Psalm 134 (133):2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The designation of holiness is significant, implying that prayer should be free from wicked thoughts, unrepentant hearts, greed, and any other sins that can lead to the ruin of the soul. "And bless the Lord." True blessing is realized when one's life aligns with their words—when you honor the Creator through your actions, echoing the message of the Gospel: "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

Lift your hands at night within the sanctuary and offer praise to the Lord, Psalm 133:2. It is effortless to bless during the day. What does daytime signify? It represents prosperity. The night carries sorrow, while the day brings joy. When you are in good health, you extol the Lord. If your child was ill and recovered, you bless the Lord. However, if your child was sick and you sought help from a fortune teller, perhaps the curse against the Lord did not stem from your words but from your actions and your way of life. Do not take pride in merely speaking blessings, for your actions may bring about malediction. Therefore, bless the Lord. When should you do so? In the night. When did Job offer his blessings? In a sorrowful night. All that he possessed was taken from him; the very children he cherished were gone. How grim was his night! Yet, let us consider whether the Lord does not bless even in the darkness. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord, Job 1:21. And the night was indeed dark.

May the Lord, who dwells in Zion and created heaven and earth, bless you, Psalm 132:3. He calls many to offer blessings, but He blesses one, bringing together the many into one, for it is good and delightful for brothers to live harmoniously as one. Though "brothers" is a plural term, it signifies a unity in community. Let none of you think, "This is not meant for me." Do you understand who He is addressing? May the Lord bless you from Zion. He has blessed one. Strive for unity, and the blessing will be yours.

Theodoret's remarks highlight that the Apostle Paul established a principle, affirming that pure hands should be placed on the ground, particularly that worship owed to God ought to be rendered in places set apart for Him.

By specifying both the location and the timing of prayer, he teaches that night is the appropriate hour for singing praises, as it offers tranquility, free from numerous distractions. According to Nicetas, the soul needs to reach a state where it can focus solely on the one God. In this condition, we kneel in prayer, closing our eyes and metaphorically bringing darkness upon them to prevent any external phenomena from disturbing our thoughts. Note that the instruction is to "lift up" rather than to "prostrate," for those who pursue higher spiritual matters raise their hands, while those seeking assistance in physical concerns bow down. This form of prayer is characteristic of the saints.

Moreover, it is possible that these words hint at a profound truth: those who engage in significant, heavenly endeavors, wielding a seemingly elevated active power, appear to raise their hands as well. Conversely, those who involve themselves in trivial, earthly matters have their hands drooping. This idea is illustrated in the account of Moses; when he raised his hands, Israel gained strength, but when he lowered them, Amalek gained the upper hand. This indicates that when our active spirit wanes, our adversaries gain strength, whereas when it is uplifted, our vision is fortified, aligning us with the name Israel. Another interpretation suggests lifting up your hands refers to your deeds, where you boldly present your works before God. This principle upholds purity, for no one who engages in immorality through the night can bring their hands before God in prayer.

Servants of the Lord are defined not merely by their religious practices but, fundamentally, by the quality of their lives. Indeed, it is inappropriate for those who are impure and defiled to enter the holy space, for the House of God resembles heaven on earth; just as no corrupt force can infiltrate heaven, so too is access denied to the House of God. You have been granted a tremendous honor: you have become a temple of the Lord. Consider the purity you must maintain—cast away every wicked thought, for the Lord resides within you. You partake of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, a grace beyond human comprehension. Thus, the greater the honor you receive through sacred signs and awe-inspiring sacraments, the higher the standard of holiness required of you (Chrysostom, Theodoret). The act of laying on hands during the night is of great spiritual benefit, so that the left hand does not inadvertently overshadow what the right is doing (Matthew 6:3). In the darkness of night, the prophet instructs us to pray, for this time of silence is especially suitable for prayer. Night can also symbolize the trials and tribulations faced by the faithful, who, like the righteous Job, give thanks to God amidst adversity. Furthermore, night signifies the presence of sin, which can be addressed by the laying on of hands, encouraging works of light and providing assistance to neighbors burdened by sorrow. During our nocturnal prayers, we ought to reflect on our gratitude to God, the night of Christ’s pure Passion, and this salvific night when the light of the resurrection emerges from the tomb, promising that all shall rise (Theodoret, Jerome). Zion represents both the earthly Church and the heavenly Jerusalem, established by Christ the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth.