In this Psalm, we learn that when we proclaim Hallelujah, which translates to ‘Praise the Lord,’ we ought to celebrate when we hear the phrase, “Confess to the Lord” (Psalm 116:1). Our praise to God is succinctly captured in the words: ‘For He is good.’ The profundity of this simplicity resonates deeply, as goodness is an intrinsic attribute of God. When the Son of God was addressed as the Good Teacher—implying a mere human perception of Him—He responded, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone” (Mark 10:17-18). This response indicates that acknowledging Him as good equates to recognizing His divine nature.
Since this message is directed towards a liberated people who no longer struggle in worship or associate with the wicked, they receive freedom through God's grace, who repays evil with goodness. Thus, it is fitting to declare, “Because His mercy endures forever.”
Let Israel proclaim His goodness, affirming that His mercy lasts forever (Psalm 116:2). Let the house of Aaron similarly declare His enduring mercy (Psalm 116:3). Indeed, all who revere the Lord should now profess that His mercy is everlasting (Psalm 116:4). Beloved, you may recall what constitutes the house of Israel and the house of Aaron, both instilled with the fear of the Lord. These represent both the humble and the exalted, joyfully depicted in another psalm—signifying our unity in His grace. We should collectively rejoice that we are incorporated into His goodness, aware of His mercy that lasts forever, echoing the sentiment: “May the Lord bless you and your descendants.”
In faith, we align ourselves with the Israelites who believe in Christ, under the apostles' guidance, thus creating a multitude of Gentiles united for God’s glory, as we collectively proclaim, “I called upon the Lord in my distress, and He answered me” (Psalm 116:5). While our trials may seem confined, the path we traverse in faith is boundless. Who can charge God’s chosen with wrongdoing? (Romans 8:33).
The Lord is my helper; I shall not fear what others may do to me (Psalm 116:6). But are mere mortals the only adversaries of the Church? What is humanity but flesh? The apostle reminds us, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). This refers to the devil and his minions, who are described as the ruler of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). Thus, hear this: The Lord is my helper; so I shall disregard my adversaries (Psalm 116:7). Regardless of the origins of my foes, be they wicked men or malevolent spirits, I will despise them through the Lord’s assistance, to whom we will offer our praises.
Yet when I scorn my adversaries, let not my ally present himself before me as trustworthy, urging me to rely on him; for it is far superior to trust in the Lord rather than in human beings (Psalm 116:8). Neither should I place my faith in anyone, even if they appear to be a good angel; for goodness resides only in God (Mark 10:18). When a man or angel comes to our aid out of genuine love, it is ultimately through God, who has instilled goodness within them. Therefore, it is wiser to trust in the Lord than in nobility (Psalm 116:9). Indeed, angels are called princes, just as we see with Michael, your prince (Daniel 12:1).
Though surrounded by nations, in the name of the Lord I cut them down (Psalm 117:10). Assailed from all sides, I emphasize: in the Name of the Lord I prevailed (Psalm 117:11). This signifies the Church’s trials and triumphs. Should we ponder how the Church conquers such adversities, we can reflect on its mind and spirit, recognizing the diverse words of its sufferings. The phrase “all nations” is omitted here, pointing to the specific hostility from the Jews, who embodied the body of Christ and were involved in His earthly sufferings when He was crucified.
They attacked me like bees swarm a hive, burning like fire among thorns, yet in the name of the Lord, I executed justice (Psalm 117:12). This depicts the timeline of experiences. The Lord Himself, who leads His Church, was besieged by His persecutors, much like bees encircle their hive. The Holy Spirit subtly indicates the actions of those unaware of the impact of their deeds. Much like bees produce honey, the Lord’s persecutors inadvertently made His suffering sweeter to us, allowing us to savor the goodness of the Lord, who died for our sins and rose again for our justification (Romans 4:25). The flames that consumed thorns better describe His Body, or the dispersed faithful, gathered from all nations and enduring the fiery trials of life, characterized by persecution.
Thus, in retribution, either because the evildoers embraced the people of Christ post-persecution, or because the rest, who currently disregard the mercy of Him who called them, will eventually face the judgment of their truth.
I was beaten back, as though I were a heap of sand, but the Lord upheld me (Psalm 117:13). Although the faithful may number as the grains of sand, together they form a fellowship, a unified body. Yet in reflecting on man, what is he but a fleeting memory? The multitude of Gentiles cannot overshadow the unity of believers, for it is the Lord who sustains us. The trials posed by Gentiles did not dismantle the unity of faith among believers.
The Lord is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation (Psalm 116:14). Who falls except those relying on their own strength? No one falters in a conflict unless their strength fails. Therefore, he whose strength is the Lord remains unshaken. Consequently, He became their salvation—not by changing His nature but by transforming those who put their faith in Him, who found salvation in turning toward Him when they previously strayed.
In the homes of the righteous, there exists a voice of joy and salvation (Psalm 117:15), even as those who oppose their bodies perceive sorrow and destruction. They fail to grasp the inner joy and future hope harbored by the saints. Hence, the apostle notes, “I am sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10), and again, “We rejoice in our suffering” (Romans 5:3).
The right hand of the Lord has achieved mighty deeds (Psalm 117:16). What are these great deeds? He states: “The right hand of the Lord has raised me up.” Mighty acts include lifting the lowly, granting divinity to mortals, transforming weakness into strength, turning subjugation into glory, and granting victory through suffering—bestowing aid and raising up from despair, revealing true salvation to those who endure, while rendering salvation ineffective against persecutors. Such are His grand acts; why should we be awed? Listen as He reiterates: “The right hand of the Lord has performed marvelous works.”
I shall not perish, but live, and recount the deeds of the Lord (Psalm 117:17). However, those sowing desolation and death believed they could extinguish the church of Christ. Witness how He now announces the works of the Lord. Christ is the glory of the blessed martyrs, supremely defeating those who struck Him, enduring torment with patience, and loving those who rebelled against Him.
Yet why has the Body of Christ, the Holy Church, the people of divine promise, encountered such humiliation? The Lord has disciplined and corrected me, but He has not caused my death (Psalm 116:18). Let not the arrogant wicked presume their authority is permitted; they would hold no power if it were not conferred from above. Just as a father assigns his sons to be corrected by the least worthy of servants while securing an inheritance for the former. What kind of inheritance is this? Is it gold, or silver, or possessions? Observe how we enter it and grasp its true nature.
“Open unto me the gates of righteousness” (Psalm 117:19). Here we acknowledge a gate; what resides within? “That I may enter in and give thanks unto the Lord.” This is a remarkable expression of praise, a proclamation of gratitude within the house of God, marking the eternal blessedness of the righteous, where the residents of the Lord’s house rejoice eternally.
Consider how they approach the gates of righteousness. “This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter therein” (Psalm 116:20). Let no wicked individual enter that Jerusalem, where no unclean can approach, for it is written, “Outside are the dogs” (Revelation 22:15). It suffices that, throughout my long journey, I have mingled among the tents of Kedar, endured the presence of the wicked, yet this is indeed the Lord’s gate: the righteous shall enter.
“I give You thanks, O Lord, for You have heard me and have become my salvation” (Psalm 116:21). The expression of gratitude from one who does not bare his wounds to the physician, yet celebrates the healing received, is indeed commendable. The Physician Himself is Salvation.
But who is this that we speak of? The stone the builders rejected (Psalm 116:22), which has since become the cornerstone; through Him, who united both Jews and Gentiles, creating one new humanity and establishing peace, reconciling both to God in one Body (Ephesians 2:15-16).
The Lord has made this happen (Psalm 117:23): He made Him the chief cornerstone. Although He would not have assumed this role without suffering, He did not achieve this through those who tormented Him. The very builders dismissed Him, yet in the edifice which the Lord raised, He truly became the head cornerstone—the one they previously rejected. This is marvelous in our eyes: in the sight of the inner man, in believers, among those who have faith, hope, and love—not in the physical eyes of those who scorned Him and deemed Him merely human.
“This is the day which the Lord has made” (Psalm 117:24). This individual recalls what was proclaimed in earlier psalms: “Since He has inclined His ear to me, I shall call upon Him all my days,” and now he says, “This is the day which the Lord has made,” meaning the day of salvation bestowed upon him. This aligns with God’s declaration: “In a favorable time, I heard you, and in the day of salvation, I helped you” (Isaiah 49:8)—the day when the Mediator became the chief cornerstone. Therefore, let us rejoice and be glad in Him.
“Save me, O Lord, and prosper my way, O Lord” (Psalm 116:25). For it is indeed the day of salvation; deliver me, for we are returning from a long sojourn, separated from those who detest the world and with whom we were at peace, even as they turned against us without cause; prosper our journey home, for You have become our Way.
“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” (Psalm 117:26). Cursed, therefore, is he who comes in his own name, as stated in the Gospel: “If another comes in his own name, you will receive him” (John 5:43). We bless you from the house of God. These may well be the words of the mighty directed to the humble—those great ones who, in spirit, are communing with the Word of God in His presence, while gently guiding their speech for the sake of the simple that they might echo the truth spoken by the apostle: “For whether we are out of ourselves, it is for God; or whether we are sober, it is for your benefit” (2 Corinthians 5:13-14). They bless the children from the inner sanctum of the Lord’s house, where praise endures from generation to generation—so consider what they proclaim.
“God is the Lord who has shown us light” (Psalm 116:27). This is the Lord who came in the name of the Lord—the stone rejected by the builders, who became the chief cornerstone (Matthew 21:9, 42)—the Mediator between God and humanity, Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). He is God, equal with the Father. He has enlightened us, helping us comprehend what we have embraced and communicate it to you—those yet to understand but already possessing faith. May you grasp also: declare this holy day among the assembly, even to the horns of the altar—that is, into the inner house of God, from which we bless you, where the altar towers high. Proclaim this holy day joyfully, among the whole assembly.
THEOSIS