In this Psalm, when we express Hallelujah, which translates to ‘Praise the Lord,’ we are reminded that upon hearing the phrase, “Confess to the Lord” (Psalm 116:1), we should indeed offer our praise to the Almighty. Such praise can only be summed up with the declaration: ‘For He is good.’ There is a profundity found in this simplicity, for God’s goodness is such a defining attribute that even the Son of God, when approached by someone who recognized Him merely as a Good Teacher—perceiving only His humanity—responded, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone’ (Mark 10:17-18). This exchange indicates that acknowledging His goodness requires recognizing His divinity. This revelation, addressed to a people liberated from toil and the influence of wickedness through God's grace, emphasizes His nature, which seeks to repay evil with good; hence it is fitting to declare, ‘Because His mercy lasts forever.’
Let Israel now affirm that He is good, and His mercy lasts forever (Psalm 116:2). Let the house of Aaron also acknowledge that His mercy is everlasting (Psalm 116:3). Indeed, let all who revere the Lord proclaim that His mercy is eternal (Psalm 116:4). Beloved, you surely recall who the house of Israel is, who the house of Aaron is, and that both revere the Lord. Together they encompass both the humble and the noble, previously celebrated in another psalm; may all of us rejoice that we are united in His grace, He who is good and whose mercy lasts forever. They were heard expressing: ‘That the Lord may multiply you greatly, you and your children;’ for those who believed in Christ among the Israelites, into whom the apostles were incorporated, should see an influx of Gentiles united for the glory of the perfect, and the submission of the littlest ones; that all, upon becoming one in Christ, may form one flock under one Shepherd. Together, the body of that Head, as one man, proclaims, ‘I called upon the Lord in trouble, and the Lord answered me’ (Psalm 116:5). The struggles we face are confined, yet the path before us is endless. Who will bring charges against God’s chosen? (Romans 8:33).
The Lord is my helper; I shall not fear what mere mortals can do to me (Psalm 116:6). Yet, should we consider that only humans stand as adversaries of the Church? What is a man devoted solely to flesh and blood but flesh and blood? The apostle notes, ‘Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms’ (Ephesians 6:12). This refers to the devil and his minions, the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). Therefore, hear this: The Lord is my helper; thus I shall not be dismayed by my foes (Psalm 116:7). No matter the source of my opposition—be it wicked humans or malign spirits—with the Lord’s aid, to whom we will sing praise, they shall be held in contempt.
When my adversaries are viewed with disdain, let not my ally masquerade as a virtuous man, urging me to place my trust in himself; for it is better to lean on the Lord than to place hope in man (Psalm 116:8). Neither should I consider anyone called a good angel as a source of my confidence; because no one is good but God alone (Mark 10:18). When help is offered by man or angel out of genuine love, it is through them that He who created them good acts. Hence, it is wiser to depend on the Lord than on earthly leaders (Psalm 116:9). Even angels are referred to as princes, as evidenced in Daniel’s writings with the mention of ‘Michael your prince’ (Daniel 12:1).
All nations encircled me, but in the name of the Lord, I cut them down (Psalm 117:10). I was besieged on every side, I repeat, surrounded entirely; yet in the name of the Lord, I overcame them (Psalm 117:11). This signifies the trials and victories of the Church; however, if questioned on how she triumphed over such evils, she reflects upon this example, articulating the struggle she first encountered within. The term “all nations” is intentionally omitted here because it pertained solely to the actions of the Jewish people. The same group, who embody Christ’s body and for whom all that transpired in mortal form through immortal strength was sustained, endured persecution from those whose sinful nature was taken upon Him as He hung upon the cross.
They attacked me like swarming bees, igniting flames among thorns; but in the Name of the Lord, I avenged them (Psalm 117:12). Here, the arrangement of words mirrors the sequence of events. It is easy to perceive that our Lord Himself, the Head of the Church, was surrounded by tormentors as bees surround a hive. The Holy Spirit articulates with divine insight what was done by those unaware of their actions. Bees produce honey within the hive, while the Lord’s persecutors, albeit unknowingly, made His sufferings all the sweeter to us through His Passion, allowing us to taste and see that the Lord is good—who died for our sins and rose again for our justification (Romans 4:25). The flames mentioned symbolize His Body, that is, the dispersed people gathered from all nations—they suffered the consuming fires of persecution, their sinful humanity and harsh trials incinerated. The avenging comes either because those evils within ceased to exist and joined the people of Christ, or due to the remaining individuals who, currently neglecting the grace offered by Him, will ultimately face the truth of their own judgment.
I was pushed aside like worthless chaff, leading me to stumble, yet the Lord lifted me up (Psalm 117:13). Though numerous in faith, they could be likened to grains of sand, united in communion as if heap together; but what is humanity, if not that which You remember? He did not claim, ‘the multitude of the Gentiles could not surpass my followers,’ but rather declared, ‘the Lord upheld me.’ The persecution from the Gentiles did not undo the unity of the believers living together in the faith.
The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation (Psalm 116:14). Who then falls when they are pushed except those who rely on their own strength and praise? No one falters unless their sources of strength and praise fail them. Therefore, one whose strength and honor rest in the Lord will not stumble, reflecting the steadfastness of the Lord Himself. For this reason, He became their salvation—not by becoming something He wasn’t before, but by making those who believed in Him into something they had not previously been, such that He became salvation for them when they turned toward Him, whom they did not know when they turned away.
The shout of joy and salvation fills the homes of the righteous (Psalm 117:15); while those who tormented them believed they brought forth voices of despair and destruction. They remained oblivious to the inner joy of the saints, buoyed by their future hope. Thus the apostle expresses, ‘I am sorrowful, yet always rejoicing’ (2 Corinthians 6:10), and again, ‘We rejoice in our sufferings’ (Romans 5:3).
The right hand of the Lord has accomplished mighty works (Psalm 117:16). What great works, you might wonder? He has indeed lifted me up. Great deeds include elevating the humble, granting divinity to those who are mortal, transforming weakness into power, subjugation into glory, and suffering into triumph; assisting and raising those in distress so that God’s true salvation may shine forth for the afflicted, rendering the salvation of men futile to the adversaries. These deeds are wondrous; yet why do you marvel? Listen closely: the right hand of the Lord has performed great works.
I shall not die, but live, and I will declare the works of the Lord (Psalm 117:17). However, those who sow desolation and death on all sides thought the Church of Christ was perishing. Look, he now proclaims the works of the Lord. Across the earth, Christ is magnified by the blessed martyrs. Though seemingly defeated, He triumphed over those who struck Him; enduring without complaint, He prevailed over the tormentors, and embraced those who turned against Him.
Yet, let us inquire why the Body of Christ, the Holy Church, the chosen people, have endured such humiliations. The Lord has chastened and disciplined me, but He has not given me over to death (Psalm 116:18). Let not the boastful wicked assume their power is unchecked; it is given to them by Divine permission. Often, a father might instruct his sons to be corrected by the least esteemed servants; while he secures an inheritance for them, he holds back from the latter. What sort of inheritance is this? Is it merely gold, silver, jewels, farms, or splendid estates? Look at how we enter it, and learn of its true nature.
“Open to me the gates of righteousness,” he implores (Psalm 117:19). Behold, we are informed of a gate. What lies beyond? He desires to enter in and offer thanks to the Lord. Here, we find a confession of praise, astounding to the house of God, articulated in joyous celebration, embodied in the everlasting joy of the righteous, for those residing in the house of the Lord are eternally blessed, praising Him forever.
But consider how they enter the gates of righteousness. Behold, it is stated: ‘The righteous shall enter there’ (Psalm 116:20). Let not any wicked person step inside that Jerusalem which welcomes none who are uncircumcised, as we hear it said, ‘Outside are the dogs’ (Revelation 22:15). It suffices that through my lengthy wanderings, I resided among the tents of Kedar, enduring the company of the wicked until my end; yet this is the gate of the Lord: the righteous shall enter therein.
I give thanks to You, O Lord, for You have heard me and have become my salvation (Psalm 116:21). How often has the gratitude of one who does not reveal his ailments to a physician, but rather praises the health he has received, proved to be meritorious? Yet the Physician Himself is Salvation.
But who is this one we speak of? The stone which the builders rejected (Psalm 116:22); for it has become the cornerstone, creating in Himself one new humanity, thereby making peace and reconciling both to God through one body (Ephesians 2:15-16)—that is, circumcision and uncircumcision.
‘The Lord has made this’ (Psalm 117:23); that is, the Lord has established Him as the principal stone of the edifice. Although He would not have attained this status without having suffered, He did not become this through those who inflicted the suffering. The builders dismissed Him, yet within the hidden construction of the Lord’s design, He became the cornerstone—the reality they rejected. And this is marvelous in our eyes: in the sight of the inner man, in the hearts of those who believe, hope, and love; not in the superficial perspective of those who disdainfully saw Him only as an ordinary man and thus rejected Him.
‘This is the day that the Lord has made’ (Psalm 117:24). This individual recalls what he had stated in previous psalms: ‘For He has inclined His ear to me; therefore, I will call on Him as long as I live,’ reflecting on his earlier days; thus he now declares, ‘This is the day that the Lord has made;’ that is, the day in which salvation was granted to me. It is the day of which He spoke, ‘In the favorable time, I have heard you, and in the day of salvation, I have helped you’ (Isaiah 49:8)—the day in which He, the Mediator, became the cornerstone. Therefore, let us rejoice and be glad in Him.
“Save me, O Lord; prosper my way, O Lord” (Psalm 116:25). Because this is the day of Salvation, I seek salvation from you: for we return from a protracted journey, separated from those who despised the world, with whom we once found peace, yet who declared war upon us without provocation when we conversed; bless our way back, since You have become our Way.
THEOSIS