Psalm 18 (17):32Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

For who is God other than the Lord, whom we worship? And who is God if He is not our God? Who is God if not the Lord, through whom we, as His children, will obtain the desired inheritance after faithful service?

The assertion that certain statements in Scripture pertain to the Son, rather than to the so-called gods that lack true divinity, is adequately supported by the numerous passages which affirm that the Son is consistently identified as both God and Lord throughout the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments. David clarifies this further when he proclaims, "Who is like unto Thee?" and adds, "In bozekh, O Lord" (Psalm 85:8). Similarly, Moses affirms, "The Lord alone led them, and there was no strange god with them" (Deuteronomy 32:12), although the Saviour was indeed present with them, as the Apostle testifies when he states, "they drank of a spiritual stone, and that stone was Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:4).

The singular Word of God is indeed the true God and the only begotten, as He uniquely embodies both divinity and personhood of the Father. When asserting that Christ is inherently God, it raises the question, "or who is God?" We acknowledge one God, the Father, with no other divine being, ensuring that each fulfills the requests of the other. It appears that the two assertions may be related to one another. In this light, the true God has equipped me with strength for triumph and made my path righteous for the purpose of performing good deeds.

Who else can be called God, if not the Lord? The word 'kako' in this context serves no purpose, or perhaps it replaces another conjunction, such as 'for.' As the prophet indicates, by His very essence, God is the Lord, meaning God the Father. Alternatively, who is God if not our God? In this instance, the prophet refers to God as God the Son. By proclaiming God as ‘our God,’ he identifies himself with those of us who have faith in Christ, having envisioned the sanctity of our belief through his prophetic insight.

The Supreme Guardian What do the passionate declarations of the Lord reveal? They show that He stands as the protector for all who place their faith in Him. They affirm that our Lord alone is the true God. They emphasize that there is no mightier force than our God. Therefore, He is indeed the protector of all who trust in Him, for no one can be found capable of opposing such a mighty defender.

This represents the second reason for David's reliance on the Lord, anticipating illumination and power solely from Him. He is the one true God; thus, those who place their trust in Him, likened to a firm and unshakeable foundation, will find safety and security. In contrast, those who depend on any other beings, like the idols worshipped by the nations, will face regret and shame when required.

There is only one God, our Lord Christ, who, in a manner beyond human understanding, took on flesh, endured suffering, and shed His innocent blood for the salvation of humanity. Through His death, He triumphed over death, sin, and hell, and He rose again, elevating human nature to the heavens.