Psalm 104 (103):35Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Humanity was steeped in sin, and the world was laden with wrongdoing. Yet, when the only begotten Son of God took on human form, the sinners vanished, leaving behind only those who were culpable. How did this happen? He acquitted everyone and freed them from their transgressions. While a small number of wrongdoers remained, a multitude found justification.

Bless the Lord, O my soul. May our united souls in Christ echo this sentiment. O Lord, my God, You are greatly exalted! Psalm 102:1. In what manner have You been glorified? You have adorned Yourself with confession and beauty. Confess so that you may be adorned, allowing Him to clothe you. Clothed in light as if in a garment. Psalm 103:2. Clothed in His Church, for it has become the light in Him, which was previously darkness, as the Apostle states: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Ephesians 5:8. You stretch out the heavens as easily as one could spread a cloth, representing the authority of Holy Scripture spread across the entire world, symbolized as skin, signifying mortality. All the authority of Divine Scriptures is given to us through mortal men, whose glory continues beyond their death.

Who covers the heights with water. Psalm 102:3. The heights of what? The heavenly. What does Heaven represent? Figuratively, we have said it is the Divine Scriptures. What are the heights of the Divine Scriptures? The commandment of love, above which there is none. Mark 12:31. Why is love likened to water? Because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. Romans 5:5. From where does the Spirit come as water? For Jesus stood and proclaimed: “Whoever believes in Me, rivers of living water will flow from his innermost being.” John 7:37-38. How do we know this was spoken regarding the Spirit? The evangelist clarifies, saying, “But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive.” He rises above the wings of the winds, above the virtues of the soul. What is the virtue of the soul? Love of self. How will He conquer it? Because God’s love for us surpasses our love for God.

Who makes spirits His angels, and His ministers a flaming fire. Psalm 102:4. Those who are already spirits, who are spiritual and not carnal, He sends forth as His angels to declare His gospel. The flaming fire serves Him. If the minister who preaches does not burn with passion, he will not ignite those to whom he preaches.

He has established the earth upon its foundation. Psalm 103:5. He has set up the Church on the sure foundation. What is the foundation of the Church if not what the Apostle declared: No man can lay any other foundation than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11. What, then, should it expect to hear upon such a foundation? It shall not be shaken forever. He established the earth in its steadfastness, meaning He has established the Church on Christ’s foundation. The Church would tremble if the foundation were unstable; but when will Christ, through whom all was created before He came to us and took on flesh, John 1:3, and who sustains all things by His grandeur, Hebrews 1:3, be shaken? Because Christ does not falter, she shall not be shaken evermore. Where are those claiming the Church has vanished from the world, when it cannot even be extinguished…

The abyss is like a garment covering her. Psalm 102:6. Whose garment? Could it belong to God? However, He has already spoken of His attire, “Clothed in light as a garment.” I hear of God adorned in light, and if we desire it, we become that light. What happens when we desire it? We are no longer darkness. If God is clothed in light, then whose garment is the abyss? The great mass of waters is referred to as the abyss. All water, all moist essence flowing through seas, rivers, and hidden caves, are all collectively called by one name, the Abyss. Hence we gather insight about the earth He said, “He founded the earth.” It fits to say, “The abyss, like a garment, is its garment.” For water is like a garment for the earth, surrounding and covering it.

The waters will rise above the mountains, meaning the earth’s covering, the abyss, has grown so much that the waters even ascend above the mountains. We read of this during the time of the flood… The prophet wished to foretell the future rather than speak of the past; thus, he indicated that the Church must endure a flood of persecution. For there was a time when streams of oppressors covered God’s earth, His Church, to the extent that not even the mighty mountains appeared. Even scattered, how did they cease to appear? Perhaps it is these very waters that cry, “Save me, O God, for the waters have reached even to my soul.” Especially the waters that make the sea tumultuous and desolate. For wherever the sea’s waters extend, they would no sooner render the land fertile than barren. For beneath the waters were mountains since there was water above them.

