Gregory Palamas’ 150 Chapters’ Parallel Dialogue

with the 150 Psalms of the Psalter

Gregory Palamas is in a profound, and hidden, dialogue with the Book of

Psalms, in his treatise 150 Chapters.
Please let me begin this with a plea for patience and gentle mercy from the
Orthodox Christian community:
Because I have not formally studied Palamas, I pray that I have not
misrepresented him in any way. If I have made mistakes, I beg you to point them out
to me, so that I may correct them.

Gregory Palamas’ 150 Chapters is a template. It is a perfect model-blueprint.

It is perhaps the clearest great work of theology that demonstrates how a work of
theology can be in hidden dialogue with the Book of Psalms. Many other authors
have done this, but Gregory’s book is especially clear and brilliant in this regard.
Gregory’s work is perhaps the most perfect paradigmatic instance of this
hidden tradition.
Other authors have, like Gregory, crafted into their treatises hidden dialogues
with the Psalms that directly parallel the numerical order of the Psalms of the
Psalter. Despite the fact that these dialogues with the Psalms are hidden, the later
writers want their codes to be broken, to be discovered, by us.
Other authors have done this in more obscured ways: examples of this are
Evagrius Ponticus’ 153 Chapters on Prayer, and the newly-discovered Gospel of
Thomas. However, Evagrius’ work is more a spiritual exercise of spiritual tone
recognition, a soul-poetics guide to learning how to discern the musical rhythms
between us and the Holy Spirit in our daily life. Palamas’ work certainly does this
too, but his 150 Chapters also have a great deal of clearly-presented theory and high
doctrinal teaching to convey to us, which is not exactly the case with Evagrius. So
Palamas intentionally set out to make his work more clear in its connections—that
is, after we remove the initial veil.
Additionally, ancient authors often used a literary form known as “centuries,”
that is, writing 100 numbered, short paragraphs. This form was especially prevalent
among Orthodox Christian authors. For example, the Philokalia, that great collection
of spiritual writing, contains works in this style by multiple authors.

In a different yet related area, a forthcoming work discusses mystical

structures that are hidden in the Book of Psalms. It is clear that Gregory knows of
these structures also.
Therefore, in his 150 Chapters, Gregory has,
 1) formed a parallel dialogue between each of his chapters and the Psalm of
the same number. His Chapter 1 shares words with, and is therefore in dialogue
with, Psalm 1. His Chapter 2 does the same with Psalm 2, Chapter 3 with Psalm 3, all
the way to Chapter 150 and Psalm 150. And he has also,
2) placed in his work references to the Mystical Psalm Structures.

The chart below focuses on the first of these. The chart is in two columns.
The column on the left has words and items from the chapters of Gregory’s book,
and the column on the right has related words and items from the Psalm of the same
number.
One example from the chart illustrates how the Psalm-connections add
dimensions to Gregory’s work. Psalms 111 and 112 form a pair. In Psalm 111, God is
described with particular attributes. In the next Psalm, 112, these attributes become
human attributes.
This models how the Energies, a major topic of Gregory’s work, are given by
God to humanity. Gregory makes wonderful references to Psalms 111 and 112,
hiddenly, to support and elucidate his theory.

Although I am not an expert on St. Gregory Palamas, it is clear that in his 150
Chapters he establishes himself as one of the great Christian writers who is making a
hidden commentary on the Psalms, and is aware of the Mystical Psalm Structures.
In the following table, I simply compare the parallels between his individual
chapters and the individual Psalm of the same number. I offer no conclusions yet.

And at this point I must ask a second time for compassion from the Orthodox
Christian community: I had to recently return the books and materials I was using
for this, and the work is incomplete. Eventually I would like to make this into a book.
However, not being an expert in Palamas’ thought, I would welcome the opportunity
to write that book with the help of author(s) who are more experienced than me in
Palamas’ thought. Because this information could be of use now to Palamas scholars,
I humbly offer it, early, at this time.

Here is the chart that shows the parallel connections between the 150
Chapters and the Psalms of the Psalter:
 St. Gregory Palamas’ Chapters Psalms
1 -beginning, world Psalm 1:

-nature teaches, history confirms -(the Torah ‘teaches’ the Psalmist)

-the word “torah” is related to “teach”
-LAWS, x2 -TORAH, LAW, x2 (By mentioning the
-NOMOTHETAS TON NOMON Torah in Psalm 1, the Psalter instantly
recommends itself to inter-textuality.)

-MOSES = Moses=AUTHOR OF THE TORAH, LAW

-“deride the sophists” -‘wicked’ and other groups to avoid

-Governance of states -Applicable to Psalm 2, following

2 -end of world -Warning about the ‘doomed’ end of bad
rulers in Psalm 2
-transformation; world changed into -end of Psalm 2 offers bad rulers
something more divine by power of the opportunity to transform their lives and
Holy Spirit their leadership patterns
3 -movement of heavens, and the cause -hellish movement of David, fleeing,
caused by his son Absalom (Psalm
superscription)
-list of 4 elements (see discussion of -elements (and associated geometric
chapters 81 & 84) polyhedra of Euclid’s Elements and
Plato’s Timaeus) are hidden in Psalms
-“foolish in their reasonings” and -Absalom’s spy-counselor gave him bad
“senseless in their hearts” advice, and his heart was pierced.
Absalom is a vital part of a hidden line of
development in the Hebrew Scriptures.
4
-“euge” -Selah

-Chapter 4 makes distinctions, ……….. -……..just as Psalm 4 does

-celestial bodies revolving -Psalmist lies down to sleep

-early Psalms feature alternation of night
and day
5 -“adjacent sphere of aether enclosed -“envelop with favor as with a shield”,
within it.” Hebrew Psalm 5
-“You (God) will tent among them”,
Greek Psalm 5
6 -“heaven” -hell (Sheol)

-body; presence of a body in world -Psalm 6 at bottom of Ladder, planted on

the earth, world; the Ladder also images
 the human body; also, Psalm 6 is about
illness of the body….
7 -“why then is the movement of the -“rise above it, to the heights return”
celestial body not directed upwards….?”
8 -“Top” -“Glory chanted/raised above heavens”
-“celestial body” -“moon”, “stars”, “heavens”
-wind, circuits, and circles -circuits and cycles in Psalm 8

-“Solomon”, baby of David & Bathsheba -“baby” in Psalm 8

-“same name” -“David”, and Solomon’s God-given
nickname, “Jedidiah”, both mean
“Beloved”, and are nearly the “same
name”
9 -speaks of “divisions” -Greek Psalter joins Hebrew Psalms 9 &
10 into one, Greek (LXX) Psalm 9
-“divisions”, again -Psalm 9 begins with the Psalmist
proclaiming with “all my heart all Your
wondrous deeds”
-4 races of people on earth -enemy race of people threatening

-“our flank” -“tell among the peoples his glory”

-“torrid zone” -gates of death

-“antipodal and reversed in relation to -from “gates of death” to “gates of
us” daughter of Zion”
-“abyss of waters” -“pit”, “Sheol” (hell), gates of death

-“terrestrial sphere” -“habitable world”

10 -Gregory says 4 elements, then, -the above-mentioned split of Psalm 9 by
quoting Aristotle, says there are 5 the Hebrew Psalter results in most of the
elements Psalms of the Greek and Hebrew Psalters
being different by one, just as 4/5 (4 or
5) describes the elements.
[Gregory’s treatise will generally follow For example, most Western Bibles will
the Hebrew numbering, as the Psalm label Psalm 12 as Psalm 11/12 (the “11”
Structures are according to the Hebrew describes the same Psalm in the Greek
numbering system.] Psalter (LXX) numbering system)
11 -earth, water; elements -fire

-under heaven -heaven

-surface of earth -face of God

12 -“lowest extremity of earth” -Psalm 12 (like 6) is lowest part of
Ladder, resting on the earth; also, Psalm
12 has the word “earth”
 -“8 times greater” -8th, or, 1/8th, in Psalms 6 & 12, the
base of the Ladder, where it touches
earth. HaSheminish, “8th” in Hebrew,
appears only in these two Psalms, further
accenting them as a pair at the base of
the Ladder.

-“This is clear from the diagram”……… -……..the diagram of the Ladder!

13 -1/8th part -see above, “8th“ of Psalms 6 & 12

-“ever-flowing river streams issue -“My heart will exult in your salvation”;
forth” “Streams of living water will flow from
your heart (belly)” (John 7:38)

-there is a diagram of a circle in a 13 x 4 = 52; Psalms 13 & 52, according to

‘quarter’ of a larger circle. the Greek Psalter numbering system, are
practically identical (Hebrew 14 & 53).
[In this chapter, Gregory is conversing Further, in both Psalms, God is looking
with at least four different Psalms. down from heaven to the people of the
Psalms 12, 13, 14, and 53 according to the earth, emphasizing Gregory’s picture of
Hebrew numbering system, or, Psalms 11, smaller spheres within the heavenly
12, 13, and 52 in the Greek (LXX)] spheres.
14 -rational soul -if any have understanding and seek God
-irrational beasts -fools
15 -impressions -purity
-senses, physical

-forms, bodies; -temple, pure people;

images, mirrors temples are images of people. Temples
are also images of the Cosmos, Creation
16 -intricate operation of interior person -intricate operation of interior person

-treasure -inheritance
17 -more discussion of interior processes -more discussion of interior processes
18 -shortest chapter to this point -longest Psalm to this point
-extremes and fluctuations -extremes and fluctuations
-darkness and light -darkness and light
-chastisement -chastisement
19 -when the mind lingers over the -thoughts of my heart
imaginative faculty of the soul
-processes of learning and growth -processes of learning and growth
-sun -sun
-orbit of sun -orbit of sun
20 -sun and moon -God and king, anointed one
21 -God and Moses -God and king
 -eternal being -eternal life
-fire -fire
-he rightly drives far off those who…. -king defeats enemies, destroys offspring
-teaching of Spirit -much spiritual learning in Psalm 21
22 -With the immovable earth as a center -Psalm 22, Christ on the Cross, elevated
point he arranged the….heaven….and to a middle region between heaven and
bound the two together with great earth. (Paul, wisdom of Cross)
wisdom through the middle regions -Jesus unites heaven and earth.
-Absalom, other son of David, in tree,
suspended between heaven and earth
23 -master craftsman, aristoteknes -shepherd. Lord is my shepherd.

-changes of season -lush meadows; all days of life

24 -deemed worthy by God for honor -one deemed worthy “receives blessing”
-formed by hand of God -pure hand
-soul set over Creation -land set over sea

-human soul capable of receiving God -gates, raise heads….so King of Glory may
enter
25 -Euclid….Platonists -elements, perfect polyhedra in Psalms;
these polyhedra appear in both Euclid’s
geometry treatise, the Elements, and in
Plato’s Timaeus

-wisdom and teaching of Spirit, -Psalm 25 is center of a mystical

surpasses what great philosophers know structure, and at the same time, a part of
(pancake to crown….) other mystical structures (like crown)
26 -again, greater than Hellenic -again, deeper look inside the human
philosophy is learning about God. person, and the good result of our
walking with God.
-humanity invited to look to God -God invited to look into human Psalmist
27 -people who oppose God…. “hostile to -people who oppose Psalmist
[human] race”
28 -destructive oracles; -they speak of peace, but evil in their
hearts
-followers of untruth going far astray -those who descend to the grave
29 -mind’s weakness -God gives strength

-this age (passing away) -God is king for eternity

30 -evil angels fall -Psalmist saved from descent to pit
31 -the soul (psyche) is mortal, like body -soul’s troubles and grief; soul taken
32 -the soul has rational and intellectual -don’t be stupid, uncomprehending, like
life (noetic, noeran) horse or mule (a devolution)
-now, in apposition to 31, the (soul) is -Psalmist forgiven and healed
not mortal, and perdures immortally
[Interpretation: The word ‘soul’ (psyche)
has 2 cognate appearances early in the
first sentence of this chapter, then
disappears. Is Gregory saying that we
must evolve and develop our nous (highest
part of soul) in this life, or we miss the
boat? As Kallistos Ware says, some people
are unaware that they possess a spiritual
intellect (nous). Perhaps Gregory is saying
the immortality of the soul is connected
with our cultivation of our nous.]
33 -more discussion of soul cultivation -God rescues soul

-excellence/virtue (aretes) -faithfulness

34 -“good” x 7 -“good” x 4
-“goodness” x 7
-then in the last few sentences of this -this is more appearances of the
chapter, there are 7 more appearances of word “good” than in almost any other
forms of the word “good”. This brings the Psalm.
total appearances of “good” in this
chapter to 21 (3 sets of 7), a wisdom
number. Wisdom 7:22 presents a list of
21 attributes of Lady Wisdom, and
Proverbs 9:1 says that Lady Wisdom has
built her house with 7 pillars. The Pillar
of the Psalm Structures is composed of
the 7 Psalms that are multiples of 21.
Psalm 16, only in the LXX, is called “a
pillar inscription” in the superscription.
(See also Psalms 56-60 of the LXX
(numbered 55-59 in the LXX).) Psalm 16
is also a Psalm of the Menorahs, the 18
Psalms of which especially utilize the
word “Blessed/Happy”

-Blessed/Happy (makariotes, Greek) -Blessed/Happy (ashre, Hebrew)

-tongue -tongue

-Spirit -Spirit
35 -“good” cognates x 9 -“good” x 1

-“Word” (cognates x 8) -word; additionally, Psalm 35 is the

first of the “Battling Mantra” Psalms (35,
70, 40; 42 & 43) (see treatment of Psalm
 70 below, and hesychasm debate)

[“Telos”-cognates x 10] equivalents? “Salvation”?

36 –good …………………………………………..

-Word

-Spirit

-“The Spirit of Truth, who -“In your light we see light”

proceeds from (within) the Father”

-Love

-Truth -deceit

37 -good -good

-Love -Love

-their own innermost being -(much like Psalm 36, “In your light we
-we recognize him as perfect in a perfect see light”)
and proper hypostasis….
38…………………………..

-body -flesh, bones

-serious disease, trauma…. -your arrows; sores, affliction, pain

39
40 -(the human soul)…look to him (God) -to fulfill your will, God, I do desire; and
alone and adorn itself with perpetual your Torah is in my innards
remembrance and contemplation of him
and with most fervent and ardent love
for him….
41 -contest between devil and God -contest between Psalmist and enemies
42 -the serpent tries to lure the attentive -Israelites carried off to Babylon, after
Eve to himself Babylon army victorious over Israel

-a teaching about why God allowed -the individual person, subjected to the
the devil to seduce humanity; so that trial of the forced exile to Babylon,
humanity might learn to be faithful to becomes involved in a much more
themselves and to the Creator profound relationship with God

-“Thus, he will readily become victor -One of God’s names in Psalm 42 is l’El
over the one who fell from true life; he cha, the “Living God”. (The only other
will justly receive blessed immortality Psalm where this name appears is Psalm
and will abide forever in life divine.” 84.) (84 = 42 x 2)

* “…the extraordinary fact of his talking *See 35 above, 70 below; Palamas is

cause stupefaction….” referring to battling mantras, and
hesychasm

* “Thus he will readily become victor *In Psalm 43, the good mantra defeats
over the one who fell from true life; he the bad mantra, which disappears. See
will justly receive blessed immortality the end of the Psalm, for the joyous
and will abide forever in life divine.” return of the exile to Jerusalem.

43 -no being superior to humanity -Psalmist battling “man of deceit”

-We have come to be more in the -I shall thank him for the salvations of my
image of God than they are. countenance (face, image).
44 -devil rules in evil manner; humans -humans are like sheep, whom God has
are meant both to be ruled and to rule delivered and scattered among nations
45 -The great Paul…. -pen of a skillful scribe (also, Paul quotes
from previous Psalm, 44, in Romans 8)
-self-indulgent widow -young princess

-spiritual bridegroom -king is bridegroom

46 -mentions “divine Psalmist”, quotes
Psalm 11/10
-human body dissolved -earth dissolves in Psalm 46
47 -Israel -Jacob
48 -God desires us to live -Our God…will guide us forever.

-2 ancestors (Adam and Eve) -succeeding generation; daughters of

Judah (sons of Adam in next Psalm, 49)
49 -evolution of individual person, -“improve yourself”; also, those “without
guided by their own will and actions understanding are like beasts without
speech”, an example of devolution
50 -lived in that sacred land; council -God summons all earth

-midcourse -one who orders his way, I will show the

salvation of God

-sense of taste, eating to satiety; -God asks people if they think God’s
“impassioned eating of sweetest victuals” hungry; he takes no delight in their burnt
offerings
51 -the sentence of death for the soul -Psalm 51 (Nathan in superscription)

-transgression -David knows his transgression

 -the sin of Adam -the sin of David
-sentence of bodily death, restrained -in 2 Sam 11, Nathan tells David that he
will not die after his committing adultery
with Bathsheba (the sin of Psalm 51)
52 -human existence as quick as a -I trust in the love of God forever and
burning reed ever

-we come into being in corruption -previous Psalm, 51, “conceived in sin”

-the constantly changing and ephemeral -But I am like an olive tree ever fresh in
quality of this transient life the house of God.
53 -depth of wisdom -the fool says in his heart….

-Lest we be entirely unaware…. -there is no doer of good, not even one

-Adam, Seth, Enosh, Enoch, Noah, -sons of Adam

Melchisedek, Abraham -Jacob, Israel (x2)
54 -God rescues us from the falls of our -Behold, God is with the supporters of
freely willed deviation from the course. my soul. (Saul is hunting David in Ps 54.)
55 -fall into the Gehenna of eternal fire -But you, God, will lower them into the
well of destruction.
56 -fallen into this pit -previous Psalm, 55, above

-Incarnation -what can mortal flesh do to me?

-Word of God -In God I will praise the Word (x2)

57 -quoting Psalm 107, Gregory talks of -Psalm 57’s superscription includes:
“those who sit in darkness and the “when he (David) fled from Saul in the
shadow of death” cave”

-condescension of God the word unto -Saul accidentally stumbles into same
us cave where David is

-the King -Saul, who was still king

-Let us acquire…a gentle heart full of -David spares Saul’s life, which
mercy…peacemaking…glad to suffer immensely pleases God
persecutions…
58 -“The absence of passions….” -This is a humorous beginning of this
chapter of Gregory, because Psalm 58 is
-The rest of the chapter is about love perhaps the harshest cursing Psalm
59 -again there is a humorous contrast -The Psalm superscription discusses
between the Psalm and the chapter, Saul’s men who guarded the house, to kill
which concludes with John 4:23, “those him (David).
who thus worship the supreme Father in -“They return towards evening, they
spirit and truth are true worshippers.” howl like dogs about the city.”
60 -“place”; God is spirit, not -“…and Joab (vicious right-hand man of
circumscribed by spatial boundaries David) returned and smote Edom in the
Valley of Salt, [killing] 12,000 [men].”
-many other places mentioned in Psalm
61 -connection of body and soul -connection of David and God
62 -Cain -“you are committing murder” (LXX)
-bless, curse
63 -In company with many others…. -Psalmist alone with God is wilderness

-angels -wings

-visitation -Psalmist remembers previous visits

from God

-flesh -flesh
64 -ways of comprehension -comprehending, contemplating, God’s
work
65 -circular motions of divine minds -furthest ends (of earth), cycles of year
-divine minds; Areopagus -holiest part of your sanctuary
66 -Word of God -Psalm 66 is an amazing compendium of
-John Chrysostom (Golden-Mouth) speech acts. With the discussion of the
refining of silver, there is a connection
[recent chapters have discussed words: with Psalm 12, where the Word of God is
59 took up the Word of God, and 65 like silver refined 7 times. (12 and 66 are
discussed great theologians] both Ladder Psalms.)
-transformation: “He indicated what -there is also a discussion of elements,
we once were and what we shall become which may be connected with the
through him in the future age if we mention of the Greek Areopagus in
choose here below to live according to his Chapter 65; “…you brought us out into
ways as much as possible, as John abundance….” (after transforming
Chrysostom says.” process)
-Golden-Mouth -“mouth”, “tongue”, speech
-“Here below” -“mortals rode over our heads”
67 -“a Psalm, a Song” [verbal multiplicity]

-divine illumination -“may he illuminate his countenance/

face with us” (shine his face on us)
-gold (see Chrysostom above)
-shining stones

-great Paul
-divine illumination, twice more
-“words”, “theology”; quoting Gregory
Nazianzen: “…brief flash of the Great
Light”
68 -“a Psalm, a Song [verbal multiplicity]

-sun’s ray -Psalm full of rain; metals reflect light

-gold and silver(x2); see Psalm 66 and

Chapters 66 and 67; Gregory discusses
the Energies here….

-Energies are “ineffable in their -God’s grandeur and might

grandeur” (Palamas quoting Basil)
-Energies -God grants might and power to people

-Holy Spirit; indivisible substance of -dove covered with silver and gold
Spirit

-Energies are one and many -twice ten-thousand thousands of angels

-hosts (Tsabaoth) of Yahweh x 2
69 -participating in the divine Energies -disgraces/insults of those who scorn
you (God) have fallen on me; (Psalmist
participating in suffering for God)

-Basil the Great, and the theologians -the Book of Life

70 -three appearances of “7” -Psalms 35 & 70 have connections
-for a total of “21”, see above Ch. 34 -Psalms 34 & 68 are connected with
variations of “thousands”; (in Ps. 34, the
word “thousand” is twice hidden in the
Psalm)
-also, 70 = 35 x 2; 68 = 34 x 2

-root of Jesse -“Jesse” (and “David”) mentioned in

doxology of Psalm 72; “Solomon” is in the
superscription of Psalm 72

-“number” -“number” in Psalm 71

-“most distinguished voice among….” -Psalms 35 & 70 have battling mantras;

-“…these divine Energies by means Of course, this could contribute to the
of the word ‘rested upon’….” hesychasm debates…. (see treatment of
Psalm 35 above; 5 Psalms that have
*Palamas is making more and widening battling mantras are 35, 70, and 40; also,
references to multiple Psalms and 42 & 43)
Chapters. Perhaps this reflects the great
capacities of the Energies, which shine to
a greater or lesser degree (as per
Chapter 69). As in Chapter, & Psalm, 68,
the more we can “put up with”, the more
of the Energies and their complexity we
can receive.
71 - -your wonders

…………………………………….. -my old age, hoariness

[go over all below here; went quickly] -your strength, your might

-increase my greatness
72 -birth of Only-Begotten in flesh -king’s son

-David -David

-Energies -Prayer for God’s gifts to be given to son

73 -“in outright opposition to the saints” -“the pure of heart” face immediate
opposition
74 -Paraclete -Shekinah

-The divine grace…is accessible to -Shekinah only in old stone temple

each of us
75……..where Joel quoted in NT…………….

-pours -pours
76 -the Maximus quote discusses the -the end of Psalm 76 discusses the
receiving of divine Energies as a result of overcoming (and spiritual incorporation-
laying aside ‘carnal properties’. utilization) of anger, a necessary
-“they become spiritual themselves evolution for all spiritual people.

-Moses and David; Psalm 90 is quoted

in this Chapter; 90 is the only Psalm
attributed (by the Psalter) to Moses;
almost half the Psalms are attributed to
David.

-“dance with the angels”, from Basil -Psalms 75 & 76 are halfway point of
quote; this sounds like Psalm 150 Psalter; 150 = 75 x 2

-Spirit -spirit

-illumined -illumined

-apprehension of things hidden

 -Theon genesthai -aforementioned growth process
77 -illumines -illumines
-First Light

-Chrysostom (Golden-Mouth), -Moses and Aaron, his mouthpiece;

(Church) father -Jacob (father of), Joseph
-additional connections to Psalm 78 -[additional connections to Psalm 78]

-Supreme Light -Most High

78 -every nature estranged from Divine -Israelites constantly misbehaving on
Nature their journey of growth (Exodus)

-participation in Divine -ate the bread of angels/mighty

-draw near (x 2) -Journey of relationship with God

-free choice to be near or far from God (Exodus)
79 -akin or alien to God -neighbors

-creatures -beasts

-draw near (as in Chapter 78) -Israelites get mauled in Holy Land, after
the Exodus, because of bad behavior, just
like Psalm 78; (new exile will happen)
80 -Thus, we should not have recourse to -neighbors
ourselves to say anything about God, but
rather we should direct ourselves to
those who speak of the things of the
Spirit in the Spirit (Spirit x 2) -(illumination, x 3)

-adversaries require word from us (yet -God not answering our requests (x 3)
we should maintain silence)
81 -They say that on the portals of -the “portals” is a picture of the Psalms
Plato’s school there was the inscription: Ladder, which is also a portal. (Recall
“Let no one enter who is ignorant of that Jacob said the Ladder is the Gate of
geometry.” Heaven.)
Also, with Plato and geometry, we have
the Timaeus, in which are the 5 perfect
polyhedra, which represent the
elements. The 5 perfect polyhedra are
also hidden in the Psalms. (See above
comments also on Euclid’s geometrical
treatise Elements.)

-body, mind -new physical realities, vs. fantasy

 -hints of transpersonal sharing of -no strange god within you (singular or
mind, nous plural?); being filled by God

-improbabilities -Honey from rock; (elements and

surprising changes)
-long chapter
82 -great praise of Paul -terrible derision and promise of
-serious derision of Barlaam, destruction to bad leaders; (John
Akindynos, Eunomius Dominic Crosson says Psalm 82 is the
most important scripture in the Bible)

-question about whether creatures -princes are called “elohim”, sons of the
are actually creatures, or something most high; but they shall die like mortals
higher after their unjust pronouncements
83 -single heart (mind); see Chapter 81

-Enemies of Ch. 82 plotting together; -“they plot deviously in secret….”

-followers of Barlaam, Akindynos; -Edom, Ishmaelites, Moab, Hagrites,
some are even Eunomians Gebal, Ammon, Amalek, Philistia, Tyre,
Assyria, sons of Lot, Sisera, Jabin, Oreb,
Zeeb, Zebah, Zalmunna

-(There are many connections to the

themes of the Red Line of Hope in Psalm
83, right before the central Psalm 84)
84 -we call the Creator “Demiurge” -this is straight out of the Timaeus, and
refers also to the polyhedra and
elements. 84 is perhaps the most central
Psalm (128 may be more central….).

-grandeur -glory

-quoting Gregory of Nyssa, “For from -Psalm 84 is the only place in the Bible
the grandeur and beauty of creatures the where God is said to be the “sun”. [This,
Creator is contemplate by analogy.” of course, is a literary analogy. The Psalm
is not equating God with the sun.]
85 -Dionysius the Areopagite mentioned
-“This most prominent of divine -some ‘processions’ of Psalm 85: -people
hymnodists announces he will praise return from captivity, God extends anger
these processions and adds ‘as far as (then withdraws it), God speaks, God
possible’ to show that these transcend dwells in the land again, Love and Truth
our praises. (Psalm terminology here)” meet, Justice and Peace kiss, Truth
sprouts from earth, Justice looks down
from heaven. Yahweh provides good,
land will yield produce. The righteous
 person walks on the path.
86 -There are repetitions in short -there are at least 17 word repetitions in
Chapter 86, which begins by again this Psalm
referring to Dionysius: “The same divine
revealer who said above….”
-Other repetitions in this Chapter:
divine, procession, distinction,
communications, incomprehensible,
reason, intellect, created….
87 -divinely fitting names

-created beings -children of Jerusalem, God’s people

-drag God’s providence down to the -Elion, Most High: The human city is
level of a creature…. called this, which is a name of God!
-identical…divine participations…. -humanity lifted, joined to God….
88 -3 good authors mentioned: -in the LXX, three authors of Psalm 88:
Dionysius, Maximus, Basil sons of Kore, Maeleth, Haiman

-participation in absolute being -“darkness,” apophatic way, which is

discussed by Dionysius, who is cited in
Chapter 88

-participate in nothing at all -Psalm 88 is only hopeless Psalm in

Psalter (on literal level), as life stops
89
90 -bestowal of wisdom -asking God for a heart of wisdom

-1 and many -1000 years in your eyes like a (1) day

-Son -children of God’s servants

-Created and Uncreated -God is before the oldest parts of creation

91
92 -sun, growth Trees………………………….
93 -manifest his own power -God clothes himself with strength
-intellect of unpurified stained by sin -power of rivers and waters
94 -those who have not acquired eyes -Will he who fashions the eye not see?
95
96 -divine energy distinct from divine -God (Elohim) vs. false gods (elohe)
essence

-creation will become divine, God will -Yahweh MLK Psalm, God comes to live
share his rank with creatures and be among creation
97
98
99
100
101 -Question: When will you come to me?
102 -Question: How can he be God if his -your years endure through all
creatures are not posterior to him? generations
103 -Question: How can he be God if he -Bless Yahweh, all his legions, his
creates without will? servants who do his will.
-forgiveness, healing of human will
-merging of human and divine will
104 -God in universe, universe in God. -waters above the heavens, discussion of.
(Just like all universe and all -Psalm 104 (and 103) begins and ends
time/history is in the individual human with the phrase “Bless Yahweh, my
soul, as Psalms 103 & 104 discuss.) soul”. Therefore, the blessing soul
contains Psalms 103 & 104, and,
everything that those Psalms contain.
-God himself is within himself. Psalm 103 contains Salvation History.
Psalm 104 contains Space & Time, the
cosmos, and the processes of Creation,
and ‘natural history’. Psalm 103
emphasizes this at the outset, saying,
“Bless Yahweh, my soul, and all that is
within me (bless) his holy name.”
This is a deep teaching of
nonduality, such as we might expect to
find in a discussion of Buddhism, Zen,
Taoism …. (Eastern Christianity
celebrates nonduality more than
Western Christianity.) See also John
1:1, which celebrates individuality,
relationship, and Union in 1 verse.
-nonduality
105 -Those who have pleased God…. -Psalm 105 and 78 both discuss the
Exodus. While Psalm 78 treats the many
and serious/comical failures of the
Israelites, Psalm 105 deals with none of
the problems of their journey of growth,
and emphasizes the goodness of God, and
the goodness of Joseph (and Moses).
-Additionally, Joseph becomes so close to
God that he almost participates in the
earthly trajectory of the Incarnation of
the Word: consider how this verse is a
type, a prelude, of the journey of the
Incarnation of the Logos, as Joseph is
 lifted from the nadir to the zenith of his
existence: “They afflicted with fetters his
leg, into irons came his soul. Until the
time His Word was fulfilled, Yahweh had
purified him. He sent a king who released
him, a ruler of peoples who freed him. He
appointed him (Joseph) master of his
palace and ruler of all his wealth.” vv. 18-
21.
106 -“no word formed in the soul….” -Connections with 103, 104, 105

-apophasis (Dionysius is quoted later -difficult parts of life (such as those times
in the Chapter) expressed by Psalm 106) prepare us for
-next Psalm, 107: “Those who sat divine gifts in ways that good times
in darkness….” simply cannot prepare us for….
Somewhat similar to the role of silence in
apophasis.

