Alive in the help of the Most High, in the blood of the God of Heaven will settle. The Lord says: Thou art my intercessor and my refuge, my God, and I trust in Him. As if He will deliver you from the net of the hunter, and from the rebellious word, His splash will overshadow you, and under His wings you hope: His truth will be your weapon. Do not be afraid of the fear of the night, from the arrow flying in the days, from the thing in the darkness of the passing, from the scum, and the demon of the noonday. A thousand will fall from your country, and darkness at your right hand, but it will not come close to you, both look at your eyes, and see the reward of sinners. As you, O Lord, are my hope, the Most High have laid down your refuge. Evil will not come to you, and the wound will not approach your body, as if by His Angel a commandment about you, save you in all your ways. They will take you in their hands, but not when you stumble your foot on a stone, step on the asp and the basilisk, and cross the lion and the serpent. For I have trusted in Me, and I will deliver, and I will cover, and, as I know My name. He will call to Me, and I will hear him: I am with him in sorrow, I will crush him, and I will glorify him, I will fulfill him with long life, and I will show him My salvation.
Psalm 90 in Russian: text with a modern translation
He who lives under the shelter of the Most High under the shadow of the Almighty rests, says to the Lord: “My refuge and my protection, my God, in whom I trust!” He will deliver you from the snare of the catcher, from the deadly sore, with his feathers he will overshadow you, and under his wings you will be safe; a shield and a fence are His truth. You will not be afraid of terrors in the night, of an arrow flying by day, of a plague that walks in darkness, of a pestilence that devastates at noon. A thousand will fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you: you will only look with your eyes and see the retribution of the wicked. For you said, "The Lord is my hope"; You have chosen the Most High as your refuge; evil will not happen to you, and the plague will not come near your dwelling; for he will command his angels about you to guard you in all your ways: they will lift you up in their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone; you step on an asp and a basilisk; you will trample on the lion and the dragon. “Because he loved Me, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. He will call to Me, and I will hear him; I am with him in sorrow; I will deliver him and glorify him; I will satisfy him with long life, and I will show him my salvation.
Psalms are considered very powerful prayers, as they represent the compositions of people (standing in the front row), who believed God, followed Him, and were enlightened by the Holy Spirit. They are like the Angels of God among the Gentiles whom God Himself has chosen. Through them, He revealed His Majesty and Glory to a cruel and stubborn people in evil, that is, to the Jews.
The power of Psalm 90 or "Alive in the help of the Most High" lies not only in words, but depends on faith, turning to the All-Powerful. The meaning of the text can be reduced to the following: whoever trusts, hopes, trusts in God, he receives what he asks, always has His protection. He who loves the Name of the Lord will be long-lived and glorified. And the author lists the types of help received by believers.
How to use "Living in help ..."
The most frequently used and beloved psalms are 50 (repentant) and 90 (praiseful and protecting from all troubles). The latter is included in the reading of 6 hours, is mentioned at the burial and funeral services. The Orthodox have long been convinced that "Alive in Help" helps in the most dangerous situations. It is known: there are no unbelievers in the war, for death is behind your back, therefore the text of the prayer:
- or learned by heart;
- or sewn into a tunic;
- or carried with them and read regularly, asking for protection from God.
And they received it. There are many stories when, according to a prayer, they were freed from the clutches of a "bony old woman." Often people wore a ribbon (belt) with the text of the 90th Song, believing that they had protection (the demon would not come near), as from the cross of the Lord (especially when it was forbidden to wear a cross).
The reading of this psalm is necessarily included in the Rule (consisting of 3-4 prayers), read in the most difficult situations, when all hope is placed on God. For example, in any difficulties, they constantly say, until the situation improves, such prayers:
- Our Father;
- Psalm 90;
- Psalm 50/26;
- May God arise;
- Honest Cherubim.
Note: Psalm 50/26 is read when mortal danger threatens. For example, they bomb a settlement, the enemy approaches housing, for a person located in a hot spot. Or for those who ended up in prison, in a foreign land (captivity), so that they would not be mocked, and cruel people would not mock.
On what occasions do they resort to reading the psalm
This prayer is universal, therefore it is read by believers in any difficult situation. If you get acquainted not only with the translation of the text into Russian, but with the interpretation, it will become clear: always and everywhere a person is under the protection of God. This means that nothing terrible will happen to those who regularly turn to the protection of the Heavenly Forces. When resorting to "Live in help":
- With any threats from evil people.
- If fears, nightmares haunt, damage, evil eye, curse is induced. Ps. 90, along with the prayer “Let God rise again”, will protect from all evil spirits.
- When overcome by laziness or other passions that interfere in business.
- In order not to fall under the bad influence (drug addicts, alcoholics, libertines, etc.).
- From the attack of enemies, while protecting housing from ruin, from bullying.
- If death threatens (with poisoning, epidemics, from unknown causes, with purulent inflammation, from radiation), and many others. others
Note: It is best to learn the prayer by heart. Moreover, having learned its meaning, it is easier to remember and read in Old Slavonic. Believe me, you will love these words. They flow like a song: they themselves are born and restored in the mind. I affirm this from my own experience: a modern translation, some kind of clumsy one. Traditional - it asks itself from the tongue, and when necessary, it is easy to read from memory.
Please tell me how to correctly understand the 90th psalm? What does it say? Thank you in advance.
Hieromonk Job (Gumerov) answers:
This psalm was written by the prophet David, according to researchers, on the occasion of deliverance from a three-day pestilence. The Jews did not have it inscribed. In the Greek Psalter, it has a name that indicates both the author and the nature of this psalm - Praise of David. The main theme of the psalm: God is the Intercessor and a reliable refuge for all who trust in Him. This sacred song is distinguished by loftiness of thought, ardent faith, liveliness of feeling, brightness of images and poetic language. Unlike other psalms, it has a complex structure. It clearly distinguishes three parts (1-2, 3-13, 14-16). The main compositional feature is dialogue. Apparently, during the musical performance of the psalm in the tabernacle or in the temple, the singing was antiphonal.
- Alive in the help of the Most High. Settle in the blood of the God of heaven (one). Saint Athanasius the Great explains: “The prophetic spirit blesses a person, that is, one who has help and nocility from Christ, Who is the Most High. And isn’t it blessed who has been honored to have the God of heaven as a Patron?”
- The Lord says: Thou art my intercessor and my refuge, my God, and I trust in Him (2).
In verses 3-13 the main idea of the psalm is revealed. The first voice explains the reasons for its unshakable trust in God:
- Yako Toy will save you from the network of hunters ... In the Jewish test: from the birder's net. This image is often found in the Bible to express a danger that must be especially guarded against, because it is hidden: Our soul has been delivered, like a bird, from a net that catches(Ps. 124:7); as birds are entangled in snares, so are the sons of men caught in time of distress(Eccl. 9:12).
- … and from the word is rebellious (3), i.e. slander, slander.
- His splash will overshadow you, and under His wings you hope …(4). Pleshma means shoulders. In Hebrew, ebrah is the wing of large birds. Remember the words of the Savior: Jerusalem, Jerusalem… how many times have I wanted to gather your children together, as a bird gathers her chicks under her wings, and you did not want to!(Matthew 23:37).
- His truth will go around you as a weapon (4). weapons means shield. Under truth God's faithfulness to His promises is understood.
- Do not be afraid of the fear of the night …(4), i.e. from everything that can frighten at night: demons, murderers, thieves.
-… from an arrow flying in the days (five). This means both literal and metaphorical meaning: among the Eastern peoples, the pestilence is sometimes compared to an arrow, because it cannot be stopped.
-… from a thing in the darkness of the transient, from a mess and a midday demon (6). According to the interpretation of St. Athanasius the Great: "He calls the spirit of laziness a demon of midday."
- A thousand will fall from your country, and darkness at your right hand will not come close to you. (7). The numbers are 1000 and 1000 darkness) symbolically means an unusually large number of attackers. However, the Lord will protect the righteous from all of them.
- both (only) look at your eyes, and see the reward of sinners (8). It means: you will only look with your eyes and see the punishment of sinners. Saint Athanasius the Great writes: “You will not tolerate, he says, even the slightest harm from malefactors, but you will see the fall of your enemies.”
- Like you, Lord, my hope… (nine). Says this to confirm the promise revealed by the first voice. Then the first voice again begins and continues the high theme of the psalm, making an address in the second person:
- The Most High has made you your refuge (9).
The power of unshakable hope grows. The tone becomes more and more majestic:
- Evil will not come to you, and the wound will not approach your body (10): as if by His Angel I commanded about you, save you in all your ways (11).
- They will take you in their hands, but not when you stumble your foot on a stone (12): step on the asp and the basilisk, and cross the lion and the serpent (13). According to the explanation of St. Athanasius the Great: “The word “leg” means the soul, and the word "stone" - sin". Our Lord Jesus Christ promised the apostles and all those who have unshakable faith: Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and on all the power of the enemy, and nothing will harm you.(Luke 10:19).
In the last verses (14 - 16) the psalm reaches the highest solemnity and power - God Himself pronounces the promises:
- For I have trusted in Me, and I will deliver and (his): I will cover and, as if I knew my name (14).
- He will call to Me, and I will hear him: I am with him in affliction, I will crush him, and I will glorify him: I will fulfill him with length of days, and I will show him My salvation(15.16). Saint Athanasius the Great says: “And this salvation is our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who leads us into the new age, prepares us to reign with Him.”
As a powerful weapon against demons, the 90th psalm has been tested by many generations of Christians.
The 90th psalm from the book Psalter is known by the first words "Alive in the help of the Most High." Often used as a prayer in a dangerous situation.
Speaking of the 90th psalm, it is impossible not to touch on the topic of grace-filled, salutary and saving reading of the Psalter in the life of every Orthodox Christian. So, for example, a representative of the ancient Egyptian monasticism, which attached great importance in its asceticism and spiritual feat to the Psalter, the skete presbyter Markell of the Lavra Cellius said this: “Believe me, children, that nothing disturbs, worries, irritates, stung, humiliates, insults, and arms demons and the very culprit of evil, Satan, against us like a constant exercise in psalmody. All Holy Scripture is useful, and reading it causes a lot of trouble for the demon, but nothing crushes him like the Psalter ... "
Some of the most used psalms are the 50th and 90th. They often sound in divine services and cell (home) prayers.
The verses of this Psalm are quoted in Matthew (Matt. 4:5-7) and Luke (Luke 4:9-12) when the devil tempted Jesus.
This psalm was written by the prophet David. In the Hebrew text of the Bible, the psalm has no title. In the Greek Bible (Septuagint) it has an inscription - "Praise of David". In fact, this is a hymn of thanksgiving, which, with divine inspiration, draws before a person a picture of the fact that the Lord protects His faithful and protects them from all evil.
The main theme of the psalm is that God is the Intercessor and a reliable refuge for all who trust in Him. The psalm is given to instruct people about how many blessings trust in God delivers. Faith and hope in God with prayer and living the commandments has an irresistible power.
Unlike other psalms, it has a complex structure. The psalm can be roughly divided into three parts (Ps. 90:1-2, Ps. 90:3-13, Ps. 90:14-16). The main compositional feature is dialog- rapid change of faces expressing their thoughts and feelings.
Here or Prophet David expresses his thoughts about the righteous who lives in full hope in God (Ps. 90:1-2), or, turning to the righteous, calms him with those blessings that are poured out on those who trust in God (Ps. 91:3-8, Ps. 91:13), or speaks on behalf of this righteous man completely devoted to the will of God (Ps. 90:2,9), or on behalf of God Himself expressing His favor to the righteous (Ps. 90:16).
The psalm is built in the form of an address from a mentor who, in his speech addressed to a student, expresses confidence in the complete safety of a person who trusts in God and is in communion with Him.
Some theologians see in this Psalm a general, abstract poetic image of the righteous, in which all cases of deliverance are taken by the psalmist David quite arbitrarily, without any historical relation, and which can be attributed both to David himself and to any other righteous.
Other interpreters of this Psalm see in it an indication of the prophecy of King David about the pious king of Judah Hezekiah and the circumstances of his time (about how Hezekiah, placing his hope in God, crushed the Assyrian army). Whoever is familiar with the story of the Jewish king Hezekiah, it is quite clear to him that in the indicated image of the righteous man we have a poetic image of this story.
REFERENCE
Hezekiah(c. 752 BC - 697 BC) - king of Judea, from the dynasty of the house of David. Son of the Jewish king Ahaz. He was brought up under the influence of the prophet Isaiah. He reigned on the throne in 727 BC. at the age of 25 and ruled Judea for 29 years.
During the reign of Hezekiah, idolatry, into which the people of Judah had fallen in the reign of Ahaz, was completely exterminated. Even the bronze serpent of Moses was destroyed, which was at that time in Jerusalem and became the object of superstitious worship (2 Kings 18:3-5). In the Jerusalem Temple, the service to the one God and the traditional rites of temple worship were restored. During this period, a rise in national consciousness began to be felt in Judea. In these reforms, the Bible sees the piety of the king.
In the first years of the reign of Hezekiah, Judah was still in vassal dependence on Assyria (2 Kings 18:14) and continued to pay tribute to Assyria under the agreement concluded in the reign of Ahaz. But Hezekiah did not want to recognize the power of Assyria over himself, he sought to unite all the Jews and achieve political independence. He carefully prepared the uprising, strengthening the country's internal defenses and concluding anti-Assyrian alliances.
In the 14th year of his reign, despite the difficult and threatening state of affairs, Hezekiah refused to pay tribute, as a result of which the Assyrian king Sennacherib invaded Judea, where, according to the Assyrian annals, he captured 46 fortified cities and countless villages. More than 200 thousand captives were taken from Judea, the captured Jewish cities were given under the authority of the Philistine kings, and Jerusalem was besieged. This event is described in detail in the 2nd Book of Kings (2 Kings 19) and in the book of the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 36:1-22). According to the biblical story, Isaiah urged the king and people not to give up and foreshadowed the salvation of Jerusalem and the defeat of the Assyrians. The prediction came true: the formidable judgment of God did not hesitate to miraculously strike the troops besieging Jerusalem with an unknown epidemic: “And it happened that night: an angel of the Lord went and struck in the camp of Assyria one hundred and eighty-five thousand. And they got up in the morning, and behold, all the bodies were dead.”(2 Kings 19:35). Following this, the Assyrian king Sennacherib, lifting the siege, fled to Nineveh and a few years later was killed by his two sons in the temple of Nisroch.
Shortly after his miraculous deliverance from Assyria, Hezekiah fell seriously ill. Seeing the nearness of his end (Is. 38), turning to the wall, he fervently prayed to the Lord. The Lord heard his sorrow and prayer. The prophet Isaiah appeared to the king and promised him a speedy recovery on the third day and confirmed his words with a miraculous sign. The story of the miraculous movement of the shadow of the sundial back 10 steps as a sign of the king's recovery from a dark illness is described in the 20th chapter of the 2nd Book of Kings: “The sun's shadow, which passed along the steps of the Akhazovs, returned back 10 steps. They took a layer of figs, applied it to the boil, and Hezekiah recovered.”(2 Kings 20:7-11).
When, on the occasion of the miraculous healing of Hezekiah, ambassadors from the Babylonian king Merodach Valadan came to him with congratulations and the king, with some vanity, showed them all his treasures and riches, St. Isaiah announced to him that all this would go to the booty of Babylon and that his descendants would be taken captive to Babylon. Hezekiah humbly accepted this determination of God, and the Lord turned away His wrath against Judah in his days. The last years of his life passed in peace, he peacefully died after a twenty-nine-year reign in the 56th year of his life (97 BC) and, with general sadness, was buried with great splendor over the tombs of the sons of David (2 Chr. 32 :33). The reign of Hezekiah is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable in the history of the kings of the Jews. Hezekiah was prosperous in all his affairs. In addition to his victories over the Philistines and miraculous deliverance from the hand of Sennacherib, the brilliant conquests of the tribe of Simeon in Arabia belong to his time (1 Chronicles 4:38-43). Possessing great wealth and fame, Hezekiah built cities and fortifications, laid water pipes; cattle breeding under him was in the most flourishing state, and he was exalted in the eyes of all peoples (2 Chronicles 32:23-30).
The interpretation of the psalm
Let's analyze the psalm with God's help.
Verses 1 and 2.“He who lives in the help of the Most High, dwells in the blood of the God of Heaven, says to the Lord: Thou art my intercessor and my refuge, my God, and I trust in Him.”
"Alive in the help of the Most High"- living under the protection (help) of the Almighty God. The believing person is "living under the roof of the Most High."
"In the blood of the God of Heaven will dwell"- in dwelling (literally, in a tent) God of Heaven will settle (rest in peace). Those. a person who trusts in God is promised help from the "God on high".
The not entirely clear meaning of the sayings of the 1st verse, according to the Church Slavonic translation, becomes clear when reading other translations. So, translated from Hebrew, it reads: "He who lives under the protection of the Most High("in the blood of Heavenly God") rests in the shadow of the Almighty"; and translated from Latin it reads like this: “Who lives with the help of the Almighty, he will be in the protection of the God of Heaven. He will tell the Lord. You are my protector and my refuge: my God, I will hope in Him.
Here is expressed, On the one side - complete devotion to the will of God of a person who does not rely on anyone else, but only on God, and on the other - complete security of one who is in close communion with the God of Heaven, under His strong protection.
That is, we see that the main law is faith in God and hope in Him.
Verses 3 and 4. “It’s like He will deliver you from the snares of the net and from the word of the rebellious: His splash will overshadow you, and under His wings you hope: his truth will be your weapon.”
Here the psalmist, speaking to the righteous, says that the Lord God will deliver him from the snares of enemies ( "From the network of catchers") and from every hostile word, from every slander and conspiracy against him ("from the word rebellious"). He will cover him, will protect him, as it were, with his shoulders ( "His splash will overshadow you"), just as the soldiers who during the battle stand in the front ranks and cover those behind them with their shoulders, and he will have hope that under the protection of God he will be safe ( "and under his wings you hope"). Here the likeness is taken from birds that cover their chicks with their wings. "Weapons around"- means "will protect with a shield."
Thus, the psalmist's thought can be expressed as follows: “The almighty power of God will protect you, and being under the protection of Divine care, you will be completely safe. The very truth of God will surround you with weapons on all sides. Under "the truth of God" One must understand God's faithfulness to His promises: He (God) promises His help to all who trust in Him, and indeed gives it. Translated from the Hebrew, the last speech is expressed as follows: "His truth is a shield and a fence."
Verses 5 and 6."Do not be afraid of the fear of the night, from the arrow flying in the days, from the thing in the darkness of the transient, from the scum and the demon of the noonday."
"From the fear of the night" signifies hidden danger. Various fears often come at night due to the surrounding darkness (demons, murderers, thieves), but you pray and do not be afraid of anything.
"Arrow Flying Through the Days"- the image has a symbolic meaning. The arrow here - expresses any danger, illness, evil force. According to other interpretations, "an arrow that flies by day" called explicit malice (as opposed to hidden danger).
"Thing, in the darkness of the transient" there is fornication, adultery, demons of passion, intemperance, vile and carnal thoughts; all such demons fight against people.
"From hell" here can be translated as "from the attack." "Squid" from the Church Slavonic language - an unpleasant unexpected meeting, a sudden misfortune, misfortune or disaster, attack, illness, infection.
"Imp of noon"- According to St. Athanasius the Great is a symbol of laziness and carelessness. The demon of laziness disposes people to lie in carelessness, especially at noon time, when the womb is full and burdened with food (so the noon demon angered David when he fell into adultery with Bathsheba after noon sleep). Other interpreters, under the name "Demon demon" they mean an evil spirit, on a clear day or at noon, causing a person various kinds of obvious and open harm, diseases, for example, pestilence and infection.
The psalmist, as if representing all such fears, calms the person who is under the protection of God, saying to him: “Guarded by the power of God, you will not be afraid of any danger, either open or secret, day or night, you will not have fear of the night, you will not be afraid of an arrow flying by day. You will get rid of all fears ("in the darkness of the transient"), from any danger and chance, ("from hell"), i.e. from everything that happens to us by accident, and from an evil spirit that attacks at noon.
Verses 7 and 8. “A thousand will fall from your country, and the darkness at your right hand will not come close to you: both look at your eyes and see the reward of sinners.”
"From your country"- means "near you", on the one hand (left).
"I will dress you"- on right.
Danger threatens man from all sides. Numbers thousand ( "thousand") and tens of thousands ( "darkness") symbolically mean an unusually countless number of enemies attacking a person, hostile thoughts and desires. T . e. the idea of this verse can be expressed as follows: “Thousands and tens of thousands and countless enemies will attack you("and tma at your right hand")but it won't affect you("doesn't get close to you")» . Or like this: “If on the one hand a thousand enemies attack you, and on the other ten thousand or an innumerable multitude, then even then none of them will approach you, they will not destroy you. And you will not only not suffer any harm from the attacking wicked, but on the contrary, you will only look with your own eyes, and you yourself will see the recompense for them from the Lord("both(only) look at your eyes and see the reward of sinners")». So it was with the pious king of the Jews, Hezekiah. When, with a large army, the Assyrian king Sennacherib attacked him and besieged Jerusalem, then Hezekiah prayerfully cried out to the Lord God, placing all his hope in Him. And the Lord soon delivered Hezekiah from the terrible danger that threatened him, having struck in one night the entire numerous (185 thousand) army of the Assyrians.
Verse 9 “For thou, O Lord, is my hope; Thou hast made thy refuge the Most High.”
Here the strength of hope in God in man becomes even stronger.
The one who hopes in God and always lives in the help of the Almighty says in himself: “You, Lord, are all my hope and support("As you, O Lord, are my hope")»
and saying so "You have chosen one Almighty ("thou put") your refuge" says the psalmist.
Verses 10. "Evil will not come to you, and the wound will not come near your body."
Here the psalmist David answers the one who trusts in God: “You said that the Lord is your hope, and you made the Most High your refuge? So know that no temptation will come close to you.” Those. words "Evil will not come to you" is the answer to "You, O Lord, are my hope."
"Wound" there can be evil, and any disease.
Telesi means body, human flesh. However, in this case, instead of words: "Telesi yours" , according to the translation from Hebrew, as well as Greek and the Vulgate ( "village", "dwelling"), should read: "your dwelling" , as this place is corrected in a footnote in modern editions of the Bible and Psalter. But in another sense, "dwelling" souls have a body those. “Sickness will not come near your body because you have made God your refuge.”
Thus, in this verse, David continues to talk about God's protection of a person who is completely devoted to Him, saying this: “after you have chosen God as your refuge, no evil will come to you, and no trouble will reach your dwelling("and the wound will not come near your body")».
John Chrysostom explains this place in such a way that if infirmities and wounds and other similar temptations happen to the righteous, then they constitute a feat and test for him and multiply the crowns, but for the sinner they really become wounds.
Verses 11-12. “Like an angel to command you about you, keep you in all your ways. They will take you in their hands, but not when you stomp your foot on a stone.
Further, the psalmist indicates that an angel is sent to those who believe in God to help: “God, in whom you have placed all your trust, will send his angels and command (command) them("I will command my angels about you")to guard you in all your affairs ("keep you in all your ways"). They, these angels, by the command of God, will take you into their arms and support you so that you do not trip your foot on a stone. ("not when you strike your foot on a stone"), i.e. so that you do not fall into temptation when any temptation meets on the path of moral life. Word "leg" , according to St. Athanasius the Great, means "soul", and the word "stone" - "sin".
Verses 13. “Step on the asp and the basilisk and cross the lion and the serpent.”
According to the Great Athanasius, under "lion, snake, asp and basilisk" one can understand Satan himself and the evil angels who departed from God with him. "Asps and Basilisks" together - various images of evil spirits - demons, "lion and serpent"- the devil.
But in the literal sense "asp and basilisk, lion and serpent" may refer to dangerous animals. These animals, as the most terrible, serve as an image of imminent danger or worst enemies.
The sayings of this verse, like the previous ones, express the idea that for a person guarded by angels, nothing at all, even the most terrible, can be dangerous: "You will safely, harmlessly step on the asp and the basilisk, you will trample (overcome) the lion and the dragon."
In the highest sense, by stepping on poisonous and carnivorous animals, David expressed victory over Evil.
Verses 14, 15 and 16.“For I have trusted in Me, and I will deliver and (i.e. him) : I will cover, and as I know my name. He will call to Me, and I will hear him: I am with him in affliction, I will crush him and glorify him: I will fulfill him with long days and show him My salvation.
The psalm ends with the words of God Himself, who speaks of the righteous in such expressions: "because he trusted in me("as if I trust in me")then I will deliver him and hide him from danger. And because he knew and believed in me("I know my name"), i.e. He served and worshiped me alone, not recognizing other gods, I will always help him and listen to his prayer("hear him"). If any tribulation befalls him, then I will be with him in tribulation. ("I am with him in sorrow")I'll spare him("I'll take him out") from all mournful and difficult circumstances, and I will not only save him, but also glorify him, i.e. and I will send the most unfortunate circumstances to him for prosperity and glory. I will do for him what I once did to the long-suffering righteous Job, or what I did for the pious king of the Jews, Hezekiah. He will receive a long life on earth(“I will fulfill it with long days”) and be vouchsafed to the eternally blessed life of the next age.”
"long days" The Lord calls eternal life.
Thus, we see that reward and fruit of trust in God is the help of God, or The rescue. BUT our salvation, according to St. Athanasius the Great, - our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who leads us into the new age through union with Himself in the Church.
Faith is a prerequisite for Salvation. A person who believes in God and tries to be guided by the life established by Him on the earth of the Church, enters under the “protection of the Most High”, who will lovingly protect him from all evils.
The 90th Psalm has great power. As a powerful weapon against demons, it has been tested by many generations of Christians. This prayer is a powerful protection from any evil, from unkind people and from demons. "Alive in the help of the Most High..." Since ancient times, it has been considered the prayer of warriors and, in general, a prayer for the preservation of life on the battlefield or in any other dangerous situation. There is even a pious custom to wear the text "Psalm 90" in a pocket on the chest or on the belt.
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Prayer psalm 90 in Russian
Alive in the help of the Most High, in the blood of the God of Heaven will settle. The Lord says: Thou art my intercessor and my refuge, my God, and I trust in Him. As if He will deliver you from the net of the hunter, and from the rebellious word, His splash will overshadow you, and under His wings you hope: His truth will be your weapon. Do not be afraid of the fear of the night, from the arrow flying in the days, from the thing in the darkness of the passing, from the scum, and the demon of the noonday. A thousand will fall from your country, and darkness at your right hand, but it will not come close to you, both look at your eyes, and see the reward of sinners. As you, O Lord, are my hope, the Most High have laid down your refuge. Evil will not come to you, and the wound will not approach your body, as if by His Angel a commandment about you, save you in all your ways. They will take you in their hands, but not when you stumble your foot on a stone, step on the asp and the basilisk, and cross the lion and the serpent. For I have trusted in Me, and I will deliver, and I will cover, and, as I know My name. He will call to Me, and I will hear him: I am with him in sorrow, I will crush him, and I will glorify him, I will fulfill him with long life, and I will show him My salvation.
Prayer is the work of the human soul, a special duty of the believer, who must develop his spirit in order to comprehend the commandments of the Lord. Assimilation of them is not given from birth. They must be comprehended by comparing your life with the example that Jesus Christ gave us.
It is regrettable that people turn to faith and appeal to God most often in times of sorrow and life's turmoil. Everyone can come face to face with such trials, when the only hope is exclusively in the Lord.
Psalm 90 is a prayer from the Psalter - the book of the Old Testament. This text is very old. Philologists believe that the author is King David. In the Greek version of the Psalter it is called "David's Laudatory Song", in the Russian Orthodox it is called "Alive in Help", in the Western Christian in Latin it is called Quihabitat. Psalm 90 is also featured in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew.
This prayer must be said to a person who has come into contact with the temptations of the spirit, such as the desire to get rich at the expense of others. Or when lust arises for the wives or husbands of other people. And also at the moment when a person is attacked by devilish entities who want to push a Christian off the righteous path. Then psalm 90 comes to the rescue, and it must be said until sinful thoughts disappear.
The main thing in reading a prayer is to feel your connection with the Lord, his protection and intercession. All this gives Psalm 90.
Why is it read forty times?
In order to eliminate confusion and confusion in thoughts and calm the soul. While a person reads a verse, carefully follows the content - doubts disappear, and his faith in the Lord is revived.
At present, observing the events taking place in the world, a person is deeply aware of the main words of the prayer: "The Lord is my hope." In them, he finds peace and ceases to worry.
Psalm 90 is a prayer that protects from evil people, from evil spirits, from devilish manifestations. You will find confirmation of this by opening the Gospel. So, Jesus Christ, during a 40-day fast in the desert, in order not to give in to the temptations of Satan, read the 11th and 12th verses of this prayer (see - from Matthew 4:6 and from Luke 4:11).
Psalm 90 as a talisman:
Psalm 90 is a very strong amulet. He performs this function not only during the pronunciation of poetry, but also in writing. You can write it on a piece of paper or on a piece of cloth and put this text in your clothes. He will protect you from evil people, enemies, and simply from manifestations of unfriendliness; forever protect from all the negative moments that abound in life.
When they read psalm 90 in temples:
In Western Christian churches, this prayer is used during evening worship. The Eastern Christian Church uses Psalm 90 as part of the 6th hour worship service, as well as at funerals for the dead.
In Orthodox churches, it is customary to read psalms 26, 50, 90 in Church Slavonic. The reason is that it is considered impossible to express the meaning and key idea of these prayers if they are translated into another language. But it is still permissible to read Psalm 90 in Russian. The main thing is to sincerely cry out to the Lord.
Prayer Idea:
Psalm 90 contains the idea that an irresistible force is present in faith in the Most High. There is an element of prophecy in prayer, this can be found in the indication of the coming of the Savior in the final 16th verse of Psalm 90. The text is best read and memorized in Church Slavonic. In order to penetrate deeply into the meaning of prayer, it is necessary to get acquainted with a summary of the interpretation of each verse.
Interpretation of the prayer:
Its main content is as follows:
The Lord gave people the law of divine commandments, the person who fulfills them will always be under the protection of God.
A believing person turns to the Lord with the words that only he is his hope and protection, only he trusts in him.
The Lord will save a person from an attack on his physical body or from committing a sin in passion, as well as from an evil word - from slander that produces confusion in his soul.
The Lord will undoubtedly protect a person with the same love with which a mother hen hides her chicks with her wings. Because His Truth is a shield and an instrument for the preservation of the believer who recognizes this truth.
"You will not be afraid from the fear of the night, from the arrow that flies into the days."
A person who receives God's help will not be afraid of robbers who can attack at night, thieves, bandits. He will not be afraid of the thing that comes in darkness, that is, fornication, adultery. And also he will not be afraid of the midday demon, that is, laziness and carelessness, which corrupt people with the temptations of carnal passions.
A thousand on the left is a temptation to sins, ten thousand on the right is an opposition to the charitable deeds of man. But a person who has deep faith in the Lord will not be harmed by them.
God will help you see how your enemies will be punished.
A person completely relied on God with all his mind and heart, therefore the protection of the Lord is so strong.
Since a man has made God his refuge, he will not experience any calamity, the house will not be destroyed, and the body will not suffer from disease.
The hands of angels will keep your soul in times of temptation and trouble.
Asp and basilisk - slander and envy, lion and serpent - cruelty and inhumanity, the Lord will protect the righteous believer from them.
It is not the person who recognizes the existence of God who knows the Name of God, but only the one who fulfills his commandments and his will, only he is worthy of God's help.
A person who has entrusted himself to the Lord will turn to him in danger, and He will hear him and protect him, and glorify him in eternal life for his Faith.
This verse says that whoever trusts in God, He will give him eternal life, Salvation is Jesus Christ.
Psalm 90 - the best defense:
Psalm 90, created long before the birth of Christ, is one of the prayers in demand. Many Orthodox believers have a story that is associated with an amazing deliverance from any danger or misfortune with the help of the “Alive in Help” prayer.
The protective power of this prayer has nothing to do with superstition. Prayer must be known by heart, it is advisable to read it before leaving the house and before setting off on a long journey.
Illustrative examples of the power of Psalm 90 There are amazing stories from life about how this prayer protects a person. During the First World War fought a British regiment under the command of Colonel Wittelsea. During the four years that the war continued, not a single soldier died in this regiment. This happened because all the military, having memorized the text, regularly repeated the words of the 90th psalm, they had the name “On Protection”.
Another case of a later time, which was told by a Soviet Afghan officer. During the call to the army, his mother asked him to take a small icon on which was the prayer of Psalm 90 and said that if it was hard, let him read it three times. He was sent to Afghanistan, where he was the commander of a reconnaissance company. The usual trips to the rear to the dushmans, ambushes on caravans with weapons, but once they themselves were ambushed. They were surrounded on all sides. Soldiers were dying, there was almost no ammunition left. He saw that they would not survive. Then he remembered the words of his mother, a small icon was always in his breast pocket. He took it out, began to read a prayer. And then a miracle happened: he suddenly felt that it became very quiet, as if he was covered with an invisible veil, or a cap. He managed to gather the survivors, and they went on a breakthrough and got out of the encirclement without losing anyone. After that, he believed in God and the power of prayer, read it before each sortie behind enemy lines, fought until the end of the war, returned home without a single scratch.
Such is the miraculous power of the prayer "Living in help" (Psalm 90).
Why read this amazing prayer?
Even unbelieving people will be able to feel all her power and patronage.
The thing is, it's a magical number. Exactly 40 days of fasting, Jesus himself repeated the lines of this prayer. Therefore, such a number of repetitions will undoubtedly help a person.