Изъяснение псалма 47-го.

Ps.47:1. Song. Psalm. Sons of Korah. "Psalm of the Song of the Sons of Korah, Second Sabbath." And this psalm also foretells the same victory and the strength of the city of God. Ps.47:2. Great is the Lord and most praised in the city of our God, on His holy mountain. “Great is the Lord and greatly praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His saints.” And we have already said before that divine Scripture very often calls not buildings, but society, “hail.” So now the Prophet says that the Lord of all revealed Himself great in what He accomplished for His city, which the height of dogmas made glorious and as if standing on a high and great mountain. For the Lord says: “a city cannot hide itself on top of a standing mountain” (Matthew 5:14). Ps.47:3. Beautiful height, the joy of the whole earth, Mount Zion; on its northern side is the city of the great King. "The noble-rooted joy of the whole earth." This city, says the Prophet, was firmly, beautifully and unshakably created by God for the joy of the whole earth, because, as the divine Apostle said, he built it “on the foundation of the Apostle and Prophet, which is the chief cornerstone of Jesus Christ Himself” (Eph. 2:20). And the Lord himself spoke to blessed Peter: “And on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Therefore, “noble-rooted” means: “unshakably founded,” so that it will remain motionless and unshakable. “Mountains of Zion, ribs of the north: the city of the great King.” And he surrounded it with mountains so that it would not suffer harm from the northern winds. For it is said: “from the face of the north evil will be kindled against all who dwell on the earth” (Jer. 1:14), and also: “I will take the north away from you” (Joel 2:20). Naming: “Zion” the divine Apostle used about the spiritual city; for he says: “Come near to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (Heb. 12:22). And others will rightly call the Apostles and Prophets, and their teachings, and, moreover, the Angels assigned to the believers, mountains that reflect the north wind and keep the city unharmed. For it is said: “The Angel of the Lord will encamp around those who fear Him and will deliver them” (Ps. 33:8). Ps.47:4. God is led in his dwellings as an intercessor. “God is in trouble 13 We know Him when He intervenes.” There is one Church on all earth and sea, which is why in prayer we say: “about the holy and one, universal and apostolic Church from the ends to the ends of the universe.” But it is also divided into cities, towns and villages, which the prophetic word called “weights”. Just as every city has within itself many separate houses, but is nevertheless called one city, so the churches are numerous and even countless, both on islands and on solid land, but all together, united by the agreement of true dogmas, they constitute one Church - and in them, said the Prophet, the God of all appears, giving His help. “God knows Him in difficult times, when He intervenes.” Then he predicts future uprisings against the Church and the conversion of enemies. Ps.47:5. For behold, the kings came together and all passed by. Ps.47:6. They saw and were amazed, embarrassed and fled. “Like behold, the kings of the earth have gathered together and descended together.” “When she saw the taco, she was surprised.” They gathered as if preparing for battle, but when they saw the invincibility of the Church they were fighting, they were amazed. “Shaking,” it is said, “moving forward.” Ps.47:7. Fear gripped them there and torment, like women in childbirth. Ps.47:8. With the east wind You destroyed the Farsi ships. “I accept the trembling there, like the disease that gives birth.” “Crush the ships of the Persians with a stormy spirit.” Seeing the indestructible foundations of the Church and recognizing the truthfulness of the prophecy, says the Prophet, they fell into fear and trembling, like those who, making their way along the ridge of the sea, are overwhelmed by the waves and await their final destruction. Therefore, having stopped fighting and attacking, they themselves preach the power of the Church they are fighting and cry out: Ps.47:9. As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it forever. “As we heard, so we saw in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God.” Not wanting to accept these predictions about the Church, we saw their truth from the events themselves. “God is the foundation and forever.” For this is His word: “On this rock I will build the Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Having thus depicted the conversion of enemies, the prophetic word then predicts in what words those who have achieved salvation will praise the Benefactor. Ps.47:10. We have meditated, O God, on Your goodness in the midst of Your church. “Let us accept, O God, Thy mercy in the midst of Thy people.” We await, says the Prophet, this help of Yours, O Lord, knowing the truthfulness of Your promises. For You Yourself said: “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Ps.47:11. As is Your name, O God, so is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness. “Because of Your name, O God, is Your praise to the ends of the earth.” False gods do not have the power corresponding to the naming, because they are not what they are called. Your name, Lord, is accompanied by deeds that preach the truth of the name. Why is it right that the whole universe rises up in song to You? Just as You are the God of all, so Your name will be praised by everyone. “Thy right hand will fulfill righteousness.” For having pronounced a truthful sentence, You scattered the enemies who rose up against us. Ps.47:12. Let Mount Zion rejoice, [and] let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of Thy judgments, [Lord]. “Let Mount Zion rejoice, and let the daughters of Judah rejoice in Thy judgments, O Lord.” The Prophet called Mount Zion those who were entrusted with the height of theology, and the daughters of the Jews - the churches in the universe, as founded by the Apostles, who descended from the Jews. The Prophet commands both those who preach and those who listen to the sermon to rejoice and rejoice for the sake of the righteous judgments of God, according to which the Lord brought about the salvation of the universe. Ps.47:13. Go around Zion and go around it, count its towers. Ps.47:14. Turn your heart to its fortifications, consider its houses, so that you can tell it to the coming generation. “Reach out Zion and embrace her, lead her into the crowd”: “Place your hearts on his strength, and divide his houses.” The Prophet again calls the assembly of the pious, that is, the Church in the universe, Zion; her pillars - those who have reached the heights of virtue and on earth imitate the life of angels, those who, like pillars, surround and protect the Church, and houses, as we said before, he calls individual Churches in cities, villages and villages, for he calls the Church both one and many. Therefore, the prophetic word, or the grace of the All-Holy Spirit, commands those who are entrusted with the saving preaching to move from place to place, to hasten everywhere, to strengthen the pillars with teaching, to strengthen other powers, and, moreover, to share the care of the churches - which we already spoke about in the forty-fifth Psalm. For this also commands here: “Divide his houses,” so that one will provide for one church, and another for another, and each will have an assigned worker who will take proper care of it. And the Prophet gives orders that this should be done not once or twice, but in every way; that’s why he added: “as if the story is different.” Ps.47:15. For this God is our God forever and ever: He will be our leader until death. “For He is our God forever and ever: He will save us forever.” For it is necessary that each generation pass on to the generation following it what we received from the generation that preceded it, and thus the saving sermon passed on to all generations, and all people knew that He is our God and Lord, the good and eternal Shepherd. Since the Prophet said: “Divide his houses,” and entrusted them with shepherding, he must let them know that there is only one good Shepherd, who laid down His soul for the sheep, who shepherds forever, who shepherds not only the sheep, but also the so-called shepherds of the sheep. “Heavily” in Greek. ἐν ταις βάρεσιν - in houses or palaces. You might be interested in: