Psalm 61 (60):6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What kind of prayer is this? It starts with a fervent cry: Hear, O God, my plea. You have bestowed an inheritance upon those who revere Your name. Thus, let us persist in our reverence for the name of God; the eternal Father will not mislead us. Just as children strive to secure the inheritance of their earthly parents, whom they will receive after their passing, should we not also strive to obtain the inheritance from our Father, from whom we shall not face death, but rather alongside Him in the very legacy that grants us eternal life?

You have bestowed a precious gift upon those who revere Your name. What is this gift if not the kingdom of heaven? For it is declared, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matt. 25:34). Consequently, He has granted us the inheritance of the kingdom of God and the privilege to be known as Christians here on earth.

I will continually offer my praises to You; for in receiving my requests, You have bestowed upon us, their heirs, the inheritance that was promised to our forebears. The Jewish people expressed these sentiments as they journeyed forth. It is essential to recognize that within these words lies a glimpse of the true treasure, which is everlasting life. The Lord Christ spoke to the sheep gathered on His right, saying, ‘Come, bless My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’ (Matthew 25:34). This promise of inheritance was made to those who reverence Him; to the Jews, He provided the promised land as a foreshadowing.

You have heard my supplications when I called upon You, O Lord, and You have granted an inheritance to those who revere Your name. In its simplest form, this inheritance is the humble Jerusalem and the promised land, while at the highest level, it represents the heavenly Jerusalem and the kingdom of God, as Athanasius puts it. For the Lord says, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matt. 25:34). Athanasius states that the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven is bestowed in the age to come. How, then, can he assert that You have given it? Although it is anticipated after the resurrection, since it is already prepared, it is bestowed upon those who are entitled to receive it at the appropriate time.

These statements clearly indicate that God does not withhold His mercy from those who place their trust in Him. Instead, after enduring various trials and tribulations that test their faith, He ultimately bestows upon them everlasting joy. He mocks the foolishness of those who seek fleeting happiness, which is merely an illusion and quickly disappears. David illustrates through the concept of true possessions that the faithful do not attain prosperity through mere fantasies; rather, they experience a joy that is enduring and secure. The temporary struggles they face serve to guide them toward eternal salvation.

Ultimately, through Christ, in a hymn that is eternally lifted in praise and adoration from our hearts and voices, this psalm, guided by the Holy Spirit to David, can be sung until the end of times. Within it, the prophet seeks God’s aid during his trials and offers thanks for His salvation. This supplication is especially relevant to the Jewish people during their Babylonian exile and, more importantly, to the faithful—the Church of Christ—as they navigate various tribulations, yearning for their heavenly homeland and the eternal rest of those who mourn. It is essential to conclude one's prayers with sincere intentions and a devoted desire for a righteous life, as it is written: whether you eat or drink, or do anything else, do it all for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). The site, Golgotha, is where Christ was lifted upon the cross, redeeming fallen Adam.