Psalm 45 (44):5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The phrases illustrate the actions of God, transitioning from the lofty to the tangible. Following the mentions of "sword" and "thigh," he refers to "beauty" and then continues with earthly expressions, stating: "and strain, and hasten, and reign." The term "strain" alludes to the bow and arrow; subsequently, to indicate that He requires no weapons, he adds: "and hasten, and reign." Another translator indicates prosperity here as a reference to the kingdom He would establish in the latter days—a kingdom characterized by communion and knowledge. Such words convey the fervent desire of the prophet, who foresaw the works of Christ and a universe led towards truth. This is why he employs imperative expressions, typical of those who, motivated by deep love, address those above them.

"For the sake of truth and meekness and righteousness." This phrase embodies the essence of truth. Notice how Scripture elucidates itself, demonstrating that this victory is both reflective and spiritual. Given the mention of weapons, why does the prophet bring up meekness? And what is the link between humility and conflict? A significant one, upon careful reflection. Both David and Moses exemplified meekness. Of David, it is written, "Remember, O Lord, David and all his meekness" (Psalm 131:1), and about Moses: "But Moses was the meekest man of all the earth" (Num. 12:3). Yet, these humble individuals were also strict.

Take David, who spared Saul despite having opportunities to harm him; he contained his anger even when others advised him to kill Saul. When Shimei insulted him amidst his misfortune, and his commanders sought to retaliate, David uttered words filled with wisdom (2 Sam. 16). Concerning his rebellious son Absalom, he implored his commanders to "save for me the boy Absalom" (2 Sam. 18:5). When addressing his brothers, who were resentful of his future achievements, he humbly queried, "Are not these words?" (1 Sam. 17:29).

And what about Moses? He pleaded for those who sought to harm him, saying, "Forgive them their sin, and if not, blot me out of Your book" (Exodus 32:32). When faced with jealousy, he responded wisely, "If all the people of the Lord were prophets, when would the Lord send His Spirit upon them?" (Num. 11:29). For his sister Miriam's criticism, his prayer reflected wonderful humility (Num. 12:13). His meekness is evident in many instances, including when he conversed with the Israelites after being denied entry into the Promised Land. Yet, he deemed it just for Dathan, Abiram, and Korah, who rebelled against the priesthood, to be consumed by the earth, and the others who offered unauthorized fire to be burned. Meanwhile, the meek David defeated Goliath and led his army to victory. It is common for the meek to forgive personal wrongs while seeking justice for others.

Christ mirrored this characteristic. On the cross, He prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). Mourning over Jerusalem, He lamented, "How often would I have gathered your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Behold, your house is left to you desolate" (Matt. 23:37-38). While enduring suffering, He did not retaliate but justified Himself. Though accused of being possessed by a demon, He cast out evil spirits; though labeled a deceiver, He guided many to the heavenly kingdom. He instructed His disciples to endure hardships, affirming that anyone aspiring to greatness must be a servant (Matt. 20:26), using Himself as the ultimate example: "For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28).

His defeat of demons, His striking down of the devil, and His vanquishing of error all showcase His profound meekness: to confront all evil, liberate the oppressed, and deliver those burdened by demonic forces. What does it signify to act "for the sake of truth, and meekness, and righteousness"? With earlier references to warfare and preparation for battle, the prophet now highlights the heroic acts of His reign, illustrating the nature of the victory. Other earthly kings engage in war for cities, wealth, animosity, or pride; however, He fights "for the sake of truth" to establish it on earth, "for meekness" to enhance the gentleness of the meek beyond wild beasts, and "for righteousness" to transform those burdened by injustice into exemplars of virtue through grace and righteous deeds.

"Your right hand shall lead You marvelously." Another translator interprets this as "Your right hand shall enlighten You about fearsome matters." A third states, "Your right hand shall demonstrate terrifying things." Observe how the prophet reveals the majesty of the One who accomplishes these deeds. Earlier, he moved from weapons and swords to the concept of beauty, elevating the listener to higher, immaterial thoughts. Yet, as he shifted to tangible expressions, he gradually returned to lofty ideals by discussing the motivations of the struggle: truth, meekness, and righteousness. Finally, he paints a vivid picture of victory. What is this image? "You shall be led marvelously by Your right hand." The underlying message is that this Being possesses an inner strength; His power alone is sufficient to fulfill all intentions and bring them to fruition.

Another translator expresses it succinctly: Your right hand shall reveal formidable things. Indeed, His works are rightly considered awe-inspiring: death is conquered, hell is vanquished, heaven is opened, demons are restrained, the exalted and the lowly are united, God becomes man, humanity is elevated to a divine throne, the hope of resurrection revitalizes, expectations of immortality are fulfilled, and countless other wonders are manifest through His coming. Therefore, another translator mentions, "Your right hand shall guide You through dreadful things," emphasizing that His strength is self-sustaining, allowing Him to realize and accomplish His divine purposes. As the seventy interpreters remarked, "Your right hand shall lead You marvelously," which suggests not only the wonder of His works but also the marvelous manner in which they are brought to completion. Through His death, death is vanquished; the old covenant dissolves through an oath, giving way to blessings; while our initial disobedience through taste hindered us from Eden, we are restored to paradise through taste once more; through the virgin birth we lost paradise, yet by a virgin birth, we attained eternal life; by what condemned us, we are now likewise crowned.

The prophet, witnessing all these truths, says, "Your right hand shall lead You marvelously." Does this Being require weapons? Are sword, bow, and arrows necessary? Witness how formidable this Being stands in His own right! The prophet skillfully transitions again from high concepts to tangible imagery with grace.

Christ was revealed to humanity with the hope that through the Seed of Abraham, all nations would receive blessing. The Gospel has been proclaimed. It stands true. What does humility signify? The martyrs endured suffering; consequently, the kingdom of God has thrived and expanded across all nations. This progression resulted from the martyrs who neither faltered nor resisted; they publicly confessed their faith, concealing nothing; they were prepared for anything and avoided nothing. Such extraordinary humility! The Body of Christ embodied this, drawing from its Head. For the first time, He was brought forth as a lamb to the slaughter, silent like the sheep before its shearer; thus, He refrained from speaking. Meekness manifested itself as He hung on the Cross, uttering, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Why is it due to righteousness? He will return to judge and compensate everyone according to their actions. He has proclaimed the truth; He has endured injustice with patience: He will usher in righteousness in the days to come. And Thy right hand shall lead thee wondrously. We shall be guided by His right hand, just as He is guided by His own. For He is God, and we are mere mortals. He is directed by His own hand; that is, by His own power. The authority that the Father possesses, He likewise possesses; He shares in the immortality of the Father; He holds the Divinity of the Father, the Eternity of the Father, and the Power of the Father. Marvelously will His right hand guide Him, executing the works of God; enduring human suffering, and countering the evil intents of humanity with His goodness. Even now, He is being led to places where He has yet to arrive; His right hand directs Him. For there, He is guided by that very power which He has granted to His Saints. Your right hand will lead You wondrously.

Thus, our Lord Jesus Christ, who is life, the way, the bread, the vine, true light, and referred to by many other titles, is likewise the sword that severs the passionate facets of the soul and extinguishes sinful desires. It is particularly fitting to refer to Him as “Strong,” since this underscores the power of God in human nature. The might of the Word of God is not only evident in the creation of the heavens, the earth, the seas, and the air, or in the formation of the greatest elements and everything conceivable within the world and beyond, but also manifests in His creation of humanity and His humble condescension to the frailty of mankind. “‘By Thy beauty and Thy goodness.’ Beauty and goodness are distinct. Beauty reflects completeness and maturity, as wheat appears beautiful when it ripens for harvest, or when the vine’s fruit reaches perfection with the passing of time, ready for enjoyment. Goodness highlights the harmony in the design of its components, generating its own allure. ‘Thou shalt gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O Mighty One, with Thy beauty,’ signifying the fullness of time, “and with Thy goodness,” representing the divine nature that is contemplated and understood. It is truly ‘goodness’ that surpasses all human comprehension and capability, something perceived solely by the mind. His disciples recognized this ‘goodness’ in the parables He shared privately. On the mountain, Peter and the sons of thunder witnessed a ‘goodness’ more radiant than the sun's brightness, experiencing a glimpse of His glorious coming. ‘And nail, and succeed, and reign.’ This implies that having initiated your care for humanity through the incarnation, stir this concern to be intense, persistent, and relentless. This dedication will pave the way for your message and will draw all into Your kingdom. Therefore, it is unsurprising to find the command ‘be successful,’ mirroring Scripture's typical format of expressing desires in such a manner, as in ‘Thy will be done’ instead of ‘be done,’ ‘Thy kingdom come’ rather than ‘come.’ ‘For the sake of truth, and meekness, and righteousness: and Thy right hand shall guide Thee marvelously.’ This phrase adopts a parallel construction to the previous one, suggesting that the Lord would regard success and reign as rewards for truth, meekness, and righteousness. It must be perceived in this way: since falsehood has transformed all things among men, the intention is to sow truth and reign over those dominated by sin, for You are the Truth. ‘Meekness for the sake of meekness’—that by Your example, all may be directed toward justice and goodness. Therefore, the Lord proclaimed: ‘Learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart’ (Matt. 11:29). The manifestation of meekness was seen in His actions: He remained silent when rebuked and endured when struck. ‘And Thy right hand shall guide Thee marvelously’; not a pillar of cloud, nor a fiery light, but Thy own right hand shall serve as Your guide.”

He proclaimed, “But I am made king by Him over Zion, His holy city” (Psalms 2:6). It is certain that truth, humility, and righteousness pertain to Christ, who declares, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6); He instructs, “Learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:29); and also, it is said that “Who was made unto us wisdom from God, righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30). All of this pertains to the physical body, indicating a necessity to expand this understanding to its members. The triumph of the Lord signifies the victory of His followers. The enlightenment of the teacher reflects the greatness of the learners. When it is stated, “Thy right hand shall guide thee marvelously,” one can interpret this as referring to the miracles performed during the gospel or, metaphorically, to the defeat He has imposed upon His foes. The heart of the wise embraces what is right, while the heart of the fool leans toward the left (Ecclesiastes 10:2). Christ resides at the right hand, while Antichrist stands beside Him. Though the translation from Hebrew may vary in expression, the underlying meaning remains unchanged.

The Lord Himself invites us to learn from Him, proclaiming: ‘I am meek and lowly in heart: and you will find rest for your souls’ (Matt. 11:29); again stating: ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life’ (John 14:6), and to the Divine John, ‘Permit it now, for it is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness’ (Matt. 3:15). In this way, He dismantled the torment of the enemy, vanquished death, and granted salvation to the faithful.

Strive, He urges, and heighten Your efforts, O Lord, and succeed—fulfill and accomplish Your desires, and reign over those who oppose You. The imperative verbs reflect genuine yearning, as Scripture often employs such forms to convey deep desire. Thus, it states: hallowed be Thy name, rather than suggesting: if it were hallowed; let Thy kingdom come, instead of: if it would come; and let Thy will be done, rather than: if it were so!

Chrysostom remarks that this imperative phrasing signifies how those lesser in stature, filled with zeal for those greater, often employ such expressions. Eustathius also notes that when the lesser address the greater with imperatives, they signal what is desirable. Isychius adds that we must strive against our foes and prevail with the faithful, reigning over both, so that the adversaries may be subdued while the loyal are crowned. For it is a unique role to be both judge and king.

In pursuit of truth, humility, and righteousness, He calls us to achieve these virtues and conquer, recognizing that You embody meekness, truth, and righteousness, as You proclaimed: I am the way and the truth, and, learn from Me, for I am meek. We are therefore called to fulfill all righteousness.

This may also be interpreted as a plea: bring forth, O Christ, the aforementioned virtues, to establish truth, humility, and righteousness on earth, replacing the former lies, cruelty, and injustice, as noted by Chrysostom. Your right hand will guide You in wondrous ways, for Your integrity—Your inherent goodness—will lead You to perform such deeds, as You are self-sufficient without needing aid from another, according to Chrysostom’s insight. It is indeed remarkable to be guided by one’s own judgments without needing assistance.

Chrysostom further emphasizes that one should be awed not only by the deeds themselves but also by their marvelous execution. For through death, death is vanquished; by oath, promises are fulfilled; and blessings are conferred. By snow, we were once expelled, and yet through snow, we are welcomed anew; it was through a virgin that we were cast from paradise, and through a virgin that eternal life has been granted. That which condemns us also crowns us.

Isaiah also proclaimed, “The rulership was upon His shoulder,” not to imply a physical shoulder, but to communicate His self-sufficiency, indicating He requires no external assistance, for His essence and power are innately sufficient to know what must be done and to accomplish it. Theodoret notes that after speaking of the dream, he further refers to the right hand, symbolizing righteous intentions, which prevent any sinful missteps.

Humanity reflects the image of God, doing good to all, regardless of their righteousness or wickedness, much like God who causes the sun to shine on both the just and the unjust, and sends rain upon the righteous and the unrighteous.

Those who have embraced these qualities granted by Christ bear His likeness, just as a son shares the appearance of his father, since a son’s essence is derived from his father. This is why God became human; through the unity of the divine nature with humanity, divinity governs over human nature. As it is written, "Thou shalt press on, and shalt succeed, and shalt reign in truth for truth's sake, and meekness, and righteousness" (Psalm 44:5). Therefore, anyone over whom Christ has not ruled through these virtues is not like Him as a father and lacks the worthiness to enter the kingdom of heaven. This is a certainty. What value do other achievements hold if they are not grounded in these principles? Let us strive, dear brethren, to embody Christ through these virtues so that we may enter His kingdom. To Him alone belongs glory and authority forever. Amen.

Consequently, Christ, the anointed one of God, whose splendor and grace were praised by the prophet, could take up the sword of God's Word in a mysterious way, all without resorting to physical combat. This is the very sword with which David prepared himself, signifying that He would come to fulfill His Father’s commands. "Thy right hand shall guide thee marvellously," implies guidance by the power of divine grace, the source from which the knowledge of Christ emanates.

Next, David emphasizes the virtues that shine in times of peace, referring to them as the true foundations of the monarchy, or even more evocatively, as the horses and chariots that elevate the king. He contrasts these with the empty grandeur that earthly rulers often boast about and with the vices that many employ to seek recognition—vices such as pride, arrogance, hatred, corruption, injustice, and brutality. Therefore, Solomon himself states in Proverbs that "mercy and truth shall preserve the king, and his throne shall be in righteousness" (Proverbs 20:28).

In the concluding portion of the fifth verse, David foretells that Solomon will experience prosperous outcomes in all his endeavors if he pairs justice and gentleness with military strength. Kings who act impulsively may initially inspire fear, but that fear quickly vanishes; true fear is brought about only by the presence of the courageous, marked by humility. David returns to the theme of martial power in the next verse, declaring that the king's arrows will be so precise they will pierce the hearts of his foes. This signifies that those who oppose his rule, even from a distance, will feel his might. Moreover, he notes that "Men shall fall under thee," which indicates not only the neighboring nations that resist him but also those farther away will submit to his authority, succinctly affirming that anyone who threatens the prosperity of his kingdom shall face dire consequences, for the king possesses more than enough arrows to quell their defiance.