In this Psalm, we learn that when we proclaim Hallelujah, meaning "Praise the Lord," we should respond to the call to "Confess to the Lord" (Psalm 116:1) by lifting our praises to Him. Our expression of gratitude to God is succinctly captured in the phrase: "For He is good." This simplicity is profound, as God's goodness is a distinctive attribute; notably, when addressed as the Good Teacher, the Son of God pointed out the need to recognize His divine nature, asking, "Why do you call Me good?" since only God is truly good (Mark 10:17-18). This acknowledgment signifies that calling Him good necessitates recognizing Him as God. Directed towards a people liberated from toil and wickedness, this revelation highlights the grace of God, who not only refrains from repaying evil with evil but also responds to wrongdoing with goodness; thus, it is fitting to affirm, "Because His mercy endures forever."
Let Israel now testify to His goodness, proclaiming that His mercy is everlasting (Psalm 116:2). Similarly, let the house of Aaron declare His enduring mercy (Psalm 116:3) and let all who reverence the Lord acknowledge the permanence of His mercy (Psalm 116:4). Beloved, you recall the identities of both the house of Israel and the house of Aaron, united in their reverence for the Lord. Representing both the humble and the mighty, all are called to rejoice in the grace of our good God whose mercy lasts eternally. They have expressed the hope that God will bless you and your descendants once again, amplifying the faithful Israelites, who were among those to whom the apostles belonged, adding to the fold an army of Gentiles, for the exaltation of the perfect and the obedience of the innocent, that collectively, as one in Christ, we might form one flock under one Shepherd, with the body of that Head declaring, "I called upon the Lord in trouble, and the Lord heard me" (Psalm 116:5). Our affliction may be confined, yet the path we tread is boundless. Who can bring any charge against God's chosen ones? (Romans 8:33).
The Lord is my support; I will not fear what human beings can do to me (Psalm 116:6). However, are humans the sole adversaries of the Church? What is humanity but flesh and blood? The apostle teaches us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12) - namely, the devil and his minions, whom he refers to as the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). Hence, take heed: The Lord is my support; thus, I will disregard my adversaries (Psalm 116:7). Regardless of their origins, whether from among wicked men or maleficent angels, through the Lord's assistance, we will lift our voices in praise, singing Hallelujah, and they shall be looked upon with contempt.
Yet, even when my foes are disregarded, let not my friend come to me as a virtuous man urging me to place my trust in him; trust in the Lord is far better than reliance on humanity (Psalm 116:8). I should not see anyone, even a being who may be categorized as a good angel, as one upon whom I must depend because no man is good except God alone (Mark 10:18). When a person or an angel seeks to assist us from genuine affection, it is ultimately through Him who endowed them with goodness according to their abilities. That's why it is wiser to rely on the Lord than on rulers (Psalm 116:9); for even angels are referred to as princes, as noted in Daniel’s writings about Michael, your prince (Daniel 12:1).
All nations surrounded me, yet in the name of the Lord I avenged them (Psalm 117:10). I was encircled on every side, yet in the name of the Lord, I avenged them (Psalm 117:11). This illustrates the labors and triumphs of the Church. However, when questioned how such a vast evil could be vanquished, she reflects on past struggles and recounts what she initially encountered, stating, "They surrounded me on all sides"; the phrase "all nations" is notably absent here, as it was solely the Jews who were involved. The same faithful individuals (the body of Christ, for whom all was accomplished in mortal form by immortal might, the divine interacting with the flesh), endured torment from those who persecuted them, the very ones whose flesh was taken to bear the cross.
They attacked like bees swarming a hive, and burned like fire among thorns; yet in the name of the Lord, I avenged them (Psalm 117:12). The arrangement of words here mirrors the sequence of events. Our Lord, the Church’s Head, was indeed besieged by his persecutors just as bees surround a hive. The Holy Spirit subtly reveals that those who acted against Him were oblivious to the sweetness their actions would yield; while bees produce honey, the Lord's persecutors, whether recognizing it or not, amplified His sweetness through His Passion, allowing us to taste and see how delightful is the Lord, who died for our transgressions and was raised for our justification (Romans 4:25). Moreover, that which burned like fire among thorns better represents His Body, meaning the dispersed community drawn from all nations, who endured the fiery trials of persecution. Their wickedness, though aimed at the righteous, eventually culminated in their own judgment, as either they who persecuted have been absorbed into Christ's body or those neglecting mercy will ultimately face judgment.
I was pushed aside like chaff, but the Lord upheld me (Psalm 117:13). Though numbers of believers were vast, they could be likened to countless grains of sand, gathered as one. However, what is humanity that You are mindful of him? He did not assert that the multitudes of Gentiles could outnumber the faithful, but rather declared that the Lord sustained him. The hostility from outsiders did not topple the unity of believers dwelling in faith.
The Lord is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation (Psalm 116:14). Who falls but those who rely on their own strength and glory? No one falters in battle unless their strength and praise falter. Hence, one whose strength and praise derive from the Lord cannot fall, just as the Lord cannot fail. This is why He became their salvation; not due to a change in His nature, but because those who believe in Him become transformed, finding in Him the salvation that was absent when they turned away from Him.
There is a joyful sound of victory in the dwellings of the righteous (Psalm 117:15); where those who raged against them believed there was sorrow and ruin, they remained oblivious to the inner joy of the saints, grounded in hope. Thus, the apostle declares, "I grieve, but always rejoice" (2 Corinthians 6:10), and further, "We rejoice in our tribulations" (Romans 5:3).
The right hand of the Lord has achieved great things (Psalm 117:16). What great things? The right hand of the Lord has lifted me. He does marvelous works - exalting the humble, granting the mortal a divine nature, transforming weakness into strength, subjection into glory, and suffering into triumph. He provides aid and elevates the distressed; thus, the true salvation of God is revealed to the afflicted, while salvation remains ignored by the unrepentant. These are truly magnificent deeds: but why should this astonish you? Listen again: the right hand of the Lord has done great things.
I shall not die, but live, and proclaim the works of the Lord (Psalm 117:17). Those instigating ruin and death believed the Church of Christ would perish. Behold, He now declares the works of the Lord. In what has appeared as defeat, He overcame those who struck Him; enduring affliction patiently, He triumphed over His tormentors, displaying love even to His adversaries.
Yet, let us consider why the Body of Christ, the Holy Church, the adopted people of God, have faced such indignity. The Lord, he says, has disciplined and corrected me, but He has not allowed me to perish (Psalm 116:18). Let not the haughty wicked presume their permission to act; they would not have it unless it was granted from on high. Often, a father delegates the correction of his sons to lesser servants; although he bequeaths an inheritance to the former, he restrains the latter. What is this inheritance? Is it wealth, possessions, or estates? Observe how we come to it and learn its true nature.
"Open to me the gates of righteousness," he implores (Psalm 117:19). We have heard of such a gate; what lies beyond? "That I may enter and give thanks to the Lord." This reflects a profound confession of praise, filled with awe, as a celebration echoed in the house of God; it signifies the eternal blessing of the righteous, whereby those in the Lord's house are perpetually blessed as they offer praise unto Him forever.
But contemplate how they enter these gates of righteousness. "The gate of the Lord," the righteous declare, "the just shall enter" (Psalm 116:20). Let no wicked individual pass through into that Jerusalem which excludes the uncircumcised, where it is said, "Outside are the dogs" (Revelation 22:15). I have endured long wandering amidst the dwellings of the wicked, but this is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through.
I give thanks to You, O Lord, for You have answered me and become my salvation (Psalm 116:21). How often does the gratitude of one, who does not lay bare his wounds to the healer yet praises for the health restored, prove commendable? Yet the Physician Himself is Salvation.
Whom do we reference? The stone that the builders disallowed (Psalm 116:22); it became the chief cornerstone, uniting both the circumcised and uncircumcised into a single body, thus effecting peace and reconciliation with God (Ephesians 2:15-16).
The Lord has made it (Psalm 117:23); in other words, the Lord designated Him as the chief stone. Though He would not have assumed this role without suffering, it was not due to those who inflicted the suffering that He became it. The builders rejected Him, but within the edifice the Lord built in secrecy, He emerged as the cornerstone that was dismissed. And this is wondrous in our sight: it is remarkable in the understanding of the inward person, in those who trust, hope, and love; not in the carnal perspective of those who scorned Him, perceiving Him merely as human, dismissing Him entirely.
"This is the day which the Lord has made" (Psalm 117:24). The one making this claim recalls what was said in earlier psalms: "Since He has inclined His ear unto me, I will call upon Him as long as I live," recalling his former days. Now he proclaims, "This is the day which the Lord has made," the day of salvation bestowed upon him. It is the day expressed in "In an acceptable time, I heard you, and on the day of salvation, I helped you" (Isaiah 49:8), that is, the day when He, the Mediator, became the chief cornerstone. Therefore, let us rejoice and be glad in Him.
"Deliver me, O Lord, and grant me success in my journey, O Lord" (Psalm 116:25). Because this is the day of salvation, rescue me: for we, returning from a long sojourn, have distanced ourselves from those who cherished worldly ties, with whom we were at peace, yet who have waged war against us without cause; prosper us in our return, since You have paved the way for us.
THEOSIS