Изъяснение псалма 33-го.

Ps.33:1. Psalm of David, when he feigned madness before Abimelech and was driven away from him and withdrew. “Psalm to David, ever change your face before Abimelech, and let him go, and go away.” The divine David, seeing the malice and unkind intentions of Saul, and listening to the wonderful adviser Jonathan, escaped and arrived in the city of Nob. There, having met with the priest Abimelech, he hid his flight and said that he had been sent by the king for one important need; then, having asked for bread, he did not find any other than those set aside for the priests, and he took it when the priest gave it, contrary to the law; because such food was reserved for the priests alone. However, this prefigures the sacraments of grace, and the door of God’s generosity was previously opened; because not only the priests are given divine food, but everyone who wishes is offered the communion of the Divine Gifts. At that time, the great David also took the sword of Goliath, which, after this single combat, he brought as a gift to God as the best booty. The Prophet called Abiathar Abimelech, as he had two names. So, since David, having fled, did not reveal this flight to the priest, but said that he was fulfilling one royal need, it is said that he “changed his face” as if he did not act according to his usual truth. Some writers gave this psalm a different content. They said that David changed his face when he came to Achish, and then, fearing the malicious intent of the foreigners, pretended to be frantic, and in this way saved himself. But in the sayings of the psalm there is no agreement with this content; These are appropriate to what we have said, as, with the help of God, this will now be shown. Ps.33:2. I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise is continually in my mouth. “I will bless the Lord at all times; I will put His praise in my mouth.” And while fleeing, says the Prophet, and pursuing enemies, both in prosperity and in misfortune, I will sing songs to my Lord. Ps.33:3. In the Lord my soul will glory; The meek will hear and rejoice. Ps.33:4. Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. “My soul will glory in the Lord.” He has already made me famous, and He will make me famous again. “Let the meek ones hear and rejoice.” “Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.” He is not content to compose a song alone, but makes those who are accomplices in meekness also accomplices in song. Then he shows the reason for thanksgiving. Ps.33:5. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my dangers. “I sought the Lord, and heard me and delivered me from all my sorrows.” I prayed to the Lord, says the Prophet; and overcame all adversities. Ps.33:6. Those who turned their gaze to Him were enlightened, and their faces would not be ashamed. “Come to Him and be enlightened, and your faces will not be ashamed.” For whoever approaches Him with faith receives the rays of intelligent light. So the great Moses became famous for his visible face. David has already said this above: “The light of Your countenance, O Lord, is upon us” (Ps. 4:7). Thus, having made an appeal to his peers, he offers himself as a model to them. Ps.33:7. This beggar cried out, and the Lord heard and saved him from all his troubles. “This beggar cried out, and the Lord heard and saved him from all his sorrows.” From what happened to me, says the Prophet, learn to place your trust in the God of all; because he made me, an insignificant person and a shepherd of sheep, worthy of His providence, and made me overcome my enemies. Ps.33:8. The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and delivers them. “The Angel of the Lord will encamp around those who fear Him and will deliver them.” The words of the Apostle also agree with this, because he says this about the Angels: “Are not all souls of service sent into service for those who want to inherit salvation” (Heb. 1:14)? So blessed Jacob, praying, said: “An angel like him delivers me from all evils” (Gen. 48:16). So the patriarch Abraham said to the wonderful servant: “The Lord God will send His angel before you, and take a wife for my son Isaac from there” (Gen. 24:7). So blessed Zechariah says: “An angel speak in me” (Zechariah 1:9). Ps.33:9. Taste and see how good the Lord is! Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! “Taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man who trusts in Him.” Having said: “come to Him and be enlightened,” he also convinces: “taste,” that is, by experience, recognize the Master’s goodness, because the fruit of this will be bliss for you. But you should know that the meaning we have said is suitable for the ancient Jews; the thought hidden in the depths of the letter makes it clear the grace of the Divine Mysteries, because through all-holy baptism true enlightenment is given to those who approach, and the eating of life-giving food clearly shows the goodness of the Savior. For what so clearly proves His love for mankind? isn't it a cross? isn't it suffering? Isn’t death perceived for us? Is it not that He became both food and source for His sheep? Ps.33:10. Fear the Lord, [all] His saints, for