We are encouraged to ‘Praise the Lord’ (Psalm 145:1). This call extends to all nations, not just to us. The voices of the faithful across different locations resonate with the same divine message: let us exalt Him. When we ponder the reason for this praise, it is given to us: we are to glorify the Lord because the psalm is good. Is this the entirety of the reward for praising Him? The psalm itself is an expression of divine adoration. It further instructs us to ‘Praise the Lord’ for it is good to do so. We must remain vigilant in our worship. It has been stated, and time has passed; we have praised, but now we may fall silent; we have sung but may grow quiet. Amidst our various endeavors, does our praise for God cease? Not at all: our tongues may momentarily pause, but let our lives continually offer praise. Thus, the psalm is indeed good.
A psalm is not merely any song but a sacred melody crafted for the psalter. The psalter resembles a musical instrument, akin to the lyre or harp, designed for holy music. Thus, when one sings psalms, it is not merely vocal; it should also be accompanied by instrumental praise. If you are to sing a psalm, let not your voice alone offer praise to God, but let your deeds also reflect this harmony. Sing to please the ears, yes, but do not remain silent with your heart or your life. No deceit should be harbored within: you sing for God. In your eating and drinking, let a psalm be sung—not with mere sweet sounds, but rather in moderation. As the apostle Paul states, ‘Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God’ (1 Corinthians 10:31). If your insatiable desires lead you beyond the bounds of nature’s order, although your tongue may laud God, your actions may betray Him. After eating and drinking, let your resting be pure; allow your marriage bed to be honorable and devoid of lustful abandon, for ‘In your bed, honor your wife’ (1 Peter 3:7). You are both members of Christ, formed by Him and redeemed by His blood; thus, praise God and let not your praise fall silent. If troubled by dreams, let not a guilty conscience disturb your rest; rather, let your peaceful slumber praise Him.
Let our praise be pleasing to our God. How? It must be offered through our good lives. It is declared that praise from a sinner’s mouth is unfitting (Sirach 15:9). Thus, if praise is unseemly in a sinner's utterance, it cannot be deemed pleasant, for the pleasing praise is appropriate. People may find delight in hearing eloquent words from a skilled speaker, yet let our praise be pleasing to our God whose attention is captured not by the tongue, but by the heart, and not by mere words, but by the life lived in holiness.
Who is our God that receives such pleasure from our praise? He sweetens our existence and expresses His love, as demonstrated in Christ’s sacrifice while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). We must examine whether this praise that the apostle references is the same for which Christ died for unrighteousness: the Lord is busy restoring Jerusalem and gathering the dispersed of Israel (Psalm 145:2). The people of Jerusalem are indeed the people of Israel, symbolizing the eternal Jerusalem in heaven, home to both saints and angels. All citizens of that heavenly city rejoice in the sight of God. Yet, we are wanderers from that city, exiled by sin and burdened with mortality. God, in His mercy, has looked upon our strife and, desiring to restore the fallen, sent His Son to redeem our condition. He instructed, ‘Take a bag and carry the ransom of the captives in it,’ for He clothed Himself in our frail humanity, shedding blood for our redemption and gathering the lost. If He gathered the previously scattered, how then should we strive to draw together those who have strayed? If those once scattered could be brought together, so too should those who feel adrift find their way back to Him. Therefore, we praise Him continually.
How does He gather us? What is His method of healing? He is the Healer of the brokenhearted (Psalm 145:3). Observe how the dispersion of Israel is reconciled through the mending of hearts. A heart unbroken cannot receive healing. What characterizes a wounded heart? Know this, dear brethren, so that you may find healing. Scripture reiterates that ‘The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.’ God comes near to heal; as it is articulated, ‘The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart.’ Who possesses this wounded heart? It belongs to the humble. Who is without a wounded heart? The proud stand unbroken. The humbled heart is restored; the proud will be brought low. Therefore, dear ones, let not your hearts seek to be straightened before they have been humbled. It is futile to exalt what has yet to be set right.
By what methods does He bind the bruises of the heart? Like a skilled doctor who dresses a fracture, so God restores. Physicians often break limbs that are misaligned to mend them properly and create new wounds for the sake of healing.
What means does He use to bind our wounds? The sacraments of our present life serve as comfort, and every word spoken to you, along with all actions occurring in the Church, are methods by which He heals our bruises. Just as a physician removes bandages once full health is restored, so shall it be in the heavenly Jerusalem when we are aligned with the angels. Will we then need the Gospel read to establish our faith? Or require the bishop to lay hands on us? These practices serve to mend fractures; once we achieve full strength, they will be no longer necessary, yet we rely on them to attain that very strength.
He who numbers the stars and knows each one by name (Psalm 146:4). It is a remarkable feat for God to count the stars. Humans may attempt it, but whether they succeed is their concern. God likely does not find it significant to tally the stars. Perhaps He simply lists them so as not to forget? Why would it matter to God to enumerate the stars, particularly when even the hairs on our heads are counted (Matthew 10:30)? The stars symbolize the illuminating leaders in the Church, guiding us during dark times, of whom the apostle writes, ‘Among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life’ (Philippians 2:15). God counts these stars; all who will reign with Him, all who are destined to join the Body of His Son—He knows and continues to recognize them. The unworthy will not be counted, nor will those who lack true faith become part of His people. The magnitude of the Gospel is so great; it fulfills what has been said about multitudes beyond counting. Certainly, there are those present who may be considered surplus among believers, as thoughtless attendees, so to speak. Reflect upon whether you shine amid the darkness of this world, whether you resist the allure of its iniquity; if you do so, you will be counted among the stars in God's eyes.
Further, He calls them all by name. Herein lays our reward: that our names may be recognized by God. This is what we should strive for—not to take pride in inferior things, even spiritual gifts. When the disciples returned from their mission, exclaiming, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name’ (Luke 10:17), He cautioned them, knowing that many would claim ‘Did we not cast out demons in Your name?’ to whom He would say, ‘I do not know you.’ He instructed instead to rejoice that ‘Your names are written in heaven’ (Luke 10:20).
Great is our Lord (Psalm 146:5). The psalmist expresses boundless joy; his words flow marvelously, yet he may falter in fully articulating this joy. His power is vast, and His understanding cannot be quantified. He who counts the stars is immeasurable himself. Who can fathom His infinite nature? While this world contains the infinite, it remains insufficient to describe His essence, which surpasses all calculations. The scale of creation is inexplicable, and who but God can grasp it? Therefore, His understanding exceeds all measure. Let human voices fall silent, let human thoughts cease, as they cannot lay claim to the incomprehensible. Instead, let them seek participation in the divine, as they prepare to be communicants in God's grace.
What then shall we become partakers of, within the essence of God? Do not ask for expressions that cannot be adequately captured; rather, return to the Savior's healing grace—humble yourself, for He will mend your brokenness. He will make all things whole, revealing what is now beyond comprehension. It is beneficial to acknowledge our weaknesses before Him to attain the divine nature.
The Lord proclaims tenderly (Psalm 145:6). You may find it confounding; you may find it hard to understand. Yet honor the sacred text of God, honor the Word of God, even when unclear. Do not be quick to critique Scripture as obscure or contradictory; within it lies no contradiction, but rather a depth that necessitates patience to explore. When understanding seems concealed, it functions as a divine invitation for you to knock, for He desires to reveal it. In knocking, you shall exercise your faith; as your practice deepens, you will grasp the gifts granted to you. Do not resist the challenges; remain gentle and humble. Do not recoil from the obscure; trust in the One who provides your healing.
Now, what follows? The Lord lifts the humble and casts the transgressors down. By addressing sinners here, He refers to the obstinate and hardened of heart, who focus solely on worldly matters.
Begin to confess to the Lord (Psalm 145:7). Commence your journey toward understanding with confession. If you wish to transition from faith to reality, start by acknowledging your shortcomings; lift up praise to God. After confession, let your good deeds arise in response. Sing to our God with stringed instruments. What does ‘with stringed instruments’ mean? Just as the psalm is sung on the psalter, so let your actions echo this sentiment.
He who veils the sky with clouds and initiates rain for the earth (Psalm 146:8). You may feel troubled when the skies appear dark, yet when the rain comes, you will gather its fruits and see the sun break through. Consider this—if God had not hidden the teachings of Scripture beneath clouded images, we might not engage deeply in what brings us joy. Perhaps, it is the raining of His word that brings satisfaction. Without the obscurity veiling Scripture, we could not articulate our joy in our own language; His spiritual messages were intended to be revealed through interpretation to penetrate the hearts and ears of men, delivering floods of spiritual delight.
He nurtures grass upon hills and herbs for humanity. This signifies the blessing of His rain. He causes grass to flourish on the mountains; does it not equally grow in the valleys? Yes, but it is remarkable that it grows on rugged terrain. This sustenance serves us; as Paul notes, ‘For we are your servants for Jesus Christ’s sake’ (2 Corinthians 4:5). He proclaimed, ‘If we have sown spiritual things to you, how great a reward if we reap material things from you?’ Yet, although he remained firm in his servanthood, Paul avoided the worldly possessions that could elevate him. The mountains still bore the fruit; he would not lay claim to what was not needed.
That fruit is provided for servants, as the Lord instructs, ‘Eat what they give you,’ acknowledging therefore that laborers deserve their reward (Luke 10:7-8). You have undoubtedly heard these words before: ‘Give to everyone who asks of you’ (Luke 6:30), and the Scriptures advise to let your gifts simmer until you encounter a worthy recipient. One may seek your aid, while you, in turn, should seek out a just person. Anyone approaching you shall not remain unsatisfied, for to all who ask, you shall respond. However, there exists another whom you must search for—find a faithful person to whom your giving may be directed. You will not successfully do this unless you set aside a portion of your belongings, proportionate to your family’s needs, as a sincere act of charity. If Christ has no earthly wealth, then we too are called to a life of simplicity.
THEOSIS