Psalm 18 (17):36Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Progressing towards the objective, Your correction has steered me away from wandering, ensuring that wherever I may wander, I can always return to the purpose You have designated for me.

You have granted me the protection of salvation. Through Your deliverance, I find safety; this signifies the initial arrival of Your grace. Your right hand will uphold me; the right hand of the Father represents the Son. Your discipline will ultimately guide me towards understanding. He comprehends the teachings of the Gospel and articulates insights from the Old Testament through the Law, reasoning that in all matters He has favored me and provided the commandments that instruct me on righteousness. Having learned from these precepts to avoid wickedness, I refrained from wrongdoing. To ensure that my pursuit of righteousness does not lead to my detriment, He has offered me adequate support, allowing me freedom.

You have helped the one who has erred to comprehend, lifted up the one who has stumbled, revealed to him the true nature of sin, and granted him salvation.

You have provided me the protection of salvation. The Lord declares that You have offered me assistance that is neither feeble nor ineffective, but rather strong and capable of delivering me from the detrimental forces of my adversaries. And Your right hand shall intercede for me. It is noted that those who aim to assist another typically extend their right hand, as it is naturally perceived to be stronger and more adept than the left. Alternatively, the right hand can be understood to represent the incarnate Word of God, who has embraced our nature and granted aid to it. Your correction shall thoroughly teach me.

David, having triumphed over numerous strongholds that were deemed unconquerable due to challenging and relentless assaults, honors God's mercy in this context. When he expresses that his feet were made like those of a deer, he emphasizes a remarkable swiftness that is not inherently characteristic of humankind. The essence of these words conveys that he received extraordinary assistance from God, enabling him to ascend the steep mountains with the speed akin to that of a hedgehog. By stating that God taught his hands to battle, he admits that his proficiency in warfare was not derived from his own effort, nor from rigorous training or experience, but rather as a divine blessing.

The foundation of humanity's salvation lies in the profound power of Christ's Cross, evident through holy baptism and the transformative message of God’s Gospel. The hand of the Lord, embodied in Christ, raised fallen humanity, restoring Adam to his original state. Although God may have cast Adam out of Paradise, at the end of times, the incarnate Savior has redeemed him anew, granting him the gift of eternal life (Galatians 4:4). God's chastisement serves as a temporary measure for transgressions, guiding individuals toward repentance and leading them from wickedness to righteousness.