Chapter 106

Ps.106:1. Confess to the Lord that it is good. After the rejection of the Jewish people, it very appropriately depicts the calling of the pagans by the Apostles. Therefore, he commands us to praise God and confess to Him for His great mercy. Ps.107:3. From the east, and the west, and the north, and the sea. Who are these gathered from the four countries of the universe, if not all the peoples who were anciently alien to godliness and did not partake of the Divine moisture, but were in great thirst? Ps.106:4. The path of the habitable city was not found, because they did not have a good life, but they were in great deception. Ps.106:5. Hungering and thirsty, their soul disappeared within them, because they did not have bread, which strengthens the heart of man, nor living water, about which it is said: “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst” (John 4:14). Ps.106:7. And guide me on the right path, that is, led to faith in Him. For He himself said: “I am the way” (John 14:6). Enter the habitable city. This means the Church or heavenly Jerusalem. Ps.106:8. Let the Lord confess His mercies. Ps.107:9. For I have satisfied my empty soul. What kind of soul is this? Is it not the soul of those about whom it is said: “hungry and thirsty, their soul disappeared from them? And fill my hungry soul with good things” (Ps. 106:5), that is, mental bread. Ps.106:10. Seated in darkness and the shadow of death. Let us not sin by calling idolatry and deeds done in godlessness the shadow of death. For they separate us from true life. We indulged in these things before, because “we have grieved God and provoked... the advice of the Most High” (Ps. 106:11). “From the majesty and beauty of creatures” it was necessary to “know the Creator of all kinds” (Wisdom 13:5), and to understand His eternal power and Divinity from the creation of the world. But we, like the blind who live in “darkness and the shadow of death,” whose rational powers of the soul are fettered and darkened, “change the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of the corruptible image of man and birds and their four-footed animals” (Rom. 1:23). Bound by poverty and iron. “Everyone is burdened with the captivity of his sins” (Proverbs 5:22), having become impoverished from all that is good and beautiful. Ps.106:11. As if I have greatly displeased the words of God, not at all accepting the Divine law, but surrendering to the sages of this age. And the advice of the Most High is irritating. What was the advice of the Most High? Isn’t it the one according to which “all man desires to be saved and to come into the understanding of truth” (1 Tim. 2:4)? Ps.106:12. I'm exhausted, and don't help me, because no one was able to destroy sin. Ps.106:13. And I saved them from their needs. What need is greater than this - ignorance of God, spiritual poverty, sinful misery, to be enslaved to evil spirits? Ps.106:14. And his bonds were torn apart. The word “torn to pieces” shows the instant destruction of sin. Ps.106:15. Let the Lord confess His mercies. Another time he repeated the same thing about His good deeds. Psalm 107:16 Break in pieces the gates of brass, refers to the descent of the Savior even to hell, into which He opened the gates of hell, which from ancient times were closed for everyone with insoluble bonds, because it was impossible for those who wanted to leave to return from there. But He said to them that are in chains: Come forth; and to those who are in darkness: open yourselves” (Is. 49:9). Ps.106:18. Their soul abhors every kind of waste, because there was no word that could nourish them. “The gates of death” are sins leading to death. Ps.106:22. And let them devour the sacrifice of praise to Him. He turns his speech to the holy Apostles, because they taught us the sacraments of the New Testament. Ps.106:33. He put rivers in the desert to eat. He means the unbridled and rejected race of the Jews, for he settled the Jews, who were previously tormented by hunger and in need of spiritual food, along these rivers. Ps.106:34. Fruitful land into glory. He means the Jewish synagogue, because demons were citizens of this earthly city government, and its wickedness brought fruit. But the teachings of the Apostles dried it up with salt, about whom it is said: “You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13). Ps.106:35. He put the desert in the lake of water, implies a people of the Gentiles. For the prophecy here is merged and introduces the face of two peoples, speaks of the rejection of one, and the introduction of another people. Ps.106:36. And formed the habitable cities, i.e., good and heavenly residence. Ps.106:37. And she sat down and planted grapes. What is meant by villages, taught by the One who said: “Go out and sow to your seed” (Luke 8:5). And the grapes are the Church, according to what was said: “When the grapes are ripe, they stink” (Song. 2:13). Ps.106:38. And the cattle did not kill them. He calls the foolish in the Church cattle, according to what was said: “You would have cattle” (Ps. 72:22); and: “Lord, save men and beasts” (Ps. 35:7). Ps.106:39. And I lost my mind, that is, belonging to the ancient people. Ps.106:40. He poured out humiliation on their princes. Understands the scribes and Pharisees. And I made mistakes along the path, and not along the path. For they wander without knowing Him who said: “I am the way” (John 14:6). Ps.106:41. And help the poor from poverty. Who is the poor one? Isn’t he the one about whom it is said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3)? And lay down like sheep of the fatherland. He recognized as his own, says the prophet, the flocks gathered from all fatherlands. Ps.106:42. They will see the truth and rejoice. Who are these rightists? Are they not those about whom it is said: “Your hair is blessed, for they see” (Matthew 13:16)? And all iniquity will stop its mouth. “God justify. Who is to judge? (Rom. 8:33) You might be interested in: