Беседа 38 на псалом 128 94

Ps.129:1-2. Song of Degrees. They have fought with me many times since my youth, let Israel say. They have fought with me many times since my youth, but they have not prevailed over me. 95 The time and purpose of writing the psalm. - “Sinners worked on my ridge, increasing their iniquity” (Ps. 129:3). “The Lord destroyed the machinations of the enemies, which had neither root nor foundation. – The psalmist’s prayer for the shame of Zion’s enemies. This psalm is in connection with the previous one. Since the construction (of the church) was interrupted and the work was not approaching the end, the prophet, wanting to instill good hopes in the Jews so that they would not despair, by the example of the past, disposes them to boldly expect the future and teaches them to speak these words. Which? The enemies, he says, often attacking, could not overcome and did not achieve complete victory; although they took prisoners, resettled them in a foreign country and won many wars, even then they won not by their own strength, but by the sins of the Jews; Moreover, they did not remain winners to the end; They could neither completely destroy the Jewish race, nor destroy the cities, nor completely destroy the people, but being for a short time, by God’s permission, victors, they were again defeated. How were they defeated? The fact that the Jews were returning to their previous prosperity. This is what another translator expressed when he said: “but they did not prevail against me.” “On my ridge sinners have labored and increased their iniquity” (Ps. 129:3). What does it mean? They, he says, plotted, not as it happened, but with great effort and cunning, creating deceptions, attacking secretly; the expression: “on my ridge” means either cunning and deceit, or tension and great strength; those. they tried to crush my very strength. Another translator (Aquila and Theodotion) instead of: did, said: “cultivated” (ηροτρίασαν), in order to show that they turned intrigues against the righteous into occupation. “They increased their iniquity.” What is he saying? Shows that they attacked not only with force, but also with great persistence, using a lot of time, turning intrigues into occupation and continuing to act incessantly. Meanwhile, he says, they had no success, not by our strength, but by the power of God. Therefore, pointing to the One who erected the trophy and delivered the victory, he adds: “The Lord is righteous: He has cut off the necks of sinners” (Ps. 129:4). Another (Aquila and Symmachus), instead of: “neck”, says: “nets” (βρόχους), expressing plans, cunning, intrigues. He said well, not: “destroyed,” but “cut,” in order to better show that God made their plans completely useless. And indeed, when the city began to be built again, many, consumed by envy, attacked from all sides, and did this not once or twice, but repeatedly. It was the same with the Church. When it began to spread, it was constantly attacked by everyone: first kings, peoples, rulers, then insidious heretics, and great and varied wars rose against it from all sides. However, nothing overcame her; enemies are crushed, and the Church prospers. “Let all who hate Zion be put to shame and turn back!” (Ps. 129:5). Another (unknown translator, see Orig. Ex.): “let them be reflected back” (ανατραπήτωσαν). “Let them be like the grass on the housetops, which withered away before it was cut down; the reaper did not fill his hand with it, nor did he who gathers the sheaves fill his handful.” And “passers-by do not say to them: “The blessing of the Lord is upon you; we bless you in the name of the Lord” (Ps. 129:6-8). He concludes the exhortation with prayer, inspiring cheerfulness in the listener and indicating the past and with the prayer itself, and showing the unjust cause of the war; they, he says, started a war out of envy and hatred. That is why he exclaims: “Let all who hate Zion be ashamed and turn back!” . Not only let them be defeated, but also shamefully and disgracefully. Then, having said: “Let them be like grass on the roofs,” he dwells on this similarity, comparing them not just with grass, but with grass on the roofs. Although the grass on a rich field soon withers, he, wanting to more strongly express the insignificance of his opponents, compares them with the grass on the roofs, and thus shows their fragility from two sides - both by the property of the grass and the property of the place. These, he says, are the plans of the enemies - they have neither root nor foundation, but for a short time they seem to bloom, and then they are exposed and fall of their own accord. Such is the prosperity of those who live wickedly, such is the glory of worldly blessings! As soon as they appear, they immediately disappear, having neither foundation nor strength. That is why we should not cleave to them, but, imagining their transience, strive for eternal, unshakable and not subject to vicissitudes, which may we all be worthy of, by the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father, with the Holy Spirit, be glory forever and ever. Amen. The psalms in the text are translated by P. Yungerov - Editorial office of the ABC of Faith Another translator (unknown translator, see Orig. Ex.) says: “but they did not prevail against me” (αλλα). You might be interested in: