Psalm 60 (59):7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Rescue me, O Lord, by Your right hand, and grant that I may be positioned at Your right hand. I do not seek earthly security; I submit to Your Will in this matter. We are often uncertain about what to pray for; as it is written, “For we know not what we ought to pray for” (Rom. 8:26). Nevertheless, save me by Your right hand so that, even if I endure various trials in this life, when the darkness of all tribulations has passed, I may be found among the righteous on the right side, and not among the unrighteous on the left (Matthew 25:33). Hear my plea, for I now merit what You are prepared to bestow. I do not cry out due to the weight of my transgressions by day or night in a way that is foolish; rather, it serves as a genuine warning for me. From the depths of despair, I seek to understand what to ask during my trials. I long for eternal life, so hear me as I call upon Your right hand.

I will rescue Your cherished followers. The prophet declares that by this emblem, You protect those committed to You, who through their righteousness have earned Your affection. Grant salvation with Your powerful hand and listen to my plea. Avert the misfortunes that threaten Your people, and with Your divine assistance, uplift those who have been cast down. After the prophet had prayed, he received a response and, unable to keep it to himself, proclaimed it to everyone.

May Your cherished ones find deliverance. The beloved of God are those who, upon reflection, harbor within them the insights of divine wisdom—they are freed from all falsehoods and from the deceptive images of virtues that arise in spiritual endeavors, which cause disturbance in the soul through the recollection of sinful thoughts. Rescue me with Your mighty hand and listen to my plea. God extends salvation through His mighty hand, offering His only begotten Son as a sacrifice for the redemption of humanity, for the Son represents the Father's power. He responds and grants spiritual blessings to the righteous along with the forgiveness of sins. Indeed, God hears those who call upon Him in prayer, bestowing upon them absolution through repentance, allowing them to work wonders through the gift of His grace.

This explains why the cherished companions of God and the just were marked on their foreheads, indicating their deliverance from death. The reference to the right hand pertains to the strength through which David implores for the salvation of the imprisoned.

At the conclusion of the law, which is fulfilled in Christ for all who believe in righteousness (Rom. 10:4), and at the culmination of the age, this psalm is to be sung to eternal glory and heavenly honor. For those who wish to transform, this signifies a transition from the old self to the new, from darkness to light, as those who were once in darkness are now illuminated in the Lord Christ (Eph. 5:8). Regarding the image on the pillar, it is fitting that the great humanity of God, as revealed through Christ, should be inscribed upon the pillar and in the hearts of believers for lasting remembrance.