Psalm 129
1 “Sorely have they afflicted me from my youth,”
let Israel now say—
2 “Sorely have they afflicted me from my youth,
yet they have not prevailed against me.
3 The plowers plowed upon my back;
they made long their furrows.”
4 The Lord is righteous;
he has cut the cords of the wicked.
5 May all who hate Zion
be put to shame and turned backward!
6 Let them be like the grass on the housetops,
which withers before it grows up,
7 with which the reaper does not fill his hand
or the binder of sheaves his bosom,
8 while those who pass by do not say,
“The blessing of the Lord be upon you!
We bless you in the name of the Lord!”
The heading of this psalm in a recent edition of the Revised Standard Version labels it a “Prayer for the Downfall of Israel’s Enemies.” Headlines from the modern state of Israel and its war with Gaza demonstrate why a literal, “this world” reading of the Old Testament can be dangerous. Orthodox Christians read the Old Testament through the lense of Christ’s revelation in the New Testament. While many people in His earthly lifetime were hoping that he would bring an earthly and triumphant kingdom of Israel, He made it clear that His kingdom is not of this world. He refused to identify His eternal kingdom with any one nation, including Israel, and that provoked the wrath of the religious leaders.
The “Song of Ascent”, often heard at Matins in the Orthodox Church, points to a spiritual interpretation of Psalm 129:
From my youth the enemy has tempted me and with temptations has beguiled me. But, O Lord, trusting in You, I have put him to shame. Let those who hate Zion become as the grass which withers before it is pulled up, for Christ shall cut their necks with the scythe of torment.
Zion, Israel is the eternal inner Kingdom Christ brings through His Cross and resurrection. Satan is the enemy who provokes the passions that fight against us and seek to pull us away from Christ.
The Transfiguration that we celebrate today reveals the light of God’s kingdom. We still may only catch glimpses of that light, but it is always there, “guiding the whole creation.”
Tabor in the manifestation of Your light, O Word,
the unaltered Light from the Light of the unbegotten Father,
We have seen the Father as Light and the Spirit as Light,
guiding with light the whole creation!
(Transfiguration, Hymn of Light)
Transfiguration at the Chancery
Today OCA Secretary Father Eric Tosi will be celebrating the Divine Liturgy for the feast of Transfiguration in the Chancery chapel. It is also his 50th birthday. May God grant him many years!