Why did the apostles flee? Because the waters overshadowed the mountains. The strength of the waters was formidable, but for how long? Listen to what follows. At Your rebuke they shall disperse. Psalm 102:7. And it happened, brethren; by God’s rebuke, the waters retreated, meaning they ceased advancing upon the mountains. Now those mountains—Peter and Paul—how they have been elevated! Those who were previously subdued by persecutors are now honored as emperors. For the waters fled at the word of God; the heart of kings is in God’s hand, and He turns it wherever He wishes; Proverbs 21:1. He commanded peace for Christians; the authority of the Apostles has flourished and ascended… The waters retreated from God’s rebuke. At the sound of Your thunder, they shall tremble. Who would not fear God’s voice through the apostles, through Scripture, through His clouds? The sea calmed, the waters trembled, and the mountains were revealed; the emperor issued commands. But who would have issued commands if not for God’s thunder? Because God desired it, they commanded, and it came to pass. Therefore, let no one claim anything for himself.

The mountains ascend, the plains descend to the place You have established for them. Psalm 102:8. He continues to speak of the waters. We should not interpret mountains as earthly land, nor plains as terrestrial, but rather as waves, as immense as mountains. Once, the sea rose, and its waves towered like mountains that could have concealed the mountains of the Apostles. But how long do the mountains rise and the plains sink? They raged and now they are quieted. When they were tumultuous, they were mountains; now, calmed down, they have become plains because He has established a place for them. There is a particular channel, a depth where all these previously raging mortal hearts have retreated… Once they were mountains; now they are plains: yet, my brethren, even the stillness is the sea. Why are they not ruthless now? Why are they not filled with wrath? Why do they not attempt, if they cannot destroy our land, at least to cover it? Why do they not?

Listen. You have set a boundary that they shall not transgress, nor return to cover the earth. Psalm 103:9. Therefore, since the most violent waves have received a measure, we are allowed to proclaim such things freely; they have a set limit and cannot exceed it, nor return to envelop the earth; what then transpires on the earth itself? What works are occurring there now that the sea has left it exposed? Though the gentle waves murmur at its shores, even amid the Gentiles' unrest, I hear the waves softly lapping at the shore, but the flood does not alarm me. What, then, occurs upon the earth? He sends forth springs in the valleys. Psalm 102:10. You send, he states, springs in the valleys. You know what valleys embody, low spots amid the land. For hills and mountains contrast with valleys. Heights are the elevated parts of the earth, while valleys and hollows are its lower aspects. Do not despise the lowly places; from them springs flow. You send springs to the low valleys. Now let us listen to the mountain. The Apostle states, I labored more than all; some greatness appears before us, but immediately, so that the waters might flow, he made a valley for himself: Not I, but the grace of God with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10. There is no contradiction that mountains may also be described as valleys; for just as they are mountains through their spiritual grandeur, so are they valleys through the humility of their spirit. Not I, he states, but the grace of God with me…

What is meant by, “In the midst of the mountains, the waters shall flow through”? We have identified who the mountains are: great proclaimers of the Word, exalted angels of God, though still in mortal form; exalted, not through their own strength, but by His grace; but themselves, in humility, become valleys, allowing springs to gush forth. Between them, as it were, the waters shall flow. Suppose it is understood thus: “In the midst of the Apostles shall pass the preaching of the Word of Truth.” What lies in the midst between the Apostles? That which is called in the midst is the common possession. This common possession, by which all thrive equally, dwells in the center, belonging neither to myself nor to you… If they are not in the center, they are as if owned individually, flowing not for the public good, having my share and his, but that is not the proclamation of peace… Therefore, brethren, let what we've articulated to your love serve this aim, that the springs may flow from you, as valleys, and commune with all that you possess from God. Let the waters flow through the midst, harbor no envy, drink, be filled, and pour forth when you are filled. Let the common water of God be glorified everywhere, not private mens’ deceit.

Hence, all the beasts of the forest shall drink. Psalm 103:11. We indeed observe this in visible creation, that the wild beasts drink of the springs and streams flowing between the mountains; but as it has pleased God to conceal His wisdom within such images, not to withhold it from eager seekers, but to hide it from those who set no value on it, and to reveal it to those who earnestly pursue it; it has pleased the Lord God Himself to encourage you through us, that in all these aspects, which seemingly pertain to the corporeal and visible realm, we might seek out something spiritually hidden, which, once discovered, will lead to rejoicing. By beasts of the forest we interpret the Gentiles, and the Scriptures affirm this in many passages.

These creatures drink fleetingly from these waters; they do not remain, but pass through; all the teachings spread throughout this time are transient… Unless your love believes that in that city, for it is said, “Praise the Lord, Jerusalem; praise your God, Zion; for He has fortified the bars of your gates,” in this city where the gates are now secured and the city closed up, as we mentioned previously, no friend shall venture out, nor enemy shall invade; that there we shall possess a book to read or a discourse to be elucidated as currently explained to you. This is why it is being treated now, so it may be retained there; this is why it is divided into syllables, so that it may be contemplated in its entirety. There will be no shortage of the Word of God in that place, nor lack of letters, sounds, books, readers, or interpreters. How then? As, “In the beginning was the Word,” etc. John 1:1. For He did not come to us to depart from there; for He was in the world, and the world was made through Him. Such is the Word we ought to meditate upon. For the God of gods will reveal Himself in Zion. But when? After our pilgrimage when the journey is complete; unless, of course, after we conclude our journey, we are brought before the Judge, so the Judge may send us to prison. But if, upon completing our journey, as we aspire, long for, and strive towards, we reach our homeland, then we shall behold that which we shall forever praise; and he who possesses, and we who enjoy, shall not be satisfied; neither will they who partake be fulfilled, nor will those who consume be satiated by what they partake in. This contemplation will be great and marvelous.

Let the unrighteous be eliminated from the earth during that time of judgment. For they will hear the words, ‘Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels’ (Matthew 25:41). The lawless will be as if they never existed, vanishing among those who praise God. My soul, praise the Lord, for He will distance them from the fate of the wicked and bestow upon them the inheritance of the saints.

He stated that it is not the transgressors who will face destruction, but rather their transgressions themselves, so that they do not reveal themselves. When this occurs, no one remains a transgressor; instead, all are deemed righteous. ‘And let there be none ungodly.’ This ensures that they are not unclean, but pure.

"May the sinners vanish from the earth, and the wicked, as if they had never existed." In this expression of human longing, having depicted the Divine glory and immeasurable riches, the Prophet yearns for all individuals to share in this understanding. He does not seek their destruction, but prays for their transformation, pleading for their multitude to be dispersed, that they might be turned and come to know the Divine. Should anyone interpret these words differently, perceiving that the Prophet calls down curses upon those who engage in sin, they will find that the prophecy aligns with Apostolic teaching. For the blessed Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, concluded with, "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed" (1 Cor.

I will offer my praises to the Lord throughout my lifetime; I will continually sing to my God for as long as I live. As long as I inhabit this world, my song of praise will rise to Him. David emphasizes this commitment by reiterating his intention, for the phrases I will sing to the Lord in my life and I will sing to my God as long as I am convey the same sentiment. Chrysostom notes that David's idea of singing transcends mere words; it is expressed through actions. Acknowledging his deep indebtedness to God, David feels he has nothing worthy to offer in return, and thus he dedicates his entire life to unending praise. Let those, who waste their days in trivial pursuits and distractions, reflect on their spiritual neglect before God. The true purpose of life lies in glorifying Him.

These statements are related to the previous declaration, that the Lord may take joy in His creations. Just as the unrighteous corrupt the world through their vile actions, they themselves become detestable in the sight of God. It is impossible for God to be indifferent to the abominations that permeate every corner of creation, tarnishing His magnificent work. By misusing the blessings bestowed upon them, the wicked cause the world to deviate from its intended design, straying from its original purpose. Thus, the Prophet justly desires their removal from the earth, wishing that they would not even exist within it, for they truly cannot be. He then reflects inwardly, reiterating the initial words of the psalm, and ultimately proclaims: Bless the Lord, O my soul!

A Psalm given by the Holy Spirit to David, exalting the glory and majesty of God, the Creator of all, reflects on His marvelous and unfathomable creation of the universe, including the earth and all it contains, the sea and its depths. It highlights their formation, sanctity, flourishing, and beauty, along with the wise and mighty sustenance provided through our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the image of the unseen God, the firstborn of all creation, through whom all things, both visible and invisible, were made and by whom they endure (Rev. 10:6; Col. 1:16). The soul, inspired from above, is called to offer thanks to Him. God's majesty is eternal, with no beginning or end. The Holy Church represents the garment of Christ, where His praises are sung.