Psalm 18 (17):44Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What do these words mean when He said, "You will seek Me, and you will not find Me; and where I am, there you cannot come" (cf. John 7:36)? The reason behind the Lord's statement was unknown to them, yet, unknowingly, they prophesied something that was to come. The Lord referred to a place—perhaps the intimate presence of the Father (cf. Jn. 1:18), from which the Son never departed—that they did not recognize. They were unable to grasp where Christ was, from which He never left, to where He aimed to return, and where He resided. How can any human heart comprehend this, let alone articulate it?

Rescue me from the strife of humanity; for the Lord has chosen to turn away from the Jewish people due to their disobedience and seeks the Gentiles as His heritage. You will place me above the nations. Yet, we are not aware that David ruled over the Gentiles. This prophecy is fulfilled by Him who is descended from David in the flesh. For He born of David according to human lineage, and who is also referred to as David by the prophet Ezekiel, is the Lord Christ who reigns over all languages. As God, He reigns eternally over all, but in His humanity, He willingly accepts the devotion of those who place their faith in Him. These are indeed the words of Christ; for having turned away from the rebellious Jews, He called upon the Gentiles to be His inheritance.

"Rescue me from the strife of humanity." In this statement, He anticipates the vehement accusations of the Jews against the Savior and the ensuing salvation offered to the Gentiles, advising them to refrain from joining in this discord. "You will place me above the voices of many." It is noted that David did not rule over the Gentiles; hence, this prophecy is realized in Him who was born of David in the flesh and is referred to as David, as expressed by the prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 37:24). The Sovereign Christ reigns over all nations, always governing as God. Following His incarnation, He receives willingly those who believe in Him as His devoted followers. "Men, and those who are not guided, labor for me;" "In the hearing of the ear, hear me." These aspects are symbolically represented in the figure of the Sovereign Christ.

You will rescue me from the disputes of the people; for You will instill fear in them as their ruler, so they shall not dare to disobey my commands. You will place me at the forefront of the nations. The Lord will not only eliminate all opposition from the Jews who are subject to me but also conquer the foreign nations for my sake. Yet, it is more appropriate to apply these and the subsequent words to Christ, who addresses the Father in His humanity: You, my Father, will appoint me, Your Son, in accordance with my human nature as the leader of the nations, for I will grant You the nations as Your inheritance (Psalm 2:8). The former people of Christ, the Jews, rejected Him, failed to obey, and ultimately denied Him, culminating in His crucifixion.

Knowledge can be viewed in two ways. First, it refers to the comprehension of all things, and second, it signifies the divine awareness through which God perceives everything prior to its creation. This type of knowledge involves recognition and selection, whereby God acknowledges only one true good, as stated, "The Lord knows those who belong to Him." Initially, the Savior did not recognize those from the Gentiles as His own; however, He later embraced them, bringing them into His spiritual fold.

The transformation of the Gentiles What sort of individuals are these, if not our own, previously unfamiliar with God? They listened attentively when they heard His voice, while we, having abandoned idols, have returned to God.

The legacy of David is recognized universally; across both civilized and uncivilized nations, and among all people regardless of their tongue or dialect, his esteemed memory is upheld, and his name is venerated. His words echo within the body of Christ. It is undeniable that these statements hold true, as individuals from diverse backgrounds, who have no prior knowledge of David, engage in their acts of worship through his hymns and psalms. They repeatedly hear the sacred texts, embracing the psalms that were composed many centuries ago.

The prophet encapsulates all the previously mentioned blessings of God in one expression, declaring that he has experienced divine grace in every manifestation. Prior to the composition of this psalm, he was rescued from personal turmoil and human strife, and he was appointed as ruler, or king, not only over the nation of Israel but also over the foreign peoples subdued by warfare. The phrases deliver me and set me up should then be understood either as references to past actions, a common usage in Hebrew, or as an appeal for ongoing blessings.

The inhabitants of Jndovia exclaimed against Christ the Redeemer, declaring, ‘We have no king, but Caesar; take him up, crucify him’ (John 19:15). Consequently, Christ the Savior was liberated through His resurrection and stands as the Head of the Church, composed of the tongues of those once unfaithful who have come to believe in Him (Col. 1:18).