Мысли при чтении Книги пророка Варуха

Chapter 2, Art. 16 et seq. Look, O Lord, from Thy holy house and remember us, and incline, O Lord, Thy ear and hear. Open Thy eyes, see, for it is not the dead in hell, whose spirit is taken from their entrails, who will give glory and praise to the Lord; but a person who grieves over the greatness of the disaster, who walks drooping and dejected, with dim eyes and a hungry soul, will give glory and righteousness to You, Lord. In misfortune, a person turns to God with living faith and hope, but in happiness he often forgets Him. Despite the fact that You sometimes punish us so much, You, O Lord our God, have dealt with us according to all Your condescension and according to all Your great mercy, as You said through Your servant Moses on the day on which You commanded him to write Your law before the children of Israel, saying: “If you do not listen to My voice, then this great and many people will be reduced to a small number among the nations among which I will scatter them. I know that they will not listen to Me, for they are a stubborn people...” [vv.27-30]. When God visits us with disasters because of our iniquities, He deals with us according to His mercy and His great mercies, although the blows of His rod seem excessively strong to us. Chapter 3, 2 art. Hear, O Lord, and have mercy, for You are a merciful God; have mercy, for we have sinned before You; You are eternally abiding, and we are eternally perishing. What is our life if not constant destruction? 13th century If you walked in the way of God, you would live in peace forever. Here is the best rule for life: walk in the way of God, that is, live as God commanded you to live. 29 [-35] art. Who ascended into heaven and took it (wisdom) and carried it down from the clouds? Who crossed the seas and found it, and who will bring it, better than pure gold? There is no one who knows her way... But He who knows everything knows her; He opened it with His mind, He who created the earth for eternity and filled it with four-footed beasts, who sends light and he comes, called him, and he obeyed Him with trembling; and the stars shone upon their guards, and rejoiced. He called them, and they said, “Here we are,” and they beamed with joy before their Creator. God is our all-wise Creator and the whole world. Chapter 4, [v.] 4. Happy are we... that we know what is pleasing to God [church glory: Blessed are we... for what is pleasing to God is reasonable]. Yes, blessed, because we can truly please God and be blessed. People who do not know God, because of their unskilled minds, because of their vile deeds, are not allowed to know how they can please God. Art.7–12. You have provoked Him who created you... You have forgotten the eternal God who feeds you. Who among us does not grieve and forget God who created and nourishes us? They also grieved, says the prophet, Jerusalem, which raised you, for it (Jerusalem) saw the wrath that had come upon you from God and said: “Listen, inhabitants of Zion, God has brought upon me great sorrow, for I have seen the captivity of my sons and daughters, which the Eternal brought upon them. I fed them with joy, but sent them away with tears and sorrow. Let no one rejoice over me, widowed and abandoned by many; I am desolate for the sins of my children, for they have turned aside from the law of God...” [Art.] 14–25. “Come, ye inhabitants of Zion, and remember the captivity of my sons and daughters, which the Lord brought upon them. For He brought against them a people from afar, an insolent and foreign-speaking people, for they were not ashamed of the old man, and did not take pity on the child, and took away the widow’s beloved sons, and deprived the lonely daughter. How can I help you? He who brought these disasters upon you will deliver you from the hand of your enemies. Go, children, go, for I am left empty. I have put off the robe of the world and clothed myself with the sackcloth of my prayer; I will cry to the Eternal in my days (days of trouble). Be bold, children, call on God, and He will deliver you from violence, from the hands of your enemies. For I expected your salvation from the Eternal, and joy came to me from the Holy One about the mercy that will soon come to you from the Eternal, our Savior. I sent you away with sadness and sorrow, but God will return you to me with joy and gladness forever. For just as the inhabitants of Zion have now seen your captivity, so they will soon see your salvation from God, which will come to you with great glory and the majesty of the Eternal. Children! endure the wrath that has befallen you from God: the enemy has pursued you, but you will soon see his destruction, and you will step on his neck...” A wonderful personification. Picturesque, picturesque! 28–37 art. “What was your determination to depart from God, increase it tenfold to turn and seek Him, for He who brought these disasters upon you will bring upon you everlasting joy with salvation.”... Unhappy is the earth that received your sons, for as it rejoiced over your fall and rejoiced over your defeat, so will it mourn over its desolation. I will take away from her the joy of the multitude of her people, and her boasting will turn into sorrow; for fire will come upon her from the Eternal for many days, and she will be inhabited by demons for a very long time. Look, O Jerusalem, to the east, and see the joy coming to you from God. Behold, your sons, whom you sent away, are coming, gathered from east to west by the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the glory of God. What a wonderful, wonderful speech! Here the Supreme Ruler and Judge of kingdoms and nations is visible. The next and last chapter is unusually picturesque and solemn. Chapter 5. Jerusalem! take off your garments of mourning... and put on the splendor of glory from God forever. Put on the robe of righteousness from God, put on your head the crown of the glory of the Eternal, for God will show your glory to all under heaven. Your name will be called by God forever: “peace of righteousness and glory of godliness.” Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high, and turn to the east, and look at your children, gathered from the west of the sun to the east by the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in God’s remembrance of them (that God remembered them). They left you on foot, led by enemies, but God will bring them to you, exalted with glory, like royal sons; for God has determined (commanded) that every high mountain and everlasting hills should be made low, and the valleys filled, for the leveling of the earth, so that Israel would walk firmly, with the glory of God, and the forests and every fragrant tree would overshadow Israel at the command of God. God will joyfully lead Israel with the light of His glory, with His mercy and His righteousness. How beautifully God’s favor towards pardoned Israel is depicted. How solemn and majestic is the tone of the speech of the prophet of God. From his speech it is clear that he is a true prophet of God almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. What great beauty and Divine beauty there is in the writings of the Revealed Word! Glory to Thee, O God, who has deigned to reveal to us Thy holy will in the writings of God-inspired men! The end of the book of the prophet Baruch. There are 5 chapters. December 24 days 1856. You might be interested in: