Psalm 66 (65):13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Observe that He speaks not only of the serene place but also of the fire worthy of longing: ‘I will enter Thy house with burnt offerings’ (Psalm 65:13). What constitutes a burnt offering? It is an entire sacrifice consumed entirely by divine fire. A sacrifice is designated as a burnt offering when it is wholly incinerated. There is a distinction between the various parts of a sacrifice and the burnt offering itself; the latter occurs when the entirety is consumed by divine flames, whereas a part may simply constitute a sacrifice. Every burnt offering is indeed a sacrifice, yet not every sacrifice qualifies as a burnt offering.

I will come into Your dwelling place with a burnt offering, which signifies the heavenly sanctuary, and I will bring an offering of my thoughts, as they fully dedicated themselves to You, O God. I will fulfill my prayers to You, as You have said, according to the commitments I made during my hardships. When I was freed from this current distress, I vowed to continually offer You praise. For these are Your commands, O Lord, and it is our purpose to enter the sanctuary and present a sacrifice of gratitude to You. These reflect the promises I have made.

Historically, these expressions clearly pertain to the temple of God in Jerusalem; however, in the highest context, as the esteemed Athanasius asserts, the dwelling of God is in heaven. The burnt offerings symbolize the perfect and virtuous deeds that the Apostles, martyrs, and all righteous individuals present to God. Moreover, he indicates that the Jewish people will fulfill their heartfelt prayers, or the commitments made to God. The term "uttered" serves to clarify the phrase "the mouth uttered." The Lord declares, "I will fulfill the promises spoken by my mouth."

Until this point, the Prophet has addressed the entire Church's voice, but now he expresses his personal devotion more vividly. He encourages all to engage in acts of faithfulness, demonstrating that his gratitude to God is not simply a formality. By discussing the promises made to God during distressing times, he exemplifies unwavering faith. The Apostle James reminds us, "If any man suffer evil among you, let him pray. If any man be merry, let him sing" (James 5:13). However, do all adhere to this wisdom? It appears that while some extol God's praises during times of well-being, they become discontented or succumb to despair when faced with trials.

Ultimately, in a ceaseless song of worship to God, in anticipation of the resurrection of the faithful, David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, authored this psalm. Within it, he articulates prophetic gratitude to God from those who have returned from Babylonian exile, representing demonic oppression, particularly expressing thanks for the fulfillment of the blessedness that awaits all believers after the conclusion of earthly trials and sufferings, which sets the stage for the resurrection of the faithful. This resurrection may manifest in various forms and culminate at the end of time in the universal resurrection, as noted in Hebrews. Praise is given to Christ's humanity, while His deity deserves glory, as both are exalted. The reference to all the earth signifies all nations. Just as the Jews were liberated from Babylonian bondage, similarly, through the Incarnation of God and the Savior, all humanity has been rescued from the harrowing torment of the devil.