Psalm 18 (17):50Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Consequently, the nations acknowledge You through my voice, O Lord. I will praise Your name, and as a result of my righteous actions, Your reputation will be magnified.

Therefore, let us offer our praise to You among the nations, O Lord. Since You have accomplished both, as the prophet declares, when You, O Lord, have called the nations unto Yourself, we will acknowledge You through them, as they will sing the songs I have written. Moreover, we shall not only acknowledge You, but I will also exalt the salvation of their ruler, the king of the Gentiles. I shall proclaim loudly the deliverance that has been established in the midst of the earth (Psalm 73:12). You have indeed done this by showing favor to Your anointed people, for we are consecrated as a ‘royal priesthood’ (1 Pet. 2:9). In granting favor to the people and to me, David, You have also prepared it for him and for my descendants. For even the nations are counted among David's descendants, as they too have become children of Him who is of the lineage of David according to the flesh.

In every congregation across the globe, I will offer my praises to You through the nations that will soon be summoned. The realization of this prophecy is evident to us; for in every city and village, in the fields, upon the mountains and hills, across the land and the sea, in populated regions and in the wilderness, the holy David sings to God with a voice of righteous hymns.

For this reason, let us acknowledge You among the nations, O Lord. Aware that You are a mighty helper, I will magnify Your name before all people as my words have thus far exalted You. Indeed, the holy David exemplified this through his writings, as Theodoret elucidates: through the Psalms, he praises and gives thanks to God in the sight of all nations that engage with them. To Your name, I will sing, O Lord; he declares, I will offer melodies on my psaltery, expressing the heartfelt joy within me.

It is as if the message is conveyed as follows: “May the Lord, my hope, reside in me, and may the one who secures my deliverance be praised and exalted. It is God, whom I proclaim, who has bestowed triumphs upon me and subdued the nations for my sake. O Lord, You have rescued me from my foes and lifted me above those who rise against me. You have saved me from wicked individuals. For this reason, I will praise You among the nations and sing to Your name. Have You not increased the salvation bestowed upon Your servant, the king? How abundant is the grace You have shown to Your anointed one, David, and his descendants forever and ever?”

The Holy Church raises a voice of gratitude from the lips of those who believe in Christ, for those who lack faith have arrived, the lost are discovered, and those afflicted by sin are restored through the precious blood of Christ.