there is no poverty among those who fear Him. Ps.33:11. The Skimns are in poverty and suffer hunger, but those who seek the Lord do not suffer the need for any good. “Fear the Lord, all your saints, for those who fear Him will have no hardship.” “Those who seek the Lord will not be deprived of any good.” And this is in accordance with what was said above. For those who have already received sanctification through baptism are advised to dissolve love with fear, and to expect an abundance of blessings from God alone, because wealth is subject to many vicissitudes, and today the rich man falls into poverty after a few years. And the Jews, who in ancient times were richest in God’s care for them, became poor. And the pagans who believed received an abundance of blessings from God. Ps.33:12. Come, children, listen to me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Ps.33:13. Does a person want to live and does he love long life in order to see good? “Come, children, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” “Who is a man who loves his life and sees good things?” And as some kind of worthy reward, offering a sad and rewarding life, it excites one to exploits. Ps.33:14. Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful words. Ps.33:15. Avoid evil and do good; seek peace and follow it. “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from uttering flattery.” “Turn away from evil and do good: seek peace and get married.” First he instills disgust for vice, and then commands him to undergo various types of virtue; and firstly, it prescribes to cleanse the tongue from all flattery and deceit, like a prosperous member; He also adds the mouth to the tongue, because they also contribute to its movements. Secondly, it prohibits vicious acts; for he says: “Turn away from evil.” Then he legitimizes good activity, for he says: “do good.” What is the main thing in good deeds? “Seek peace and get married”, because a peaceful person, loving peace with everyone, does not steal what is secretly belonging to his neighbor, does not dare to commit murder, does not plot to violate marital fidelity, does not say bad things, and does not do bad things, does good, provides for a living, shares with others, protects others, suffers with them in poverty, strives together. This is unfeigned love and sincere friendship. After this, the Prophet again shows the fruit of all this. Ps.33:16. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are on their cry. “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are upon their prayer.” Those who do this, says the Prophet, are under the vigilant supervision of the Lord God, and asking for benefits, they receive what they ask for. Then, out of spite, he confirms what was said. Ps.33:17. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to destroy the memory of them from the earth. “The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to consume their memory from the earth.” God also sees, says the Prophet, those who dare to do the opposite of this, and pronounces on them the sentence of final destruction. Ps.33:18. [The righteous] cry, and the Lord hears, and delivers them from all their sorrows. “The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them and delivered them from all their sorrows.” Ps.33:19. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and will save the humble in spirit. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and He will save the humble in spirit.” With the righteous, says the Prophet, the Lord Himself dwells, and accepts their prayers with favor, especially caring for those who are led by modest thoughts about themselves. For he called them brokenhearted. He says this in another psalm: “God will not despise a contrite and humble heart” (Ps. 50:19). Ps.33:20. The righteous has many sorrows, and the Lord will deliver him from all of them. Ps.33:21. He keeps all his bones; not one of them will be crushed. “Many are the sorrows of the righteous, and the Lord will deliver me from them all.” “The Lord guards all their bones, not one of them will be broken.” Although He allows them to enter into a struggle with sorrows, He Himself helps and shows them to overcome the adversities they encounter, strengthening and making their thoughts firm. For the Prophet called thoughts bones. Just as the rest of the body rests on the bones, which are hard, so the soul acquires salvation for itself through its thoughts. Ps.33:22. Evil will kill the sinner, and those who hate the righteous will perish. Ps.33:23. The Lord will deliver the soul of His servants, and none of those who trust in Him will perish. “The death of sinners is cruel, and those who hate the righteous will sin.” “The Lord will redeem the souls of His servant, and all who trust in Him will not sin.” Therefore, just as lovers of virtue will enjoy so many blessings, so those who live viciously will accept a death consistent with life; and the bad life will come to a cruel end. But those who have chosen to serve God for themselves and have gained trust in Him will receive the salvation given to them, as they resolutely did not want to sin against the laws established by God. You might be interested in: