Psalm 118 (117):21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He did not merely state that he was “heard,” but rather indicated that he had been “chastened” first and had grown through that experience. Thus, he offers thanks not just for being heard, but also for the discipline he received, as it led to his being heard. Throughout Scripture, the prophet frequently conveys this form of gratitude, which I maintain is the finest form of sacrifice and offering.

In this Psalm, we learn that when we proclaim Hallelujah, which translates to "Praise the Lord," it serves as our call to glorify God each time we encounter the phrase "I confess to the Lord" (Psalm 116:1). Our praise for the Almighty can be succinctly conveyed in the words: "For He is good." There is a profound significance in this simplicity, for God’s goodness is so remarkable that the Son of God Himself, when addressed as the Good Teacher by someone who perceived Him purely in human terms without grasping His divine essence, responded, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except One, that is, God" (Mark 10:17-18). This implies that to refer to Him as good, one must recognize Him as God. Given that this message is directed towards a future reunion of a liberated people, free from toil and the company of the wicked, they are granted freedom through God’s grace, who not only refrains from repaying evil with evil but instead compensates evil with goodness; it is fitting to add, "For His mercy endures forever."

Let Israel now declare that He is good, and His mercy is everlasting (Psalm 116:2). Let the house of Aaron proclaim the same (Psalm 116:3). Indeed, let all who revere the Lord acknowledge that His mercy is eternal (Psalm 116:4). Beloved, you are aware of what the house of Israel and the house of Aaron represent, and that both stand in reverence before the Lord. These encompass both the small and the great, joyfully depicted in another psalm that has already found a place in your hearts. We should all rejoice in our unity under His grace, who is good, and whose mercy is everlasting; for they were heard saying: "May the Lord multiply you and your children," so that to the Israelites who embraced Christ, of whom our forefathers, the apostles, were a part, a multitude of Gentiles might join them, leading to the exaltation of the perfect and the obedience of the little ones. Thus, when we came together in Christ, we became one flock under one Shepherd, and the Body of that Head, as one, might proclaim, "I called upon the Lord in my distress, and the Lord answered me" (Psalm 116:5). Our affliction may feel constricted, yet the grand path we tread is boundless. Who could bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? (Romans 8:33)

The Lord is my aid; I shall not be afraid of what man can do to me (Psalm 116:6). But are men the sole adversaries of the Church? What is a person devoted to flesh and blood but flesh and blood? As the apostle reminds us, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). These refer to the devil and his disciples, the same devil whom elsewhere he terms the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). Therefore, consider this: The Lord is my helper; I shall disregard my foes (Psalm 116:7). No matter their origin, whether from among wicked men or malevolent angels, with the Lord’s aid, whom we will praise with Hallelujah, they shall be looked down upon.

However, when my foes are belittled, I should not allow my friend to present themselves as righteous and encourage me to place my trust in them; for it is better to depend on the Lord than on mortals (Psalm 116:8). Let me not place my trust in anyone who may, in a limited sense, be called a good angel, for no one is truly good except God alone (Mark 10:18). And when a person or angel comes to our aid out of genuine love, it is ultimately the Lord, who granted them goodness, that works through them. Hence, reliance on the Lord surpasses all trust in rulers (Psalm 116:9). Even angels are referred to as rulers, as we read in Daniel, "Michael, your prince" (Daniel 12:1).

All nations encircled me, yet in the name of the Lord, I cut them down (Psalm 117:10). I was besieged on every side, but in the name of the Lord, I overcame them (Psalm 117:11). He highlights the struggles and triumphs of the Church; and as if questioned how such great evils could be conquered, He recalls this foundational experience in the mind of the Church, adding, "They surrounded me on every side." The mention of "all nations" is intentionally omitted here since it was solely the actions of the Jews that inflicted harm. Those of the same faith community (the Body of Christ, for whose sake all was accomplished through mortal means with everlasting strength) suffered persecution, the kind that nailed the flesh upon the cross.

They attacked me like bees swarming a hive and blazed like fire among thorns; yet in the name of the Lord, I avenged them (Psalm 117:12). The arrangement of the words reflects the sequence of events. We rightly discern that our Lord, who is the Head of the Church, faced persecution much like bees surrounding their hive. The Holy Spirit subtly speaks of actions carried out by those unaware of the consequences. The bees produce honey within the hive, whereas the persecutors of our Lord, unknowingly, made Him even more delightful to us through His Passion; helping us to savor how lovely the Lord is, having died for our transgressions and risen for our justification (Romans 4:25). The further reference, resembling fire among thorns, applies more fittingly to His Body – the scattered believers who, drawn from all nations, were engulfed by them. This sin-laden flesh, along with the deep pains of earthly existence, was consumed in the fires of denunciation. The avenging may be twofold: either because that evil, which pursued the just, has perished, joining the followers of Christ; or observed that those who disregard the mercy of Him who calls them will ultimately face their Judge’s truth.

I was taken as if amid shifting sands, leading to my fall, yet the Lord upheld me (Psalm 117:13). Even though numerous believers existed, they could be likened to grains of sand, united in a single fellowship; yet what is humanity, if not a thought of the Lord? He would not say "the multitude of the Gentiles could not surpass my people," but rather, he declares that the Lord has upheld him. The Gentile persecutions did not dismantle the unity of faith among believers.

The Lord is my strength and my song, and has become my salvation (Psalm 116:14). Who stumbles when challenged except those who rely on their own strength and praise? For no one falters in a contest unless their own might falters. Therefore, one whose strength and praise is the Lord falls no more than the Lord Himself. This is why He became their salvation – not because He transformed into something He previously wasn’t, but because through faith in Him, they became something new, and He became their salvation when they turn to Him, which He was not to them when they turned away.

The sound of joy and salvation echoes in the homes of the righteous (Psalm 117:15); where those who waged war against their bodies thought they could only hear cries of despair. They did not grasp the inner joy of the saints who look forward to future hope. Hence, the apostle states, "I grieve, but always rejoice;" (2 Corinthians 6:10) and again, "Not only that, but we also glory in tribulations" (Romans 5:3).

The right hand of the Lord has accomplished great feats (Psalm 117:16). What magnificent works? He asserts: "The right hand of the Lord has exalted me." Astonishing acts— to lift the humble, to bring divinity to the mortal, to transform weakness into strength, subjugation into glory, and suffering into triumph— to extend aid and rescue those in distress; that the true salvation of God might be unveiled to the afflicted, while the salvation of men holds no value to persecutors. These are indeed mighty deeds: yet, why the astonishment? Listen again: "The right hand of the Lord has done great things."

"I shall not perish, but shall live and proclaim the works of the Lord" (Psalm 117:17). While sowing despair and demise all around, they believed the Church of Christ was perishing. Yet behold, he now declares the works of the Lord. Through defeat, He triumphed over those who struck Him; enduring persecution with patience, and loving those who opposed Him.

Yet, let him clarify why the Body of Christ, the Holy Church, the people of adoption, have faced such indignities. "The Lord has chastened and corrected me, but has not handed me over to death" (Psalm 116:18). Let not the arrogant wicked presume their power is unchallenged; for they would possess none if it were not granted from above. Often a father commands his sons to be disciplined by the most inconsequential servants; yet the father secures an inheritance for the former while restraining the latter. What is this inheritance? Is it gold, silver, or jewels, or farms, or lovely estates? Observe how we partake in it and learn its true essence.

"Open to me the gates of righteousness" (Psalm 117:19). We have come to know of a gate; what lies beyond? "That I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord." Here lies a declaration of praise, filled with awe, intended for the house of God; in the spirit of joy, an acknowledgment among those who celebrate: this represents the everlasting joy of the righteous, through which those dwelling in the Lord’s house are blessed, offering praise for eternity.

Consider how they access the gates of righteousness. "The gate of the Lord," the righteous man is assured, "shall enter therein" (Psalm 116:20). May no ungodly individual enter into that Jerusalem, which permits no unclean person, where it is said, "Outside are the dogs" (Revelation 22:15). It suffices that during my prolonged journey, I dwelt among those who resisted, enduring the company of evil until the end; yet this is the gate of the Lord, and the righteous shall traverse it.

"I confess to You, O Lord, for You have heard me, and have become my salvation" (Psalm 116:21). How often does the confession of one who does not reveal their wounds to the healer but rather offers thanks for the health received prove to be worthy of praise? Yet the Physician Himself is Salvation.

But who do we speak of? "The stone which the builders rejected" (Psalm 116:22); this stone became the chief cornerstone, creating one new man from two, thereby making peace; and reconciling both to God in one body (Ephesians 2:15-16)—the circumcised and uncircumcised alike.

"The Lord has done this" (Psalm 117:23): meaning, the Lord has made Him the chief stone of the corner. Though He would not have assumed that role without suffering, it was not due to those who caused His suffering that He became this cornerstone. Those who built turned Him away, yet in the structure that the Lord raised discreetly, He emerged as the cornerstone that they disdained. And this is marvelous in our sight: it captivates the inner man, those who believe, those who hope, those who love; not in the physical sight of those who overlooked Him, deeming Him only a man.

"This is the day the Lord has made" (Psalm 117:24). This individual recalls what he previously said in earlier psalms: "Since He has inclined His ear to me, I will call upon Him as long as I live," reflecting on earlier times; from which he now announces, "This is the day the Lord has made;"—the day of His salvation. This is the day referenced when He spoke, "In an acceptable time, I have heard you; in the day of salvation, I have helped you" (Isaiah 49:8)—the day when the Mediator became the chief cornerstone. Let us thus rejoice and be glad in Him.

"Save me, O Lord; prosper my path, O Lord" (Psalm 116:25). Since it is the day of Salvation, grant my plea: for as we return from our lengthy journey, we find ourselves estranged from those who cherished the world, with whom we had peace, yet proclaimed war upon us without cause; prosper our return, for You have become our Way.

Let us acknowledge You, for You have listened to me and have been my deliverance. With these phrases, David expresses his intention to praise God for rescuing him from distress, just as he had vowed to offer gratitude previously.

In this passage, David passionately seeks to express his gratitude to God, instructing the priests to open the temple gates as if he were presenting sacrifices on a midweek day. He reiterates his earlier sentiment, desiring to publicly give thanks to the Lord in the gathering of the faithful. Having been absent from the sanctuary for a considerable time, he now rejoices at the prospect of entering the temple to worship and make offerings to God. However, he distinguishes his approach from that of the insincere who, as reproached by God through Isaiah, were warned, ‘You shall not walk in my court’ (Isaiah 1:12). Instead, David aims to enter with the sacrifices of praise and confession.

This Psalm, conveyed to David by the Holy Spirit, overflows with joy and delight, expressing profound gratitude for the boundless mercy of God, the Creator of humanity. It celebrates heartfelt praise to Him on the day of His magnificent victory, when the people of Israel were united under David's singular reign, symbolizing the unity of all nations and tongues into the one 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, who abounds in His mercy to those who repent, for His compassion is everlasting and unchangeable.