Psalm 118:
A Commentary
by Saint Theophan the Recluse
(1815-1894)
by Saint John of Kronstadt Press, 2014
Goodreads

Introduction to the 7th octave:

Letter Zait means olive = God’s mercy
David expresses what his soul was grieving about and where it drew comfort from:
– v.49: slowness of fulfillment of God’s promises
– v.50: humiliating circumstances of life
– v.51-52: haughty enemies and mockers
– v.53: spread of sin and impiety
– v.54: wandering on earth
In all, he finds solace in God and His Law: v.55-56

VERSE 49:
Remember Thy words to Thy servant,
wherein Thou has made me to hope.

How could God forget? The word remember  is used when He seems slow in the fulfillment of His promises.
And if the obstruction of their fulfillment is found in us, we ask the Lord to demolish it.

VERSE 50:
This hath comforted me in my humiliation;
for Thine oracle hath quickened me.

What causes humiliation?
Our moral shortcomings, or calamity, danger, illness, loss of wealth, persecution.
We overcome them if we grieve over them.
Our hope is our consolation.
And hope comes from faithfulness to the Lord.

Humiliation  = inner temptations from sin and the devil (cf Ambrose).

In these temptations, the soul is quickened by the Word of God.
p.142

The soul, when filled with the words of God, contains within itself, as it were, a kind of pasture of life eternal.
p.142 (Hilary)

PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THESE NOTES
Any reflection on these quotes?