Psalm 118 (117):12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Can you comprehend the immense disasters he depicts? He did not merely claim that they “surrounded me,” but instead described them as “like bees of the honeycomb, and like fire that bursts forth among thorns.” Here, the bees symbolize the rapidity of the assault, while the thorns illustrate the fierce wrath and relentless irritation, for who can contain a blaze fueled by thorns? Despite the force and fury of these adversaries who encircled me, he asserts that I not only evaded them but also drove them back. Recall how this echoes the nature of the flame. The fire consumed the flame, yet neither the flame was harmed, nor was the fire subdued; both coexisted without obliterating one another. What is more fragile than a flame? And what is more powerful than fire?

In this Psalm, we learn that when we proclaim Hallelujah, which signifies ‘Praise the Lord,’ we are called to honor the Lord upon hearing the words, "Confess to the Lord" (Psalm 116:1). Our expressions of praise to God must be concise: ‘For He is good.’ Such brevity carries significant weight because goodness is a unique attribute of God. When someone referred to the Son of God as the Good Teacher, perceiving Him only in His humanity rather than recognizing His divine fullness, He responded, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but one, that is, God’ (Mark 10:17-18). This response indicates that to regard Him as good is to acknowledge Him as God. The words spoken here are aimed at those who will one day be liberated from toil and unrighteousness in worship—a gift of grace from God, who not only refrains from repaying evil for evil but instead offers good in return. It is fitting to conclude with the phrase, ‘Because His mercy endures forever.’

Let Israel now affirm that He is good, and that His mercy lasts forever (Psalm 116:2). Let the house of Aaron now declare that His mercy is eternal (Psalm 116:3). Indeed, let everyone who reveres the Lord now attest to His everlasting mercy (Psalm 116:4). Beloved ones, you understand what is meant by the house of Israel and the house of Aaron, both of whom fear the Lord. These groups represent the small and great, both of which have already been joyfully depicted in your hearts through another Psalm. We should all rejoice together, united in His grace, for He is good, and His mercy is unending; they spoke of wishing to see the Lord multiply blessings upon you and your children, so that the army of Gentiles may grow alongside the Israelites who believe in Christ, of whom our Apostles were part, creating a united flock under one Shepherd. Thus, as one body, we might proclaim, ‘I called upon the Lord in trouble, and He delivered me’ (Psalm 116:5). Our afflictions may seem confining, but the grand path we traverse has no limits. Who can bring any charge against God’s elect? (Romans 8:33).

The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid of what man can do to me (Psalm 116:6). However, are humans the sole adversaries of the Church? What is a man fixated solely on the physical but mere flesh? The Apostle reminds us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness (Ephesians 6:12); that is, the devil and his minions, the evil one whom he calls the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). Therefore, hear this: The Lord is my helper; thus, I shall disdain my adversaries (Psalm 116:7). No matter the origin of my foes—be they evil men or the forces of darkness—through the assistance of the Lord, to whom we sing praise and Hallelujah, they will be held in contempt.

But as I dismiss my enemies, let not my friend approach me as a righteous man, urging reliance on him; for it is better to trust in the Lord than in humanity (Psalm 116:8). Likewise, let me not see any being, even one who might be termed a good angel, as someone upon whom I ought to rely; for no one is good but God alone (Mark 10:18). When a person or angel aids us out of genuine love, it is ultimately through the action of Him who created them good. Hence, it is wiser to depend on the Lord than on princes (Psalm 116:9). For angels are also called princes, as evidenced in Daniel when he says, ‘Michael, your prince’ (Daniel 12:1).

All nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord, I vanquished them (Psalm 117:10). I was besieged on every side; nevertheless, in the name of the Lord, I overcame them (Psalm 117:11). This illustrates the tribulations and triumphs of the Church; should one ask how such overwhelming evil can be triumphed over, the answer lies in remembering the initial experiences that strengthened her. The phrase "all nations" is notably omitted here, as it pertains primarily to the actions of the Jews. Those same religious individuals, who embody Christ’s body, inflicted suffering upon Him, the flesh of whom was sacrificed and lifted upon the cross.

They approached me like bees around a hive, burning like fire among thorns, but in the name of the Lord, I avenged them (Psalm 117:12). The sequence of words precisely mirrors the unfolding of events. We rightly comprehend that our Lord, the Head of the Church, was encircled by His persecutors as bees encompass their hive. The Holy Spirit reveals the mystical subtleties of the actions of those oblivious to their deeds. For bees generate honey within the hive, yet the persecutors of our Lord unwittingly made Him even more precious through His Passion, allowing us to taste and witness the sweetness of the Lord who died for our sins and rose again for our justification (Romans 4:25). The words describing being consumed like fire among thorns relate to His Body, the scattered assembly encompassing all nations that endured persecution. The persecution either led those who enacted evil to join the people of Christ, or those who overlooked His mercy will ultimately face the truth in the final judgment.

I was driven as if scattered like sand, and I fell, but the Lord upheld me (Psalm 117:13). Although many believers may seem innumerable, they are analogous to countless grains of sand united into one collective. Yet, who is man that You are mindful of him? He did not say, ‘The multitude of the Gentiles cannot exceed my numbers,’ but instead stated, ‘The Lord has sustained me.’ The persecution faced from the Gentiles did not lead to the collapse of the united believers living in faith.

The Lord is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation (Psalm 116:14). Who then falls when faced with a challenge except those who depend on their own strength and ability to praise? It is those whose strength fails who falter in trials. Therefore, he whose strength and song are the Lord will not fall any more than the Lord Himself falls. And thus, He became their salvation—not that He became something He was not prior, but because they, upon believing in Him, transformed into something they were not before; He was salvation to them when they turned to Him, whereas He was not to them when they withdrew from Him.

There is a voice of joy and salvation in the habitations of the righteous (Psalm 117:15), where those who railed against their bodies anticipated sorrow and destruction. They were unaware of the inner joy felt by the saints fueled by their hopeful future. Thus, the Apostle remarks, ‘I am sorrowful, yet always rejoicing’ (2 Corinthians 6:10), and again, ‘We rejoice in our sufferings’ (Romans 5:3).

The right hand of the Lord has accomplished mighty deeds (Psalm 117:16). What mighty deeds, you ask? He affirms, ‘The right hand of the Lord has exalted me.’ Great acts arise—exalting the lowly, elevating mortality to divinity, transforming weakness into strength, humiliation into glory, and suffering into victory. It is through these actions that the true deliverance of God is manifested to those who endure, while the salvation available to men remains ineffective for the unrepentant. Such deeds are remarkable; yet, why do you marvel? Listen as he reiterates: the right hand of the Lord has indeed performed great works.

I shall not die, but I will live and proclaim the works of the Lord (Psalm 117:17). Those who sow despair and death all around believed the Church of Christ was perishing. Yet behold, he now declares the works of the Lord. In every place, Christ stands as the glory of the blessed martyrs. Though conquered, He triumphed over those who afflicted Him; by enduring suffering, He conquered the tormentors; by loving those who opposed Him.

Yet, why do we witness the Body of Christ, the Holy Church, the people of God, facing such humiliations? He asserts, ‘The Lord has disciplined and corrected me, but He has not forsaken me’ (Psalm 116:18). Let not the arrogant wicked presume their authority is unchecked; they would possess it only because it has been granted them from above. Just as a father may require his children to be corrected by the most inconsequential of servants, he nonetheless bequeaths an inheritance to his sons, restricting the latter. What sort of inheritance is this? Is it merely treasure or land? Observe how we enter into this inheritance and learn of its true nature.

‘Open unto me,’ he pleads, ‘the gates of righteousness’ (Psalm 117:19). We have heard of a gate; but what lies beyond? ‘So that I may enter in and give thanks to the Lord.’ Here is a declaration of praise, filled with awe, resonating from the house of God, amidst songs of joy—a confession of gratitude shared among the celebrants. This represents the eternal blessing of the righteous, those who dwell within the Lord's house and offer Him perpetual praise.

Consider how they access the gates of righteousness. ‘This is the gate of the Lord,’ the righteous declare; ‘the upright shall enter through it’ (Psalm 116:20). Let no wicked person approach that Jerusalem which admits no defiled soul, where it is marked, ‘Outside are the dogs’ (Revelation 22:15). I have dwelt long enough among the tents of the wicked, but this is the Lord's gate: the righteous shall enter.

I give thanks to You, O Lord, for You have heard me and have become my salvation (Psalm 116:21). How often does the gratitude of one who doesn’t reveal their wounds to the Healer but expresses thanks for the healing received prove commendable? Indeed, the Physician Himself is salvation.

Now, who is this of whom we speak? The stone that the builders rejected (Psalm 116:22) has become the chief cornerstone, bringing forth one new humanity from both Jew and Gentile, establishing peace, reconciling both to God in one body (Ephesians 2:15-16).

The Lord made it so (Psalm 117:23): He established Him as the chief cornerstone. Although He would not have attained this position without suffering, He did not receive it from those who inflicted harm upon Him. Those builders rejected Him, yet in the structure that God raised in secrecy, He became the cornerstone that they rejected. This is wondrous in our view—seen through the eyes of the inward spirit, by those who believe, hope, and love; it is not acknowledged by those who, in earthly terms, rejected Him as mere man.

This is the day which the Lord has made (Psalm 117:24). This individual recalls what was shared in earlier psalms: ‘Since He inclined His ear to me, I will invoke Him as long as I have life,’ referring to former days; thus he now proclaims, ‘This is the day which the Lord has brought forth,’ signifying the day of salvation. It is the day of which it was said, ‘In a favorable time, I heard you; in the day of salvation, I aided you’ (Isaiah 49:8). This is the day when He, the Mediator, became the cornerstone. Let us rejoice and be glad in Him.

‘Deliver me, O Lord; grant me success in my path, O Lord’ (Psalm 116:25). Because this is the day of salvation, save me, for we, returning from a lengthy journey, stand apart from those who disliked the world and with whom we were once at peace. When we conversed with them, they unjustly waged war on us; prosper us in returning, since You have become our Way.

Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord (Psalm 117:26). Thus, cursed is he who approaches in his name, as stated in the Gospel: ‘If another comes in his own name, him you will receive’ (John 5:43). We bless you from the house of God. I believe these words arise from the great to the lesser, signifying those spiritual beings in communion with God the Word, who dwell with Him as much as possible in this life, yet moderate their discourse for the benefit of the lesser ones, that they might genuinely express what the Apostle articulated: ‘Whether we are outside ourselves, it is for God; or whether we are sober, it is for your sake’ (2 Corinthians 5:13-14). They bless the little ones from the inner sanctum of the Lord, where the praises do not cease from one age to the next; therefore, heed the message that emanates from there.

God's people invoke the name of the one true God, and through this invocation, they ward off both physical and spiritual adversaries. In contrast, those who scheme against them depend solely on earthly powers. The phrase "all the Gentiles" is a hyperbolic expression, as all of Judah found itself encircled by various nations. (Psalms 100:8) This includes the fervent thoughts provoked by evil spirits and the deceptive reasoning they present, which God will ultimately vanquish. He sometimes annihilates these foes through His invocation, eliminating passionate desires and dismantling deceitful arguments.

Just as bees seek out honeycombs, they endeavored to strip away the joy of piety from me. Like bees that extract honey from a honeycomb, they, as the prophet states, attempted to seize the sweetness of godliness that resided within me. They burned fiercely like a fire in thorns, believing they could quickly conquer me, much like how fire swiftly consumes thorns. Yet they were met with opposition in the name of the Lord. However, they were misled in their expectations and thwarted by my faith, for I have positioned my Lord against them all, and through Him, I have achieved triumph.

In the name of the Lord, I will stand against them, and with the authority of the Lord, I will confront them. Through these words, David conveys the severity of the adversities he faced; he likens his enemies to bees, illustrating their intense jealousy towards him, and to fire, demonstrating their fierce rage. As the Goldsmiths explain, bees will fiercely surround a honeycomb out of possessiveness, eagerly extracting the sweet nectar. Similarly, fire, when ignited among thorns, behaves uncontrollably. The Goldsmith also notes the rapidity of their downfall. Just as bees that sting in defense ultimately perish from their own actions, so too do the malevolence of David's foes lead to their self-destruction.

Those who suffer in silence carry the burden of death hidden from view. The Psalmist captures this truth when he declares, “I am overcome like a bee of honeycomb, and I am kindled like a fire in thorns." Bees possess honey within their mouths, yet their stingers harbor poison. Similarly, those who speak sweetly but harbor malice are like bees; they offer the allure of honey with their words while secretly bringing harm. The individuals who act in this manner are ignited like fire in thorns—not because the flames of their slanders consume the righteous life, but rather because the thorns of their sins, if any exist, are incinerated.

In our observation of the world, warriors often protect themselves from enemy arrows. Believer, our existence is akin to a ceaseless struggle, a warfare against numerous adversaries. We confront the devil and his minions, the battle against the desires of the flesh, the opposition of a wicked and unfriendly world, the strife with false brethren, and the confrontation with both hidden and overt foes. This conflict is relentless and daunting. What means of protection can we employ to guard ourselves against our foes on that dreadful day? The sacred Scriptures guide us towards faith in the Lord's name, and the testimonies of all the saints affirm this truth. In moments of distress, genuine Christians turn to this shield and find refuge from their enemies.

In this passage, the author illustrates the profound value of placing one's faith in the Lord, as evidenced by David's experiences. Time and again, David found himself besieged by a vast array of adversaries, yet through divine intervention, he witnessed their downfall and recognized that their defeat could not be attributed to human strength. The phrase "All the Gentiles have overcome me" has been interpreted by some as referring to nearby nations that caused David considerable suffering. However, he seems to expand this sentiment, expressing that the entirety of the world stood against him. Though not every nation gathered in arms against him, the ferocity of both his own people and neighboring adversaries left him with no refuge, prompting him to feel encircled by all nations.

This Psalm, conveyed to David through the Holy Spirit, overflows with joy and exultation, celebrating the incomprehensible and boundless mercy of God, the Creator of humanity. It issues heartfelt praise and gratitude to Him on the day of His glorious victory, when the people of Israel stood united under the sovereign rule of David. This unity symbolizes the joining of all tribes and tongues into the singular kingdom of Christ the Lord, the King of eternal glory, on the magnificent day of His solemn Resurrection. Let us also give thanks to Christ, the Savior of humanity, whose mercy endures forever for those who repent, for His compassion is unending and irrevocable.