Psalm 115 (113):16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Similarly, the declarations, "Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool" (Isaiah 66:1), as well as "do I not fill heaven and earth," express His majesty in a manner understandable to us. God encompasses all creation and sustains everything, requiring no physical space, but rather containing all within Himself; heaven is termed His house because it is untainted and pure.

Thus, it is not stated that heaven is His selected abode, just as in the subsequent verse, "When the Most High gave inheritances to the nations, and dispersed the children of men, then He set the limits of the nations according to the number of the angels of God" (Deuteronomy 32:8), along with "Jacob the Lord chose for Himself" (Psalm 134:4). It is not conveyed here that only the Jews belong to Him, as if others are excluded from His divine will and work; He is God for all, and this language expresses His affection towards them, suggesting they are favored in a certain way. The fact that He did not choose them alone but extends His care to all is illustrated by the historical events surrounding Moses, and those before and after him. He provided the sun, the earth, the sea, and all creation for everyone, implanting natural law universally. He loved Abraham the Persian and moved him, teaching the Egyptians, the inhabitants of Canaan, and the Persians through him, and corrected many of their neighbors through his descendants.

When Moses arose, God led the Egyptians and the inhabitants of Palestine, and later even the Babylonians, towards the knowledge of Himself through the events that impacted the Jews. Therefore, when the prophet affirms, "the highest heaven is unto the Lord," he indicates that the Lord dwells within it, wholly devoid of evil. Likewise, if you detach yourself from earthly attachments and aspire to become angelic, you will swiftly enter heaven and your Father's house; even before the resurrection, you can transcend your current state and gain this honor. Just as members elected to the grand council can hold that title while still residing in rural areas, you too can attain the status of a citizen of heaven while existing here, should you so desire.

When Israel left Egypt, and the household of Jacob departed from a foreign land, Psalm 112:1, Judah became His sanctuary, and Israel His dominion. Psalm 112:2 As a result, the sea saw and fled, and the Jordan turned back. Psalm 112:3 It is essential not to view these historical events as unrelated to us but rather as prophetic of the future; for even amidst the miracles of that time, the present reality was intertwined with glimpses of what was to come. Some details differ from what we have previously learned and read, ensuring that they serve not only as past reenactments but also as future revelations. Specifically, we do not read that the Jordan merely receded; instead, it was stopped at the point closest to its source while the people moved through it. Additionally, we do not find accounts of mountains leaping and hills dancing; these embellishments were added for emphasis. The text mentions, "The sea saw it and fled; the Jordan was turned back," followed by poetic imagery: "the mountains leaped like lambs, and the hills like young sheep." Psalm 113:4 Then the psalmist questions, "What is the matter with you, O sea, that you fled? O Jordan, why have you turned back?" Psalm 112:5 “You mountains, why leap like lambs, and you hills like young sheep?” Psalm 112:6

Thus, let us reflect on the lessons being imparted to us; for both the historical events and these verses encourage us to recognize our own identity. If we embrace the grace of God that has been bestowed upon us, we are truly Israel, the offspring of Abraham, as affirmed by the Apostle: “Therefore you are Abraham's seed.” ... No follower of Christ should view themselves as estranged from the name of Israel. We are united in faith with believing Jews from whom the chief apostles arose. Our Lord also affirms this in another passage: "And I have other sheep which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, so there will be one flock, one Shepherd." John 10:16 Thus, the Christian community is indeed Israel and, more appropriately, the house of Jacob; for Israel and Jacob represent the same heritage. However, those Jews who have deserved condemnation for their betrayal traded their birthright for carnal indulgences, aligning themselves more with Esau than with Jacob. The underlying meaning of the scripture indicates that “the elder shall serve the younger."

Moreover, Egypt symbolizes suffering or oppression; it is regularly used as an allegory for this present world. It bears noting that we must spiritually separate ourselves from it to avoid being yoked with those who are unbelievers. 2 Corinthians 6:14 To become deserving citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem, one must first renounce the world, just as the Israelites could not enter the promised land without first leaving Egypt. Similar to their experience, no individual can truly distance themselves from this world unless assisted by the grace of divine mercy. What once served as a type is now fulfilled in every faithful member of the Church during this age, the “last time,” as Blessed John writes. 1 John 2:18 Hear the Apostle, the teacher to the Gentiles, instructing us: "I do not wish to leave you unaware, brethren, that all our ancestors were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; they were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and they all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from that spiritual rock which accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Yet, many among them were displeased with God as they wandered in the wilderness. These events serve as our examples." 1 Corinthians 10:1-6 What more could we desire, dear brethren? This truth is evident, not from mere human conjectures but from the Apostle’s declarations, for God spoke through them. Thus, it is undeniable that all symbolic actions of the past are fulfilled in our salvation; what was foretold then is now realized in the present.

Listen to the more wondrous matter: the concealed mysteries of ancient texts are partially revealed by them. The prophet Micah expresses, "In the days of your exodus from Egypt, I will show him wonders," and so forth. Therefore, while this psalm may seem like a simple recounting of the past, it reflects a prophetic spirit that gazes into the future. It states that Judah was His sanctuary: “the sea saw it and fled,” using language from a bygone era; similarly, "the Jordan turned back," the mountains rose, and the earth trembled also conveys past actions, yet the future is understandably interpreted through these examples. Although much time elapsed between the exodus from Egypt and the age of the Church when the psalmist composed this, his words undoubtedly foreshadow future events. He professes, "In the days of your departure from Egyptian land, I will show him wonders," for the nations will see and be put to shame. The phrase “the sea saw and fled” indicates that even though it delivers past references, the future revelation is powerfully embedded. Below these verses, one can recognize a more explicit reference to our foes—our sins that pursued us to destroy us, which are vanquished and rendered powerless in Baptism, just as the Egyptians were submerged in the sea. Our God does not withhold His mercy indefinitely; He will return, show compassion towards us, and cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

What does this mean, beloved ones? As those who identify as children of Abraham, members of Jacob's household, heirs of the promise, remember that you too have exited Egypt, having renounced the ways of this world. You have come out from among a foreign people, having distanced yourselves from the blasphemies of the Gentiles by embracing godliness. It is not your own voice but one unfamiliar to God that you sing Hallelujah. For in you, Judah has become His sanctuary; a true Jew is one inwardly, and true circumcision is of the heart, not merely outwardly visible. Romans 2:28-29 Therefore, examine your hearts to see if faith has transformed them and if confession has purified them; within you, Judah becomes His sanctuary, and Israel is His dominion—a divine authority granted to you to become children of God. John 1:12

I implore you, do not seek to imitate the Jordan's diversion, nor should you anticipate any evil reflections. The Lord chastises those who turn away from Him rather than face Him. Jeremiah 2:27 Anyone who forsakes the source of their being and turns their back on their Creator faces life's bitterness, synonymous with slipping into the wickedness of this world. It is wise to turn back to God, allowing Him—whom you previously turned away from—to stand before you once more; let the distracting sea of this world recede behind you, and strive to forget the past, reaching for what lies ahead. Philippians 3:13 This effort is fruitful after one’s conversion.

Tremble, O earth, in the presence of the Lord, in the presence of the God of Jacob. Psalm 113:7 What does it signify to be in the presence of the Lord but to be with Him who declared, "Behold, I am with you always, even until the end of the age." Matthew 28:30 The earth trembled; however, because of one’s sluggishness, the Lord sought to strengthen him more solidly in His presence.

He transformed solid rock into pools of water and flint into gushing springs. Psalm 113:8 He softened Himself; what once appeared hard now offers refreshment to all who believe in Him, becoming within them a wellspring of water leading to eternal life. John 4:14 For in earlier times, when He was unrecognized, He seemed unyielding. Those who exclaimed, "This is a hard saying; who can hear it?" John 6:60 were taken aback and failed to await His outpouring of grace as the Scriptures were unveiled. That once hardened rock became lakes of water, and it produced springs when He, after His resurrection, began to clarify to them—starting from Moses through the prophets—how it was necessary for Christ to suffer in this manner. Luke 24:26-27 He sent the Holy Spirit, inviting all who thirst to come to Him and drink. John 7:37

Chrysostom clarifies that this does not imply that by occupying lofty realms, God has left us with only the lower places; it is rather a demonstration of His grace. If this were the case, it would contradict God’s declarations: “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” For these words do not oppose one another. Instead, the phrase suggests God’s presence in the heavenly realm while also reaffirming His resting place among those who dwell there. Another commentary, possibly by Didymus, posits that there exists a unique heaven, predominantly recognized in Scripture as the dwelling of God, which is exclusively inhabited by Him. Prior to the fall, the adversary, residing in heaven, proclaimed, “I will ascend into heaven; above the stars of heaven will I set my throne.” None have risen to this heavenly domain except the one who descended from heaven, who confirms, “I descended from heaven.” Equally, the Holy Spirit is dispatched from this heavenly realm, as noted by Peter: “By the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.” For where the Father is, there the Son and the Holy Spirit are also present. This heaven is not confined by physical bounds; rather, it signifies the supreme majesty and state of God. Blessed Augustine expresses a similar sentiment in his 36th chapter of the Solitary Conversations, describing this divine reality as imperceptible and beyond human cognition—an essence that is inaccessible, immutable, and ineffable, perceived only through the lens of faith; a radiance no man or angel has seen or can fathom. This is Your heaven, O Lord; the heaven that envelops the hidden, incomprehensible, and ineffable light, surpassing all creation and exemplified as the “heaven of heavens,” since this divine realm is elevated above all else, surpassing all wonders. Thus, it is affirmed that the heaven of heavens belongs to the Lord, known exclusively to Him; no one has ascended there except He who came down from heaven. For only the Son knows the Father, along with their Spirit, and conversely, no one recognizes the Son except the Father and their Spirit. Likewise, no one comprehends the Spirit save the Father and the Son, to whom the Holy Spirit belongs. Isychias reminds us of the Creator's generous sharing of His creation: while He remains invisible, He possesses the invisible heaven—the heaven of heavens; yet He has granted us the visible creation.

There are instances when it seems that God's presence exists entirely in the heavens, distinctly removed from the earth. “The heaven of heavens belongs to the Lord: but the earth He has given to the children of men” (Psalm 113:24). Yet, there are also instances where God Himself brings His presence down to earth, establishing it permanently within His temple. “Mine eyes and My heart shall be there perpetually” (1 Kings 9:3). Most intimately, God’s presence can be said to dwell within the very hearts of humanity. “For ye are the temple of the living God” (2 Cor. 6:16). Thus, God exists in unapproachable light; He resides throughout creation; He is in heaven; He occupies the sacred temple; and He is present within mankind. How can we reconcile these diverse understandings of His singular presence?

In general, we can affirm that God's internal essence, attributes, and actions are beyond comprehension and infinite, just as His external manifestations are. Therefore, it is natural that the revelations of His singular presence are incomprehensibly diverse, and His manifestations are infinitely varied. Consequently, they cannot be fully comprehended through any one way of knowledge; instead, they express a divine knowledge of God that remains mysterious while revealing itself. However, to assist the uninformed in grasping the unknown, let us strive to bridge the vast knowledge of God with human understanding. The Word of God, which is the revelation of the Godhead in the world—specifically, the Son of God—bears the responsibility of “declaring” Him (John 1:18), revealing and manifesting the invisible God. He is described as sunshine, shining upon us: “But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings” (Mal. 4:2). Moreover, during the prayers of the sacred mysteries currently at work, God is exalted as “the Sun of the true day.”

Let us employ this natural analogy to reflect upon a supernatural truth. Consider the sun; it is clear to all that it resides in the sky. But what does it mean to say the sun is present? Presence indicates a direct relationship to other entities and effects that it produces. Thus, the sun's presence exists wherever it exerts its influence through light, warmth, and movement. When you, standing on the earth, see that bright disc in the sky, you would not claim the sun is absent; its presence is felt on earth. Even when clouds obscure the sun, the illumination diffused by it remains, distinguishing day from night. Similarly, the very power of the sun that interacts with nature to produce growth and ripening within fruits exemplifies its presence in action.

Just as the sun exists in the sky, radiating its light, warmth, and movement, God concurrently possesses a profound and essential presence in the heavens, in unapproachable light, and in His timeless and all-encompassing eternity, where He is omnipresent. Though the sun remains in its celestial position, casting its light and energy everywhere, God, residing in unapproachable light, is also truly, and visibly, present in all creation, both known and unknown, for He “upholds all things by the word of His power” (Heb. 1:3).

For those on earth, God's presence can be observed just as the sun rises and sets in the sky. Souls that are cleansed from earthly darkness may witness God's special presence as He manifests in wondrous visions of Divine light that illuminate their understanding, appearing to them, then hidden from view. Hence, Isaiah “saw the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up” (Isaiah 6:1); Ezekiel beheld “the likeness of a throne, as the likeness of a man upon it” (Ezek. 1:26); likewise, James perceived the Lord at the top of the ladder reaching to heaven, and countless saints have witnessed similar manifestations.

Yet, just as those who might be obscured by haze or cloud fail to discern the sun's brilliance, individuals whose perception is clouded by the darkness of their flesh or by the mysterious judgments of God may lack clarity in experiencing the radiant revelations of the Divine. However, these individuals can still discern God's presence through the everyday occurrences of creation, recognizing His influence in the origin, growth, sustenance, governance, and renewal of existence, particularly noted in God's extraordinary care for humanity.

Just as there is an inner manifestation of the sun's light within fruit, nourishing and ripening it, so too does God, in accordance with individual choices, faith, love, prayer, and devotion, visit believers with His grace. He softens, nourishes, and delights the heart, guiding them toward spiritual maturity through the illuminating power of truth and love. While this analogy could be further explored, it is wise to avoid excessive explanation—certain truths exist solely to be believed. Created beings, according to the Creator's own proclamation, reflect only His “backside” (Ex. 33:23); His face remains unseen. The light issued forth from creation is merely a shadow of the Uncreated Light; shadows cannot convey the full truth of light.

Creation carries its mysteries, which may elude the grasp of natural science, highlighting that some truths are beyond mere analysis. Should we not be content that the incomprehensible God entrusts us with mysteries that our curious minds cannot resolve? It is to be expected from the Incomprehensible One. For instance, I might show you a ripe cluster of grapes, attributing its quality to the sun's blessing: you must take me at my word, for you can see its ripeness by the signs and confirm its sweetness through tasting, knowing that, without the sun, the fruit would not flourish. However, demanding explanations of how the sun permeates the berry and transforms soil, water, and air into nourishing sustenance would be futile.

Do not overly probe the mysteries of the Divine; do not insist on understanding how the grace of the Father of Lights operates. When the Gospel and the Church invite you into the consecrated temple, drawing you close to its throne of grace, through baptism or sprinkling, acknowledging the overshadowing of the Spirit, through the anointing oil that seals the gift of the Holy Spirit, and through the sacred bread and wine, declaring: “This is the true Body of the Lord, this is the true Blood of the Lord”—approach with faith. Believe without testing; partake with love and devotion, and you will discover the invisible revealed in the visible, the spiritual in the sensual, the truth and power in signs, and the supernatural in the natural—drawing near to the Divine to partake in “the divine nature” (2 Pet. 1:4); “taste and see” not with physical sight, “how good is the Lord” (Ps. 33:9), participate in the joy of “those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).

Through these various yet interrelated depictions, some of which reflect the knowledge of God, let us consider: Do we truly perceive God's presence not merely in thought but in genuine experience? The individual who comprehends God's presence in the world recognizes His almighty, good, and just hand at work in all that occurs. Such a one views worldly events, especially those of great importance, with respect, receiving every blessing as a gift from God with gratitude, and responding to trials as expressions of divine judgment, accepting them with patience and trust. Conversely, if we fail to acknowledge God's handiwork, remain ungrateful for His blessings, and disobey His judgments, we demonstrate a lack of awareness of His presence; “there is no God before our eyes.”

Those who truly perceive God's presence in human hearts and have received the power of the uncreated Sun experience spiritual fruits—joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22)—continuously growing within them. However, if we cling to the works of the flesh—sinful actions of greed, pride, cruelty, and hatred—we have yet to grasp the life-giving presence of God; we are unaware of what it means that “the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). The individual who comprehends and feels God's invisible presence in the visible temple—through its sacred signs and sacraments—who rejoices alongside the Psalmist as they say: “Let us go into the house of the Lord” (Ps. 121:1), and envisions being in heaven while in the temple of His glory is blessed.

But if we are hesitant to enter the temple or find ourselves retreating from it, we must face one of two conclusions: either we do not understand how profoundly “the Lord is in this place,” or we are unfaithful servants fleeing the presence of our Master. If we stand in the temple with a lack of reverence and focus our thoughts on earthly matters, it becomes clear that we overlook the solemn dignity of the “House of God” and neglect the authority of Him who dwells therein. “Seek the Lord, and He shall establish you; seek His face, and He shall draw near” (Ps. 104:4), that He may fill you with joy in His presence.

Pursue the presence of God in the world through thoughtful discernment of His works; in the heart through faith, prayer, purity, and humility; and in the temple through respect for the holy sacraments and attentive engagement with the Word of God. “O Lord of Hosts, be with us!” “Awaken, O Lord, in this place; may those of us who are ignorant come to know Thee, holy and sanctifying.” Amen.

All who acknowledge Christ as the true God and trust in Him emerge from the sinfulness of Egypt into the grace-filled domain of Christ, belonging to the lineage of Judah. The sea and the Jordan represent those who, having encountered the grace of Christ, turned away from wickedness to embrace holy faith and were eager to receive baptism. Nature itself yielded, parting ways to allow passage for the Leader of the people, demonstrating that the power of God is manifest everywhere. The mountains symbolize the prophets, while the hills represent the apostles, rejoicing in Christ the Lord, who desires to redeem humanity. The sea was freed from the grasp of God, divided by the transient Israelites. The Jordan reversed course when the Lord's covenant was entrusted to them, foreshadowing the baptism of the Lord. Among all the rivers on earth, it is in the Jordan that Christ administers the sacrament of baptism. This river is fed by two springs, Porus and Dan, merging to form a stream that flows not into the living sea but into the Dead Sea. The Jordan serves as a metaphor for our mortal existence. The mountains symbolize angels, the hills signify those favored by God, rejoicing over Christ, the Savior of the world. Humanity, represented by the earth, is transformed by the joyous proclamation of the Gospel, moving from sin to repentance. The goodness of Jacob — the descendants of Abraham, including patriarchs and prophets — heralds the message of Christ, guiding souls from the depths of hell to salvation.