Psalm 51 (50):8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Hear the prophet himself as he speaks of the Son of God’s descent from heaven: “He shall come down like rain upon a fleece” (Psalm 71:6). The Son of God, upon His arrival, did not disrupt the universe with thunderous displays or divine revelations. Had He unveiled His true nature, the mountains would not have stood firm, and the sun would have been quenched; had His essence been disclosed fully, the moon would have faded away, and the earth would have been consumed, leading to the destruction of all creation. Therefore, He came quietly and without notice, unnoticed by anyone, entering into the womb of the Virgin. Oh, marvelous and astonishing works! The stone shatters, yet the womb remains intact; the mountains crumble, yet the womb carries the Divine. How can I explain this? How can I comprehend it? Oh, the folly of the blasphemer! How could a servant bear the Sovereign within her womb? He who contemplates the heights should elucidate the depths. How was the Omnipresent One in the womb yet still in heaven? I know that He sat on the divine throne while being present in the Virgin’s womb; how this occurred, I do not know. I accept it by faith, not by human reasoning—He manifested without confusion, nor commotion, nor destruction, nor chaos: “He shall come down like rain upon the fleece.” Thus, you have spoken of His kingdom; you have also mentioned betrayal: “He who has eaten my bread has lifted up his heel against me” (Psalms 40:10). And of His judgment, “Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot in vain?” (Psalm 2:1). Of the cross, you declare: “They have pierced my hands and my feet; they have counted all my bones” (Ps. 21:17-18). Of the bitterness offered to Him: “They gave me gall to eat, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink” (Psalm 68:22). Concerning His anointing: “They anointed my head with oil” (Psalm 22:5). Touching upon His baptism: “By still waters He brought me up” (Psalms 22:2). Regarding His provisions: “He hath prepared for me a meal against my oppressors” (Psalm 22:5). Of His cup, “Thy cup that drinketh from me, how strong it is!” (Psalm 22:5). Of the Jews' rejection: “I will not accept bullocks from your house, nor goats from your flocks” (Psalm 49:9). And concerning their blasphemies against Him: “He trusted in the Lord; let Him deliver him, let Him save him, if He takes pleasure in him” (Psalm 21:9). Of the salvation of the Gentiles, “Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance” (Psalm 2:8). Of His burial: “For You will not leave my soul in the grave, nor will You allow Your holy one to see corruption” (Psalm 15:10). Of His ascent to heaven: “God ascended amid shouts of joy; the Lord at the sound of the trumpet” (Psalms 46:6). Of the apostles’ selection, “In place of your fathers were your sons” (Psalm 44:17). Of the honor given to virgins: “Virgins shall be brought to the King in her retinue” (Psalms 44:15). Of the calling of the Church: “The Queen stands at Your right hand, in gold of Ophir” (Psalms 44:10). Of His sitting at the Father’s right hand: “The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool” (Psalms 109:1).

“You have loved the truth.” You judge, he says, and you punish some while honoring others, all because you cherish truth. In loving the truth and acknowledging the frailty of our nature, be merciful to those in need of healing. “The unknown and secret things of Thy wisdom Thou hast revealed to me.” Shifting focus from the kingdom, he delves into prophecy. Such astonishing honor You have shown me by revealing and making known Your Son. I learned that You have a Son, Your Sovereign, and that He desired to become human. We preach to the universe the gospel, the cross, the grave, the resurrection, and the ascension. I have proclaimed His coming to earth, His ascension, His sitting at the Father’s right hand, the calling of the Church, the salvation of the Gentiles, the rejection of the Jews, and the choosing of the apostles. All of this because “the unknown and secret things of Thy wisdom Thou hast revealed to me.” You have so esteemed me, so loved me, that You have also disclosed to me the greatest mystery—Your Son. How is this observed? Hear the prophet again as he illustrates His humble descent: “He shall come down like rain upon a fleece” (Psalm 71:6). This signifies that when the Son of God arrived on earth, He did not come with the cosmic upheaval of the universe, nor with the brilliance of lightning or the roar of thunder, and His divinity remained concealed. The earth would not withstand such intensity, for “He looks at the earth, and it trembles; He touches the mountains, and they smoke” (Psalm 103:32). Had He fully manifested His existence, the sun would dim, the moon would vanish, the sea would dry, the earth itself would dissolve, and all humanity would come to an end. Hence, He donned flesh, approached quietly, unseen by all, even by the devil. He came secretly and entered the womb of the Virgin. Oh, extraordinary and unparalleled wonders! The stone fractures, yet the womb remains intact; mountains are shattered, yet the womb carries God! How do I articulate this? How do I understand it? Oh, the folly of the heretics! How could the servant contain the Sovereign? He who explores heavenly mysteries should explain earthly truths: how was the Omnipresent One inside the womb, yet simultaneously in heaven? He was both in the womb and on the throne. I cannot fathom how this coexistence is possible; I receive it through faith, without further inquiry. Consequently, He chose to arrive quietly, without alarming or unsettling anyone, as it is proclaimed: “He shall come down like rain upon a fleece.” The Psalmist said not on the earth, but “upon the fleece.” Certainly, falling rain strikes the ground with a sound, but softly landing on wool makes no noise, as the gentleness of the fleece dampens the force of the rain. This illustrates that He came with tranquility, neither confounding nor disturbing anyone, nor wreaking havoc: “He shall come down like rain on a fleece.” You have described His humble condescension devoid of noise; now acknowledge also His devotion: “He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me” (Psalms 40:10). Speak of the envy encountered from the Jews: “They hated me without a cause” (John 15:25, cf. Psalm 34:19). Reflect also on His judgment: “Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up, and the rulers conspire together against the Lord and His Anointed” (Psalm 2:1-2). Now consider His crucifixion: “They have pierced my hands and my feet; they have counted all my bones” (Ps. 21:17-18). Speak of His food and drink: “They gave me gall for food, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink” (Psalm 68:22). Mention the rejection from the Jews: “I will not receive bulls from your house, nor goats from your flocks” (Psalms 49:9). Consider the calling of the Gentiles: “All you nations, clap your hands; shout to God with cries of joy! For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth” (Psalm 46:2-3). Note also the accusations from the Jews against Him: “He trusted in the Lord; let Him save him, let Him rescue him, for He delights in him” (Psalm 21:9). Speak of His internment: “They placed me in the pit of the abyss, in the darkness and shadow of death” (Psalm 87:7). Of His resurrection, declare: “You will not leave my soul in the grave, nor allow Your holy one to experience decay” (Psalm 15:10). Of His ascension, proclaim: “God ascended amid shouts of joy; the Lord at the trumpet’s sound” (Psalm 46:6). Of His sitting: “The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool” (Psalms 109:1). Speak of the splendor of His Church: “The Queen stands at Your right hand, adorned in gold” (Psalms 44:10). Refer to the grace of virgins: “Virgins shall be brought to the King in her retinue” (Psalms 44:15). Mention the apostles’ election: “In place of your fathers were your sons” (Psalm 44:17). Speak of baptism: “By still waters, Thou hast brought me up” (Psalm 22:2). Reflect on the sacraments: “You have prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (Psalm 22:5). Speak of anointing: “You anoint my head with oil, and Your cup that overflows, how strong it is!” (Psalms 22:5). Mention the intercession for the Gentiles: “Ask of Me, and I will give you the nations for Your inheritance, the ends of the earth for Your possession” (Ps. 2:8). This encapsulates what it means that “the secret wisdom of Thy wisdom Thou hast revealed to me.” I consider myself utterly unworthy of Your forgiveness, as I recognize my ungratefulness after receiving so many blessings, for not only have You seated me upon the royal throne, but You have also revealed to me what will come to pass and disclosed to me what remains unknown to others, so that I may instruct others about the Incarnation of Your only-begotten Son, His saving passion, and His resurrection. Having learned these truths through Your Holy Spirit, I implore that I, too, may receive the grace that I point to for others.

They deliberated, saying, “Who knows if God will relent and show mercy?” (Jon. 3:9) This speculation arose from uncertainty. Nevertheless, in their repentance, they obtained the sure mercy promised; they cried out in their tears, engaged in fasting, and demonstrated their sorrow with ashes, and God showed compassion. Nineveh was spared; was it truly overthrown? To mortal eyes, it seems so, while it may appear otherwise to God. I believe the prophet’s words were fulfilled. Observe what Nineveh was and how it was overturned; it was indeed destroyed in wickedness yet rebuilt in virtue, much like Saul the persecutor was brought low, while Paul the evangelist was raised up (Acts 9:4). Who would not wish for this city we dwell in to be transformed if all these misguided souls would abandon their trivial pursuits, running to the Church with contrite hearts, seeking God’s mercy for their past actions? Should we not inquire, “Where is this Carthage?” For what existed has been dismantled; yet if something new has been established, it is a sign of hope. Thus speaks Jeremiah, “Behold, I appoint you to uproot, tear down, destroy, and overthrow, to build and to plant” (Jer. 1:10). This is the voice of the Lord: “I will strike, and I will heal” (Deut. 32:39). He addresses the corruption of deeds while bringing healing to the wounds they cause. Physicians mirror this practice; they inflict pain in order to provide healing; they prepare to make incisions and bring restoration. But due to the severity of the Ninevites’ sins they pondered, “Who knows?” This ambiguity was revealed to Your servant David. When he stood before the Prophet acknowledging, “I have sinned,” he immediately received from the Prophet, or more accurately from the Spirit of God speaking through him, “The Lord has taken away your sin” (2 Sam. 12:13). The hidden and profound elements of His wisdom were made known to David.

Ultimately, by stating, "Thou hast revealed to me the unknown and secret wisdom of Thy will," he indicates that God has made known to him through the Holy Spirit all that is to come, as established in His divine wisdom. Sprinkle hyssop upon me, and I shall be purified. After proclaiming that Thou hast bestowed divine laws and ordinances, he adds further: Thou hast included in these laws certain means of purification and the sprinkling with hyssop. For this same reason, grant us an equivalent now, since You are the unchanging God. Alternatively, he may be referring to a sacrament. In Egypt, Moses was instructed to use hyssop to apply the blood of the lamb to the doorposts (Ex. 12:22), and we are redeemed by the most precious blood. Thus, since the application of the blood provided protection against the destroyer for those within the household, David rightly, making a profound reference to that blood, declares: Sprinkle hyssop on me, referring directly to the forthcoming purification of all through the blood of the true Lamb, Jesus Christ, yearning for the opportunity to receive this cleansing, which alone can fully purify and make us whiter than snow.

Thus, I have declared to others the Incarnation, the redemptive suffering, and the Resurrection of Your only-begotten Son, the salvation of all creation, the abundant forgiveness of sins, and the glorious divine gifts of holy baptism. Having been counseled in all these truths by Your holy Spirit, I implore You that I too may share in this grace, which I earnestly declare and share with others.

Therefore, he acknowledges the truth he transgressed, failing to honor those sacred and hidden truths that God had revealed to him so that he might embrace the truth and shun sin and all forms of wickedness, especially in his role as king, tasked with guiding others. In doing so, he amplifies his wrongdoing by noting that he could not use his ignorance as a justification for his actions, as he had been adequately enlightened from above regarding his responsibilities.

The prophet does not blame the institution of marriage itself, but rather highlights the wrongdoing of our ancestors. Their sinfulness rendered them corrupt, and from this corruption, they birthed offspring in a state of evil, which became part of their nature. In the Garden of Eden, the earth yielded its bounty effortlessly; animals coexisted peacefully without consuming one another, and tranquility prevailed. Adam, destined for divine glory, was meant to extend paradise throughout the earth. The new Adam—Christ, both God and Man—came to realize the restoration of creation.