Psalm 118 (117):28Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In this passage, he emphasizes that we ought to express gratitude to God and honor Him for His greatness and indescribable splendor, even in the absence of His blessings. He highlights this point by adding remarks following his discussion on the benefits he has received. He states his intention to give thanks and acknowledge that he serves such a Lord—one who is supremely exalted, immense, unseen, and beyond human understanding. The term ‘exalt’ signifies: I will bring glory.

In this Psalm, we learn that when we utter Hallelujah, meaning "Praise the Lord," we respond to the phrase "Confess to the Lord" (Psalm 116:1) by offering praise to God. Our expressions of praise can scarcely be more profound than the declaration, "For He is good." The weightiness of this simplicity is immense because God’s goodness is a unique attribute. When someone referred to Christ as the Good Teacher, mistakenly viewing Him solely in His humanity, He replied, "Why do you call Me good? There is none good but One, that is, God" (Mark 10:17-18). This implies that to acknowledge Him as good is to recognize Him as divine. The message is directed towards a people liberated from toil and deception in worship, freed through God’s grace—who not only refrains from returning evil for evil but repays evil with kindness. Thus, it is fitting to add, "Because His mercy endures forever."

Let Israel now declare that He is good, and that His mercy lasts forever (Psalm 116:2). Let the house of Aaron now declare that His mercy lasts forever (Psalm 116:3). Indeed, let all who revere the Lord now declare that His mercy is everlasting (Psalm 116:4). Beloved, you surely remember what is meant by the house of Israel and the house of Aaron—these encompass both the humble and exalted, represented in joyful unity through another Psalm. We rejoice as one body, embracing His grace, who is good, and whose mercy endures forever. They have been heard proclaiming, "The Lord may bless you increasingly, you and your children," as to the faithful Israelites in Christ, to whom the apostles belonged, there may be added a multitude of Gentiles, uplifting the perfect and fostering the obedience of beloved children so that we, united in Christ, may be one flock under one Shepherd, declaring, "I called upon the Lord in my distress, and the Lord answered me" (Psalm 116:5). While our afflictions may be confined, the path we tread is boundless. Who can condemn God’s chosen ones? (Romans 8:33).

The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid of what man may do to me (Psalm 116:6). But are men the only adversaries of the Church? A mere flesh-and-blood individual is nothing more than human. The apostle reminds us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12); that is, against the devil and his minions, the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). Therefore, we hear: The Lord is my helper; hence, I will disdain my adversaries (Psalm 116:7). No matter the source of my enemies, whether from wicked humanity or malevolent spirits, with the Lord's assistance, to whom we render praise and shout Hallelujah, they shall be dismissed.

Yet when my foes are brought low, may my friend not present himself as a virtuous man, urging me to place my trust in him, for it is better to depend on the Lord than to place trust in mere mortals (Psalm 116:8). Likewise, let me not consider any being regarded as a good angel as a basis for my reliance, for no one is good except God alone (Mark 10:18). When men or angels provide aid out of genuine love, it is the result of Him who formed them good in their measure. Therefore, it is better to rely on the Lord than on earthly rulers (Psalm 116:9). Angels themselves are often called princes, as we see in Daniel where it mentions, "Michael, your prince" (Daniel 12:1).

All nations beset me, but in the name of the Lord, I cut them down (Psalm 117:10). I was enveloped on every side, yes, surrounded; but in the name of the Lord, I overcame them (Psalm 117:11). This highlights the struggles and victories of the Church; yet, if we inquire how such overwhelming evil could be vanquished, we reflect on this example and express what she initially felt, adding: "They surrounded me on all sides." The phrase "all nations" is intentionally omitted here, as the actions at hand were committed solely by the Jewish authorities. This group—whom Christ embodies and for whose sake all that transpired in mortal form was granted immortal significance—faced persecution from those who, in their folly, crucified the very flesh assumed by Christ on their behalf.

They swarmed upon me like bees attacking a hive, they blazed like fire among thorns; yet in the name of the Lord, I avenged them (Psalm 117:12). The sequence of the words reflects the unfolding events. We rightly understand that our Lord, the Head of the Church, was beset by persecutors as bees swarm a hive. The Holy Spirit expresses the mystical nuance of actions performed by those who remained unaware of their deeds. While bees produce honey in the hive, the persecutors unknowingly made Christ sweeter to us through His Passion, allowing us to experience the goodness of the Lord, who died for our transgressions and rose for our justification (Romans 4:25). Furthermore, the fire that consumed thorns can be interpreted as affecting His Body, the scattered followers drawn from all nations, engulfed in the flames of persecution, consuming sin and the sorrows of earthly existence. The vengeance upon them may refer to how those evil persecutors, having passed away, joined the followers of Christ, or to the rest who, in time, ignored divine mercy, ultimately face the reality of their judgment.

I was pushed to the brink, akin to being swept away like sand, yet the Lord upheld me (Psalm 117:13). While a multitude of believers might appear like countless grains of sand, they are united in fellowship, akin to a single heap; yet, what is humanity that You are mindful of him? He did not merely say that the multitude of Gentiles could not surpass the believers; instead, he asserted, "The Lord has sustained me." The Gentiles' persecution failed to overwhelm the unity of those steadfast in faith.

The Lord is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation (Psalm 116:14). Who truly falls when pushed, except those choosing to rely on their own strength or accolades? No one falters in competition unless their strength and praise fail. Thus, he whose reliance is on the Lord remains unfallen, just as the Lord Himself does not fall. For this reason, He became their salvation—not by ceasing to be who He was but because they transformed in belief, and thus He became their salvation upon their turning towards Him.

The voice of joy and salvation rings out in the abodes of the righteous (Psalm 117:15), where those who tormented the bodies of believers imagined they would find despair and ruin. They remained unaware of the inner joy that saints possess in their future hope. This is why the apostle states, "I am sorrowful yet always rejoicing" (2 Corinthians 6:10), and repeatedly asserts, "We also glory in tribulations" (Romans 5:3).

The right hand of the Lord has accomplished remarkable deeds (Psalm 117:16). What remarkable deeds, you ask? The right hand of the Lord has lifted me up. Incredibly grand acts include elevating the lowly, deifying humanity, transforming weakness into strength, oppression into glory, suffering into triumph; to provide aid and restore those in distress, revealing the true salvation of God to those who suffer, while the salvation of the wicked remains futile. These accomplishments are tremendous, and why should we be astonished? Listen to what is reiterated: the right hand of the Lord has performed wondrous acts.

I will not perish, but shall live and proclaim the works of the Lord (Psalm 117:17). However, as they sow desolation and death on every front, they presumed the Church of Christ was perishing. Observe how he now heralds the works of the Lord. In every place, Christ is the glory of the blessed martyrs. Though defeated, He vanquished those who struck Him; patiently enduring the torment from His adversaries while loving those who rebelled against Him.

Yet let us consider why the Body of Christ, the Holy Church, the chosen people, have endured such humiliation. The Lord declared, "The Lord has chastened and corrected me, but He has not given me unto death" (Psalm 116:18). Let not the arrogant and wicked suppose their authority is unchallenged; it would not have been given were it not bestowed from above. Often, a father instructs his children to be corrected by the most unworthy servants; all the while, he prepares an inheritance for his sons, while holding the former in restraint. What, then, is this inheritance? Is it mere riches, precious metals, jewels, lands, or attractive estates? Observe how we enter into it and discern what it truly is.

"Open to me," he petitions, "the gates of righteousness" (Psalm 117:19). We have heard mention of a gate; what lies beyond? "So that I may enter into them and give thanks to the Lord." This expresses a confession of praise, brimming with wonder, emanating even from the house of God, in the voice of joy and a collective confessional praise among celebrants. This constitutes the everlasting blessedness of the righteous, for those dwelling in the house of the Lord are eternally blessed as they praise Him.

Yet consider how they enter the gates of righteousness. "Behold, the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter therein" (Psalm 116:20). May no wicked soul enter that Jerusalem, which admits no uncircumcised individual, for it is written, "Outside are the dogs" (Revelation 22:15). It suffices that during my lengthy wanderings, I resided among the tents of Kedar; I endured the company of the wicked to the end, yet this is the gate of the Lord; 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 has the confession of one who does not reveal his wounds to a physician yet gives thanks for the healing received been deemed praiseworthy? For the Physician Himself is Salvation.

And who is this person we speak of? "The stone which the builders rejected" (Psalm 116:22); this became the cornerstone, that from both Jews and Gentiles, He might create in Himself one new man, thus making peace, reconciling both to God in one body (Ephesians 2:15-16).

"The Lord has done this" (Psalm 117:23); the Lord established Him as the chief cornerstone. For although He would not have become this without suffering, it was not through His persecutors’ design that He achieved this status. Those who build rejected Him, but in the edifice the Lord secretly raised, He became the cornerstone of that rejected structure. This is marvelous in our view: in the eyes of the inner spirit, of believers, of those who hope and love; and not in the carnal view of those who, disregarding Him as mere humanity, scorned Him.

"This is the day the Lord has made" (Psalm 117:24). This man reflects upon his prior assertions: "Since He inclined His ear unto me, I will call upon Him as long as I live," recalling former days. Hence, he now states, "This is the day the Lord has made," the day in which He granted me salvation. This is the day referred to when He said, "In an acceptable time, I heard you; and in the day of salvation, I helped you" (Isaiah 49:8). It signifies the day when He, the Mediator, became the cornerstone. Therefore, let us rejoice and be glad in Him.

"Save me, O Lord, prosper my way, O Lord" (Psalm 116:25). Since it is a day of Salvation, I call for rescue; as we return from a lengthy journey, separated from those who hated the world, with whom we previously were at peace, yet those who declared war upon us without reason; prosper our return, for You have become our Way.

You are my God, and we acknowledge You. These words, as instructed by the Psalmist, should be proclaimed to Christ the Redeemer.

You are my God, and we will proclaim Your name: You are my God, and I will exalt You. I recognize You as my God, I acknowledge You as my Lord, and to You, my Benefactor, I will offer my songs of praise for all my days. Let us testify to You, for You have listened to me and have been my source of salvation. See v. 29.

You are my God, and to You we offer our confession. You are my God, and I will lift You up; let us offer our praise to You, for You have listened to me and have been my source of salvation. As Chrysostom noted, You are my God, and for this alone I will give thanks and honor You, even in the absence of specific blessings: for all of creation should express gratitude towards its Creator simply for existence and His concern for us. I will continually thank You not only because You are my God but also because You are my benefactor; when I called upon You, You answered my prayer and delivered me from numerous hardships. Chrysostom also emphasized that even without favors, we must offer our thanks to God and praise Him for His greatness, essence, and indescribable glory.

He affirms the statements made in verse 24, where it is declared that God, in His compassion for His church, has dispelled the darkness and filled it with the radiance of His grace, thereby exalting His servant David. He reiterates that this divine transformation is the work of the same God, who has unmistakably demonstrated His sovereignty and might through this event, prompting him to offer thanks once more. As it was customary for the faithful to present formal thanksgiving to God through sacrifices according to the law, he instructs that the lambs be bound with cords and brought to the altar’s horns.

This Psalm, inspired by the Holy Spirit and filled with joy and delight, expresses the incomprehensible and boundless mercy of God, the Creator of humanity. It offers heartfelt praise and thanksgiving to Him on the momentous day of His glorious victory, when the people of Israel were united under David's sovereign reign. This unity symbolized the gathering of all tribes and nations into the singular kingdom of Christ the Lord, the King of eternal splendor, on the magnificent occasion of His solemn Resurrection. Let us also give thanks to Christ, the Savior of humanity, whose mercy endures forever for those who repent. His mercy is infinite and cannot be revoked.