Psalm 43 (42):3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

If the light and truth of the Father, namely the Son, are sent forth to us, how is He not considered distinct in His own hypostatic existence, even as He remains one with the Father in essence? Should some argue that the Father and the Son are identically one and the same, why does the Spirit-bearer not employ a different request, proclaiming: ‘Come to us, light and truth?’ The use of ‘Send’ indicates a clear understanding that there is One who dispatches and another who is sent. Moreover, the act of sending must be perceived in a manner that aligns appropriately with the divine nature.

At the time of harvest, He will dispatch His angels to purge His kingdom of all corruptions, as stated in Matthew 13:41, casting them into the fiery furnace while gathering the grain into His barn. He will bestow His Light and His Truth upon us, for they have already guided us to His sacred mountain and into His presence. We possess sincerity; we strive for the ultimate reward. His holy mountain is His sacred Church, which, as revealed in Daniel’s vision, grew from a mere stone to shatter the kingdoms of the world and expanded until it filled the entire earth (Dan. 2:35). This is the hill where it was said, “I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me from his holy mountain.” May those outside this mountain not presume they will be acknowledged for eternal life. Many may have their supplications answered for various matters, but let them not take delight in this; even demons have received responses when pleading to be sent into the swine (Matt. 8:31-32). Let us seek to be heard concerning eternal life through our earnest efforts, as we implore, “Send forth Thy Light and Thy Truth.” Such Light demands the vision of the heart. For it is written, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8). We currently reside on His hill, which signifies His Church and His dwelling. The tabernacle serves as a refuge for sojourners; the house is for those permanently within the community. The tabernacle is also a place for those at home and in battle. When one considers the tabernacle, envision a defense against adversaries. But what is the nature of the house? “Blessed are they that dwell in thy house; they shall always praise thee.” Now that we have been brought to the Tabernacle and positioned on His holy Mountain, what hope do we carry within us?

Alongside the light, they petition for truth, similar to those who implore God to render judgment upon both themselves and the Babylonians, fully aware that God, acting in truth rather than forbearance, will execute justice against the Babylonians, freeing the Jewish people from their bondage in Babylon.

This aligns with the prayer, "Say unto us, O Lord, Thy favor, and give us Thy salvation," expressing a plea for both the Son and the Spirit to be sent for the redemption of humanity—where "send" indicates favor, akin to how light and rays emanate from the sun.

"You have guided me and led me to Your holy mountain and into Your dwelling places." Here, as interpreted by the divine Cyril and Theodoret, the verb tense shifts: rather than speaking in future terms about guidance, the passage reflects on what has already occurred; they, meaning Your light and truth, O Lord, have already guided me to Your holy mountain—Zion—and into Your sacred city, represented as Your heavenly Jerusalem temple. Ultimately, in the highest sense, Christ directs believers to the path leading to Zion and the heavenly abodes, for He affirmed, "I am the way" (John 14:6).

An anonymous voice remarks that just as physical light aids in perceiving physical realities without deception, so too does spiritual light enable an authentic approach to creation; hence, light and truth are intertwined. The essence of light embodies truth.

Indeed, the light of truth was revealed in earlier times for the illumination of the holy patriarchs and prophets, as articulated in the days of David when it was declared, Send forth Thy light and Thy truth. The divinity of the Son manifested its powerful presence through various signs and wonders (Heb. 1:1). Yet these foreshadowings and miracles affirmed the ‘sending’ mentioned by the Apostle: but when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, who was born of a woman, subject to the law (Galatians 4:4).

The holy mountain symbolizes the ultimate, singular vision of God; therefore, darkness is akin to the state into which Moses was ushered in ancient times, as the prophet proclaimed: "Send Your light and Your truth," for they have truly "guided me, and brought me to Your holy mountain, and to the dwelling places of Your glory."

Just as negative circumstances can cloud our countenance and obscure the heavens above us, so God's blessing reestablishes our joy and His radiant presence dispels the shadows of sorrow enveloping us. Furthermore, David understands that our trials and adversities stem not from arbitrary causes but arise when God withdraws the tokens of His paternal love, which breathe life back into us upon the Lord's merciful revelation. By expressing hope for the light of life and deliverance grounded in God’s steadfast promises, he implores, "Send, O Lord, the light of Thy mercy, that it may illumine the darkness of my sorrow, thus assuring me of Thy faithfulness and constancy." He subsequently clarifies the reason for his plea and his longing to return to his homeland, articulating his desire to be instructed and guided to God’s holy mountain and His sacred dwellings. He perceives that his discontent arises from being away from the fellowship of the righteous and believes that true joy and prosperity will come through engaging in acts of devotion and worship within the house of God. He refers to the holy mountain, Zion, where God’s tabernacle was established, signifying all his aspirations, from which he has been estranged by the machinations of his foes. It is noteworthy that amidst losing his wife, possessions, home, and other comforts, his singular longing is for the temple, indicating a priority on spiritual matters over worldly concerns, as detailed in the prior psalm.

Youth symbolizes the restoration of humanity from death to rebirth. The Gospel represents the heart and voice through which one extols God. It was the will of the Saviour that we experience His divine nature while still in our earthly bodies, thus filling us with holiness. The heartfelt cry, ‘My God, my God!’ conveys profound love for God. The divine image within humanity comprises mind, speech, and spirit; it also involves will and spiritual emotions. As the Apostle Paul indicates, the essence of humanity consists of spirit, soul, and body. Within the body lies the animal soul, which encompasses the irritable and desire-driven aspects of the soul, along with the senses of hearing, sight, taste, smell, and touch. Humanity is elevated because, at creation, God breathed into man the breath of His being. The inner spiritual self discerns good from evil and truth from falsehood, possessing freedom and self-control. While humans face imprisonment and torment after life, animals do not, since humanity, created in God's image and likeness, possesses moral soundness and a call to righteousness. Christ is the ultimate salvation for humankind. Our tranquility is found in the Lord, who stated: ‘This I say to you, that in Me you may have peace’ (John 16:33).

Blessed Theodoret observes that seventy interpreters have altered the verb tense, indicating the future as if it were already past. Other translators have provided a clearer rendering: send Thy light and Thy truth, which will direct me along my journey and usher me into Thy holy mountain. Alternatively, they might express it as: By Thy grace and truth, restore me to my homeland, allow me to behold Thy holy mountain once more, and there, in Thy sanctuary, proclaim Thy mercy and truth from the depths of my grateful heart. These verses from the psalm are suitably chosen to reflect the significance of the Feast of the Transfiguration. The glory of Christ's transformation serves as a foreshadowing of the glory that awaits God's faithful servants in eternity. The Mount of Transfiguration symbolizes the heavenly mansions prepared by the Father for those who love Him. As we dwell on earth, we find ourselves distanced from these exalted abodes, akin to an exile, much like the psalmist’s lament. Hence, the Holy Church, through the words of this Israelite psalm, seeks to ignite in us the yearning and hope for a place in the heavenly realms, instructing us to call out: Lord, manifest Thy mercy and truth, that through them, our faithful guides, we may ascend to Thy holy mountain, the New Jerusalem, and there, joined with the company of holy angels and righteous souls, silently celebrate Thy goodness.