Изъяснение псалма 88-го.

Ps.89:1. Teachings of Etham Ezrahite. "The Mind of Atham the Israelite." Blessed David, seeing that churches were built in honor of falsely named gods, and that no honor was given to the only ark of God, vowed to create a divine church. God, having accepted this firm intention of his, rewards for this wonderful vow, and gives a promise from his loins to prepare for himself a verbal Church, and through Him to bring about the salvation of all people, and to grant him an endless kingdom. These promises were spoken to David through the Prophet Nathan, and this is clearly shown to us by the history of the book of Chronicles. And in the second book of Kings, Nathan said to David: “And the Lord will tell you that you have built a house for Him” (2 Sam. 7:11). The history of Acts also mentions this, for blessed Peter, turning his speech to the Jews, said this, in addition to many other things: David “The prophet of God is so holy and knowledgeable, for God swore to him by an oath from the fruit of his loins to raise up Christ according to the flesh, and to set Him on his throne, foreseeing the verb about the resurrection of Christ, so that He would not remain.” His soul is in hell, neither is His flesh in the form of corruption” (Acts 2:30–31). God gave these promises to the patriarch Abraham, for he said to him: “through your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed” (Gen. 22:18). The divine Paul, interpreting this, said this: “And He made His vows to Abraham, and to his seed: He did not say to the seed, as many, but as one, and to your seed, who is Christ” (Gal. 3:16). The descendants of the Patriarchs, delving into these promises, and seeing that they themselves have become captives, forced to live in a foreign country, and the royal city is deserted, and the kingdom has faded away, they remind God of all things about His promises, and put on Wednesday, then the patriarch Abraham, then his son and grandson, reminding God of the covenants, and sometimes blessed David and the promises that were made to him. So the blessed martyrs Ananias, Azariah, and Misail, praying to God in the cave, brought Abraham, Isaac and Israel to memory. Therefore, prophetic grace wrote this psalm for their benefit, teaching how they should appease God and acquire His love for mankind. That is why it is said in the inscription: “reason,” because those who are admonished primarily have a need for it, so as not to tell them something indecent to complain, but to expect divine mercy. And Etham was one of those who were entrusted with the role of those who sing in the church and sing hymns to God. Ps.88:2. [Thy mercies], O Lord, I will sing forever, to generation and generation I will proclaim Thy truth with my mouth. “I will sing of Your mercies, O Lord, forever; I will proclaim Your truth with my mouth to generation and generation.” Asking for God's mercy, they sing songs of mercy, and wanting to see the truth of the promises given to David, they promise to teach every generation. Ps.88:3. For I say: mercy is established forever; You established Your truth in heaven when You spoke. “Thou hast declared before, mercy shall be built up for ever: Thy truth shall be prepared in heaven.” This is the word of God spoken to David, which will preserve the mercy of the seed forever, therefore those who pray are reminded of this promise. You, they say, said that you will increase, and not decrease, mercy. For the word: “will be created” is used instead of: “will increase.” Symmachus translated: “it will be established,” that is, You promised to confirm the truth of words with deeds. Ps.88:4. “I have made a covenant with My chosen, I swore to My servant David. Ps.88:5. I will establish your seed forever, I will establish your throne for generations and generations.” “I have made a covenant with my chosen ones, I have sworn an oath to David my servant”: “I will prepare Your seed forever, and will build Your throne for generations and generations.” And these words are placed in connection with the word: “thou hast spoken”: that is, you have made these covenants with the elect. And the Prophet calls Abraham, Isaac and Israel the chosen ones. Besides them, it is said, You also swore to David that you would preserve his seed unperishing, and that his throne would prosper in every generation. Thus, having presented the promises of God and not seeing their fulfillment in practice, even disasters do not force those praying to say anything indecent, but with hymns they honor the Ruler of all. Ps.88:6. And the heavens will glorify Your wonderful works, O Lord, and Your truth in the assembly of the saints. “The heavens will confess Your wonders, O Lord, for Your truth is in the Church of the Saints.” Theodotion translated: “and Thy faith in the Church of the Saints.” You should be praised by everyone, especially those living in heaven, who see Your wonders in more detail and know the firmness of your promises. Blessed Paul also mentions this heavenly Church, saying: “Come near to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem: and to the church of the firstborn in heaven which are written” (Heb. 12:22–23). Ps.88:7. For who in heaven can compare with the Lord? Who among the sons of God will be like the Lord? “Who in the clouds can be equal to the Lord? become like the Lord in the sons of God? Symmachus translated this: “who in the Ether will be opposed to the Lord, who will be compared with the Lord in the sons of God?” And the Prophet calls the gods the sons of God, just as the sons of men call men. And he calls them gods not as actual gods, but as revered gods by the infidels. Therefore he says: You are superior to those in heaven, You are incomparably higher than everyone, and not a single creature can compare with You (this exposes the deceit of those idolized by people); Your power is constant and indestructible. He expresses himself similarly in another place, saying: “and our Lord is god over all” (Ps. 134:5). The prophets make this comparison not out of ignorance of the excessiveness of the difference, but by offering a teaching commensurate with the weakness of the unbelievers. Ps.88:8. God is terrible in the great host of saints, He is terrible for everyone around Him. “God is glorified in the council of the Saints, great and terrible above all those around Him.” Since he mentioned invalid gods, but the wicked did not know the truly existing God, then by the way he spoke about the Saints, by whom the true God is praised, and for whom He is terrible, because they approach Him and know His ineffable power. The Council of Saints here called the host of Saints. Ps.88:9. Lord, God of strength! Who is strong like You, O Lord? And Your truth surrounds You. “Lord God of hosts, who is like You? Thou art strong, O Lord, and Thy truth is all around Thee." Often those praying mention the truth, wanting to see the truth of the promises, and say to God: which of the creatures can compare with You, Master? You are the Lord and God of hosts. Your power fully corresponds to Your will, everything with You is true and firm. Then the Prophet lays out the signs of strength. Ps.88:10. You have dominion over the fury of the sea: when its waves rise, You subdue them. Ps.88:11. Thou hast cast down Rahab as one that was slain; With Your mighty arm I have scattered Your enemies. “You rule over the power of the sea; you calm the disturbance of its waves.” “Thou hast humbled the proud like a plague; with the arm of Thy strength Thou hast squandered Thy enemies.” That is, You are the Creator and Ruler of all, It is not difficult for You to agitate the sea and create silence. Having mentioned the sea, he also mentions what was in the sea. For he calls Pharaoh proud and his enemies are the Egyptians, whom he delivered to the sea, but was saved by his people. But the death of the teachers of pride is also predicted: for the Lord, with the evil army, crushes them in holy baptism. Ps.88:12. Your heavens and Your earth; You founded the universe and what fills it. “Your are the heavens, and Yours is the earth: You founded the universe and its fulfillment.” You are the Creator and Creator not only of the sea and the whole earth, but also of the highest heavens, for Your work is not only the visible, but also the highest heaven. Ps.88:13. You created the north and the south; Tabor and Hermon rejoice in Your name. “You created the north and the sea.” Theodotion translated it like this: “You created the north and south”; that is, both the winds and the very countries of the universe are Your creations. The Prophet did not just mention these two countries: but since the Egyptians live to the south of Jerusalem, and the Assyrians to the north, having crushed the insolence of the Egyptians and granted them freedom, it is not difficult for You, says the Prophet, to crush the Assyrians as well as the Egyptians. “Tavor and Hermon will rejoice in Your name.” By this the Prophet meant the entire land of promise, because these are the mountains of the promised land. Instead of: “will rejoice,” Aquila translated: “they will praise,” and Symmachus: “they will bless”: the Prophet understood that it would not be the mountains that would do this, but the people living on the mountains, or near them. Ps.88:14. Strong is Your arm, strong is Your hand, exalted is Your right hand! “Your muscle with dominion” 24. It is your nature to act powerfully in everything; for the word: “muscle” the Prophet used instead of: “action”, and the word “dominion” instead of: “strength”: for Aquila, instead of: “with dominion,” said: “with power.” “Let Thy hand be strengthened, and Thy right hand be exalted.” And Symmachus translated this: “Thy hand is invincible, Thy right hand is exalted.” We have said many times that with the word “hand” the Prophet means action, and with the word “right” - good action. Therefore, those praying, having a need for special action, mentioned both, because they both desire to see their enemies overthrown, and they themselves want to improve their salvation. That is why they call the hand invincible, and the right hand high, as being able to punish those and free them. This is also shown in the added words. Ps.89:15. Justice and righteousness are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth come before You. “Righteousness and judgment are the preparation of Thy throne: mercy and truth shall come before Thy face.” Begging God to judge the Babylonians, they ask to pronounce a truthful verdict on the latter, and to send them mercy and prove the truth of the promise. That is why they said that the throne from which he judges is adorned with righteousness and judgment, and that mercy and truth precede God, because the promise was given many generations ago. Ps.88:16. Blessed are the people who know the trumpet call! They walk in the light of Your face, O Lord, Ps.88:17. They rejoice in Your name all day long and are exalted in Your righteousness. “Blessed are the people who lead the cry.” Exclamation, as we have said many times, is the cry of those who have won. since they, having been defeated, were taken into slavery, they please the winners. The prophetic word foretells that the people throughout the land and sea will offer up a mysterious cry to God and sing a song of victory. The following words agree with this meaning of the speech. “Lord, in the light of Your face they will walk”: “And in Your name they will rejoice all the day, and in Your righteousness they will be exalted.” With an exclamation they will proclaim victory over their enemies, and will lift up a victorious song to You, the Victorious One, illuminated by Your coming, receiving light from You, constantly tasting joy, succeeding in the righteousness laid down by the law, and through this becoming high and glorious. Ps.88:18. For You are the adornment of their strength, and by Your favor our horn is exalted. “For You are the praise of their strength.” They will be magnified in Your strength, because they received it from You. “And in Thy righteousness our horn shall be exalted.” But we also have this hope and expect Your help, because with it we will become conquerors of our enemies. And the Prophet called a fortress and a power a horn, borrowing a figure of speech from horned animals, which are armed with horns and use them to protect themselves from attackers. Ps.88:19. From the Lord is our shield, and from the Holy One of Israel is our king. “For the intercession of the Lord is the intercession of our holy King of Israel.” We feed on this hope, having You as king, living under Your providence. Ps.88:20. Once You spoke in a vision to Your saint, and said: “I helped the courageous, I lifted up the chosen one from the people. “Then You spoke in the vision of Your son.” Symmachus translated it as follows: “Then You spoke in a vision to Your sons.” For we know Your promises, given through the Prophets, and they were called seers and seers. “And you said: I have placed help on the mighty, I have lifted up the chosen one from My people:” Ps.89:21. I found David My servant and anointed him with My holy oil. “I found My servant David, and anointed him with My holy oil.” You, says the Prophet, testified about Your servant David, and having found that he was strong in his progress in virtue, You made him worthy of Your help, and chose him, and anointed him, and made him king. Ps.89:22. My hand will be with him, and My arm will strengthen him. “For My hand will protect him, and My arm will strengthen him.” You said that you will give him strength and make him a participant in your care for him. Ps.89:23. The enemy will not prevail against him, and the son of iniquity will not oppress him. “The enemy will not have time to attack him, and the son of iniquity will not try to embitter him.” You promised that You would make the machinations of his enemies vain, and You would give him victory over those who tried to harm him. Ps.89:24. I will crush his enemies before him and smite those who hate him. Ps.89:25. And My truth and My mercy will be with him, and his horn will be exalted in My name. “And I will cut off his enemies from before him, and I will overcome those who hate him.” “And My truth and My mercy are with him, and his horn will be exalted in My name.” You gave a promise to overthrow all his enemies, to constantly show him Your love for mankind, and to make him glorious and famous. Ps.89:26. And I will lay his hand on the sea, and his right hand on the rivers. “And I will lay his hand on the seas, and his right hand on the rivers.” I will give him dominion over sea and land; for by the word “rivers” the Prophet meant dry land. Ps.89:27. He will call Me: You are my father, my God and the rock of my salvation. Ps.88:28. And I will make him the firstborn, above the kings of the earth. “He will call upon Me: Thou art my Father, my God and the intercessor of my salvation”: “And I will make him the firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.” All this was not fulfilled either under David or under the glorious Solomon, because neither Solomon nor David prevailed over the sea, and was not called the firstborn of God, and did not accept power over all the kings; and this is how Aquila translated: “highest above the kings of the earth,” and Symmachus: “highest of the kings of the earth.” If these sayings do not befit either David or Solomon, and the promise of God is not false, then the Jews are blind when they do not want to worship Him who is of David according to the flesh, Who has power over earth and sea, and above all kings, so that some worship Him voluntarily, while others, daring to contradict, are convicted by Him of weakness, and, having used thousands of means, are not able to overcome the laws He laid down. Blessed Paul also calls Him the firstborn: “as if he were the firstborn of many brethren” (Rom. 8:29); and: “firstborn from the dead” ( Col. 1:18 ); and: “the firstborn of all creation” (Col. 1:15). And the Master himself, after his resurrection, said to Mary: “Go to my brethren and brothers: I will ascend to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God” (John 20:17). For just as He is the only begotten, since He is God: because one is begotten of the Father; the firstborn, insofar as man is, because, insofar as man, has brethren who believed: so he calls God his Father, insofar as God, and calls him his God, insofar as man. Therefore the prophecy was fulfilled in Him; what is added testifies to this. Ps.88:29. I will preserve My mercy for him forever, and My covenant with him will be faithful. Ps.88:30. And I will continue his seed forever, and his throne as the days of heaven. “I will keep My mercy for him forever, and My covenant is faithful to him”: “And I will set his seed for the age of ages, and his throne as the days of heaven.” Therefore let the Jews show that the throne of David continues to this day, which God promised to preserve forever; let his seed be shown, adorned with royal power. If, however, they are unable to demonstrate either one or the other, despite all their extreme shamelessness, then one of two things remains, either to call the promise of God false, or, recognizing the promise as true, to admit the testimony of the works themselves, because Christ, who is from David in the flesh, “is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty on high: being better than the angels, much more glorious than their inheritance is the name. To whom did the angel say: You are My Son, I gave birth to You today? (Heb. 1:3–5). Blessed David said about him: “Sit at My right hand; I will make Your enemies Your footstool” (Ps. 109:1). Therefore in the Lord Christ the seed of David abides forever, and his throne continues. Thus also blessed Isaiah prophesied, for having said: “A Son was born to us, and His rulership was given to us on His side: and His name is called: Great of counsel, Angel, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Ruler, Prince of Peace, Father of the age to come,” after a few words he added: “On the throne of David and on his kingdom, correct it from now on.” and forever” (Isa. 9:6–7). Thus the prophetic word, having foreshadowed this about the Lord Christ, is expressed about the kings who were before His coming. Ps.89:31. If his sons forsake My law and do not walk in My commandments. Ps.88:32. If they break My statutes and do not keep My commandments. Ps.89:33. I will visit their iniquity with a rod, and their iniquity with blows. Ps.88:34. But I will not take My mercy away from him, and I will not change My truth. “If his sons forsake My law, and do not walk in My judgments”: “If they defile My excuses and do not keep My commandments”: “I will visit them with the rod of iniquity, and with the wounds of their unrighteousness”: “But I will not destroy My mercy from it, nor will I destroy it in My truth.” If, says God, those leading the line from David commit thousands of iniquities, then I will subject them to punishment, but I will keep the promise given to David firm; “But I will not destroy My mercy” from him, that is, from David, “and I will not destroy My truth.” Instead of: “I will not harm,” Symmachus translated: “I will not transgress,” and Aquila: “I will not lie.” Ps.89:35. I will not break My covenant, nor change what has gone out of My mouth. “I will profane My covenant, and those who proceed from My mouth will not forsake me.” I will not lie about My promises, I will not break My covenants, but I will prove the truth of My promises. Ps.89:36. Once I swore by My holiness: Will I lie to David? “I have sworn one oath on My Holy One, lest I lie to David?” Having made the promise given to him firm, I will bring it to fulfillment. For the word: “swearing” is used instead of: confirmed, as those who make promises usually confirm them with an oath. Ps.88:37. His seed will remain forever, and his throne is like the sun before Me. Ps.88:38. He will forever be firm as the moon, and a faithful witness in heaven.” “His seed will endure forever, and his throne is like the sun before Me.” “And as the moon is perfect forever: and the witness in heaven is faithful.” Instead of the word: “witness,” Symmachus used: “testified.” And in the seventy-first psalm, blessed David foretold about the Lord Christ: “His name abides before the sun” (Ps. 71:17); and: “he will remain with the sun, and before the moon, generations of generations” (Ps. 72:5). since the sun, by rising and setting, produces day and night, serves to measure time, then God was pleased by the sun to signify the indestructibility of the throne; and He promised that He would preserve the seed forever; He who promised and witnessed this remains in heaven, and the words spoken by Him are true and faithful. So the Jews, having spoken about the promises that were made to David, mourn the disasters that befell them. Ps.88:39. But now You have rejected and despised, You have become angry with Your anointed. Ps.88:40. You have despised the covenant with Your servant and cast his crown to the ground. “You rejected and humiliated, you were indignant at Your anointed”: “Thou hast ruined the covenant of Thy servant.” Symmachus translated this: “But You yourself rejected and condemned, being angry with Your anointed One, you cursed the covenant of Your servant.” You yourself, who promised to do this, rejected the descendants of David, made them humiliated, delivered them into slavery, crushed the kingdom of David, and broke the covenants made with Your servant. For the Prophet here calls the kingdom anointed. Two of the descendants of David, Jeconiah and Zedekiah, were taken captive; They ended David's kingdom, because Zerubbabel, who assumed power after the captivity, was a ruler of the people, not a king. “Thou hast desecrated his sanctuary on earth.” The Prophet calls the church that David intended to build, which Solomon built after David, a shrine. He says about him that he was desecrated by the invasion of the Babylonians, and became like a blooming blade of grass, because the destroyed one turned into ruins and was leveled with the ground. Ps.89:41. He destroyed all its fences and turned its fortress into ruins. “Thou hast destroyed all his strongholds.” Deprived him of all protection. “You have laid down his fear.” Having previously hoped for the fortifications of the cities, he lost this hope and was overcome with fear. Ps.89:42. All who pass by plunder it; he became a laughing stock among his neighbors. “I will plunder it in all the passing ways” - Moabites, Ammonites, Philistines, Edomites, Syrians, Assyrians, Babylonians. "Be reproached by your neighbor." It became the subject of ridicule and desecration for neighboring peoples. Ps.89:43. You have exalted the right hand of his opponents, you have made all his enemies glad. “Thou hast exalted the right hand of those who oppress him.” He made his enemies his strongest. “Thou hast made all his enemies glad.” He turned him into a laughing stock for those who disliked him. Ps.88:44. You turned back the edge of his sword and did not strengthen him in battle. “Thou didst turn away the help of his sword, and thou didst not stand up for him in battle.” Weapons became useless for him, deprived of Your care for him. Ps.89:45. He took away his shine and threw his throne to the ground. “Thou hast ruined him from his purification.” Symmachus translated it this way: “he has ceased his purity,” because, having become a captive and living far from Thy church, he cannot cleanse himself by sprinkling. “You have cast his throne to the ground.” In the end he destroyed his kingdom. Ps.89:46. He shortened the days of his youth and covered him with shame. “Thou hast diminished the days of his time.” Having made a promise to preserve the kingdom forever, he limited it to a short time. “You poured cold on him.” He endures reproach and is filled with shame. For Zedekiah, after his eyes were gored, was given to the mill for the rest of the time; and Jehoiachin himself was in slavery. Yet it is filled with shame and disgrace. So the prophetic word, having described disasters, commands us to ask and plead with tears. Ps.89:47. How long, O Lord, will you hide yourself incessantly, will your wrath burn like fire? “How long, Lord, do you turn away from the end? Will your wrath be kindled like fire?” And Symmachus translated: “How long, O Lord, will You hide yourself until the end, and Your wrath will burn like fire?” That is, how long, O Lord, will you not deign to look at our torment, will you not come and stop the disasters, and with the remembrance of our sins, will you kindle anger like fire? Ps.88:48. Remember what my age is like: for what vanity did You create all the sons of men? “Remember my composition.” You are the Creator and Maker, and you know the extent of my strength. “Did you create food in vain, all the sons of men?” You did not create men in vain or in vain, but goodness ruled the creation, because you created us according to one goodness. Therefore, do not despise those condemned to endure so many evils. Ps.88:49. Which of the people lived and did not see death, and delivered his soul from the hand of the underworld? “Who is the man who will live and not see death? will he deliver his soul from the hand of hell?” The end of every person is death, because overcoming death itself is an impossible task. Therefore, give philanthropy to the living. Then the Prophet again reminds us of the promises. Ps.88:50. Where are Your former mercies, O Lord? You swore to David by Your truth. “Where is the essence of Your ancient mercy, O Lord, in the image of which You swore to David in Your truth?” By the way, the Prophet everywhere gives evidence of the truth, urging the Promiser to confirm the promises, and begins his speech with a word about mercy, but mentions mercy again and at the end, because there was a special need for it. Ps.89:51. Remember, O Lord, the reproach of Your servants, which I bear in my bosom from all the mighty nations. “Remember, O Lord, the reproach of Your servant, who have kept many tongues in my bosom.” Symmachus translated this: “I have suffered in my bosom from very many nations”; that is, do not despise me, reviled not by one people, but by thousands. For it is not the Assyrians and Babylonians who only mock me, but also everyone who lives nearby, who have always had hostility towards me. And they not only laugh at me, but they also move their lips against You and utter blasphemous words, considering my slavery to be Your weakness. For this was made clear by the Prophet in the addendum. Ps.89:52. How Thy enemies revile, O Lord, how they dishonor the footsteps of Thy anointed. “Whom I have reproached Your enemies, O Lord, who I have reproached the change of Thy Christ.” Symmachus and Theodotion translated it as follows: “they blasphemed the footsteps of Thy Christ.” And he called the kings of that time, under whom there was a word about the kingdom of Christ, the traces of Christ. The seventy were called change, because they became His ancestors in the flesh, and, as if in some darkness, they ruled the kingdom. Therefore, for the sake of Thy Christ, of Whom they are traces and changes, stop, O Lord, our reproaches. Ps.89:53. Blessed be the Lord forever! Amen, amen. “Blessed is the Lord forever: awaken, awaken.” This is a song of good hope. For being convinced that they would receive what they asked, they offered up this song to God. And Akila makes this idea clearer by translating: “Amen, Amen.” For he said: “You are faithful and inspire faith,” that is, You are true and even very true, and therefore blessed forever: because You confirm Your promises with deeds. Μετὰ δυναστείας; according to glory translation: “with strength”. You might be interested in: