Correction From On High

Ὁ Θρόνος σου, ὁ Θεὸς, εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος· ῥάβδος εὐθύτητος, ἡ ῥάβδος τῆς βασιλείας σου.  Ἐπειδὴ πολλὰ πρὸς τὸ ἀνθρώπινον ἀνατεινόμενος διελέχθη, ἐπανάγει νῦν ἐπὶ τὰ ὕψη τῆς περὶ τοῦ Μονογενοῦς δόξης τὸν λόγον. Ὁ Θρόνος σου, φησὶν, ὁ Θεὸς, εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος· τουτέστιν, ἡ βασιλεία σου ἐπέκεινα τῶν αἰώνων, καὶ ἐννοίας πάσης ἐστὶ πρεσβυτέρα. Καὶ καλῶς μετὰ τὴν τῶν λαῶν ὑποταγὴν τὸ μεγαλοπρεπὲς τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀνυμνεῖ. Ῥάβδος εὐθύτητος, ἡ ῥάβδος τῆς βασιλείας σου. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ἀπέδωκεν αὐτῷ τὴν ἰδίαν προσηγορίαν, σαφῶς αὐτὸν ἀναγορεύσας Θεόν· Ὁ Θρόνος σου, ὁ Θεὸς. Παιδευτική τίς ἐστιν ἡ ῥάβδος τοῦ Θεοῦ· παιδεύουσα δὲ, εὐθείας καὶ οὐ παρατετραμμένας ἐπάγει τὰς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ προσηγόρευται. Ἐὰν γὰρ ἐγκαταλίπωσιν οἱ υἱοὶ αύτοῦ τὸν νόμον μου, καὶ τοῖς κρίμασι μου μὴ πορευθῶσιν, ἐπισκέψομαι ἐν ῥάβδῳ τὰς ἀνομίας αὐτῶν. Ὁρᾷς τὴν δικαίαν κρίσιν τοῦ Θεοῦ; Οὐκ ἐπὶ τῶν τυχόντων χρῆται, ἀλλ' ἐπὶ τῶν ἁμαρτανόντων. Αὔτη δὲ καὶ παρακλήσεως λέγεται ῥάβδος· Ἡ ῥάβδος γάρ σου, φησὶ, καὶ ἡ βακτηρία σου, αὖταί με παρεκάλεσαν. Αὔτη καὶ συντριμμοῦ ἐστι ῥάβδος. Ποιμανεῖς γὰρ αὐτοὺς ἐν ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ ὡς σκεῦος κεραμέως συντρίψεις αὐτούς. Συντρίβεται δὲ τὰ χοῖὰ καὶ πήλινα ἐπ' εὐεργεσίᾳ τῶν ποιμαινομένων· καθὸ καὶ παραδίδοται Εἰς ὅλεθρον τῆς σαρκὸς, ἵνα τὸ πνεῦμα σωθῇ. Ἅγιος Βασίλειος ὁ Μέγας, Ὁμιλία Ἐις Τους Ψαλμούς, Εἰς Τον ΜΔ' Ψαλμον Source: Migne PG 29.404b-d

'Your throne, O God, is forever, the rod of correction is the rod of your kingdom.' 1 After concerning itself with human nature and having expended many words about it, now the prayer returns to the glorious height of the Only Begotten. 'Your throne, O God is forever,' it says. That is, your kingdom is established beyond the ages and is most ancient in every understanding. And wondrously, when your people have become obedient, they shall celebrate the magnificence of your kingdom. 'A rod of correction is the rod of your kingdom.' Whatever is the title given to Him, it is clearly calling Him God. 'Your throne, O God.' The rod is that which corrects and while it corrects it improves, and since it does not bring about perverse judgement, it is proclaimed to be of His kingdom. 'For if his sons forsake my law and do not walk in my judgements, I shall requite their iniquities with a rod.' 2 You see the just judgement of God? He does not act against just anyone but against sinners. And this same rod is  said to be one of consolation, 'For your rod and staff,' he says,'are my consolation.' 3 'You shall rule them with a rod of iron, as an earthen vessel you will shatter them.' 4 For earth and mud will be shattered because of the pleasures which rule over them, whoever is given over 'to the dissolutions of the flesh,' and 'that they might be saved.' 5 Saint Basil of Caesarea, Homilies on the Psalms, from Psalm 44 1 Ps 44.7 2 Ps 88.31,33 3 Ps 22.4 4 Ps 2.9 5 1 Cor 5.5