Psalm 60 (59):11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What constitutes the city that remains? If you recall, I referenced it in another psalm, which states, “And they shall go round about the city.” The city that stands encircled signifies the gathering of the Gentiles, while at its center was the nation of Judah, devoted to the worship of the one true God. In contrast, those gathered Gentiles offered their prayers to idols and served demons. This is why it was symbolically referred to as the city that is surrounded, for the Gentiles encircled and stood around the people who worshipped the one God. Who will guide me even to Idumea?

In this anticipation, praising the coming of the Lord, the prophet questions: Who will lead me into the fold of protection? This may refer to the Church, which is described as a fold because it comprises those who are sanctified, serving as a refuge according to the boundaries of faith. One interpreter, Symmachus, has aptly rendered it as into a fenced fold. Thus, who will allow me to witness this marvelous event—God approaching humanity? This longing is echoed in the Lord's words: Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear (Matthew 13:17).

Who will lead me into the sanctuary of safety? The prophet, inspired by the Holy Spirit to recognize that even the Gentiles are offered grace, inquires, ‘Who will guide me into the sanctuary of safety? The ‘circle of protection’ symbolizes the Church, safeguarded by the might of God. The prophet expresses feelings on behalf of the Jewish people who have turned from their ways and yearn to embrace faith in Christ. Or who will direct me to Idumea? This clarifies what the sanctuary of protection is. Idumea signifies all the tribes that have received grace.

Jerusalem is referred to as the haven of protection. Simmachus renders it as an enclosed city. Given that Jerusalem was laid waste and deprived of its fortifications, and later had its walls restored following the return from exile, the Prophet yearns to behold the fortified city, to progress as a sovereign toward Idumea, and to witness the adversarial Idumeans continually in servitude.

The encirclement of wisdom arises from profound and divine reflections, which are often described as being shielded by the strongholds of virtues. In another perspective, this encirclement represents a mental state where a devout and God-fearing individual finds themselves fortressed against adversaries, thanks to the protective barrier of holy powers surrounding them. Moreover, this encirclement symbolizes a soul safeguarded by the foundation of a righteous life and sound reasoning, enriched with the gifts of various virtues. Ultimately, this encirclement embodies the skill of grasping true and robust knowledge, shielded by the framework of moral, natural, and theological insights.

Who will guide me into the walled city? This question reflects the longing of the exiled Jews. Jerusalem, known as the fortified city, was encircled by tall and mighty walls. The Jews proclaim this with overwhelming joy, asking who will lead them back to Jerusalem, as they found themselves in captivity, trapped in a restricted and unfree place. St. Basil observes that the Church can be seen as a fortified city, a community built upon the law, and a sanctuary protected by faith. One interpreter explicitly translates it as "into the fenced city," highlighting this notion. Therefore, who will grant me the privilege of witnessing God among humanity? The Lord declares that many prophets and righteous individuals longed to see what you now see but were not granted that vision.

At the culmination of the law, which is Christ for all who trust in righteousness (Rom. 10:4), and at the conclusion of the age, this psalm is to be sung in eternal glory and divine reverence. For those longing for transformation, this marks the transition from the old self to the new, from darkness to light, as those who once were in darkness are now illuminated in Christ the Lord (Eph. 5:8). In the pillar-painting: the profound humanity of God, as revealed by Christ the Lord, is deserving of inscription on both the pillar and the heart for lasting remembrance. This psalm, inspired by the Holy Spirit, was given to David to instruct him to teach all to express gratitude to God and to praise Him for His indescribable blessings towards humanity (Theodoret).