Psalm 62 (61):8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

I will find salvation in God and will share in His glory: for I am not only redeemed but also honored. I have been redeemed because I have been made righteous by Him, justified by His grace; (Rom. 4:2) and I am honored because I have not only been justified but also glorified. Those He predestined, He also called. (Rom. 8:30) After calling them, what has He accomplished? Those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified. Thus, justification is integral to salvation, while glorification pertains to honor. The extent to which honor is glorified is unnecessary to elaborate. We should seek evidence that justification is essential to salvation.

Blessed is the individual who finds no joy in earthly accolades but instead cherishes God as his source of glory, who can take pride in Christ and echo the Apostle's words, "But let me not boast, except in the cross of Christ" (Galatians 6:14). In our time, many take pride in their physical appearances; these include those who have trained for athletic competitions or who radiate youthful vitality. Others boast of their bravery in battle, and the act of slaying their fellow citizens is often viewed as honorable, as military prowess and the monuments erected by commanders and cities are often judged by the number of lives taken. Some are renowned for building city fortifications, while others gain recognition for constructing aqueducts or grand arenas for athletic contests.

O God, my deliverance and my honor, I place my faith in Him for both rescue and exaltation; He will save me and grant me glory, ensuring my triumph over all adversaries.

They frequently invoke similar titles, referring to the Almighty as God, Savior, glory, and advocate, to fend off the assaults of evil. Consequently, they also inspire their fellow believers to embrace the same devotion, desiring that they all share in the triumph.

In God, my salvation and glory reside, rather than in humanity or any earthly thing. God serves as my helper and my foundation of faith. The Maccabees, filled with joy in their hearts, openly express this to inspire others to voice similar declarations. St. Basil teaches that blessed is the one who finds joy in nothing of worldly stature, but values God as their glory and Christ as their praise. Theodoret explains that the prophetic insight clearly reveals the three persons of the unified, radiant essence of the Trinity, without referring to them as three separate Gods—let such blasphemy be rejected! As we have often stated, the titles God, Lord, King, Creator, and Almighty pertain to the distinct persons within the divine unity.

He reiterates the opening couple of verses to emphasize that, despite the significant temptations he faced, his unwavering faith in God's support left him unafraid. It is as if he asserts, let the adversaries rage as they may, yet, O my soul, do not be troubled, but humbly surrender to God; He will provide assistance, for He is my God, my Deliverer, and my Advocate. For this reason, I shall remain steadfast, refusing to retreat to the land of my foes; rather, I will continually dwell in the host of my God. In verse 8, he concludes by expressing his confidence in God for all things—both the ultimate outcome and the means to achieve it. The outcome signifies liberation from all evils and the attainment of the highest good, described using the terms salvation and glory.

Psalm 38 serves as a culmination of the law, embodied in Christ the Lord (Rom. 10:4). This Psalm was inspired by the Holy Spirit and penned by David, then entrusted to Eduthum, the leader of the singers. He is encouraged to sing it with sincerity, proclaiming the unwavering hope in God, who empowers us to endure for the sake of Christ the Lord, who is priceless and surrendered Himself to suffering and death for the redemption of humanity. Only the Savior can calm our turmoil. The Church proclaims, “Glory to Thee, O Christ God, our hope, glory to Thee.”