The New Song and the Hope of the Lord

When this corruptible body is changed into incorruption, it is no longer held by the surrounding mud and distress, but has been rescued from these things. 'And he set my feet upon a rock.' Let this be said generally concerning the righteous. Regarding 'rock,' let the unbroken and indivisible Word of God be heard in these matters, which no storm or tempest moves. Often, indeed, the memory of a rock becomes a memorial of the holy words, not capable of being grasped by sensation; for when the saint says thankfully to God, 'Lift me up on a rock,' he does not say, 'He placed me suspended on a sensible rock,' but upon the unbroken and indivisible Word.

Paul interpreted this rock and said who it is, that it is Christ: 'for they drank from a spiritual following rock, and the rock was Christ' (1 Cor 10:4). And again this same hymnographer says with other things: 'their strong ones laid down the rock they were carrying.' Those of the Egyptians, approaching the rock, were seen as nothing. And just as 'Aaron's rod overcame the rods' (Exod 7:12) of the Egyptians who were singing, that is, he conquered them. When therefore it is said, 'Death is swallowed up' (1 Cor 15:54), 'Israel is swallowed up.' When those who think themselves strong—sophists, certain contentious men, or even evil spirits—approach the rock, they are swallowed up, proving themselves to be nothing.

Upon this rock, Christ, whom the approaching strong ones of the Egyptians are swallowed up by, the feet of the one being benefited stand, to be saved from shaking and tempest and having enemies. Endurance is produced. He does not always suffer these things when he is in the pit of distress, when he is in the mud of matter; endurance is produced. But he does not always suffer these things. When he comes out of these, the end of endurance having been received, the feet of the one having been benefited stand, therefore, upon the said rock. 'And he directed my steps' (Ps 119:133). And see how the Word leads us far into the history. No one standing walks, no one walking stands. When someone is therefore made firm according to Christ so as to be able to say, 'Who shall separate us from the love of God?' (Rom 8:35), his steps have directed paths; for he always hastens toward the higher things, toward the heavenly, being directed by God.

The steps of the runner: for it is 'not of him who wills nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy' (Ps 107:13). And he cast into my mouth a new song (Ps 40:9). 'Into the mouth' of the inner man, that is, into my word. 'A new song': often for us... regarding the new, how it is said. That which is uninterrupted is always new, while that which has been succeeded is old. And through many examples it has often been demonstrated.

A hymn to our God. He who was lifted up from the aforementioned circumstances of the pit of misery and the mire of matter obtained an uninterrupted victory. The victory of the uninterrupted is a new triumph. What is this new song? It explains: it is a 'hymn' 'to our God.' When we hymn God, when we receive His praise, as far as possible, becoming in perfection, we sing a new song; for that which is in perfection is uninterrupted. Therefore also the hymn which is sent up to God thankfully within it is a new song.

Many shall see and shall be afraid and shall hope in the Lord (Ps 37:7). 'Many shall see,' having seen me lifted up from the pit of misery and from the mire of matter, and having my feet established upon the rock, and my steps being directed, and me singing and hymning; 'and they shall be afraid' so that they too might come into such a guidance, 'and they shall hope' so that they too might attain these things which already exist for me.

Blessed is the man whose hope is the name of the Lord (Ps 37:7). David once had a single combat against Goliath and did not hope in a shield. You see that the name of the Lord has become his hope. And it is said regarding the Lord being signified by hope—and there is no other hope than the expectation of good things—that often some say of things already existing, 'my hope.' The wealthy indeed say 'my hope,' not regarding what is expected, but what is already present. And therefore, those who already possess the name of the Lord consider it to be hope.

And he did not look toward vanities and false delusions. He who looks toward the Lord does not look toward vanities and false delusions. He does not look toward wealth, nor toward greatness of body, nor toward military might, nor toward any other of those things which are able to fail. And 'delusions' are called 'false,' the divinations. They are...