Psalm 22 (21):26Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He speaks highly of the spiritual circumcision of the heart, which denotes a will that is free from all illicit desires. This is not according to the letter, which instructs and admonishes, but rather according to the Spirit, which provides assistance and restoration. Consequently, the commendation of such individuals comes not from humanity, but from God, who, by His grace, has bestowed upon them what they are recognized for. It is declared, “By the Lord shall my soul boast” (Ps 33:3), and similarly, “From Thee shall my praise be.” They do not offer praise to God for their humanity or seek validation for their own righteousness.

My worship originates from You. In this regard, praise signifies exaltation. We observe that the Father’s glorification is evident when the voice declared from above, "and I will glorify, and again I will glorify" (John 12:28). Just as I revealed Your essence to humanity, You will assuredly bring Me honor in the same manner, affirming, "This is My Son" (Matthew 3:17), and subsequently disclosing this truth to Peter (Matthew 16:17) and others. My supplications I will repay. In the sacred texts, prayer is often described as a declaration. Hence, the realization of obedience to the Father, which the Son maintained even unto death in His earthly form, can likewise be interpreted as the fulfillment of the prayer He presented to the Father.

Following this, He reveals to us the equality He possesses with the Father as God. He declared, "My praise is from Thee, in the great church we will confess to Thee." As I make You known to humanity, You instruct all to honor Me likewise, affirming, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him" (Matt. 17:5) and proclaiming, "I have glorified You, and I will glorify You again" (John 12:28). In revelation, He imparted knowledge of Himself to Peter and unveiled His essence to Paul, thus sharing this understanding with others. The Prophet refers to the Church, which extends to the ends of the earth, as the great Church. "My prayers I will offer before them that fear Him." Here, the term prayers (εὐχή) signifies not merely prayers but vows.

My praise comes from You. The Father's acknowledgment of the Son was evident when a voice resonated from heaven, declaring, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:17). Likewise, when the Father proclaimed from above, "I have glorified and will glorify again" (John 12:28), He affirmed the dignity of the Son. In the universal assembly, we confess Your name; the Lord designates this as praise and glorification, with the great assembly symbolizing the Christian Church, extending to the farthest corners of the earth, or comprising esteemed and holy individuals. Within this Church, the Lord continuously glorifies the Father through the message of the Gospel.

He includes these statements to affirm that his deliverance is solely from God. Many individuals, while claiming to honor the Lord, often end up exalting their benefactors and neglecting God, collecting praises from various sources to elevate their own names. In contrast, David directs his praise exclusively towards God, recognizing Him as the true source of his thanks. He reiterates his commitment to publicly express his gratitude before God and all humanity within the congregation, intending to encourage others through his example of devotion.

The Assembly of Angels in Heaven and Humanity on Earth - The Church flourishes across the entire cosmos, proclaiming the truth of the Gospel and restored through the Precious Blood of our Savior, with Christ the Lord Himself serving as its foundation (Eph. 2:20). My prayers I shall fulfill - The Lord Christ instructed all on how to pray, saying: ‘Pray this prayer: Our Father’ (Mt. 6:9).