Chapter 113

And in this psalm the calling of the pagans is depicted, and in addition to this, the teaching is offered to those who are being saved, that the Old Testament is God’s, and that the previous salvation of the people from the circumcision was accomplished by the Lord. Ps.113:1. At the exodus of Israel. Ps.113:2. Judea became His holiness. When Israel was freed from Egyptian slavery, then Judah became His shrine. But the Lord did not only reign over Israel; on the contrary, grace is now given to all nations. Ps.113:4. The mountains leapt like rams. When God appeared on the mountains, they seemed to leap, rejoicing at the salvation of Israel. Ps.113:5. What is the sea to you, that you ran away, and the Jordan, that you returned back? Since they do not have the gift of speech and are not animated, the prophet gives an answer for them: Ps.113:7. the earth moved at the presence of the Lord. All this happened because the Lord appeared. This is the reason for the movement of the earth and the division of the sea. For the Lord filled the barren stone, which was devoid of all moisture and, due to its hardness, could not be cut, with a multitude of waters, commanding that water sources be given in abundance from Himself. So, this is not the least surprising: the Creator commanded, and the sea was divided, and the unmovable stone poured out water, and the sky sent down manna, and the winds gathered the dyes, and everything else happened at His command. Ps.113:9. Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to Your name, give glory. Apparently, he makes it clear that the people of the circumcision have fallen away, and tells them a prayer for confessing that they no longer have the Divine power visiting them. He teaches, saying: although we are unworthy of the grace that every people is awarded, nevertheless, for the sake of Your name, do with us what was called upon us from the beginning, but do not reward us in righteousness, as the true God, and not like idols. This is why the Psalmist added: Ps.113:12. Idol the tongue of silver and gold, the works of human hands. According to some lists, this constitutes the beginning of another, namely the one hundred and fourteenth psalm. But we, following the Hebrew list, recognize this as part of the one hundred and thirteenth psalm. For the youths to whom the Psalmist said: “Praise the Lord, you children,” that is, the new people, are taught a lesson about which Lord they should praise, namely the One who performed so many miracles for those who came out of Egypt, and at the same time it is shown to them what their ancient gods were, because the idols had no resemblance, not only with the miracle-working God, but also with the last of the animate. creatures gifted with feeling. For these creatures are the work of God, and idols are the work of human art. The Psalmist teaches them to say: “let them be like them” (Ps. 113:16). And this does not express malice towards people, but lets us know what end is prepared for idolatry. For those who are insensibly devoted to idols, as far as their meaning is concerned, do not differ from idols. Such and such harm is caused to them by the demonic power hidden in idols. Ps.113:16. May those who create be like them. So the property will perish, and so will those who collect it. Ps.113:17. The house of Israel trusts in the Lord. This is what the pagans say; that is, just as in ancient times God saved believing Israel, so now he will save the pagans. For Ps.113:19. those who fear the Lord they are pagans, because after the removal of the house of Israel, that is, the whole people, and the house of Aaron and the house of Levi, who else should fear the Lord if not a people of the pagans? Ps.113:22. May the Lord apply it to us, to us, and to our sons. He is the One Whose laws we keep. And so that no one would think that the legislation of Moses came from someone else, the Psalmist, before he mentioned the legislation, spoke about the universe. And by this he teaches that there is one God, everything else was created. Ps.113:25. Not in the dead will they praise You, Lord. “Dead” he calls demonic servants who do not have life in themselves, that is, knowledge of the one God. You might be interested in: