Беседа 39 на псалом 129 96

Ps.129:1. Song of Degrees. From the depths (of my heart) I cried to You, Lord: Lord, hear my voice! The high significance of fiery, heartfelt prayer sent to God, its samples and fruits. "Lord, hear my voice." Encouragement to prayer for those who are burdened with the consciousness of their sins. – The psalmist’s hope is not in his own virtues, but in divine goodness and love for mankind. - “Lord, I have trusted in You; my soul has suffered in Your word” (Ps. 129:5). We must rely on God constantly, throughout our lives. 1. What does it mean: “from the depths”? Not just with the lips, not just with the tongue - because words flow even when the thought wanders - but from the depths of the heart, with great zeal and zeal, from the very foundations of the soul. Such are the souls of the grieving: they are shaken completely, in the very heart, calling on God with great contrition; That's why they are heard. Such prayers have great power, without scattering or wavering, even if the devil attacks with great insolence. Just as a strong tree, which has taken very deep roots into the earth and clasped its bowels, resists every gust of wind, and a tree that stays on the surface shakes with a small breath of wind, is uprooted and falls to the ground, so similarly prayers, emanating from the depths of the soul and having a root in its depths, remain strong and unflagging and do not waver, even if countless thoughts and an ever-increasing horde of the devil; and prayers that come from the mouth and tongue, but do not originate from the depths of the soul, cannot even ascend to God, due to the carelessness of the one praying, because the slightest knock disturbs him and any noise distracts him from prayer - his lips make a sound, but his heart is empty and his mind is not occupied. The saints did not pray this way, but with such zeal that the whole body bowed. Blessed Elijah, preparing to pray, firstly, sought solitude; then, placing his head between his knees and igniting great ardor within himself, he thus performed prayers (1 Kings 18:42). If you want to see him standing upright in prayer, then look again at him, when he turned to heaven and prayed with such intensity that he brought down fire from above (1 Kings 18:36-38). Also, when he wanted to resurrect the widow’s son, he prostrated himself and accomplished this resurrection, not scattered and not yawning, like us, but inflamed with zealous prayer. However, why talk about Elijah and other saints? I have often seen women who prayed so deeply from the depths of their souls for an absent husband or a sick child, shed such streams of tears that they achieved the goal of the prayer. If women pray so fervently for a child and an absent husband, can a husband who prays lifelessly, with a dead soul, receive forgiveness? That is why we often go away empty after prayer. Listen to how Anna prayed from the depths of her soul, what streams of tears she shed, how she rose through prayer (1 Samuel 1:10). Whoever prays in this way, even before receiving what he asks, receives great benefits from prayer: he tames all passions, humbles anger, drives out envy, suppresses lust, weakens his love for worldly things, brings great peace to the soul, and ascends to heaven itself. Just as rain, falling on hard ground, softens it, or as fire softens iron, so such prayer, even stronger than fire and better than rain, softens and irrigates a soul hardened by passions. The soul itself is tender and receptive; but just as the water of Istra often petrifies from the cold, so our soul hardens and becomes stone from sin and carelessness. Therefore, we need great ardor to soften its hardness. This is primarily accomplished by prayer. So, when you begin to pray, then worry not only about getting what you ask for, but also about making your soul better during prayer itself - because prayer does this too. He who prays in this way becomes above all worldly things, gives wings to his mind, makes his thoughts easy, and is not caught up in any passion. “From the depths (of my heart) I cried to You, Lord.” Here the prophet uses two expressions: “from the depths” and “called,” meaning by calling not the sound of the voice, but the disposition of the soul. “Lord, hear my voice!” . From here we learn two truths: firstly, that it is impossible to receive anything from God unless it is due on our part; That’s why he said in advance: “from the depths... called”, and then: “hear”; secondly, the fact that intense prayer and filled with tears of tenderness can with great power incline God to accept prayer; therefore, the prophet, as if having accomplished something great and fulfilled what was due on his part, continues: “Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my prayer” (Ps. 129:2). “Ears” he calls the ability to listen; and by “voice” he again means not the sound of breathing, not a cry, but a tense state of the soul. “If you see iniquity, O Lord, O Lord, who can stand? For with You is (only) purification” (Ps. 129:3–4)? So that someone does not say: I, a sinner, filled with countless evils, cannot approach, pray and call on God, the prophet, to destroy such bewilderment, says: “If you see iniquity, Lord, Lord, who can stand?” The word “who” here means: no one, because it is impossible, truly impossible, for anyone to ever receive mercy and love for mankind if his deeds are examined with all rigor. 2. We do not say this so that your souls may become careless, but to encourage those who are falling into despair. “Who can say: “I have cleansed my heart, I am clean from my sin?” ( Proverbs 20:9 )? But why talk about others? If I had taken Paul out and demanded from him a strict account of his deeds, then he would not have been able to resist. Really, what could he say? He carefully studied the prophets, was a zealot of the fatherly law, saw the signs being performed, and yet remained a persecutor and changed not before receiving a wonderful vision and hearing a terrible voice; and until that time everything was thrown into confusion and destruction. But God, despite all this, called him and honored him with great grace. And isn’t Supreme Peter blamed for the fact that he suffered a grievous fall after countless miracles and signs, after such warning and advice? But the Lord, despite this, made him the first apostle. That’s why he said: “Simon! Simon! Behold, Satan asked that he might sift you like wheat, but I prayed for you, so that your faith would not fail” (Luke 22:31–32). After this, if God had come to judge not with mercy and love for mankind, but to demand a strict account, he would certainly have found everyone guilty. That is why Paul said: “Although I know nothing about myself, I am not justified by this” (1 Cor. 4:4). “If you consider iniquity, Lord, Lord.” It is not in vain that the prophet uses repetition, but as a sign of his surprise and amazement at the great love of the Lord, His infinite greatness and the immeasurable abyss of His goodness. "Who can resist?" He did not say: who will run away, but: “who will stand?” He won’t even be able to resist, he says. “For with You is (only) purification.” What does it mean: “for with You... purification” We can avoid punishment not for our virtues, but because of Your goodness, because deliverance from judgment depends on Your love for mankind. If we are not worthy of it, then our works will not be able to save us from future wrath. 3. Explaining this, God himself through the prophet says: “I, I myself, blot out your transgressions for my own sake, and will not remember your sins” (Is. 43:25), i.e. this is My Business, the work of My goodness, My love for mankind; your deeds will never be able to save you from punishment unless My love for mankind is added. And again: “I created and will bear, support and protect you” (Is. 46:4). “For Thy name's sake, O Lord, I have trusted in Thee; my soul has endured in Thy word; my soul has trusted in the Lord” (Ps. 129:5). Another translator (Symmachus) says: “for the sake of your law” (ένεκεν του νόμου σου). Third (unknown, see Orig. Ex.): “for the sake of the knowledge of your word” (του γνωσθηναι). The meaning of these words is as follows: for the sake of Your love for mankind, for the sake of Your law, I expected salvation - because if I had looked at my deeds, I would have long ago despaired, I would have long ago lost hope; but now, listening to Your law and Your word, I cherish good hopes. What word? The word of love for mankind, because He himself says: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts” (Is. 55:9). The prophet also says: “how high the heavens are above the earth, (so great) the Lord has established His mercy on those who fear Him; and again: as far as the east is from the west, (so) He has removed our iniquities from us” (Ps. 103:11, 12). Those. Not only did I save those who did good deeds, but I also spared sinners, and in the midst of your iniquities I showed you My protection and care. Another translator (unknown, see Orig. Ex.) says: “so that you would be terrible, I waited for the Lord” (όπως επίφοβος εση). Scary for whom? For enemies, for ill-wishers, for those who are at war against me. What else does it mean: “for Thy name’s sake”? Although, he says, I am a sinner and filled with countless evils, I know that You will not allow us to perish, so that Your name is not disgraced. So He himself says in Ezekiel: “I will not do this for you, O house of Israel, but for the sake of My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations” (Ezek. 36:22). Those. we are unworthy of salvation and cannot expect anything good for our deeds, but for the sake of Your name we expect salvation; this hope of salvation remains for us. Another translator (Aquila and Theodotion) says: “for the sake of fear I waited for the Lord” (ένεκεν φόβου). Third (Symmachus): “for the sake of the law I waited for the Lord” (νόμου) “My soul has endured in Thy word.” Another (unknown, see Orig. Ex.): “my soul waited for his word” (προσεδόκησεν ... τω ρήματι αυτου). Third (Aquila): “My soul endured and I waited for His words” (το ρημα αυτου εκαραδόκησα). Those. in the omens and constant promises of His love for mankind and goodness, I had a sacred anchor and did not despair for myself. “From the morning watch until the night, from the morning watch let Israel trust in the Lord” (Ps. 129:6), i.e. throughout my life, every night and day. Truly, nothing can bring salvation more than constant turning to Him, like maintaining this hope, even if there are countless circumstances that plunge one into despair; it is an indestructible wall, imperturbable security, an invincible fortress. Therefore, even if circumstances threaten death, danger, complete destruction, do not stop hoping in God and expecting salvation from Him, because for Him everything is easy and convenient, and He can provide a way out of hopeless circumstances. Do not only hope to receive His assistance when your affairs are flowing happily, but especially when excitement and storm arise, when extreme danger threatens; It is then that God especially shows His power. Thus, the meaning of the prophet’s words is as follows: one must hope in God constantly, at all times, throughout one’s life. “For with the Lord is mercy and great is deliverance, and he will deliver Israel from all their iniquities” (Ps. 129:7-8). What does it mean: “for the Lord has mercy”? Here, he says, is a treasury and source of philanthropy, constantly flowing. Where there is mercy, there is deliverance, and not just deliverance, but “great” deliverance and the boundless abyss of philanthropy. So, even though our sins betray us to destruction, we should not lose heart and despair. Where there is mercy and philanthropy, a strict accounting of sins is not required, since the Judge, out of His great mercy and disposition towards philanthropy, forgives a lot. Such a judge is God, ready and willing to constantly show mercy and forgiveness. “And He will deliver Israel from all their iniquities.” If God is like this, if His great love for mankind exudes everywhere, then there is no doubt that He will save His people and deliver them not only from punishment, but also from sins. Knowing this, let us also call and ask Him, and never give up, whether we receive or not. If it is in His power to give, then it is in His power when to give; He Himself knows exactly the time for this. So, let us ask, pray, trust in His mercy and love for mankind, and never despair of our salvation, but let us do what is due on our part, and then what is necessary on His part will undoubtedly follow, since He has ineffable goodness and boundless mercy, of which may we all be worthy, by the grace and love for mankind 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. 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