Reflections on the Psalms and notes from the texts

(On the words of the 1st Psalm: “Blessed is the man who did not follow the counsel of the wicked, and did not stand in the way of sinners, and did not sit on the seat of the destroyers, but his will is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he learns day and night.”) 1. If we also want to be participants in bliss, then we will reject from ourselves “wicked advice” and we will “learn in the law of the Lord day and night.” Meditate intensely on this verse and this whole psalm and consider yourself. For the more the world approaches the end, the more the wicked multiply. Beware of them like serpents. The Holy Scripture, always and diligently read, will teach you everything with the help of Him who published it through His servants. Save yourself. Let us listen to how David concluded his holy song. “For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish” (Ps. 1:6). What are we learning here from the holy singer? 1) The life of every person in this world is a path, and therefore every person, while he lives in the world, is a traveler. A person begins this path at birth and ends it with death. 2) The word “path” here means every undertaking - plans, words, deeds, and works, that is, everything in which someone practices and works. 3) This path is twofold: the path of the righteous and the path of the wicked. Just as the Lord created the sensual sun for the sake of all people, so that they could see and do all their deeds: “man goes out to his work, and to his work until the evening” (Ps. 103:23), - so the same Creator gave the lamp of His law, so that everyone, looking at it, would manage their lives, that is, plans, undertakings, words and deeds, as the Psalmist sings to God: “Your law is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my ways.” (Ps 119:105). Those people who believe in Christ, and according to the word of God, and according to the example of Christ, govern their lives are righteous, pious and holy, and those who deviate from this holy lamp and live according to their own whims are wicked, although they confess the name of Christ. Those go their own way, and these go their own, but to a different end. 4) The Lord knows and praises the path of the righteous, for, guided by His holy will, it leads to a prosperous end, to eternal bliss. “The solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His” (2 Tim. 2:19). And again: “I know those who are mine, and those who are mine know me” (John 10:14). He also knows the way of the wicked, but does not praise it as contrary to His will, “for God is not pleased with iniquity” (see Ps. 5:5); and therefore the way of the wicked will “perish,” that is, it will lead them to eternal destruction. Just as a blind man, walking on the earth and not seeing a ditch in front of him, falls into it, and so his path ends, and he himself perishes, so the wicked, not having the enlightened eyes of their hearts and not knowing where they are going, fall into the ditch of eternal destruction, and so their path (that is, all their deeds and thoughts) and they themselves perish. Then they will feel it and repent, but it is too late: “So, we have lost our way from the path of truth, and the light of truth did not shine on us, and the sun did not shine on us. We were filled with deeds of lawlessness and destruction and walked through impassable deserts, but we did not know the way of the Lord. What benefit has arrogance brought us, and what has wealth and vanity brought us? All this passed away like a shadow and like a fleeting rumor,” and so on (Wis. 5:6–9). The Lord speaks about these two paths in the Gospel: “Enter at the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many go through it; for strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few find it” (Matthew 7:13–14). The path of the righteous is narrow and cramped, since they live not by their own will, but by the will of God. The path of the wicked is long and wide, since they, having rejected the will of God, do what they want. But just as some, after temporary cramped conditions, move into eternal space, so others, after temporary space, move into eternal cramped conditions, as Solomon says. 5) We do not see a third way, just as in the next century we only see two passages in Scripture: bliss and eternal torment. Therefore, everyone living on earth either follows the path of the righteous and comes to eternal bliss, or follows the path of the wicked and goes to eternal destruction. Reason about this, and listen to the lamp of the word of God, and you will know which path is salutary and which is destructive, and you will walk carefully in the world. “Lord, lead me on Your path” (Ps. 85:11), - I entrust myself and you, reader, to Him. Save yourself. What do the words that David sings mean: “And now, O kings, understand, learn, all you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear,” and so on (Ps. 2:10–11). 1) This psalm contains a prophecy about Christ the Son of God, that is, it says that He should come into the world and reign over the Church and over the whole world, and about the resistance and rebellion against Him of Jews, kings, princes and all nations, vain and futile. This is how church teachers think about this, and the verses contained in the psalm show the same thing, and the holy apostles cite this psalm in Acts in the same sense (Acts 4:23–28). But “it’s hard to go against the grain.” What God decreed and determined in His holy council, so it happens in practice. For who can resist His will? “The Lord destroys the counsels of nations, casts away the counsels of men, and casts aside the counsels of princes; The counsel of the Lord endures forever; the thoughts of His heart to generation and generation” (Ps. 32:10–11). Therefore, the Holy Spirit, through Saint David, exhorts: “And now, ye kings, understand,” and so on. 2) “Kings” here are understood not only in their own person, but also with their subordinate people. 3) The Holy Spirit exhorts them to feel and look around Whom they are resisting and Whom they are rebelling against. For it is insane to resist Him, the power, command and will of Whom everyone obeys, whose advice and determination are unchangeable. Therefore, one must either submit to Him and repent, or not submit and perish forever. 4) God, being generous and merciful, long-suffering and abounding in mercy, “does not want the death of the sinner, but that he should turn and live” (Ezek. 18:32, 33:11). Therefore, he fatherly exhorts sinners to turn, repent, submit to His saving will, and correct themselves, so that they would gratefully and joyfully accept and kiss the salvation that He sent them through His Only Begotten Son. “And now, O kings, understand, learn, all you judges of the earth.” 5) He wants them to understand and learn “now,” before time has passed, while there is a time of grace, and God calls to repentance, and accepts and pardons those who repent, and grants forgiveness. “Behold, now is the acceptable time, behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2). “Behold now” means the present time while we are in this life. “Now” is the time to repent, pray, ask, and seek, and knock on the door of God’s mercy. There will be a time and day of judgment, torture, testing, when plans, undertakings, words and deeds will be judged. Then repentance, tears, sighs, prayers and petitions will not help. “And now, O kings, understand, learn, all you judges of the earth.” Other people also understand. “Understand this, all you who forget God, so that He does not snatch (you), and (then) no one will deliver” (Ps. 49:22). 6) “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice in Him with trembling” (Ps. 2:11). For “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 1:7). Understand the power of Christ's coming into the world. He was sent into the world by His Heavenly Father to save the world: “he came to seek and save that which was lost” (Matthew 18:11). Then, thinking about your condition, you will be horrified and, reasoning about His majesty and your unworthiness, bow your neck with joy under His holy and good yoke. Understand that to be in His kingdom is bliss, and to serve Him, as the good and merciful Lord and King, is most sweet and joyful; but to be outside His kingdom and not to serve Him is damnation, disaster and destruction. For whoever is outside His kingdom and does not serve Him is attracted by the yoke of Satan and serves him with sins and desires. Without fail, everyone living on earth is either in the kingdom of Christ and serves Him, or outside of His kingdom and serves the devil. Whose will and command he does, he serves. It is sweet and joyful to serve Christ, the Heavenly King. It is vile and disastrous to serve the devil, the prince of darkness and the god of this age, who blinds the minds of his servants and drags them along with him into eternal destruction. “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice in Him with trembling,” the Holy Spirit exhorts through His servant. Cast off the heavy yoke of Satan from your neck and take the yoke of Christ upon yourself, “for His yoke is easy and His burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). 7) This paternal admonition concerns not only those people who do not accept Christ, the Son of God, who came into the world, and who oppose His holy teaching, such as: idolaters, Mohammedans, Jews, and others like them, but also those who are called Christians, accept the teaching of Christ, and profess His holy name, but with their lives and morals they oppose Him, and with their deeds “deny Him, being vile and disobedient and incapable of any good work” (Titus 1:16). For not only does he oppose Christ who does not accept His teachings and does not recognize Him as Christ, the Savior of the world, but also he who does not fulfill His will and His commandments, and lives contrary to His holy teaching, does not do what Christ commands. Anyone like this is an opponent of Christ, although he confesses His name and says to Him: “Lord, Lord!” To such He answers: “Why do you call Me: Lord! God! “And you do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). “Whoever is not with Me is against Me,” He says (Luke 11:23). Who is with Christ? He who has with Him one heart, one thought, one will, one spirit, as the Apostle teaches, so that we conform our thoughts to the will of Christ and His thoughts: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5). Who is against Christ? The one who acts against His will, thoughts and determination. Every lawless Christian who cleaves to this world and places all his consolation in it is an enemy of Christ. For both from sins and from the love of this world, Christ leads us away through His teaching and deeds. Read His Gospel and His Apostles' Epistles, and you will understand this. Therefore, the apostles exhort us: “God in Christ reconciled the world to Himself, not imputing their crimes to people, and gave us the word of reconciliation. So we are messengers on behalf of Christ, and it is as if God Himself exhorts through us; On behalf of Christ we ask: be reconciled with God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:19-21). It is terrible to resist the One who can destroy soul and body in fiery hell. It is shameless not to submit and not to listen to Him who did not spare Himself for our salvation, but gave Himself up to death as a fragrant sacrifice for our sins. 8) Let the world do what it wants. We should not resist Christ in any way. Let us heed that He is our God, our Lord, our Creator, our Redeemer and Savior, our King, all-kind, meek, long-suffering and abundantly merciful. Let us serve Him with faith and truth, so that He, too, will recognize us as His faithful servants. Save yourself. “Blessed are all those who trust in Him,” David concluded his God-inspired song (Ps. 2:12). What do these words mean? 1) The holy prophet calls those blessed who, with their heartfelt faith, recognize the Son of God as their Redeemer and Savior and place all their hope in Him. The Scripture says about this: “Behold, I lay a stone for the foundation in Zion, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; and he who believes in Him will not be put to shame” (Isa. 28:16; 1 Pet. 2:6). This is the Stone about which it is written: “The Stone which the builders neglected, this Stone became the cornerstone: this was from the Lord, and is marvelous in our eyes” (Ps. 118:22-23). Whoever establishes his hope on this Stone, even if “it rains, and the rivers overflow, and the winds blow and rush” against him, will not fall (Matthew 7:25). For he laid a firm and unshakable foundation, so that “even the gates of hell will not prevail” against it (Matthew 16:18). Therefore, “it is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in princes” (Ps. 117:8-9). This prophet and psalmist experienced this himself and exclaimed gratefully: “All nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I resisted them. They surrounded me on all sides, but in the name of the Lord I resisted them. They surrounded me like bees on a honeycomb and burned with rage like fire among thorns, but in the name of the Lord I resisted them. Cast down, I was ready to fall, but the Lord supported me” (Ps. 118:10-13). You see how he defended himself in the name of the Lord, like a shield, from his enemies, and in the very last and most extreme trouble the Lord did not abandon him. Blessed are all who trust in Him! 2) Hope is tested by adversity and disaster. Here it becomes known who trusts in whom, whether in Christ God, or in something else. He truly and sincerely hopes in Christ who, in times of trouble, does not retreat from Him with hope, but runs to Him and asks for help, and although his Helper hesitates with help, he invariably expects help from Him, thinking that “he who promised” help is faithful. And whoever in trouble, leaving Christ, turns away from creation, that is, man, from wealth, honor, etc., and seeks help from there, has no hope in Him, although with his lips he confesses his hope in Him. For hope does not depart from its foundation, on which it is established, and is recognized not in happiness, but in misfortune, and it takes place in the heart, and not on the lips, like faith and every virtue. And what is not in the heart is not in the very essence. Therefore, inseparable from hope must be patience, which overcomes every disaster that happens and awaits either deliverance or relief from the disaster. Faith, hope and patience are inseparable. Faith sees and recognizes its Helper and Deliverer Christ. Hope is established in Him and asks for help and deliverance from Him. Patience awaits Him, although He hesitates and does not give up on hope. Therefore, the Psalmist exhorts: “Take courage, and let your heart be strong, all you who trust in the Lord” (Ps. 30:25). And again: “Be patient with the Lord, be of good courage, and let your heart be strong, and be patient with the Lord” (Ps. 26:14). For “blessed are all those who trust in Him.” 3) The greatest and most severe temptation is hope, when thoughts confuse the soul and want to deprive it of the hope of salvation and plunge it into despair. It happens that thoughts say to a person in his heart: “There is no salvation for him in his God” (Ps. 3:3). This is the devil’s cunning and his kindled arrows, which he throws at the faithful soul and wants to take away from her the treasure of eternal salvation. Here, especially, a person must endure, take courage, strengthen himself and overcome the enemy’s wiles with hope, and be motionless in hope, and remember the comforting word: “Blessed are all those who hope in Him.” And again: “Whoever believes in Him (Christ) will not be put to shame” (Rom. 10:11). 4) If “blessed are all who trust in Him,” as they are truly blessed, then wretched and poor are all those who trust in man, in princes, in nobles, glorious and powerful, in their strength, honor and dignity, in wealth, in their deeds and piety, and in everything else that exists besides Christ. All such people have false hope, for their hope does not have a solid, unshakable and known foundation and must certainly fall, since its foundation is rotten. And therefore all such will be ashamed, for they are like “a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain fell, and the rivers overflowed, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and he fell, and his fall was great” (Matthew 7:26–27). 5) On the other hand, it would be shameless for a person to hope in Him whom he constantly angers and grieves with sins against his conscience. Hope, like faith, loves to rest in a good conscience, but runs away from an evil conscience, and only hopes with its lips, but has no hope in its heart. What hope is there to be where the conscience, irritated by sins, constantly threatens with the judgment of God? Hope, in a calm conscience, at peace from sins, has its home. It is not said here about those who previously sinned against their conscience, but, having ceased to sin, repent and seek mercy from God. Often their conscience is troubled for the sins they have committed, but such must be confirmed in their hope, for God does not judge those who have sinned - for all are sinners: “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23) - but judges those who have sinned and did not repent. Therefore, they should remember the comforting word: “Blessed are all those who hope in Him.” For for them too Christ is Savior, Redeemer, Deliverer, Defender and Life, for He came “to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15). It is said above about those who remain in unrepentance and do not stop sinning. Both faith and hope are vain. Therefore, the prophet says: “Trust in the Lord and do good” (Ps. 36:3). You see that, trusting in the Lord, one must also do good. 6) Seeing from the Holy Word of God the bliss of those who hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, let us ourselves try to be participants in this bliss. Let some rely on their honor and dignity, others on their strength, others on princes and nobles, others on their wealth, others on their wisdom and cunning, others on their eloquence, others on their deeds and piety, others on other things, whatever they want, they hope for, we should not hope for all this, but only for Christ Jesus our Lord. He will be our Defender, Helper, Deliverer, Fortress and Strength in all our disasters. If the world persecutes us, then we will take refuge under the shelter of His wings. If Satan confuses our soul with the fear of death, judgment, Gehenna and despair in the mercy of God, then under this safe shelter we will cool ourselves from all that heat, holding tightly to His merciful promise and oath: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24). And again: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in Me has eternal life” (John 6:47). With these and other His promises, confirmed by the oath of Him who cannot lie, being the Truth itself, let us confirm our hope, “which for the soul is like an anchor, safe and strong, and enters into the interior behind the veil, where Jesus entered as a forerunner for us” (Heb. 6:19-20). Our hope sits at the right hand of God; let us hold on to it and not be ashamed forever. Be healthy and be saved in Christ. To him be thanksgiving and glory. Amen. Let's see how Saint David strengthened and consoled himself in the misfortunes and persecutions that he endured a lot, so that we too can learn in such cases not to lose heart, but in the same way, like him, to strengthen ourselves, since many troubles happen to us in this world. We hear him boldly singing: “Lord! How my persecutors have multiplied! Many rebel against me, many say to my soul: “There is no salvation for him in his God.” But You, O Lord, are my protector, my glory, and You lift up my head” (Ps. 3:2–4). What do we learn from his holy song? 1) You see that he had many enemies and persecutors, who considered him desperate and rejected from God: “There is no salvation for him in his God.” 2) He does not think about himself like his enemies, but calls the Lord his intercessor and his glory: “But You, Lord, are my intercessor, my glory,” - by which he shows his heart’s faith in God, and triumphs with boldness towards Him, saying that God has not cast him away from Himself, but also intercedes for him and glorifies him, and lifts up his humble head: “But You, O Lord, are my intercessor, my glory, and You lift up my head." And then he adds: “I will not be afraid of the multitude of people (thousands of enemies) attacking me from all sides,” and so on (Ps. 3:7). 3) We see that the world incorrectly talks about the destinies of God: for the one who, by God’s permission, finds himself in adversity and persecution and is thus punished by the Lord, the world unreasonably believes that he is abandoned and rejected from God: “There is no salvation for him in his God; God forsook him” (Ps. 70:11); “Where is your God” (Ps. 41:11)? But the Holy Scripture teaches contrary to this. It says: “The Lord punishes whomever he loves; and he beats every son whom he receives” (Heb. 12:6). 4) For whom God stands up and protects, many thousands of enemies cannot defeat him, even the whole world and all the devils will not achieve anything, for God is incomparably stronger than everyone and everyone obeys and trembles at His almighty power, which is why David says: “You, Lord, are my intercessor... I will not be afraid of the multitude of people attacking me from all sides.” 5) In adversity and persecution, we learn to do nothing other than to resort to the one God and ask for help and intercession from the One who Himself allows adversity to come upon us and therefore can either ease our sorrow or deliver. 6) We learn what is characteristic of faith, that is, to have God and call God from the heart our intercessor, and so on, and nothing else but to resort to Him alone in all needs. Although God is the protector of all the faithful, holy David says to Him: “You, Lord, are my protector.” So everyone who has true and zealous faith in Him does so, “saying to the Lord: You are my intercessor and my refuge, my God, and I trust in Him” (Ps. 90:2). This is what a son calls his father: my father, or my parent, although he is the parent and father of all his children. This is how a faithful servant calls his master: my master, although he is the master of all his servants, his brethren. 7) If we call God our God and our intercessor, and so on, then we must love Him from the heart, show diligent obedience to Him and listen to and keep His holy word. And if we don’t do this, then the Lord will tell us: “Why do you call Me: Lord! God! “And you do not do what I say” (Luke 6:46). For a faithful servant does the will of his master. Save yourself. What do the words mean that the Psalmist puts at the conclusion of his holy psalm: “Salvation is from the Lord, and Thy blessing is upon your people” (Lord) (Ps. 3:9)? 1) “Salvation comes from the Lord,” that is, the Lord alone saves, both temporarily and eternally, those who trust in Him. He saves them in war, saves them during a pestilence, saves them at sea from drowning, saves them during famine, saves them from the slander and tricks of their enemies, and so on. “Behold, the eyes of the Lord (are fixed) on those who fear Him and trust in His mercy, to deliver their souls from death and to feed them in time of famine” (Ps. 33:18–19). He also saves them when they depart from this world into eternal life. Although the wicked become fierce and exalt, they ultimately perish in body and soul; “But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord, and He is their protector in time of trouble, and the Lord will help them, and deliver them, and separate them from sinners, and save them, for they trusted in Him” (Ps. 37:39–40). 2) “And upon your people is your blessing.” Who are called people of God here? Answer: those who know God and honor Him with true faith, fear, love and obedience. To such, Saint Peter says: “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people taken for an inheritance,” and so on (1 Pet. 2:9), that is, true Christians, living piously and seeking God with all their hearts. On such are the blessing of God. 3) What blessing? Answer: there is also something temporary, although not always, but the most important thing is the eternal, the future, about which the apostle wrote: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:3). 4) Let us also, beloved, try to be the people of God, so that His blessing may come to us “in heaven in Christ.” And if this blessing comes to us, then all the blessings will come with His blessing - blessings, I say, eternal. Save yourself. “Have mercy on me and hear my prayer” (God). Let us consider this verse (Ps. 4:2) and learn, so that we too may learn, following the example of the holy prophet, to pray. 1) Prayer is not heard unless God bows to mercy. Therefore, David first of all asks for mercy from God and thereby asks that his prayer be heard: “Have mercy on me and hear my prayer,” as if he were saying: I am poor, but You, God, have pity on my poverty and therefore hear my prayer. And in another psalm he prayed in the same way: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy, and according to the multitude of Your compassions, cleanse my iniquity” (Ps. 50:3). You see, here too he first asks for great mercy from God, and then for his iniquity to be cleansed. 2) By his example, we also learn how we should pray, that is, to acknowledge our poverty before God, and by acknowledging our poverty to bow to His mercy, and in prayer not to rely on our truth and some merits, but to trust in His bounty, as the prophet Daniel prayed: “We present our prayers before You, trusting not in our righteousness, but in Your great mercy, O Lord” (Dan. 9:18 ). Therefore, if we want God to hear our prayer, let us look at our poverty and, recognizing it before God, present His mercies to Him, saying: “Remember Your compassions, O Lord, and Your mercies, for they are eternal” (Ps. 24:6). Therefore, the Pharisee, listing his deeds and merits before God, prayed without benefit, while the publican, recognizing his poverty and repentance before Him and hoping for His mercy alone, prayed with benefit, for “this one went to his house justified more than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14). Let us also pray, following the example of this holy man, and the Lord, to whom I entrust myself and you, will hear our prayer. Save yourself. What do the words that David sings mean: “Offer the sacrifice of righteousness, and trust in the Lord” (Ps. 4:6)? 1) This admonition extends to all sons of men, that is, people of every rank, rank and both sexes. 2) With these words he calls everyone to true repentance and contrition of heart, for “the sacrifice to God is a broken spirit: God will not despise a contrite and humble heart” (Ps. 50:19). He exhorts that, having repented and corrected himself, “they should not give over their members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present themselves to God as those alive from the dead, and their members to God as instruments of righteousness” (Rom. 6:13). The apostle begs us to make such a sacrifice in the name of God’s mercy, saying: “I exhort you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, for your reasonable service; and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12:1-2). ). 3) “And trust,” he says, “in the Lord” (Ps. 4:6). So, having repented, and corrected yourself, and done the will of God, trust in the Lord. The words of another psalm are close in meaning to this: “Trust in the Lord and do good” (Ps. 36:3). 4) From here we learn that the hope of one who does not make such a sacrifice to God, but trusts in Him, is vain and vain. We must certainly correct ourselves through repentance and submit our will to the will of God, and then trust in the Lord. 5) Let us also, beloved, try to offer the sacrifice of righteousness, and so let us place our trust in the Lord, and our trust will not put us to shame. Save yourself in Christ. “Hear my words, O Lord, understand my call. Hear the voice of my prayer, my King and my God! For I will pray to You, O Lord,” and so on (Ps. 5:2–3). What are we learning here in this psalm? 1) We see how holy David prayed to the Lord. 2) We learn from his example and we also pray to the Lord our God. 3) If we pray to God: “Hear my words, O Lord,” and so on, then we must remember and fulfill what God tells us: “Listen, My people, to My law; incline your ear to the words of my mouth” (Ps. 77:1). If we want the Lord to hear us praying, then we must listen to His commands and fulfill His commandments. Without this, our prayer is in vain. For “God does not listen to sinners; but whoever honors God and does His will listens to him” (John 9:31). Listen to what the same Psalmist further sings: “For You are God, Who does not like iniquity, the evil one will not dwell with You, and the wicked will not abide in Your sight; You have hated all those who commit iniquity; you will destroy all who speak lies; The Lord abhors a bloodthirsty and flattering man” (Ps. 5:5–7). 4) Also, if we say to Him: “Lord, my King and my God!” - then we must, as the Lord, King and our God, submit, obey, and show sincere obedience and serve. For what servant is his master, and he who is given to his king does not show obedience? Only evil and crafty. 5) From here we see that reading psalms and other prayers will not help a person who has not turned to God with his true heart and is not in repentance, but remains in sins. Let us turn, beloved, with all our hearts to God, and let us imitate David in his repentance, and then with benefit for ourselves we will sing or read his holy psalms and pray. “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1). In prayer we approach the holy and righteous God, and stand before Him, and talk with Him. Oh, how great is this matter! Let us also be “holy, because He is holy” (1 Pet. 1:16), and let us create righteousness, turning away from all unrighteousness, as the apostle exhorts: “Let everyone who confesses the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness” (2 Tim. 2:19), which is what I earnestly wish both for myself and for you. Save yourself. What do the words that Saint David sings mean: “There is no truth in their mouth, their heart is vain, like an open tomb, their throat is flattering with their tongues” (Ps. 5:10)? Here are depicted wicked people who bring all sorts of untruths and persecutions against the pious. “There is no truth in their mouths: no matter what they say, they always lie.” About such in another psalm he says: “His mouth is full of curses, and bitterness, and flattery: under his tongue is torment and disease” (Ps. 9:28). “Their heart is vain.” Christ says about such: “An evil person brings out evil things from an evil treasure” (Matthew 12:35), “for out of their hearts come evil thoughts” (Matthew 15:19), they are like “painted tombs, which on the outside seem beautiful, but inside are full of the bones of the dead and all uncleanness” (Matthew 23:27). There is nothing else in their hearts but vanity, and they only think and plan in their hearts how to become famous and enrich themselves here. “Their throat is like an open tomb.” Just as a stench emanates from a coffin in which a stinking corpse lies, so from them nothing but the stench of wickedness, flattery and blasphemy emanates. “They flatter with their tongues.” About such in another place he says: “Their words are softer than butter, but they wound like arrows” (Ps. 54:22). Such people speak kindly, but have other plans in their hearts. They soften their words, but with them, like arrows, they want to hurt, and they hurt. They seem like friends on the outside, but they are evil enemies on the inside. For the hidden enemy is more evil than the obvious one. So Judas, the betrayer of our Lord, spoke to Him with his lips: “Rejoice, Rabbi! And he kissed Him,” but with those words and kiss, as a sign, he betrayed his Lord and Teacher into the hands of His enemies (Matthew 26:48–49). And such people are multiplying more and more, the closer the end of the world comes. From such hearts, as servants of the devil, the pious soul will suffer a lot. Let us listen further to what the holy Psalmist cries out to God against them, zealous for God, whom they fearlessly anger. “Judge them, O God, let them leave their plans; for their great wickedness, overthrow them, for they have angered You, O Lord” (Ps. 5:11). The apostle says the same about them: “their judgment has long been prepared, and their destruction does not sleep” (2 Pet. 2:3). They do not know where, and when, and how the judgment of God will befall them, but they themselves will fall into the hole that they dig for others. But we, knowing that we ourselves cannot hide and survive from such cunning dogs, as from the hunting dogs of the devil, for they weave their machinations in different ways, let us cast all our sorrows on the Lord, and in the shelter of His wings we will hide, “for He cares for us” (1 Pet. 5:7). You write that the fear and trembling of death and judgment confuses your thoughts and inclines you to despair, and you ask for advice. I answer you and give advice according to my mind. 1) Such confusion of the soul, and oppression of conscience, and the fear of despair, although it comes from the devil, which has “the power of death” (Heb. 2:14) and the fear of death, judgment and the wrath of God confuses the soul, however, not without the will and advice of God, and this is a cruel punishment for man. 2) It happens to a person’s great benefit. For this is how a person learns the power of sin, which, like a serpent’s sting, bites the soul; knows the curse of the law of the ruined, the wrath of God against sin, the action of the truth and judgment of God, and sees how strong the torment of the devil is. This is how a person humbles himself and turns away from the love of the world. For who, in such confusion, would want to be proud and love the vanity of this world? 3) Since such confusion occurs by the will and advice of God, we must ask for help and deliverance from God, and not from anywhere else. For no one can take away that embarrassment except God. David teaches us by his example, who, being in great confusion and cramped conscience, did not resort to anything else, but to God, praying thus: “Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, and do not punish me in Your anger” (Ps. 6:2). Note here: David prays to God not just to deliver from punishment, but from punishment that comes “from anger and rage,” which punishment comes from the wicked. Punishment for the pious comes from love, according to Scripture: “The Lord punishes whomever he loves; and he beats every son whom he receives” (Heb. 12:6). Likewise, the prophet Jeremiah prays and depicts these two punishments: “Punish us, O Lord, but in truth, not in Your anger, so as not to belittle us. Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not know You,” and so on (Jer. 10:24–25). Read the other following verses of the same psalm and note what tightness and fear there was in the heart of the Psalmist. And when you feel such tightness and fear in your conscience, pray in the same way as he prayed, prayed relentlessly, and knock on the doors of God’s mercy, so that you too may be worthy to feel in your heart His mercy towards yourself, as he felt and joyfully sang: “Depart from me, all you who commit iniquity, for the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping, the Lord has heard my prayer, the Lord has accepted my prayer” (Ps. 6:9–10, etc.). And although you will feel such embarrassment for a long time, do not give up on the hope of God’s mercy. But as the Lord teaches: ask, seek and knock, “for everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7–8). The longer the confusion continues, the more benefit it will bring to your soul, as you see in the second point. And when this bad weather passes, then clear consolation will shine in your heart. Just stand, be strong, and wait without doubt, and pray that God Himself will preserve you in this feat. “Be patient with the Lord, be of good courage, and let your heart be strong, and be patient with the Lord” (Ps. 27:14). “For He who promised is faithful, and He who is to come will come and will not tarry” (Heb. 10:23, 37), but wants to see our patience and struggle: “You need patience, so that, having fulfilled the will of God, you may receive what was promised” (Heb. 10:36), - which is what I wish for both myself and you. Save yourself. Here is another prayer for you from Saint David: “Lord my God, I have trusted in You, save me from all my persecutors, and deliver me; lest he, like a lion, snatch away my soul, when there is no deliverer and savior,” and so on (Ps. 7:2-3). What are we learning here? 1) We see that Saint David had many enemies and persecutors, as we read about this in his other psalms. 2) He did not trust in anything else, but only in God alone: ​​“I trusted in You,” and to Him alone I resorted in troubles and misfortunes, and from Him I asked for salvation and deliverance alone, and with His help I was saved. 3) We learn what is characteristic of heartfelt faith, that is, to call God our God from the heart. So David says: “Lord my God,” although God is the God of all the faithful. 4) We see that both eternal and temporary salvation and deliverance do not exist without God. “Let him not,” he says, “like a lion, snatch away my soul, when there is no deliverer and savior.” Our adversary the devil “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). His evil servants do the same and, like hunting dogs, they chase and want to catch the faithful soul and destroy it. Who can escape from their wiles? No one saves unless God, for “salvation comes from the Lord” (Ps. 3:9). 5) We also learn, following the example of Saint David, to rely neither on strength, nor on honor, nor on wisdom, nor on wealth, nor on anything else, but only on one God and to Him alone in grief, sadness and all kinds of misfortunes to resort, to ask for help and protection, for only He alone can deliver us and save us, since everything obeys His almighty power and command. 6) From the example of David we learn that holy and pious people experience many persecutions and tribulations in the world: “many tribulations for the righteous” (Ps. 33:20), and “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12). For the godly are not of the world, as the Lord says to them: “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19). Therefore he also says: “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). 7) It is impossible to trust both in God the Creator and in creation, that is, in man, wealth, strength, wisdom, etc., but one must certainly hold on to one or the other. Therefore, he lies to God who says: “O Lord my God, I have trusted in You,” but trusts in the creature, and not in God, and in adversity resorts not to God, but to the creature. God does not look at words, but at the heart, what the heart holds with hope and what it inclines and cleaves to, whether to God or something else besides God. And hope is known by works, just like faith, and not by words. Consider who you place your trust in. Faith, hope, trust and patience are known not in prosperity, but in adversity. Misfortune shows what a person trusts in, whether in God or in something other than God. To whom and to whom does someone in misfortune resort and ask for help, that is what he hopes for. Misfortune is like an emetic medicine that vomits out from the stomach what is hidden in it. Thus, misfortune shows what lies in the heart - whether it is trust in God or something else. Thus, through misfortune, the depth of the human heart is revealed, and a person comes to know his own heart, but without this he cannot know, for the heart of man is deep. 8) He who does not obey Him and does not keep His commandments incorrectly calls God his God: “Whoever says, ‘I know Him,’ but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4). Therefore, he who calls God his God and says: “Lord my God,” must also show diligent obedience to Him, so that the Lord does not reprove him, saying: “Why do you call Me: Lord! God! - and do not do what I say” (Luke 6:46)? “Let everyone who confesses the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness” (2 Tim. 2:19). 9) It is worthy of memory that the holy David sings further in the same 7th Psalm: “My help comes from God, who saves the upright in heart” (Ps. 7:11). Notice who God gives His help to and whom He saves? Those who are right at heart. Who is right at heart? Answer: those who have sincerely converted, and believe in Him, and walk in newness of life, follow His will, and please Him with all their hearts—to such God gives His help, and saves such. Let us also follow the will of God, and not our own, in order to please Him, and then He will save us. Save yourself. “The Lord looked from heaven and saw all the sons of men; from His adorned dwelling He looked at all those living on earth, He who created the heart of each of them, and delves into all their deeds” (Ps. 32:13-15). Look and see, Christians. 1) God looks at all of us and sees what we do and think, and hears what we say and what we talk about with each other. 2) And he writes down every deed, word and thought, good and evil, in His book, and on the last day, when judgment comes, He will reward everyone according to their deeds. 3) Beware of doing evil deeds, and thinking about evil, and uttering idle, nasty, blasphemous, ridiculous, condemnatory and slanderous words and speeches. He Himself says to the sinner: “I will reprove you, and bring your sins before your face” (Ps. 49:21). Blessed is he who has understood this, and hid it in his heart, and remembers it. Look, Christian, our God is a consuming fire. 2. Prayer is a conversation with God. 3. Holy Communion. 4. The Word of God is the word of the mouth of God. 5. God tells you: do this and that, and He promises good things. 6. You have been redeemed by the Blood of Christ, the Son of God: therefore you do not belong to yourself, but to Him. 7. Our fellowship is with the Father and His Son. 8. Christians are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. 9 . Christians are spiritual members of Christ. 10. Christ is the vine, and they are the branches. 11. Christ is the shepherd, and they are the sheep. 12. Christ is the groom, and the Christian soul is the betrothed bride. 13. Christ came into the world for the soul. 14. Christ loved me disinterestedly, and I must disinterestedly (sincerely) love him. 15. Christ united human nature with Himself: “The Word became flesh” (John 1:14). God became man, the Son of God the Son of the Virgin. Great is this mystery. 16. Christ says: “You are my friends,” and so on. To whom? Indecent to his slaves. Oh, the goodness of Your love for mankind, Lord! Glory to You for everything! 17. A much-poor life in the world, death, the judgment of Christ, hell, and the kingdom of heaven. My soul, take note of this and reason. Take careful note, reader. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” says the Lord (Matthew 6:21). 1. He who desires what seeks it. 2. He who loves something puts his heart into it, thinks about it, thinks about it, and does not let it out of his memory. 3. He who truly and sincerely turns to God turns away from the world and all creatures. 4. Whoever loves God sincerely and truly turns away from the love of this world, that is, honor, glory, wealth, sensuality and pleasures. 5. He who loves God often thinks about Him, reasons about Him, tries to please Him, is afraid to offend Him, and, leaving all creation behind him, he seeks Him alone, as his eternal treasure, and with the Psalmist says to God from the heart: “What is there for me in heaven, and without You what should I desire on earth? My heart and my flesh faint (without You), O God of my heart and my portion, O God, forever” (Ps. 72:25–27). That is: I desire nothing in heaven or on earth except You, God! You alone are my desire, joy, consolation and the end of all efforts and labors. I seek You alone and, besides You, nothing that is in heaven or on earth. In You alone are all my pleasure and all my bliss, both temporary and eternal, I believe. 6. He who turns to sin and the world turns away from God. 7. He who sins and loves the world, that is, honor, glory, riches and the pleasures of this world, does not love God (1 John 4:4-6). 8. He who turns to temporary things forgets about eternity. 9 . He who often talks about eternity forgets about temporary things, even if he gave him all the wealth, and all the power, and all the joys of this world, he despises everything. 10. There is no greater and better means of turning away from this world than the everlasting memory of eternity, that is, of torment and eternal bliss. 11. The world and everything worldly passes away. Eternity follows, unchangeable and endless. 12. Through death, everyone, like a gate, enters eternity, either blissful or painful. 13. Temporary pleasure, but eternal torment. 14. Suffering, patience and heroism are temporary, but consolation, joy and reign are eternal. 15. Whoever wants to enter blissful eternity must always be the same as he wants to be at death. 16. Remember, man, always eternity, and you will not wish for anything in the world, and you will willingly endure everything nasty that happens to you. Remember us, Eternal God, and turn our hearts to You, and our minds to eternity. Amen. From what is the love and fear of God born, with the help of God? 1. In order to love God, we must reflect on His goodness, that is, that He created us, and when we fell, through Christ He raised us up, that He feeds us unworthy and provides us with other benefits, as our generous Father and our highest Benefactor. It is His goodness that we did not perish by sinning, and by repenting we hope to receive eternal bliss in Christ Jesus. Every sinner is not only unworthy of eternal life and eternal blessings, but also of temporary life and temporary blessings. God grants temporary blessings to those who are unworthy, and He gives eternal life to those who are unworthy, but to those who truly repent in Christ Jesus. Think about it. 2. In order to have the fear of God, you need to talk about His omnipotence and omnipresence, that is: that He holds the whole world in His omnipotent hand and contains you and everyone together, and sees your every deed and thought, and hears your word. Think about it. 3. Fear of God and love are great gifts that come from God. Therefore, we must pray about it earnestly. 4. Fear and love for God together constitute true piety, and its foundation is true and living faith, living in the human heart. The path is narrow and spacious 1. On the close: the cross, suffering, patience, abstinence, denial of oneself and one’s will, and following the will of God. And this path is protected by a sign of God. At length: contempt and rejection of God's law, free and reckless life, pride, love of glory, ambition, revenge, lust, the gaiety of this world, banquets, feasts, etc. 2. Christ Himself walked the narrow path, and His faithful follow Him, and will follow Him with love, patience, meekness and humility, but on the long path is the prince of darkness, along it walk those who serve this world and follow Him. 3. Few walk the narrow path, since sorrows surround him and few want to endure sorrow, but many walk the long path, since everyone loves the gaiety and joy of this world. 4. The narrow path, although sorrowful, leads to eternal joy. The long path is cheerful, but it leads to eternal sorrow and torment. Our Lord shows these paths and the end of both: “Enter at the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many go in through it; for strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few find it” (Matthew 7:13–14). 5. The narrow path is at first scary and regrettable to a person, but then it is pleasant, peaceful, calm and cheerful, for “the yoke of Christ is good, and the burden that is carried on the narrow path is light” (Matthew 11:29). The long path is at first pleasant and cheerful, but always vile, vile, and then terrible. For on him the yoke is hard to bear, the yoke of the devil and vile slavery to passions and sin are heavily oppressed. 6. Choose, man, whichever path you want. There is no benefit in reading a book and not doing what the book teaches. Therefore, the reader of every book should do the following: 1. One must read first of all the Holy Scriptures, and then other Christian Orthodox books. Do not read a lot of sheets and pages, because it is impossible for someone who has read a lot to understand everything and retain it in memory. 2. It is not enough to read and talk a lot about what you have read. For in this way, what is read is better understood and deepened in memory, and thus the mind is enlightened, and greater encouragement and desire for the next reading is kindled. 3. See if what you read about in the book is clear or unclear. If you understand what you are reading, good; and if you don’t understand, skip and read on. What is unclear will either become clear from what follows, or when you read it next time, with God’s help, you will understand. 4. Whatever the book teaches you to avoid, try to avoid. What he teaches you to seek and do, try to fulfill it yourself. Avoid evil and do good. Every Christian book teaches this. 5. If you only sharpen your mind from books, but do not correct your will, then from reading a book you will become even more evil than before, since the most evil are learned and intelligent fools, rather than simple ignoramuses. 6. Remember that it is better to love like a Christian than to think highly. It is better to live beautifully than to say beautifully: “Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies” (1 Cor. 8:1). 7. What you yourself learn with God’s help, teach others on occasion with love, so that the seed sown grows and produces fruit worthy of the kingdom of heaven—which is what I sincerely wish for you. The beginning of this reflection is not preserved in the original. You might be interested in: