Psalm 63 (62):3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Therefore, our hunger must be for wisdom and righteousness. We will find no satisfaction, nor will we be fulfilled until this earthly life concludes and we receive God's promises. God has pledged equality with the angels (Luke 20:36), who do not suffer hunger and thirst as we do; instead, they enjoy the fullness of truth, light, and eternal wisdom. They are blessed in their divine joys, residing in the heavenly Jerusalem while we wander in this foreign land, watched over by them, sympathizing with our plight, and assisting us at the Lord’s behest, so we may someday return to our true homeland, where we will be filled at the Lord’s fountain of truth and eternity.

Let our souls thirst, as do our bodies in various ways, "For Thee, saith he, and my flesh." Our bodies, too, have the promise of resurrection. Just as our souls are assured of bliss, so too will our flesh rise again. If God did not create us to exist, what difficulty is there for Him in bringing us forth from the dead? Thus, do not find it astonishing when you witness the dead appearing to decay into ashes and dust. Even if a deceased person is burned or torn apart by beasts, do you believe they will not be resurrected? All things that seem lost and turned to dust are complete in the eyes of God. They return to the elements from which they were formed at creation; though we cannot see them, God will restore them as He foreknew us even before our existence. Therefore, we are assured of a resurrection of the flesh: though it will be our current bodies that are raised, they will not carry their current corruptions. In this life, we experience weakness: without food, we grow weary; without water, we become faint; prolonged gaze leads to sleep, and extended slumber brings frailty, hence our need for wakefulness.

Furthermore, observe how our flesh is in constant flux: infancy transitions to childhood, then to youth, maturity, and finally old age. Each stage slips away without return, showcasing the relentless passage of time, where weariness, frailty, and decay abound. In light of the hope of resurrection promised by God, amidst all our weaknesses, we yearn for immortality; thus our flesh craves God. Yet, dear brothers, the flesh of a devoted believer thirsts for the Lord: if it requires bread, water, wine, or sustenance, it must turn to God, not to demons, idols, or worldly powers. Some, facing hunger, abandon God, seeking aid from false gods, not recognizing that their true hunger is for God alone. Those who desire Him must yearn for Him in every aspect—soul and body alike—since God nourishes the soul with the Bread of Life, which is the Word of Truth, and provisions the body with essentials. God created both soul and flesh; it is not the demons who nourish what God made. Let everyone thirst for God, and may their thirst be quenched after much striving.

Yet where do our souls and bodies simultaneously thirst—not for any being, but for You, O Lord, our God? They thirst in the land of desolation, in a pathless and waterless region. We have spoken of this world as Idumea, a barren wilderness named in the Psalm. In this wasteland, to say it is merely desolate is an understatement; it is lacking direction and sustenance. How tragic it would be if there were not even a path in such a forsaken place! If one were to enter it, how lost they would feel without a means of escape! Evil is a barrenness that is daunting and fearful. Yet God, in His mercy, through our Lord Jesus Christ, has forged a path for us in this wilderness (John 14:6), and has provided comfort by sending forth His messengers to share His Word and offering us living water that springs forth to eternal life (John 4:14). And behold, we possess everything we need here, a blessing that does not originate from the wilderness.

The words of Theodoret reflect this sentiment: I stand before You, envisioning indescribable strength. Since Your essence is beyond understanding, I find reasons to glorify You through Your creations. As I have believed among the nations, I proclaim without ceasing: Thus, I manifested myself to You in the sanctuary, that is, in the temple, where You are offered without sacrifice, wholly complete, yet entirely self-sufficient. Great Athanasius remarks that he, while in the wilderness, encountered no detriment but, standing as if in Your sacred tabernacle, offers You a hymn.

His very actions affirm the success he has achieved in these devout practices, which were ordained by the Lord in the commandments. His psalms and hymns bear witness to this steadfastness. Unrefined and superstitious individuals remain zealous for heaven as long as they can witness the sacred rites; however, once the holy display concludes, their faith vanishes. Conversely, although David is distanced from the external ceremonies, he clings to the remembrance of them, striving to elevate his thoughts towards God, whose image he beheld radiating in the sanctuary.