Chapter 84

Ps.84:1. Finally, son of Kore, psalm. This psalm depicts the calling of the pagans and the remission of sins granted to them for turning to God. The psalmist also introduces the Jewish people, who, at the call of the pagans, confess what they have sinned and ask that they too be granted mercy through Christ. Ps.84:2. O Lord, Thou hast favored Thy land. For indeed God the Father was pleased to “make all things possible in Christ” (Eph. 1:10). You brought back Jacob's captivity. For he first preached to the Jews that he would redeem many from the spiritual captivity that had befallen them. This, after reading the prophecy of Isaiah, which says: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, for the sake of My anointing, to preach My ambassador to the poor, to preach release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind” (Isaiah 61:1), and the Savior expressed it, saying: “Today this scripture will be fulfilled in your ears” (Luke 4:21). For He, having loosed the bonds of our sins, made us stop serving the delusions of polytheism and demons. Here lies a prophecy about both: the return of the children of Israel from Babylon, and the salvation of the universe. And all of it is interpreted in two ways in this sense: God favors a kind and zealous heart, which has become His earth, because it receives His seed and bears fruit a hundredfold. Ps.84:3. Thou hast forsaken the iniquities of Thy people, that is, through faith, those who became Your people. He understands those who converted from the pagans, according to what the prophet Zechariah said: “In that day many pagans will flee to the Lord, and they will be His people” (Zech. 2:11). Ps.84:5. Bring us back, God of our salvation. He begins to send up prayer on behalf of the Jewish people, who ask that they too be granted grace Ps.84:8. Show us, Lord, Your mercy. When the reigning Cyrus of Persia, according to the prophecy of Isaiah, gave the Jews permission to return from captivity; They are in a hurry to reach their fatherland, and therefore they beg God. according to His love for mankind, to grant them speedy salvation. Hasten, they say, Master, to show us Your goodness, so that we may be worthy of Your salvation and liberation from here. Therefore, the Prophet, who brought this prayer on their behalf, expects an answer from God and says: Ps.84:9. I will hear what the Lord God says about me. And the Prophet, having finished his prayer, silently awaits this answer from the Spirit. Ps.84:10. Moreover, His salvation is near to those who fear Him. The prophet, in anticipation of the answer he will hear from God about his family, learns that God is ready to be close to everyone, if only they love the fear of God. And it will happen to those who love him that they will dwell in glory. Bring glory to our land. This signifies the economy of the Only Begotten in the flesh. For He was to us from God the Father “righteousness” and peace and mercy and truth (1 Cor. 1:30). Having mercy on us, He taught us the truth and made us righteous, “having pacified everything in Himself, whether earthly or heavenly” (Colossians 1:20). Ps.84:11. Mercy and truth are found. Clearly preaches the Truth that has shone to the world from the Mother of God and the Ever-Virgin. For Christ is the Truth, although he was born of a Woman. Truth and peace have clearly kissed each other for the sake of the Truth that shone to the world from the Ever-Virgin Mother of God. Ps.84:12. And the truth comes from heaven. Similar to this is what was said to the Virgin: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you” (Luke 1:35), etc. Ps.84:13. For the Lord will give goodness. When, he says, because of the abundance of goodness, the Lord shines upon those who exist on earth, then we, the mental earth, will bear the spiritual fruits of righteousness. Ps.84:14. The truth will come before him. Having said that the mental earth will give fruit, he teaches how it will give it. How exactly? Is it not under the condition that truth, having preceded the one who does good on the path leading to what is above, will guide his steps in the procession along this path? You might be interested in: