Изъяснение псалма 146-го.

"Hallelujah" Here we clearly learn the meaning of the word: “Alleluia”. For in the Hebrew text, instead of: “praise God,” it says: “Alleluia.” Symmachus left this word untranslated, and says this: Alleluia, “for a good psalm.” Theodotion: praise Ia. Therefore, this psalm commands praise. He predicts the return from Babylon, and upon return the building of Jerusalem; because Jerusalem will not yet be rebuilt again, as the Jews expect, but the restoration that already took place under Zerubbabel is foreshadowed by the prophetic word. Ps.146:1. Praise the Lord, for it is good to sing to our God, for it is sweet—appropriate praise. “Praise the Lord, for the psalm is good: Let the praise of our God be sweet.” Singing is useful, says the Prophet, and brings us benefits; but God does not please the hymn, but the intention of those singing. Having no need for anything Himself, He rejoices in the salvation of people. Ps.146:2. The Lord builds Jerusalem, gathers the exiles of Israel. “The Lord will build Jerusalem: he will gather the scatterings of Israel.” And for this, says the Prophet, we must praise Him that He will rebuild the devastated Jerusalem, and will make those who have become captives worthy to return. If not everyone returned, then it was not God’s word that turned out to be false, but their own wickedness was exposed. God commanded everyone through Cyrus to return, but those who had a stubborn disposition preferred a foreign country to their fatherland. Ps.146:3. He heals the brokenhearted and heals their sorrows; “Heal the brokenhearted, and oblige their contrition.” The Prophet added the spiritual to the physical, and showed that God will not only grant freedom to captives, but will also grant healing to those who have taken upon themselves sinful wounds. Ps.146:4. Counts the number of stars; He calls them all by their names. “Count the many stars, and name them all.” The Prophet preaches God's power in everything. In a word: “count” expressed knowledge here, and with the “names” of the stars he meant their differences, mutual position, placement and relationship to one another: the God of all, without pronouncing names, names the stars; because they are inanimate and devoid of intelligence; but people, driven by evil morals, borrowing from the fables they composed, gave names to the stars. Ps.147:5. Great is our Lord and great is His strength, and His understanding is immeasurable. “Great is our Lord, and great is His strength: and His understanding is without number.” Everything is immeasurable, greatness, strength, and praise. However, as much as possible for us, we will sing songs. Ps.147:6. The Lord exalts the humble, but the wicked he brings down to the ground. “Accept the meek Lord: humble sinners to the ground.” Symmachus translated: he who stirs up the meek. And this is characteristic of God’s providence. Some, for their modesty, are subject to malicious intent, He vouchsafes His care; and those who unjustly attack them are put to death; and makes the former glorious and famous, and consigns the memory of the latter to oblivion. So glorified is the face of the holy Apostles; So the hosts of martyrs are all-valid: but the memory of those who stood up for them is consigned to oblivion. Ps.147:7. Sing one by one the praise of the Lord; sing to our God on the harp. “Begin to confess to the Lord, sing to our God with the harp.” Therefore, knowing such goodness, and wisdom, and the power of God, begin singing, using the usual instruments for this. Ps.146:8. He covers the sky with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, and makes grass grow on the mountains [and grain for the benefit of man]. “He who clothes the heavens with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth.” Both serve as proof of both strength and goodness. As a good and philanthropic one, He provides for what is on earth: and as an omnipotent one, He lifts up the watery nature, closes the sky from view, as if arranging a kind of shelter between heaven and earth with clouds, and with what they generate, irrigating the earth. Then the Prophet shows the benefits that come from this. “To him who grows on the mountains, grass and grain serve man.” For it irrigates not only the land cultivated by people, but also mountains and desert places, delivering to the livestock the food that grows on them; He does this for the benefit of people; because he commanded the cattle to be in the service of people. Ps.146:9. He gives food to the cattle and to the raven's chicks that call to Him. “He who gives their food to the cattle: and the chick of the raven that calls upon Him.” The nature of ravens does not have the gift of speech, and does not call upon the Creator verbally; On the contrary, necessity makes forced cries like petitions. From this, I think, the Lord Christ, without mentioning other birds, pointed to the ravens and said to the disciples: “See the ravens, for they do not sow” (Luke 12:24), “they are not gathered into barns, and your heavenly Father feeds them” (Matthew 6:26). Ps.146:10. He does not look at the strength of the horse, nor does He favor the speed of human feet. Ps.146:11. The Lord delights in those who fear Him, in those who trust in His mercy. “He delights not in the strength of his bones, but rather in the baldness of men he delights”: “The Lord delights in those who fear Him, and in those who trust in His mercy.” It is not by physical strength, says the Prophet, not by the skill of riding horses, not by the speed of feet, that God is pleased, but by good deeds, which are done through fear of God. But God provides not only for those who are afraid, but also for those who fell into sins, but resorted to repentance, and were strengthened by the hope of love for mankind. For the Prophet said that God favors not only the perfect ascetics of virtue, but also those who await divine mercy. You might be interested in: