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

VERSE 109:
My soul is in Thy hands continually,
and Thy Law have I not forgotten.

The zealous believer only worries about transgressing God’s commandments. He doesn’t think about himself or his fate, because his soul is totally in God’s hands.
He leaves it to God to justify and defend him, and to protect him against all dangers.
His own job is to forgive others.

VERSE 110:
Sinners have set a snare for me,
Yet from Thy commandment have I not strayed.

Faithfulness to God’s will –> you can’t get caught in snares/nets, because you fly over them.
This is a difficult task, the unyielding force here is patience.

Patience is the foundation of a life that is unquestioning
and always faithful to God’s commandments.
p.248

Faith is also the mother of patience – through God’s power acting in our heart.
Faith believes that everything that is encountered in life comes from God (this is definitely the spirit of the Optina Fathers’ Morning Prayer).

Patience –> steadiness (also a fruit of God’s power) in goodness –> the efforts of the enemies become fruitless.

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