The Spiritual Old Age and the Oil of Joy
The height and greatness of God is overlooked when the eye of the mind, which is able to approach the Lord, is blinded by evil; and the destruction of sin occurs as if those who have become enemies of God through sinning were to perish, and to perish such are they, but the God who is the victor for all eternity will be found by the purified mind (Ps 91:11-12).
The horn of the kingdom is often an ally and previously was good. Not only shall my horn be exalted like a one-horned beast, but also my old age shall be anointed with the oil of gladness; old age not the bodily one, but the age presenting the perfection of the human soul, for it has been written: for old age is precious, not the long-lived, nor is it measured by number of years, but wisdom is a thing for men and an unblemished life is old age.
Having surpassed this, Abraham was said to be nourished in good old age; for it has been written about him: 'And Abraham died in a good old age, full of days, departing' (Gen 25:8). Regarding the bodily age, if it were said, these things are rather spoken of those who were longer-lived before Abraham.
This is interpreted as old age being anointed with oil, from that true olive tree speaking in the temple of God: 'I am like a fruitful olive tree in the house of God' (Ps 52:8). This olive tree not only anoints the light of knowledge, but also heals and looses pains, anointing the aforementioned old age.
And my eye has looked upon my enemies, and my ear shall hear of those rising up against me, committing iniquity (Ps 17:8). Perhaps the present enemies are cast down by sight, but his ear shall hear concerning those who are to rise up against him. Just as their strength is dissolved, all these things must be expected concerning evil powers. For strictly these are hating us.
And since some transgress the Scripture saying that it sometimes passes by and speaks in vain, let us bear it and let us defend the text also concerning the things set forth. For they say: 'Who does not see what is appearing...'
Greek
ἐπιτείνεται, ἀγνοεῖται τὸ τοῦ θεοῦ υ ψος καὶ μέγεθος, τυφλούσης τῆς κακίας τὸ ο μμα τοῦ νοῦ τὸ δυνάμενον προσβάλλειν τῷ κυρίῳ· ο ταν δὲ κατάλυσις τῆς ἁμαρτίας γένηται ὡς ἀπολέσθαι τοὺς διὰ τὸ ἁμαρτάνειν ἐχθροὺς γεγενημένους θεοῦ, ἀπόλλυσθαι δὲ ῃ τοιοῦτοί εἰσι, τὸ τηνικάδε ὁ θεὸς υ ψιστος εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα εὑρεθήσεται τῷ καθαρθέντι νῷ. 912 Ps 91,11.12 Σύμμαχον πολλαχοῦ τὸ κέρας τῆς βασιλείας καὶ πρότερον ει πον. οὐ μόνον δὲ ὑψωθήσεται ὡς μονοκέρωτος τὸ κέρας μου ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ γῆράς μου ἐν ἐλαίῳ τῆς ἀγαλλιάσεως πιαινόμενον, γῆρας οὐ τὸ σωματικὸν ἀλλὰ τὸ παριστάμενον τὴν τελείαν τοῦ ε σω ἀνθρώπου ἡλικίαν, περὶ ου γέγραπται Γῆρας γὰρ τίμιον οὐ τὸ πολυχρόνιον οὐδὲ ἀριθμῷ ἐτῶν μεμέτρηται, πολιὰ δέ ἐστι φρόνησις ἀνθρώποις καὶ γῆρας βίος ἀκηλίδωτος. εἰς τοῦτο φθάσας ̓Αβραὰμ ει ρηται ἐν γήρει τετράφθαι καλῷ· γεγράπται γὰρ περὶ αὐτοῦ Καὶ ἐκλείπων ̓Αβραὰμ ἀπέθανε τραφεὶς ἐν γήρει καλῷ πρεσβύτερος καὶ πλήρης ἡμερῶν. περὶ δὲ τῆς σωματικῆς ἡλικίας, εἰ ἐλέγετο, ταῦτα μᾶλλον ει ρητο περὶ τῶν πρὸ τοῦ ̓Αβραὰμ πολυχρονιωτέρων γεγενημένων. Τοῦτ' ου ν τὸ ἑρμηνευθὲν γῆρας ἐλαίῳ πιαίνεται τετρυγωμένῳ ἐκ τῆς ἐλαίας ἐκείνης τῆς ἀληθινῆς τῆς ἐν τῷ οι κῳ τοῦ θεοῦ φασκούσης ̓Εγὼ δὲ ὡσεὶ ἐλαία κατάκαρπος ἐν τῷ οι κῳ τοῦ θεοῦ. τοῦτο τὸ ε λαιον οὐ μόνον πιαίνει τὸ τῆς γνώσεως φῶς, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἰᾶται καὶ πόνους λύει πιαῖνον τὸ προειρημένον γῆρας. Καὶ ἐπεῖδεν ὁ ὀφθαλμός μου ἐν τοῖς ἐχθροῖς μου, καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἐπανισταμένοις ἐπ' ἐμὲ πονηρευομένοις ἀκούσεται τὸ ου ς μου. τάχα τοὺς παρόντας ἐχθροὺς καταβεβλημένους ἐφορᾷ, ἀκούσεται δὲ τὸ ου ς αὐτοῦ περὶ τῶν μελλόντων αὐτῷ ἐπανίστασθαι. ὡς καὶ αὐτῶν η δη διαλυθέντων, ταῦτα δὲ πάντα περὶ πονηρῶν δυνάμεων ἐκληπτέον. κυρίως γὰρ αυ ται ἐχθραίνουσιν ἡμῖν. ̓Επεὶ δέ τινες κατεπιβαίνουσι τῆς γραφῆς ὡς παρέλκοντα καὶ μάταια ἐνίοτε λεγούσης, φέρε ἀπολογησώμεθα καὶ περὶ τῶν προκειμένων. φασὶ γάρ· Τίς οὐκ οι δεν ο τι ἐφορῶν
About this text
Discover how early Christians interpreted the Psalms as divine messages and prophecies about salvation and judgment.
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- Copy-text PG (Khazarzar) (Greek)
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