-“…since the divine nature has conceived -The meta-structure of Psalms 103 & 104
all things within itself beforehand in a
general and indeterminate manner….”

[As in Chapter ……. Above, we see here a

nexus of connections, broader than usual;
in a discussion of apophasis.]
107 -“…as the great Dionysius himself -in Psalm 107, 4 different groups of
says somewhere in his writings, people are saved by God, who also unites
‘Bringing forth and saving constitute the the four quadrants of the compass, of the
nature of the Good’, namely, this belongs earth.
to it by nature.
-“Those who sat in darkness and the
shadow of death, those shackled in
affliction and iron.” This connects with
Joseph of Psalm 105, and also with the
theme of apophasis in these particular
chapters of Palamas.
……………….. Later in the Psalm 107: “He would take
them out of darkness and the shadow of
death, and their shackles break open.”

-“upward momentum” -“He spoke and raised the stormy wind,

and lifted its waves. They (sailors) rise
heavenward, they descend to the depths,
their soul with trouble melts.” [the wise
become like drunkards; apophatic
 theme]
108 -“upward momentum”, again -“For great above the heavens (is) your
kindness, and to the upper heights your
-“drop of water” possesses same truth. Be exalted above heaven, God; and
attributes as [great body of water]. This above all the earth your glory.”
goes well with the themes of nonduality,
discussed just above, especially with
Psalms 103 & 104; it is a subject of
Eastern writings, such as in Buddhism.
The previous Psalm, 107, also discussed
water.

………………….

109 -Apophatic themes continue in Psalm

109: “In your kindness rescue me (see
Chapter 106). For poor and destitute am
I, and my heart has died within me. Like a
shadow that lengthens, I am gone.”
“My knees totter from fasting, my flesh
lean without fat….”
110 -the Church Father, Chrysostom -king of righteousness, or, Melchisedek
111 -beginning of Psalm, emergence through
the dark, unity of person: “I shall thank
Yahweh with all (my) heart.”

-“Further, that which participates in -Something absolutely amazing

something by substance must possess a happens in Psalms 111 & 112, which
common substance with that in which it form a powerful pair. The Divine
participates and be identical with it in attributes of God in 111 are given to
some respect. Humanity in 112.
-quoting Basil: “the energies of God come This stunning development echoes
down to us….” Palamas’ discussion of the giving of
-quoting Maximus: “The human the divine Energies to human beings.
divinized by grace will be everything
that God is, apart from identity of
substance.”
-quoting Gregory Nazianzen: “For to this
the measured light of truth here below
leads me, namely, to see and experience
the radiance of God.” (the next Psalm,
112, will mention “light”, and is
connected with Psalm 111.)

-And, Palamas mentions the Psalms and

quotes Psalm 44 here: “ ‘The radiance of
our God is upon us’, according to the
prophet of the Psalms.” This is a free
interpretation of the Psalm text, not the
original LXX text itself.
112 -3 divine hypostases -3 qualities of the just person: “they are
generous, merciful, and just.”
3 mentioned again [this is also, poetically, 3 Hanukkah
menorah candles being lit. 112 is a key
different nests by different swallows Psalm of the Interwoven Menorahs, one
(this is an allusion to Psalm 84) of the most important of the Mystical
Psalm Structures.][and this may also be 3
all creation is a single work of the 3 children being born in a joyful family;
just as God gives new energies to his
3 revered persons children]

113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128 -Because he alone possesses an -Children are growing like olive tree
energy completely void of passion, for by saplings around the table.
it he is active only but is not acted upon,
neither coming into being nor changing.

(Palamas is being understated here, by -Psalms 112 and 128, both Menorah
describing passionlessness in tandem Psalms, are very much connected. Each
with the Psalm (128) which most Psalm is also powerfully paired with a
celebrates the joy of marriage and family, neighbor (111 & 112) and (127 & 128),
as well as vines, garden, and trees.) and both of these pairs are connected
with each other.
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150

Thanks to Fr. John Endres, S.J., and to Fr. Solomon Farinto for conversations that
helped this project. A discussion with Dr. Thomas Cattoi was also beneficial.

Copyright © 2016 Richard Murray