Psalm 18 (17):48Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

O God, who brings justice to Me by placing others under My authority. My Savior from My evil adversaries: the Jews shout, Crucify Him, crucify Him. (John 19:6)

God grants retribution to Me, which refers to the punishment of those who are unfaithful, particularly the Israelites. And he who has brought the nations under My authority signifies that the Gentiles have yielded to Christ.

Therefore, you who will accomplish all these things in the future will rescue me from those who unjustly confront me, and will bring the people whom you have entrusted to me into submission.

You are God, he states, who has caused my adversaries to endure affliction and has humbled the Jews who contended with me for the sake of Saul, who now yield to me as their sovereign. These words can likewise be interpreted as concerning Christ, for whom God the Father has avenged the Jews in His earthly existence; they have been vanquished by the Romans, yet He has brought the Gentile nations under His authority.

It is as though I am expressing, 'May the Lord, who is my hope and my rock, be praised and exalted, for He is the source of my salvation: it is God, who has granted me triumphs and brought the nations under my control. O Lord, You have rescued me from my adversaries. You have raised me up from those who oppose me. You have saved me from the wicked. Therefore, I will exalt You among the nations and sing praises to Your name. Have you not magnified the deliverance of your servant, the king? How abundant are the blessings You have bestowed upon Your anointed, David, and his descendants forever and ever?

God the Father has bestowed upon the Son, Christ the Lord, both retribution and triumph over the evil one, as well as the submission of those led astray by idol worship to the dominion of Christ in His genuine faith.