Psalm 55 (54):18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Announce the joyful message, and do not conceal what you have been given; in the evening what was, in the morning what is to come, and at noon what remains eternally. Thus, what is uttered in the evening pertains to His words; what is shared in the morning relates to His teachings; what is declared at noon reflects where His voice is heeded. The conclusion is found at noon, indicating a state from which there is no transition into evening. At noon, the illumination is complete, embodying the brilliance of wisdom and the intensity of love. In the evening, we see the Lord upon the Cross; in the morning, we celebrate His Resurrection; and at noon, we witness the Ascension.

To keep God in our thoughts is even more essential than the act of breathing itself. In fact, it can be argued that nothing else holds the same importance. I align myself with those who endorse the instruction to engage in reflection both day and night (Psalms 1:2), to contemplate morning, noon, and evening (Psalms 54:18), and to offer thanks to the Lord continuously (Psalms 33:2). Furthermore, it is pertinent to consider Moses' teaching that one should remember God while lying down, when getting up, and during daily journeys (Deuteronomy 6:7), allowing this remembrance to elevate oneself toward spiritual purity.

Throughout the day and into the night, I will lift my voice in song, continually declaring that You have listened to my cry and rescued my spirit.

Observing my constant supplication presented both day and night, as David expresses, the Lord will rescue me from my adversaries and grant me tranquility.

In these expressions, David illustrates the three distinct times for collective worship or prayer, which we recognize as evening, morning, and noon, during which we observe the sixth hour. He declares that he will proclaim the marvelous deeds of God and make them known to those around him; thus, the acts of declaring and making known are essentially one and the same. Alternatively, he conveys his intention to recount the ancient wonders of God while simultaneously celebrating the new miracles that have occurred in his life. According to another interpretation, he asserts that at least three times daily he will offer hymns and praises.

Despite David’s inability to find peace anywhere and feeling almost lifeless, he continually turned to God in prayer, never losing hope for deliverance. This persistence is made evident in the subsequent verse, where he does not settle for a mere single plea—“I will cry out”—as many complacent individuals might do, but rather states: “Evening and morning and noon I will think and breathe, and the Lord will hear me.” With these initial words, he emphasizes his dedicated approach to prayer, while his concluding expressions reflect a profound spiritual yearning towards God. He demonstrated that no agony or affliction could hinder him from lifting his cries to the Lord and maintaining a steadfast and unwavering hope for salvation, being confident that his prayers would be answered.

This psalm, inspired by the Holy Spirit and composed by David, was entrusted to Asaph, the leader of his musicians, so that it might be sung with understanding by all. The essence of this psalm culminates in Christ, particularly through His pure Passion. The world remains shrouded in darkness, and all humanity is deceitful, while the Lord came to redeem the first man, Adam. Let us earnestly pray for God's gift of the Holy Spirit to draw us closer to Him and to reverence His name, while also silencing the wicked spirit – the sin that dwells within our souls and bodies. He renders this salvation unfathomable to those who constantly long for, hope in, and seek Him.