Daily Devotion - 2/04/09

Christ is Born!  Glorify Him! 

Psalm 91 is another example of the necessity of spiritualizing and internalizing the Psalter.  The psalms are truly of limited utility if we see in them only a commentary on ancient Israel---or even, from a Christian perspective, as prophetic utterance treating Christ and His earthly life.  Certainly these are all levels that can and should be considered as we read these ancient songs, but a real and important question as we pray the Palter ought to be:  what’s this got to do with me?

So---to Psalm 91:  this psalm is seen by the holy Fathers as a prayer and exhortation against the evil one, and a description of the defenses available to one who “shall abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”  Things that might overwhelm us---“…terror by night, …the arrow that flieth by day,…pestilence that walketh in darkness,…destruction that layeth waste at noon day,…the thousand that fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand,”(vv. 5-7)---will be turned aside---“ but it shall not come nigh thee.”    God, the psalmist says, will protect those who seek Him out. 

There is much to ponder in these words.  They seem to suggest, for example, the old adage that God will never allow us to be tempted beyond our strength; that whatever the temptation, no matter how serious, God stands ready to succor us.  The key to obtaining God’s help seems to be described in verse 2:  “I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him will I trust.’”  That is, we must really put ourselves in God’s hands; we must actually rely upon Him, and cooperate with the help that He sends us. 

This theme of God’s readiness to assist us in temptation is important in Scripture and Holy Tradition.  Thirteen hundred years after this psalm was probably composed, the Desert Fathers spoke of temptation, and God’s help, and the necessity of our cooperation with God.

“It happened that Abba Moses was struggling with the temptation of fornication.  Unable to stay any longer in his cell, he went and told Abba Isidore.  The old man exhorted him to return to his cell.  But he refused, saying, ‘Abba, I cannot.’  Then Abba Isidore took Moses out onto the terrace and said to him, ‘Look toward the west.’  He looked and saw hordes of demons flying about and making a noise before launching an attack.  Then Abba Isidore said to him, ‘Look towards the east.’  He turned and saw an innumerable multitude of holy angels shining with glory.  Abba Isidore said, ‘See, these are sent by the Lord to the saints to bring them help, while those in the west fight against them.  Those who are with us are more in number than they are.’  Then Abba Moses gave thanks to God, plucked up his courage, and returned to his cell.”  (The Sayings of the Desert Fathers)

In returning to his cell, St. Moses cooperated with God.  He returned to the spiritual battlefield, his monastic cell, where he confronted the thickets and valleys and secret places of his own heart. 

One further point about Psalm 91 drives home the theme of temptation and cooperation with God’s help.  It is of course this very psalm that the devil quotes in tempting Our Lord. 

“Then the devil took Him into the holy city, and set Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto Him, ‘If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down.  For it is written:  ‘He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee; and in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest at anytime Thou dash Thy foot against a stone.’” (Matt 4: 5-6)

We will be tempted.  The evil one is ever present, seeking to lead us astray.  God’s love, also ever present but immensely more powerful, is our surest defense against these assaults.   But, like Father Moses, we must “go back to our cell”; we must cooperate with God, we must want and actually try to do His will. 

For as certain as God’s abiding presence is in our lives, it is equally certain that God will not save us if we do not want to be saved. 

Gary

Afterfeast of the Meeting of the Lord; feast of Venerable Isidore of Pelusium

Psalm 91

 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High 
       will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, 
       my God, in whom I trust."

 Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare 
       and from the deadly pestilence.

 He will cover you with His feathers, 
       and under His wings you will find refuge; 
       His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

 You will not fear the terror of night, 
       nor the arrow that flies by day,

 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, 
       nor the plague that destroys at midday.

 A thousand may fall at your side, 
       ten thousand at your right hand, 
       but it will not come near you.

 You will only observe with your eyes 
       and see the punishment of the wicked.

 If you make the Most High your dwelling— 
       even the LORD, who is my refuge-

 then no harm will befall you, 
       no disaster will come near your tent.

 For He will command his angels concerning you 
       to guard you in all your ways;

 they will lift you up in their hands, 
       so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; 
       you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; 
       I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; 
       I will be with him in trouble, 
       I will deliver him and honor him.

 With long life will I satisfy him 
       and show him my salvation.