Glory And Strength

Ἐπαινεῖσθε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι τῷ ἁγίῳ αὐτοῦ. Ὁ δὲ 'Ακύλας καυχᾶσθε ἀντὶ τοῦ ἐπαινεῖσθε τέθεικε. Παρακελεύεται δὲ ὁ λόγος , μὴ ἐπὶ πλού τῳ, μὴ ἐπὶ ῥώμῃ , μὴ ἐπὶ δυναστείᾳ μέγα φρονεῖν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐν τῇ τοῦ Θεοῦ γνώσει καὶ προμηθείᾳ. Τοῦτο παρηγγύησε καὶ ὁ θεῖος ᾿Αποστόλος, Ὁ καυχώμενος γάρ, φησὶν, ἐν Κυρίῳ καυχάσθω. Ταῦτα καὶ ἡ σοφωτάτη 'Αννα διέξεισι, Μὴ καυχάσθω ὁ σουφὸς ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ αὐτοῦ, καὶ μή καυχάσθω ὁ ἰσχυρὸς ἐν τῇ ἰσχύϊ αὑτοῦ. Καὶ, Μὴ καυχάσθω ὁ πλούσιος ἐν τῷ πλούτῳ αὐτοῦ , ἀλλ᾽ ἐν τούτῳ καυχάσθω ὁ καυχώμενος , ἐν τῷ συνιεῖν καὶ γινώσκειν τὸν Κύριον, καὶ ποιεῖν κρῖμα καὶ δικαιοσύνην ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. Εὐφρανθήτω καρδία ζητούντων τὸν Κύριον. Τῆς γὰρ εἰς τὸν Θεὸν ἐλπίδος εὐφροσύνη καρπός . Ζητήσατε τὸν Κύριον, καὶ κραταιώθητε. Καὶ διδάσκων πῶς δεῖ τοῦτο ποιεῖν, ἐπήγαγε· Ζητήσατε τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ διαπαντός. Οὐ γὰρ ἅπαξ ἢ δὶς , ἀλλὰ παρὰ πάντα τὸν βίον τὴν ἄνωθεν ἐπικουρίαν προσήκει ζητεῖν, καὶ τὴν ὠφέλειαν καρποῦσθαι. Ἀμαχοι γὰρ οἱ ζητοῦντες ἔσονται, καὶ ἀήττητοι. Τοῦτο καὶ ὁ Κύριος νομοθετῶν ὑπηγγείλατο· Αἰτεῖτε καὶ δοθήσεται ὑμῖν , ζητεῖτε καὶ εὑρήσετε , κρούετε καὶ ἀνοιγήσεται ὑμῖν· πᾶς γὰρ ὁ αἰτῶν λαμβάνει, καὶ ὁ ζητῶν εὑρίσκει, καὶ τῷ κρούοντι ἀνοιγήσεται. Θεοδώρητος Ἐπίσκοπος Κύρρος, Ἑρμηνεία εἰς Τους Ψαλμούς, Ψαλμός ΡΔ' Source: Migne PG 80.1709b-c

Have praise in his holy name. 1 Aquila puts glory for praise here. This passage plainly exhorts us not to exult in wealth or strength or power, but in the knowledge and providence of God. This is what the holy Apostle exhorts, saying, 'He who would glory, let him glory in the Lord.' 2 And this the most wise Hannah explains, 'Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom nor the rich man in his wealth,' 3 and 'Let him glory in this who glories, in the understanding and knowledge of the Lord, and in making judgement and righteousness on the earth.' 4 Let the hearts of the seekers of the Lord rejoice. For the fruit of hope is gathered up in the joy of God. Seek the Lord and be strengthened. And teaching how this must be done, he continues, 'Seek His face always.' For not once or twice but through the whole of one's life one should seek the Divine help and lay hold of its utility. For they who seek Him are unconquered and unconquerable. The Lord in giving the law teaches this, saying, 'Ask and you shall receive, seek and it shall be given to you, knock and it shall be opened to you, for everyone who asks receives and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened.' 5 Theodoret of Cyrrhus, Commentary on the Psalms, from Psalm 104 1 Ps 104.3 2 2 Cor 10.17 3 1 King 2.10 LXX 4 Jerem 9.23-24 5 Mt 7.7-8