Psalm 68 (67):20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He who sang these truths in the Spirit foresaw what was to come and, filled with joy, lifted his voice in praise, declaring, Blessed be the Lord God, blessed be the Lord God from day to day (Psalm 68:19). In certain translations, the phrase appears as 'day daily,' reflecting the Greek phrasing ἡ μ-ραν καθ' ἡμ-ραν, which could more accurately be rendered as 'day by day.' This phrase signifies the same idea that has been communicated, that He acts every day. For He continuously performs this until the end, leading captivity captive and receiving gifts from humanity.

The Lord God is worthy of praise; He is exalted every day. As the magnificent task reaches fulfillment, the Apostle's visage glorifies God. The God of our salvation rushes to our aid. O Lord, grant us access to Your word, that our path of preaching may flourish.

The one who is just can praise the Lord daily. What benefit do I gain if I offered praise yesterday but cannot do so today? "Favorable is the path set before us by the God of our salvation." Be assured, sinner, and do not doubt your ability to praise Him each day. The Psalmist declared, "God prepares a favorable path for us. Therefore, He assists and uplifts us. 'Our salvation.'" It is aptly expressed in the plural, "salvations;" for each sin we commit corresponds to a corresponding salvation. "Diapsalma." The Hebrew term "Selah" implies "always and immediately," signifying that God continually supports us.

The Lord God is praised; blessed is the Lord of the day. It is right that the Prophet lifts his voice in song. By demonstrating such profound love for humanity, he declares that You deserve to be eternally celebrated.

Blessed is the Lord God; may His name be exalted daily. It is important to recognize, dear reader, that David discloses the mystery of the holy Trinity. He speaks to us of the Lord, God, and the Lord again. Similarly, Moses proclaimed, “The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). By stating that the Triune God deserves to be praised and honored continually, David emphasizes a constant reverence, further clarifying his intent by adding the phrase every day. Others interpret this notion of day by day simply as a testament to perpetual worship throughout all our days. Our Savior God comes quickly to our aid. In these declarations, we also observe the mystery of the holy Trinity, for he mentions God three times.

The seventh aspect of the Davidic praise serves as a conclusion to the previous theme: expressing gratitude to God the Messiah for the ongoing gifts of the Holy Spirit and His triumph over death. "Blessed be the Lord: all reflections on the wonders of God within the Church should naturally culminate in thankfulness and awe." "Day by day, He places upon us: once He imposed the burdensome yoke of the Law, but now He bestows upon us the good and light yoke of the Gospel alongside those gifts which the incarnate Son of God received from the Father for humanity." "God is our fortress of salvation:

The prophet, while reflecting on God's blessings, consistently emphasizes a singular purpose: the steadfastness of the church, sustained not by any earthly force but by the eternal safeguard of God. This is why he proclaims: Blessed be the Lord God, blessed be the Lord day by day. He continues with: The God of our salvation will swiftly come to our aid, indicating that both our deliverance and every temporal gift are wholly dependent on God alone. The Hebrew text conveys this idea as blessed be the Lord, who daily bestows His goodness upon us; suggesting that in His generosity, God is never wearied but continually enriches His people with fresh mercies. Acknowledging the propensity of human thoughts to stray, the prophet reminds us to remain focused on one God.

This Psalm, attributed to David and inspired by the Holy Spirit, celebrates the establishment of God's covenant in Jerusalem and the strategic defeat of his foes. It highlights the countless blessings bestowed upon God's people, as seen in the Old Testament, such as leading the Israelites out of Egypt into the Promised Land, delivering the law from Mount Sinai, and prophetically extolling the sacraments of the New Testament: the incarnation of Christ the Savior, His baptism, transfiguration, suffering, resurrection, ascension, and the descent of the Holy Spirit, along with other profound acts of the Divine.