It brings us great joy and we ought to rejoice because this Psalm encourages us to do so. It says, "Praise the name of the Lord" (Psalm 134:1). Herein lies the justification for our praise of the Lord. All servants of the Lord, what is the most deserving of our praise? What could be more worthy or pleasing? If He instructs His faithful servants—the preachers of His Word, the guardians of His Church, those who revere His name, those who adhere to His commands—to cherish the sweetness of their lives in their own hearts, in order to safeguard them from the corruption brought by flattery and despondency in the eyes of men, how much more is He, the Immutable One, who imparts these lessons, exhibiting neither more by praise nor less by reproach. For you, as His servants, have every right to praise your Lord. If you are merely servants, you should lift your voices in praise to Him; how much more then, should you, His servants, exalt the Lord, so that you may ultimately be granted the status of sons.
Thus, all of you standing in the house of the Lord, within the courts of our God, praise Him (Psalm 134:2). Give thanks for your presence; you once stood outside, yet now you stand within. Now that you are standing here, is it too much to reflect on the one who lifted you when you were downcast, allowing you entry to His house to know and exalt Him? Is it too little that we find ourselves in the house of the Lord? If anyone considers this and is not ungrateful, they will not fail to recognize the immense love of the Lord for them, having done such magnificent deeds in their lives. Given that they cannot repay God for such bountiful gifts, what remains except to thank Him and express their gratitude? The very act of giving thanks involves taking the cup of the Lord and calling upon His name. How can the servant repay the Lord for all He has bestowed upon them?
Why should we extol Him? Because the Lord is good (Psalm 134:3). In succinct terms, this encapsulates the praise due to our Lord. He is indeed good, but not merely as good as His creation. For God pronounced all His creation "very good" (Genesis 1:31); not just good, but very good. If He crafted all things to be good, what can we conclude about the Creator Himself?
How can we truly encapsulate His goodness? Who can fathom or articulate the depths of the Lord's goodness? Let us instead reflect upon ourselves, recognizing Him in our existence, and praise the Creator through His creations, for we are unworthy to gaze upon Him. In the hope of one day witnessing Him, as our hearts are purified by faith, we may rejoice in truth. Presently, as He remains invisible to us, let us focus on His works that we may continue to offer our praise. Therefore, I declare, Praise the Lord for He is good; sing praises to His Name for He is delightful. He is our Mediator, and thus delightful. What could be sweeter than the sustenance of angels? How can God not be sweet if humanity has partaken in angelic food? For both man and angels partake of the same sustenance. This is truth, this is wisdom, this is the goodness of God, though it surpasses our enjoyment when compared to the angels. So that humanity may taste the sustenance of angels, the Creator of angels became man. If you have tasted and found it delightful, sing hymns; if you recognize how sweet the Lord is, offer your praise; if what you’ve tasted brings delight to your palate, then acknowledge it; who would be so ungrateful to a cook or vendor as to neglect praising what they like?
The Lord has chosen Jacob, Israel as His own possession (Psalm 134:4). Let Jacob not lift himself up, nor take pride in himself, nor attribute his calling to his own efforts. He was known beforehand, chosen in advance—not by merit, but chosen through God's grace and brought to life. Likewise, the Gentiles have been called; what merit did the wild olive tree possess to be grafted in, with its bitter fruit and barren nature? It found its place not in God’s fields but in the wilderness, yet in mercy, the wild olive was grafted into the true olive tree.
As it is declared, "I know that the Lord is great, and our God is above all gods" (Psalm 134:5). If asked to clarify His greatness, might he not reply that the one he perceives is less than great if he cannot fully articulate it? Instead, let him recount God’s works to us. He should carry in his heart the magnitude of God’s greatness he has witnessed—keeping in mind the wonders committed to our faith. He must recount the Lord’s creations, from heavens to earth, to the sea and all depths (Psalm 133:6). Who truly can fathom these things? Who can enumerate the works of the Lord found in heaven, on earth, and in the seas? Even if we cannot grasp them all, we are called to believe and uphold them, for all things in heaven and earth, and all that lies in the depths, were created by the Lord.
He raised clouds from the ends of the earth (Psalm 134:7). We witness these creations of God in nature; clouds rise from all corners of the earth to the center, bringing rain, yet we often do not inquire as to their origins. The prophet implies this: from the furthest reaches of the earth, whether from below or the extremities, only from the earth will He raise clouds. He transforms lightnings into rain, for a bolt without rain frightens yet nourishes us, causing us to rejoice instead. He who brings forth winds from His storehouses—that which we cannot discern—commands those winds. When the wind blows, we sense it; we cannot know its origin or the treasure of wisdom from which it came (John 3:8), yet we owe our faith-filled worship to God.
Thus, we recognize His works; we praise, marvel, and bless God; let us consider what He has done for His people. Who struck down the firstborn of Egypt? (Psalm 133:8). Here, we recall miraculous deeds meant to inspire love rather than fear. Even in anger, He executes His will. He inflicted signs and wonders upon Egypt (Psalm 134:9). You read of what the Lord accomplished through Moses to break the pride of Egypt—Pharaoh and all his servants. But what remained to be done for His people after their exodus from Egypt? He smote numerous nations (Psalm 134:10) and inherited territories meant for His people. He brought down formidable kings, such as Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and claimed all Canaan’s kingdoms (Psalm 134:11). The Psalm recounts these events, also detailed in other sacred texts, where the might of the Lord is evident.
When we see what has happened to the wicked, let us be wary of meeting their fate. When the righteous observe the suffering of the wicked, they must cleanse themselves from all sin to avoid similar judgment. This enables us to comprehend these matters fully. What did God achieve? He expelled the wicked and granted their land as an inheritance to Israel, His servant (Psalm 133:12).
A joyful shout of praise follows: "Your name, O Lord, is forever" (Psalm 134:13)—after all you have done. What do I see in creation? I see the heavens you have fashioned; I see this earthly realm where we reside, and there I witness your munificence in clouds, winds, and rain. I honor your people; You liberated them from bondage and enacted signs and wonders against their foes. You chastised those who troubled them, you banished the wicked from their land, you dealt with their kings, and you bestowed their land on Your people. Observing these wonders, filled with joy, I declare, "Your Name, O Lord, is everlasting."
All these great acts of God culminated then, first in the physical realm during the exodus of our forebears from Egypt, and now spiritually. His actions persist without ceasing until the end. Do not assume that these divine works were completed and have ceased. "Your name, O Lord," it is said, "endures forever." His mercy continues, and His hand does not cease from the declarations made before. These accounts serve as warnings for us, as the culmination of the ages approaches (1 Corinthians 10:11). Each successive generation is shaped by Him through the faith we receive and are reborn into through baptism, becoming a generation that rises from the dead to live eternally with angels. Your remembrance, O Lord, extends beyond these generations—He will not forget to summon us, nor will He neglect to reward us.
The Lord has judged His people and will be known among His servants (Psalm 133:14). He has already rendered judgment upon His people. Setting aside the final judgment, the Jewish people will also face His scrutiny. What does this judgment entail? The just are taken, while the unjust remain. If my statement of "already judged" raises doubt, hear Him say: "I have come to judgment in this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind" (John 9:39). The proud are left blinded, but the humble gain insight. This is why He condemned His people; Isaiah declared such judgment. "Now, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord" (Isaiah 2:5). This is a grave matter. What follows? For He rejected His people, the house of Israel. The house of Jacob is indeed the house of Israel; for whoever is Jacob is also Israel. Therefore, God judged His people, separating the righteous from the unrighteous—that is, He will be known among His servants. By whom? By the Gentiles. How vast the number of those who come by faith! How many now approach us from the fields and desolate places! They come from unknown origins with overwhelming numbers, seeking to know God's glory. Believe me, brethren, we are astonished and uplifted by these declarations from humble villagers. They arrive from the unknown, stirred by an unfamiliar presence. How do we explain this? I know through whom they arrive, for He said, "No one comes to Me unless the Father draws him" (John 6:44). They come from woods, wilderness, and distant mountains into the Church; most of them indeed speak the same tongue, revealing the truth God has instilled within them. The Scripture’s prophecy is actualized when it states, "And all shall be taught of God" (Isaiah 54:13). We ask them, "What do you seek?" They reply, "To witness the glory of God" (John 6:45). For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). They believe, they seek sanctification, desiring appointed leaders. Has not His promise been fulfilled, that He would be known among His servants?
Finally, after this arrangement and design, the Spirit of God directs attention to the derision and scorn of idols, the same that now mock their worshippers. The idols of the nations are made of silver and gold (Psalm 134:15). Given that God, the Creator of all in heaven and earth, brought forth everything through His will, what merit can be attributed to what humankind creates, except to be objects of ridicule rather than veneration? Did He intend to highlight the Gentile idols to prompt our disdain? Did He speak of mere pagan effigies—stone, wood, plaster, or clay? Far from it; these materials are not what I reference. I speak of the deep affection they hold for these idols, for the idols of the nations are indeed silver and gold, crafted by human hands. Is it not gold? Surely, it glitters as does silver. Yet can they see, or hear... ? Since these are empty, why would you create gods of silver and gold? Do you not understand that these constructed deities cannot see? They have mouths yet cannot speak; eyes yet do not perceive (Psalm 134:16); ears but cannot hear; breathless mouths (Psalm 134:17); nostrils that cannot smell; hands that cannot work; feet that do not walk. All these attributes the carpenter, silversmith, and goldsmith may endow on their creations: eyes, ears, nostrils, mouth, hands, feet, but they cannot grant sight or hearing, speech to silence, breath to nostrils, or mobility to hands and feet.
THEOSIS