In this Psalm, we are instructed that when we proclaim Hallelujah, translating to "Praise the Lord," we should, upon encountering the phrase, “I will confess to the Lord” (Psalm 116:1), immediately offer praise to Him. Our expressions of gratitude to God cannot be more succinct than: "For He is good." This simple assertion carries profound weight, for the goodness of God is such a defining characteristic that the Son of God, when referred to as the Good Teacher by someone who viewed Him solely in His human form, responded, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone" (Mark 10:17-18). This reminds us that to recognize His goodness is to acknowledge His divinity. As this revelation unfolds for a people liberated from toil and evil associations, it is fitting to affirm, "For His mercy endures forever."
Let Israel declare that He is good, for His mercy is eternal (Psalm 116:2). Let the house of Aaron echo this declaration (Psalm 116:3). Indeed, let all who revere the Lord proclaim the everlasting nature of His mercy (Psalm 116:4). Beloved, you are familiar with the houses of Israel and Aaron, both of whom revere the Lord, encompassing both the humble and the mighty—joyfully represented in another psalm that speaks to our unity in His grace, wherein we all rejoice as members of one flock under the Shepherd, forming the body of the Head, which collectively asserts, “I called upon the Lord in my distress, and He answered me” (Psalm 116:5). Although our tribulations may seem limiting, the path we tread is boundless. Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? (Romans 8:33).
The Lord is my helper; I shall not fear what man can do to me (Psalm 116:6). Yet, are human beings the sole adversaries of the Church? What is a person devoted only to worldly matters but flesh? The apostle reminds us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12)—referring to the devil and his minions, whom he also identifies as the ruler of the air (Ephesians 2:2). Therefore, hear this: The Lord is my aid; I shall disregard my foes (Psalm 116:7). Regardless of whether my adversaries arise from wicked humans or malicious spirits, with the Lord’s support, whom we are called to praise and exult, they will be scorned.
However, when I see my adversaries ridiculed, I must not let a so-called good person prompt me to place my confidence in them; it is far better to trust in the Lord than to rely on mortals (Psalm 116:8). Likewise, I should not depend on any being, even if they might be termed a good angel; for only God is truly good (Mark 10:18). When a person or angel assists us out of pure love, it is by the grace of Him who makes them good in accordance with His will. Thus, it is better to depend on the Lord than on powerful rulers (Psalm 116:9), for even the angels are referred to as rulers, as we read in Daniel, "Michael, your prince" (Daniel 12:1).
All nations encircled me, yet in the name of the Lord, I bludgeoned them (Psalm 117:10). I was besieged on every side, yet I avenged myself in the name of the Lord (Psalm 117:11). This signifies the struggles and victories of the Church. If one were to inquire how she could conquer such adversity, reflections on past triumphs would provide clarity. The phrase “they surrounded me on every side” indicates that although “all nations” is not restated, the Jews were the immediate persecutors. Those same religious individuals—the body of Christ, for whom all was enacted in mortal form by immortal power—endured persecution at the hands of those who inflicted suffering upon Him, thus hanging Him on the cross.
They swarmed me like bees swarming a hive and blazed like fire among thorns, and in the name of the Lord, I avenged them (Psalm 117:12). The narrative aptly reflects the sequence of events. Our Lord, as the Head of the Church, was besieged by persecutors as bees surround their hive. The Holy Spirit articulates intricately what transpired at the hands of the ignorant. Just as bees produce honey, the unknowing persecutors ultimately contributed to our greater enjoyment of Christ even through His Passion, allowing us to taste and see how sweet is the Lord, who died for our transgressions and rose again for our justification (Romans 4:25). The fire that consumed thorns mentions His Body—His dispersed people, encircled by all nations—having been tormented by the flames of persecution. The avenging may refer to the irony that those evildoers who persecuted the righteous may, having repented, join the company of Christ's followers, or that the others, disregarding His mercy, will ultimately face the truth of their Judge.
Although I have been cast down like a heap of sand, I have not crumbled, for the Lord upheld me (Psalm 117:13). Though numerous believers might be likened to countless grains of sand, gathered as one, it is God who sustains me. The trials inflicted by the Gentiles did not result in the collapse of the unified body of believers in faith.
The Lord is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation (Psalm 116:14). Who, then, collapses when pushed unless they have chosen to be their own strength and their own song? No one falters in a contest unless their own fortitude has faltered. Thus, he whose strength and song is the Lord can stand firm, for the Lord cannot fall. Consequently, He became their salvation—not as something foreign to Him, but because they, upon believing, became transformed and found salvation in Him, which they had not realized before turning to Him.
In the homes of the righteous rings the sound of joy and liberation (Psalm 117:15); where those who ravaged the bodies of believers expected despair and ruin, they remained oblivious to the inner joy of the saints, rooted in their hopeful assurance. Therefore, the apostle declares, "I may grieve, but I rejoice always" (2 Corinthians 6:10), and hence again adds, "And not only so, we also boast in our tribulations" (Romans 5:3).
The right hand of the Lord has performed mighty deeds (Psalm 117:16). What great things are being referenced? The right hand of the Lord has elevated me. To exalt the humble, to glorify the mortal, to create strength from weakness, to reveal honor from subjugation, and to bring about victory through suffering—these deeds manifest the genuine salvation of God to the afflicted while rendering human salvation insubstantial to those who persecute. These are indeed marvelous works, but what amazes us? He emphasizes again: the right hand of the Lord has performed great deeds.
"I will not die, but live, and proclaim the works of the Lord" (Psalm 117:17). Whereas the antagonists believed they succeeded in extinguishing the Church, behold, the works of the Lord are made known. Therein lies Christ, the glory of the blessed martyrs, who, through defeat, triumphed over those who afflicted Him; enduring torment, He demonstrated love to those who rebelled against Him.
Yet, let us understand why the Body of Christ, the Holy Church, the people called to adoptive sonship, have endured such suffering. "The Lord has disciplined and corrected me, but has not handed me over to death" (Psalm 116:18). Let not the arrogant wicked presume their authority is unchecked, for it is granted to them from above. A father may command his sons to be disciplined by the most contemptible of servants; while the former receive an inheritance, the latter are constrained. What is this inheritance? Is it measured in gold, silver, jewels, lands, or fine estates? Let us comprehend its implications.
“Open unto me the gates of righteousness” (Psalm 117:19). We recognize the existence of a gate; what lies within? He states, “That I may enter and give thanks to the Lord.” This is a profound act of confession and praise, resonating throughout the house of God, signaling joy and gratitude among its celebrants—this embodies the eternal blessedness of the righteous, for those who dwell within His abode are eternally blessed, offering ceaseless praise.
We should contemplate how they enter this gate of righteousness. Behold, he says, “The righteous shall enter therein” (Psalm 116:20). Let no wicked individual cross into that sacred city that does not welcome the uncircumcised, as it is written, “Outside are the dogs" (Revelation 22:15). I have endured lengthy wandering among those whose company was undesirable, but this is the gateway of the Lord; only the righteous shall enter.
"I confess to You, O Lord, for You have heard me and have become my salvation" (Psalm 116:21). Countless times, the acknowledgment of one who does not disclose his wounds to the healer but rather expresses gratitude for healing has proven commendable. Yet the Physician Himself is Salvation.
Who is this stone rejected by the builders (Psalm 116:22)? This stone became the cornerstone, uniting the two into one new creation, thus making peace; reconciling both to God in one body (Ephesians 2:15-16)—both those of circumcision and those of uncircumcision.
The Lord has made it so (Psalm 117:23): indeed, He has established Him as the chief cornerstone. Although suffering was requisite for Him to attain that status, it was not through those who afflicted Him that He became so. The builders rejected Him, yet through the hidden edifice the Lord constructed, He emerged as the cornerstone they dismissed. This is astonishing in our sight: perceived not through worldly eyes, but through the perspective of the inner man—those who believe, those who possess hope, and those who love; not through the carnal vision of those who scorned Him as mere humanity and thus rejected Him.
"This is the day which the Lord has made" (Psalm 117:24). The psalmist recalls, "Since He has inclined His ear to me, I will call upon Him as long as I live," reflecting on his former days; hence he now declares, “This is the day which the Lord has made,” wherein He has granted me salvation. It is the day spoken of when He professed, "In a favorable time, I have heard you, and in the day of salvation, I have assisted you" (Isaiah 49:8)—that is, the day in which the Mediator became the cornerstone. Let us therefore rejoice and exult in Him.
"Save me, O Lord; prosper my way, O Lord" (Psalm 116:25). For it is the day of Salvation, so deliver me; for as we return from our long journey, we find ourselves distanced from those who despised the world, with whom we once had peace, yet when we spoke, they unwarrantedly declared war against us; so prosper our path as we return, for You have become our Way.
“Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord" (Psalm 117:26). Cursed, then, is he who comes in his own name, as the Gospel asserts: “If anyone comes in his own name, him you will receive" (John 5:43). We bless you from the house of God. I believe these are the words from the great to the humble, specifically those great ones who spiritually commune with God’s Word—those who exist in God as much as they can during this life—and yet moderate their speech for the sake of the little ones, ensuring they can genuinely express the apostolic truth: “Whether we enter into ourselves, it is for God; or whether we sober up, it is for your sake. For the love of Christ compels us" (2 Corinthians 5:13-14). They bless the children from the inside of the Lord’s house, where this praise is unceasing from ages past; hence, contemplate the proclamation emanating from there.
THEOSIS