Psalm 64 (63):11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus, let us all rejoice in the Lord, let us unite in faith as one righteous body, acknowledging one Head, and let us find our joy in the Lord rather than in ourselves, for our true Good is not found in us but in the Creator. Our Good rejoices in us. Let no individual find joy in his own strength, no man place his hope in himself, and let no one despair in their own efforts; let not anyone seek to draw others as co-sources of hope instead of looking toward the true Gift of hope.

Now that the Lord has risen, now that He has ascended to Heaven, now that He has made known the reality of eternal life, now that it is clear that His intentions, which were concealed in the depths of His heart, were not in vain; the Blood was shed as a ransom for the redeemed. With all things now revealed, with all that has been preached and believed throughout the earth, the just man will rejoice in the Lord and put their trust in Him, while all who are pure in heart shall be commended. If you find favor in your own skewed desires, bear in mind that your heart is perverse; this is gravely concerning, as you seek to mold the divine heart to align with your wishes, rather than yielding to His divine will. So, what then? Do you aim to distort the always-just heart of God through your own corrupt heart? How much wiser it is to align your heart with His righteousness! Did not the Lord, whom we have just mentioned in reflection upon His Passion, impart this lesson? Did He not carry your burdens when He cried out, ‘My soul is sorrowful even unto death?’ (Matt. 26:38) Did He not express His own struggle when He said, ‘Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me?’ (Matt. 26:39) For the hearts of the Father and the Son are united, and as a servant, He embraced your struggles to instruct you through His example. The turmoil arose from your heart desiring the forthcoming events to change, while God’s will remained steadfast. God does not conform to your heart; rather, you should be in harmony with His heart.

What follows? While those with righteous hearts are lauded, the crooked-hearted will face condemnation. Two paths are laid before you now, choose wisely while you have the opportunity. If you allow your heart to become distorted, judgment will come, and the reasons for God's actions will be unveiled: you, who refuse to amend your heart in this life by God’s righteousness, may find yourself on the left side, where you will hear, ‘Depart into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’ (Matthew 25:41) Will there then be a chance to amend your heart? Hence, amend it, dear brothers; who is stopping you? The Psalm is sung, the Gospel is proclaimed, the Reader mourns, and the Preacher is in tears; the Lord is patient; you continue to sin, and He extends mercy; still, you persist in sin, compounding your transgressions. How long must God show His patience? You will indeed encounter God. We are terrified due to our fear; teach us not to fear and we shall no longer be afraid. Yet it is more beneficial for God to instill in us a healthy fear rather than any man persuading us against rightful fear.

You sow grain, expect a harvest; you sow thorns, expect fire. But the harvest time and the time for judgment have not yet arrived; now is a time for preparation, and in that there shall be no dread. In Christ, both we who speak live, and you who listen live: to realign our paths and transform evil into good, is there not an opportunity? Could you, should you choose, start today? Can you, if you are willing, make the change now? What adjustments do you need for that? What conditions do you seek? What distant land must you travel to? What vessel must you prepare? Behold, even as I speak, the heart can be transformed; what has long been sought can be realized, for which eternal judgment will ensue if left undone.

Yet, Christ was exalted and glorified through the remarkable miracles He performed at His crucifixion and resurrection, rendering the torture and suffering inflicted by the Jews insignificant. This was because He, in His divine nature, was impervious to harm, and the Jews could not achieve His destruction as they intended. Consequently, all the Gentiles, observing the Jews given over to the Romans for ruin and obliteration, were filled with anxiety and feared Christ, for whose sake they endured much from their persecutors and authorities. The righteous may refer to these same Gentiles, who are justified by faith and will also rejoice in Christ. According to Origen, these Gentiles are also of pure heart, as they have remained steadfast in the faith they received, unlike the Jews in ancient times. Furthermore, Theodoret noted that one can discern David and those akin to him, as well as subsequent figures who embodied this, such as the crowned martyrs and devout ascetics.

In the closing verse, the prophet reveals an even greater and more abundant outcome: his deliverance will inspire rejoicing among all the faithful, instilling hope and encouraging them to boast without shame. Why is this? Because they will comprehend that God remains steadfast for them just as He was for His servant David. The righteous will rejoice in the Lord and place their trust in Him, and all the upright will make joyful proclamations in their hearts. It is essential to note that in the final statement, the prophet refers to the same individuals as righteous in heart whom he initially called righteous, highlighting that the type of righteousness that pleases God is solely that which emerges from the purity of the inner self.