Psalm 20 (19):5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Deliverance of Israel Not only did You sacrifice Your life for Your friends, allowing the seed that died to produce a rich harvest, but also, because the children of Israel were in spiritual blindness, so that the fullness of the Gentiles could enter, leading to the salvation of all Israel.

He invites us to find solace in the Lord, who will satisfy the yearnings of our hearts (Psalm 36:4). Notice that He did not specify 'your' desires, but rather the desires of your heart. The aspirations of our outer selves often conflict with those of our inner being, and not all of them align with Christ's approval, as the law of the flesh frequently opposes the law of the mind (see Rom. 7:23; 2 Cor. 4:16). In the writings of Origen, as noted in his commentary on Psalm 36, we see this distinction. The Lord fulfills the desires of the renewed inner man through prayer, as stated in Ephesians 4:23. Additionally, another Psalm declares, Let the Lord grant you according to your heart and accomplish all your plans (Ps.

The Lord will grant you according to your desires and fulfill all your plans, meaning we request from the just Judge a reward that aligns with the sanctity of your spirit.

May the Lord grant you according to your heart's desires. The Lord promises to give to you in alignment with what you seek in your heart; and David frequently refers to the heart as synonymous with the soul. This is because the heart is more deeply engaged than any other part of the body with the soul, as expressed in the scripture, "My heart and my flesh have rejoiced in the living God" (Ps. 43:2). The Lord, he declares, will bring to fruition all your righteous and noble aspirations.

Desire serves as the foundation or essence of every free action at its inception and sustains it throughout. Just as the vitality, power, and honor of the body rely on the soul, the vitality, power, and honor of every action rest upon desire. When desire is tainted, the action lacks worth. When desire is feeble, the effort lacks the strength needed for its fulfillment. In the absence of spiritual desire, the work remains lifeless. Actions performed without genuine desire fail to bring comfort to ourselves and do not offer joy to others. If this is the perspective of those who can only observe actions and form assumptions about desires, what can be said of God's judgment, who perceives all and examines the heart and innermost being? - ‘The Lord will give you according to your heart,’ not merely in accordance with your outward deeds.

The term "remember" indicates that He will accept, do not disregard, or honor His perception. The aspiration of the faithful is for God to demonstrate through the act of offering His approval of the king's sacrifices. Although the passage references two types of offerings—sacrifice and burnt offering—David intended to convey, through synecdoche, all forms of sacrifices, integrating vows and prayers as well. The patriarchs under the Law recognized that their prayers were effective due to their sacrifices, understanding that our prayers are only pleasing to God as they are sanctified by Christ's sacrifice.

Psalm 19 serves as a collective prayer from the entire nation of Israel, symbolically united as one entity, appealing for victory for their king, who was preparing to confront formidable foes. It remains uncertain whether this psalm was composed for a specific event, such as the Syro-Ammonite war, or designated for similar occasions; however, it is clear that it was meant to be sung at the tabernacle on behalf of the people during the sacrificial offering and in the presence of the king as he prepared for battle.

The essence and joy of Christ the Savior lie in liberating humanity from sin and death, while the intent of the wicked Jews was to bring about His demise. Christ's eternal purpose was to take on human form, endure suffering, and ultimately die, so that through His death, He would vanquish the mortality of mankind, and through His Resurrection, impart life.

As we replicate this heartfelt petition of the congregation for the monarch, it is essential for each individual to seek the Holy Spirit, who is the Abundance of blessings, the infinite Origin of all that is good, to realize our righteous aspirations.