Psalm 68 (67):27Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

To prevent anyone from interpreting these words in a superficial manner, imagining them to represent certain indulgent gatherings, the message continues with the phrase, “In the churches bless the Lord” (Psalms 66:26). It is as though it is being emphasized that hearing about young women with tambourines should not lead to thoughts of immoral pleasures. Instead, we are reminded, “In the churches bless the Lord.” This reference illuminates the nature of the churches, likening them to maidens adorned with fresh grace. The churches are depicted as pure maidens joyfully playing drums, embodying spiritual unity through their sanctified essence. Thus, we are called to bless the Lord God in the churches, drawing from the profound heritage of Israel.

The origins of Israel's faith were established through the holy prophets and, prior to them, the Law. Consequently, it is emphasized that our praise should be directed to God solely through these sources. This emphasis arises from the presence of heterodox writings. From the texts of the Law and the Prophets, the Lord bestows blessings on those who can extract life-giving wisdom, much like drawing from the fountains of salvation. The Savior proclaimed, "whoever drinks of the water that I will give him, there shall be in him a spring of water flowing into everlasting life" (John 4:14).

O you who take pride in your self-restraint, conduct yourselves accordingly within the churches, and do not advocate for heretical beliefs! This is a statement directed at Tatian, the leader of the Enkratites. 'The Lord from the springs of Israel.' The Manichaean cannot offer praise to the Lord, for he does not draw from the Wells of Israel, as he rejects the Old Testament. 'From the Springs of Israel,' not from Jacob's, since “Jacob” is interpreted as “the one who struggles,” and he remains in conflict. In contrast, Israel embodies completeness, possessing a vision that beholds God.

The prophet indicated the end of the Old Covenant, as the temple among the Jews was singular; however, he anticipates numerous churches, wherein he instructs that the Lord of all churches be celebrated from the Sources of Israel. The Sources of Israel can aptly be identified as the prophetic writings, from which we offer harmonious praise to God. Moreover, since God has also provided us with apostolic writings in addition to the prophetic ones, the Prophet appropriately continues:

According to Theodoret, these statements indicate the end of the legitimate Divine worship and predict the proliferation of the local congregations of Christ, contrasting with the singular temple of the ancient Jews. Similarly, as explained by Divine Cyril, it is noted that the people will once more praise the Lord drawing from the books of the Law and the Prophets, which are the wells of wisdom providing the knowledge of God to the people of Israel. From these wells, the God-bearing fathers have derived hymns of praise and new grace that they composed. Divine Cyril articulates that Israel's blessings come from the revered prophets and, even prior to them, the Law itself.

The ninth segment of David's psalm focuses on the depiction of the tabernacle’s procession as a triumphant march. As demonstrated in earlier parts of this song, the prophet’s vision is oriented toward the future occurrences of Christ's kingdom, so it is essential to enhance the superficial meaning of these words with a deeper and more spiritual interpretation. ‘Triumph is destined to be followed by a victorious celebration: it will undoubtedly accompany the victory of the Messiah and His Church.’ ‘Those who possess the enlightened gaze of faith can perceive this before the ultimate and all-encompassing event through their individual callings and transformations.

In this passage, he shifts focus from the army's confrontation in battle to the reverent gathering of the people, presenting various types of singers who offer worship in praise of God, the source of triumphs. At the forefront are the principal singers, referred to as "princes" in the Septuagint, who sound the trumpets, while the maidens with timbrels join them, as previously noted in verse 13. The following exhortation, "Bless God from the springs of Israel," is sometimes interpreted as being related to the heart, since empty praise that comes only from the lips is despised by God. However, such an interpretation lacks support. David here invites all descendants of Jacob, known as Israel, to join in praising God.

This Psalm, attributed to David through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, celebrates God's covenant brought to Jerusalem and His triumphant defeat of numerous enemies. It proclaims the countless blessings of God as revealed in the Old Testament, showcasing His guidance of the Israelites from Egypt into the Promised Land, the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, and prophetically honors the sacraments of the New Testament, including the incarnation, baptism, transfiguration, suffering, resurrection, ascension of Christ the Savior, and the descent of the Holy Spirit, alongside other profound acts of the Divine. The path towards the West prompts reflection on the Passion and death of Christ the Savior, who, by divine power, liberated Adam and others from the underworld.

The opening verse for the Passover celebration comes from Psalm 67, specifically from the phrase In the churches bless the Lord God from the springs of Israel. In these lines, the Psalmist calls all Israelites, who originate from the twelve sons of Israel, to join in the exaltation of the Lord during sacred church services, likening them to streams flowing from springs. In parallel, the Holy Church invites Christians, whose spiritual lineage traces back to the twelve Apostles, to honor and glorify the Lord.