For he is my God and my saviour: he is my helper, I shall not be moved.
אַךְ־ה֣וּא צ֭וּרִי וִֽישׁוּעָתִ֑י מִ֝שְׂגַּבִּ֗י לֹ֣א אֶמּֽוֹט׃
6 Church Fathers comment on this verse
He is indeed my God, and for this reason, He calls me; He is my Savior, and for this reason, He grants me justification; and He who has accepted me, therefore, He bestows glory upon me. Here, I experience His calling and justification, and there, I will receive glory; from the place of my glorification, I cannot be taken away. I am here with You on earth for a time, just as all my ancestors were. Thus, I will leave my earthly dwelling, but I will not forsake my heavenly home.
This suggests the question, 'Did he refuse me a place of eternal peace by neglecting to bury my body?' My refuge is in the presence of the Lord, and I shall find solace on His holy mountain. I shall no longer shy away from human scorn, for the Lord's love upholds me. Neither death, the sword, nor trials can sever my connection to the love of Christ. The righteous find sanctuary in the dwelling places of the just, while the wicked are cast aside. The descendants of the betrayer Judah face expulsion; thus, it is stated, Let his sons who remain firm and destitute be driven out, and let them be removed from their homes (Psalms 108:10).
These declarations aptly describe our Lord Jesus Christ, who came into the world, was crucified, and buried, yet did not separate from the Father but continues to dwell in Him: I was betrayed and did not turn away (Psalm 87:9). He did not relinquish His true nature but held fast to it. He did not disregard the likeness of God but upheld it until the very end. He did not diminish God's glory by taking on human flesh; rather, by remaining in that flesh, He triumphed and retained His divine authority. That is why He proclaimed: From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of power (Matthew 26:64).
Understanding that He is the one true God and the wellspring of salvation, I refuse to abandon His service for another power. The Prophet expressed it this way: I will cease, indicating that I will not turn into a deceiver or a servant of iniquity.
He declares that he will not shift from worshiping and yielding to his God, his Redeemer and Protector, to serving and submitting to Antiochus, a mere human ruler. In the same manner, understanding that Immanuel is the one true God and the wellspring of salvation, he refuses to alter his allegiance or transfer to another authority. Instead of saying he will change from one path to another, he asserts that he will not abandon the truth for falsehood, nor will he allow himself to become a servant of sin.
He reiterates the initial couple of verses to demonstrate that, despite the significant trials he faced, he remained unafraid, placing his trust in God's assistance. It is as though he is conveying: Let the adversaries act as they choose, but O my soul, do not lose heart; submit to God in stillness, for He will provide help; He is my God, my Savior, and my Advocate. Therefore, I shall not be shaken, nor will I seek refuge among my adversaries; instead, I will remain steadfast within God's divine army. In verse 8, he affirms that he relies entirely on God—for both the outcome and the means. The outcome signifies liberation from all evils and the attainment of the highest good, represented by the terms salvation and glory. The means encompass God's assistance and our faith in Him.
Thus, he implies: I seek salvation from God, which includes rescue from evil, and I also anticipate eternal glory, my ultimate good. When we behold God and become one with Him, we will find salvation and bliss. In conclusion, he states: The God of my assistance, and my confidence rests in God. This suggests that not only is my final objective secured in God, but I also discover the source of grace through which I will achieve that objective, making my trust in God truly meaningful. David extols the redemptive power of God with various titles, bolstering his resolve with steadfast supports and binding the rebellious nature of the flesh, ensuring that it seeks salvation solely in God.
The above passage references Psalm 38, which represents the culmination of the law embodied in Christ the Lord (Rom. 10:4). This Psalm was inspired by the Holy Spirit, prompting David to compose it and pass it to Eduthum, the head of the singers. He is to perform it joyfully, proclaiming the steadfast hope in God, who strengthens us with patience through Christ the Lord, who is priceless and was given up to endure suffering and death for the redemption of all humanity. Only the Savior can quell turmoil. 'Glory to Thee, O Christ God, our hope, glory to Thee,' the Church proclaims in song.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS