourself a useful church. Thus, having given the instruction that was needed, the prophet concludes his speech with prayer. It is characteristic of an excellent teacher to both correct the listener with advice and strengthen him with prayers. What does he want to express with the word: “from Zion”? This name was coveted by the Jews; All sacred rites were performed there. Therefore, he prays that they will again receive the same social order, perform the same sacred rites and receive such blessing. Then, raising them to higher concepts and teaching that God is everywhere, and He ordered the church to be built because of their weakness, and that they should call on Him everywhere, he adds: “he who made heaven and earth.” The Jews then called on God in their church, and we - in every place, in every country, at home, and in the marketplace, and in the desert, and on a ship, and in an inn, and wherever we were. The place does not in the least hinder prayer, as long as the mood of the soul corresponds to prayer. Having arranged ourselves in this way, let us call upon God everywhere, and He will come to us and help us, make everything difficult for us easy and convenient, and make us worthy of future blessings, which may we all be worthy of, by the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and dominion, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. The psalms in the text are translated by P. Yungerov - Editorial office of the ABC of Faith You might be interested in: