Psalm 40 (39):7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

2:9), sought to disclose to us an extraordinary secret: He hung naked on the tree, as an exceptional cup of abundant wisdom was poured forth, enabling us to forget the past and embrace a new way of life filled with the promise of eternal existence. God is manifested through the apparent foolishness of preaching, which the world has failed to acknowledge through its wisdom. In the image of our forefather, who lay asleep and naked, we witness that those who scorned this foolishness faced a curse, while those who honored it received the blessing of grace. Thus, those who deemed the death of the only-begotten Son of God the Father, Creator of all, as a hindrance and a source of shame to our faith found themselves shackled by their sins to eternal suffering; conversely, those who embraced His death as the salvation for humanity are fortified and sheltered by everlasting virtue. For the cross of Christ is seen as a hindrance by the Jews and foolishness by the Greeks, as the apostle states, yet to us who believe in our Lord, it represents the power and wisdom of God.

He was also foreseen in Moses, as he divided the sea and traversed the waves, opening an impossible pathway through the waters by divine strength. The rock followed him, yielding water in the wilderness that quenched the thirst of the needy. Likewise, he was envisioned in Aaron, the high priest, who stood between the living and the dead, raising a serpent to vanquish the mortal affliction, preventing disease from passing from the deceased to endanger the living. These actions foreshadowed Christ's role: to intercede for the nations before God the Father, to die for all, to halt violence, and to restore life to the lost. He was also expected in Joshua, who indeed fulfilled this expectation. Joshua took authority and sought to guide the people into the Promised Land, rightful to the name Jesus. Joshua made the streams dry, reversed the waves, and caused the sun to pause until he prevailed in strength. Yet, these were mere signs, not the truth. Now, the genuine Leader of the heavenly host has appeared, and Joshua worshipped Him, even in a form that was not truly corporeal.

When did this true Leader arrive? Let us hear Him speak: "I HAVE RECEIVED AND I HAVE GIVEN, THEY HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FAR MORE NUMBERED. Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not desire, but Thou preparedst a body for Me.... Then I said, 'Behold, I am coming! In the scroll of the book it is written of Me. I was willing to do Thy will, O My God" (Psalm 39:6-9). What could be clearer than the arrival of Jesus, our Savior, with His gospel gift? He preached, gathering countless believers, many of whom had not believed before. Jesus came in the flesh and put an end to Jewish sacrifices; the offerings for sin ceased because the Redeemer of transgressions had arrived. There was no longer a need for the law where the Lawgiver Himself was among them.

The apostle Paul rightly interprets this regarding our Lord Christ (Hebrews 10:5-9); as He represents the origin of our nature, it is appropriate for Him to be the first to articulate what is required of us and to foreshadow what we ought to do. In this manner, He was the first to undergo baptism, illustrating the grace found in baptism. He also washed His disciples' feet, providing us with the seminal example of humility. Consequently, He instructed John: Allow it to be so now, for it is appropriate for us to accomplish all righteousness (Matthew 3:15). Hence, it is fitting for us to address Him as the head of the body, the firstborn among many siblings in the flesh.

Here, Christ expresses to the Father that since His incarnation, He has become a genuine and spoken sacrifice, bearing the sins of the world, and that You seek no other offering than that which was prescribed by the law. Theodoret comments that during the time the law was active, burnt offerings and sacrifices were presented to God. However, these practices have been set aside, with the prophetic word highlighting the ultimate verbal sacrifice. Thus, I maintain that this Psalm primarily reflects David as a foreshadowing figure, who, anticipating the future, aspired to align his life accordingly, while in a broader sense, it pertains to the nations that have attained salvation and are liberated from falsehood. In the Hebrew text, it is stated, “Thou hast perfected my ears.” In earlier times, sacrifices and burnt offerings were required for sin; however, a new path to salvation has been revealed that surpasses these old signs. Accepting the call for obedience and reverence, I present myself, prepared to fulfill Your will. The phrase “Thou hast perfected my ears” is referenced by Paul in relation to the body, attaining its intended meaning not out of ignorance of Hebrew but in a manner suited to his purpose. Didyma, too, introduces the spiritual and verbal sacrifice represented by the body and blood of the Lord. For during the Last Supper, Christ Himself established the body of the church, declaring, “Receive, eat.”

When referencing sacrifice and offering, he is not alluding to a mere ritual act; rather, he speaks of the essence of the sacrifice itself, which could be an animal like a lamb, bullock, or ram, or a gift like bread, fruit, or other offerings. Moreover, his declaration that "Thou wilt not want sacrifice and offering" does not dispute the commandments found in Leviticus regarding sacrifices, for while God once accepted various sacrifices, these were intended to foreshadow the ultimate sacrifice made by the Savior on the cross. The blood of lambs and goats cannot cleanse sins, as it is stated in Hebrews 10:4.

Additionally, although there is a discrepancy between the Greek and Slavonic translations compared to the Hebrew text—where instead of saying "Thou hast made me a body," it reads "Thou hast made me an ear"—there is no real contradiction, as one expression is straightforward while the other is metaphorical. The Creator, who has given ears to mankind, has undoubtedly perfected the entire body; the prophet intended to dedicate not just a part but his whole being to God's service. This idea resonates with Apostle Paul’s exhortation in Romans 12:1, urging believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is their spiritual act of worship.

From the context of the quoted scripture, it is appropriate to interpret the phrase as "But thou hast laid hold of my ears." Just as humanity is deafened by inherent corruption, with ears dulled until God chooses to open them, this statement symbolizes the capacity to hear and understand the saving message, which the grace of the Holy Spirit instills within individuals.