Psalm 13 (12):6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Therefore, it is clear that even when he refers to his actions—using phrases like "if I have done what," "if I have avenged," and others (Psalms 7:4, 5)—his words arise from an absolute necessity; when there is none, he does not speak of them at all, but redirects any petition solely to the mercy and compassion of God. With confidence in his hope, he further states, "My heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation." Do you witness a soul brimming with hope? He has made his request, and even before his prayers are answered, he is already offering thanks, singing to God, and anticipating the blessings. Where does this unwavering hope originate? From profound gratitude, diligent prayer—he understood that God listened to those who petitioned fervently—with a passionate sincerity emanating from the heart. Just as those who pray half-heartedly and thoughtlessly, upon receiving their request, scarcely grasp the significance of the gift, those who fervently seek, even before obtaining, recognize the true value of the blessing as they receive it. Divine grace preempts their joy, compelling them to express thanks, and they find themselves near to receiving the very gift they desire. "My heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation." He expresses that his soul delights in receiving deliverance from You; his soul rejoices because Thou art its salvation. Notice the joy on one side, and joy on the other—the delight of the wicked at another’s downfall contrasted with the joy of the soul at its own redemption. The former belongs to the unrighteous, while the latter is reserved for the redeemed; the wicked’s joy leads to destruction for both the rejoicer and that which is rejoiced over, whereas the latter offers salvation and renewal to the one who delights. It is through this joy that we too shall rejoice and be glad, and we should shun and disdain the former. "I will sing unto the Lord that favoureth me, and I will sing unto the name of the Lord Most High." In acknowledgment of this grace, I will lift up a song to the Lord who has honored me, humiliated my foes, exposed their frailty, heard my cries, turned His face toward me, and cleared away the shadows of death I pursued. In rejoicing over my salvation, it is as if I erect an everlasting monument by raising my song of gratitude, not only singing now and cherishing those blessings in my mind, but also in days to come, I shall praise and exalt the name of the Lord, carrying His great kindness permanently within my soul. A soul that has faced trials not only emerges from them with ease but also becomes more vigilant to avoid future afflictions. By constantly reflecting on this favor, it is clear that it also remembers the trials from which it was spared by this grace. In recalling the hardships, she earnestly contemplates what led to those experiences and why she underwent such suffering; and through this reflection, she guards herself from falling into similar misfortunes again, directing her life accordingly, and giving profound thanks to her Redeemer. Having recognized Him as her Deliverer, she desires to have Him as her Protector forever. Let us also emulate such a soul; and if we stumble into sin, let us promptly rise and turn our failure into a reason for greater vigilance and a motivation to sin no longer. How can you do this? You have a guide—David. Have you sinned? Do not languish in sin, but rise; immediately envision that God has turned His face away, that He has forgotten you; then weep, sigh, and let your tears wash your bed each night, fleeing from those who do wickedness. Such are David’s counsels. Speak with him: "How long, O Lord, will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?" Do not utter this with mere words, but first and foremost with your heart; express the other prayers of David. Once you have voiced all of them, then hope for God’s mercy; trust and do not waver. "But let him ask in faith, not wavering," says the apostle, "for he that wavers is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything from the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways" (James 1:6-8). Thus, hope for His mercy without doubt, and you will certainly receive what you seek; and when you have obtained it, do not forget or fail to acknowledge your Benefactor, but commemorate His goodness, and sing a song of thanksgiving to the Lord. If you cannot do so yourself, invite the poor to join you, using their voices in your stead. Rest assured that the song of David will be more pleasing to the Lord than any they sing on your behalf. Just as a multi-stringed instrument produces more harmonious sounds than a single one, so the chorus of many poor will be a delightful offering to God, who hears the cries of the needy. Establish such a tribute both for yourself and for God: as a remembrance of His favor, and for you as a sign of gratitude and recognition, a symbol to keep in your heart at all times, thus improving your life. Let us strive to enhance it, so that we may be deemed worthy to inherit the blessings of this life, O Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Alternatively, it could be interpreted in this way: I will delight God through both contemplative virtue, represented by the phrase I will sing, and through active virtue, indicated by the phrase I will praise with the psaltery. This psalm is also relevant to all who have been wronged.

Chrysostom points out the humility of the prophet. Although he could reference countless good deeds to appeal to God, he chooses instead to depend on God's mercy, presenting it as his sole argument. Confident in this hope, he adds: 'My heart shall rejoice.' Observe how capable his spirit is of hope. He asks and, without having received yet, offers thanks and praises God, acting as if he has already received. His trust stems from deep wisdom and fervent prayer, for he understands that God listens to those who pray earnestly; this, he says, brings comfort to my soul.

He expresses gratitude and sings praises to God even before his request is fulfilled, acting as though he has already received God's response. What has instilled such trust in him? It arises from deep satisfaction, diligent prayer, and ardent affection within his heart. He understands that God hears sincere petitions. “My heart will rejoice in Thy salvation,” he proclaims. This thought brings joy to his soul, knowing that his salvation comes from the Lord, and he finds delight in envisioning God as his Redeemer. “I will sing unto the Lord who has shown me favor, and I will exalt the name of the Lord Most High.” By this, he means to compose a song in acknowledgment of the Lord’s goodness, who has favored him, subdued his adversaries, humbled him through suffering, weakened him, responded to his prayers, turned His gaze towards him, and dispelled the darkness that had dragged him towards despair. Therefore, in celebration of such abundant blessings, he dedicates this song as an everlasting tribute to the grace bestowed upon him—not merely offering occasional songs or fleeting thoughts of gratitude, but with the intent to continually praise the name of the Lord in the future, fully remembering the greatness of His enduring kindness.

His distress is so profound that he teeters on the brink of death (I shall sleep in death), all due to what he perceives as God's withdrawal (v.1). As a result, he beseeches God to direct His gaze towards him once more, asking for a renewal of light and vitality to his eyes. The vibrancy of life wanes when the light shines dim, as indicated in 1 Samuel 14:27; to illuminate the eyes implies restoring one's life force, particularly to rescue him from the hands of death. If God does not intervene, his foes will rejoice in his downfall (v.5). Nevertheless, amidst this dire predicament, the psalmist maintains hope in the Lord (v.6) and finds assurance through prayer that there will come a day when he will celebrate his redemption, for which he will give praises to God. The phrase in verse 6 about singing to the Lord’s name is absent from the Hebrew text.