Psalm 18 (17):46Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The children of foreigners have deceived Me. These children, who cannot truly be identified as My offspring, but rather as children of iniquity, of whom it is rightly stated, ‘You are of your father the devil’ (John 8:44), have lied to Me. These wayward children have adorned the former teachings (Ps. 17:45). Despite My offering of the New Testament for spiritual renewal, they remained bound to the old nature. They have strayed from the path, and like individuals who struggle to walk on one leg, they clung to the old and rejected the New Covenant, becoming hindered even within their own Law, adhering to their traditions rather than God’s commands. They raised baseless accusations about unclean hands (Matt. 15:2), as they followed the misguided paths of their own making, long traveled, and turned away from the true ways of God’s commands.

Those who were identified as sons and regarded among the sons became estranged, becoming unrecognizable for their righteous deeds, faltering in their faith, and abandoning the way of holiness. Thus, God expresses through the prophet Jeremiah, ‘How is it that thou art become a sorrow, thou alien grape? But I have planted you with fruitful grapes, all true’ (Jeremiah 2:21). To some, He reveals that they are His own cultivation; to others, He rebukes their thanklessness. The terms ‘vowshasha’ and ‘ohromosha’ are rendered by Symmachus as they shall be dishonoured and put to shame. The reality fulfills the prophecy, for the Jews are consumed with disgrace and are viewed by all as detestable.

The children of foreigners have deceived me. This statement should be perceived as an indictment against the Jewish people, who, despite claiming Abraham and David as their ancestors, have strayed far from their heritage. David refers to them as his offspring, descended from his lineage, yet they are called foreigners due to the stark differences in their disposition compared to their forebear. The children of foreigners have made a pledge but have departed from their intended paths. The accusation, he states, is that the Jewish people have become disgraceful and useless, akin to vessels that have deteriorated and lost their purpose.

Christ reproaches the Jews for abandoning the true path, which encompasses the teachings of the law, the prophetic messages, and the life of the Gospel. The genuine path that directs one to Christ is embodied in the law and the declarations of the holy prophets. However, when they confronted the culmination of the law and the prophets in the form of Christ, they faltered because they approached Him with insolence rather than wisdom. Consequently, He points out that the Gentiles, who had not received His law or prophets, readily accepted His call and embraced His reign with sincerity. In contrast, His firstborn, Israel, having aligned itself with the devil’s mindset, distanced itself from Him and deceived Him. He expected to see the fruits of truth from Israel, but it fell short, as noted: the yield of the olive tree will be unfruitful.

This passage illustrates a scenario typical in military victories. The subjugated nations, despite appearing to show submission and humiliation towards the victor, do so with insincere and reluctant humility; their obedience is born of compulsion rather than genuine willingness. They remain perpetually poised for treachery and insurrection. The defeated foreign peoples are referred to as the sons of strangers, once free, yet now forced to prostrate themselves before David, albeit superficially. This concept can aptly be applied to Christ, who has many who come to worship, yet not all with pure intentions; thus, the Holy Spirit rightly designates them as sons of strangers. The Jewish people, having been adopted by God, have become estranged through their ingratitude towards Him.

The offspring of the outsider are regarded as unrighteous Jews who have turned away from Christ the Lord, estranged from His grace, and have become trapped in their transgressions, unwilling to abandon their former selves. They cling to the teachings of the Old Covenant while dismissing the New, thus existing under a single law (Athanasius).

They referred to themselves as My children while becoming as those outside the covenant; they grew feeble and deviated from the way of righteousness.