Psalm 102 (101):27Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Behold, a man in dire need speaks out in prayer, his cries not silent. We can listen to him and discern his identity, perhaps he is the one of whom the apostle proclaimed, "Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be enriched." 2 Corinthians 8:9 If this is indeed the case, we might ponder why He is poor. In what manner can one who cannot see genuine wealth be considered rich? Who can surpass Him who created wealth itself, even that which is illusory? Through Him, we obtain true riches such as strength, memory, virtue, health, and the very structure of our being; even those who are impoverished can be enriched when these gifts are secure. Through Him, we also receive profound treasures: faith, devotion, righteousness, love, purity, and good conduct; for these cannot exist without Him who justifies the sinner. Behold the abundance! How do we recognize these treasures in someone so destitute? "I ate ashes as bread, and mixed my drink with weeping." Has such extravagance led to this state? The first fortune is significant, while this one feels insignificant. Yet, consider whether this poor figure is indeed He; for the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:14 Reflect on these words: "I am your servant, and the son of your servant." This servant is pure, a virgin, and a mother; for there He took on our poverty, adorning Himself with the form of a servant, humbling Himself, so that you would not fear His riches when approaching Him in your need. It is there that He embraced our humility; there He made Himself lowly to uplift us. We are now striving to comprehend these truths about Him, yet we should not hastily conclude.

Let Him then add to His lowliness by transforming our humble bodies, that He might be our Head and we His members, so that the two become one flesh. Philippians 3:21 For He intended to unite us as His members. Those who repent are also counted among His body. They are neither isolated from His Church nor separated from it, since, if it were not for those sentiments, He would not have named His Church His bride with admonitions such as "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 3:2 Therefore, let us listen to the prayer of both the Head and the body, to the bridegroom and the bride, Christ and the Church, one unified entity. However, the Word and the flesh are not the same at all times; the Father and the Word are one; Christ and the Church form a single Person, a perfect unity in the manifestation of His fullness. Let us therefore heed Christ, who is poor in us, alongside us, and for us. The very title reveals His humility. Finally, grasp who this poor man is; let us hear His prayer and recognize His essence; be wary of any words that do not pertain to His Head; this is why I emphasize that anything within this description must be understood as the voice of weakness speaking through the body, and recognize the members’ voices in the Head. The title is "The Prayer of the Suffering Man," who, in anguish, poured out his supplications before the Lord. This is the same poor figure who declares, "From the ends of the earth I will call upon Thee when my heart is in travail." He suffers because He is also Christ, who, as the Prophet signifies, refers to Himself as both Bridegroom and Bride: "He hath put a diadem upon me as the bridegroom, and as the bride hath adorned me with jewels." Isaiah 61:10 He identifies as the Bridegroom and the Bride; the Bridegroom denotes the Head, and the Bride symbolizes the body. Thus, they share one voice, united as one flesh. Let us listen and see ourselves in these words; if we find ourselves outside of this unity, let us strive to be included.

"Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come to Thee." Psalm 100:1 "Hear my prayer, Lord," aligns with: "Let my cry come to Thee"; the petitioner's emotion is revealed through this repetition. Do not turn away Thy face from me. When has God turned His face away from His Son? When has the Father forsaken Christ? Yet, due to my desolate state, do not turn Your face from me; in the day of my lament, incline Thy ear unto me. Psalm 101:2 In our current troubles, I share in the burdens of others; as tomorrow unfolds, many will still face challenges, and I participate in their sorrows; from the beginning of time, all who suffer share in this pain. The prayers of Peter, Paul, the other Apostles, the Faithful of old, and those yet to come resonate across the generations; they continue to pray. Soon, I seek what You eagerly wish to grant. I do not request earthly treasures, as a worldly man; having been redeemed from my former captivity, I long for the heavenly kingdom. Hear me swiftly, for it is with this desire that You proclaimed: "Even while Thou speakest, I will say, Here am I." Isaiah 58:9 To what end do you call? In what sorrow? In what longing do you plead? O poor one, at the gates of the abundantly rich God, from what necessity do you request relief?

"For my days have vanished like smoke." Psalm 100:3 O days! If days indeed exist: for where the day is acknowledged, there the light becomes clear. My days, my time, therefore, akin to smoke; is it not from the inflation of pride? ... Observe how smoke, much like pride, rises and then dissipates: thus it justly fades and does not endure. "And my bones are burnt as in a furnace." My bones, my strength, are enveloped in suffering and trial. Is there greater anguish than that suffered in the bones of Christ's body or among His holy apostles? Even when they suffer, all who take offense at them, are yet untouched, and I remain unscathed? 2 Corinthians 11:29 They are bold, faithful interpreters and heralds of His Word, living out their teachings, embodying the principles they profess; they display courage, yet all who take offense act as a furnace against them. There exists love here, profoundly so within the bones. The bones reside within the flesh and sustain it all. If one bears offense, causing harm to their soul, the bone is metaphorically consumed, reflecting the degree of offense they endure...

Contemplate Adam, the source of humanity. From him originated our suffering; from him arose this hereditary poverty. Let him, once despairing in the flesh, now within the body of Christ, voice hope, declaring, "My heart is afflicted and withered like grass." Psalm 101:4 Rightfully so, as all flesh is grass. Isaiah 40:6 Yet how has this come upon you? Because I neglected to consume my bread. What commandment has God issued regarding bread? What is the soul’s nourishment? The serpent led, and the woman transgressed, touching the prohibited fruit. Gen 3:6 Forgetting that commandment, his heart became afflicted, withering like grass, due to neglecting to eat His bread. Forgetting his bread, he imbibed poison: his heart became wounded, and like grass, it withered. Now, consume that bread you overlooked. This very Bread has come, wherein you might recall the voice of your neglect and cry out in your need for riches. Partake, for you belong to His body, declaring, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven." John 6:41 You forgot to partake of your bread; yet after His crucifixion, all the ends of the earth will remember and turn back to the Lord. Following forgetfulness, let us rekindle memory; let us consume the bread from heaven to sustain our lives—not manna, which they ate and died from; John 6:49 but the Bread concerning which it is declared, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness." Matthew 5:6

"From the voice of my groaning my bones have cleaved to my flesh." Psalm 101:5 Many groan, and I too bear my groaning; I lament even this for they groan concerning a flawed deed. If a man loses a coin, he laments; yet if he has lost faith, he remains silent. I weigh both money and faith and find far more reason to lament for him who groans inadequately or not at all. He engages in deceit and rejoices. With what gain? With what loss? Money gained, yet righteousness lost. Therefore, one who understands the pain laments; he who draws near the Head, who clings rightly to the body of Christ, feels this lament. But those of earthly mindset may groan for other reasons; they manufacture their fumbles and ought not to be scorned, even if they express their grief inaccurately or slackly. We aim to guide them, to bring correction; when unable, we sigh. And in those sighs, we remain linked to them...

"I have become like a pelican in the wilderness and like an owl among the broken walls." Psalm 100:6 Here we observe three birds and three locations: the pelican, the owl, and the sparrow, each situated in distinct environments: the wilderness, the ruins, the home’s roof. The pelican thrives in isolation, often seen on the banks of the Nile in Egypt—its origins obscure. What does the Psalm say? It shows the pelican dwelling alone in the wilderness. Do not inquire about its form, its features, its sounds, or its habits; it is a solitary bird by Psalm's description. The owl represents a creature of the night, residing among dilapidated structures, those walls bereft of roofs or occupants. Conversely, everyone recognizes the roof where sparrows make their abode. Thus, in the heart of Christ's body is a messenger of His Word, compassionate towards the weak, pursuing the victories of Christ, and mindful of his future Lord. Matthew 25:26 Reflecting on these three, what of His stewardship? Did he approach the non-believers? He is a pelican in the wilderness. Did he retreat from believers? He is the owl among the ruins; he would not forsake those who dwell in darkness, aiming to seek them out. Did he fail to reach the Christians, those who dwell in their homes, maybe acting as though they have forfeited their faith while maintaining a warm disposition to what they believe? Here, the sparrow calls to them not in desolation, but because, being Christians, they dwell under God's roof—under our flesh. The sparrow cries to those under flesh, calling them not to yield to the commandments, nor to grow carnal beneath the roof. "What you hear in the ear, preach on the roofs." Matthew 10:27 There are these three birds and three locations; one man can epitomize three birds, and three distinct men can illustrate these birds separately; and the wilderness, the ruins, and the roof depict three classes of people. However, these three environments signify but three groups of humanity.

They will fade away, but You endure. You alone, O Lord, as God, possess everlasting life; yet the heavens, despite being magnificent and splendid creations, will still face deterioration. However, this deterioration will lead to restoration for them, as they will be reshaped, transformed into their most glorious state.

In the beginning, Lord, you established the earth, and the heavens are the creations of your hand. "Thou shalt perish, but Thou remainest." For what is beyond the capability of the Creator of all? You have brought forth the earth, and from nothing you have made the heavens. While all of these entities are subject to change, you are the source of unchangeability. By referring to the earth and the heavens, the Prophet indicated that God is also the Creator of everything within them.

You, O Lord, in the beginning established the earth and the works of Your creative might are the heavens, specifically the first heaven, the firmament. For it is written, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1); similarly, “God called the firmament heaven” (Gen. 1:8). The heavens will pass away, meaning they, as created beings, will undergo transformation, yet You, as the Creator, remain eternally unchanged. The heavens, along with both the first and second, as well as the earth, will deteriorate over time, much like garments wear out through repeated use, as noted by Isychius. You will fold up these heavens as if they were a garment, and they shall indeed be transformed, which David conveys to illustrate the immense power and sovereignty of Christ.

In this passage, he reiterates his earlier point that not only is human existence fleeting, but the entirety of the world pales in comparison to the everlasting nature of God, with the exception of the church, which will be addressed shortly since it is established on God’s Word and safeguarded by His divine protection.

This passage refers to a beggar, symbolizing one who lacks God's grace due to sin. In seeking to obtain that grace, he humbles himself in sincere repentance, pouring out his heart with tears to the Lord, who is overflowing with mercy (Eph. 2:4). Christ, the Lord, who in His earthly life serves as the Father of all people, did not create sin, yet He freed sinners from it, humbling Himself to the point of dying on the cross (Phlp. 2:8) and raising those fallen into sin. He offered fervent prayers and petitions to the one who can save Him from death, accompanied by loud cries and tears, and was heard by the faithful; thus, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him (Heb. 5:7-9), as in Him we are enriched in every way (1 Cor. 1:5).