Psalm 68 (67):33Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This is the faith referenced in the Song of Songs, where it is declared, "Thou shalt come and pass hence from the beginning of faith." She emerges as God’s chariot, rejoicing in multitudes, successfully traversing from this earthly realm to the Father. This fulfills the words of the Bridegroom Himself, who passed from this world to the Father (John 13:1), expressing His desire for those with Him to also be where He is (John 17:24), arising from the foundation of faith. In this order, good works follow faith, for no true good works exist apart from that preceding faith. The scriptural reference, “Ethiopia shall come from her hands to God,” signifies that Ethiopia shall believe in God. Thus, she will approach before her actions, or her works. Who is implied here but Ethiopia herself? The Greek text makes this clear, as it explicitly refers to her in the feminine form. Therefore, it asserts that Ethiopia will stand confidently before her actions, expressing faith in God, she will stand in relation to her good deeds. The Apostle states, “I judge that a man is justified by faith, without the works of the law.” Is He only the God of the Jews? Is He not also of the Gentiles? Ethiopia, perceived as the farthest point among the Gentiles, finds justification through faith, independent of the works of the law. The Greek phrase χεῖρα αὐτῆς, present in most manuscripts, can be interpreted as “by her own hand,” while the less common χειρας αὐτῆς denotes “by both her hands” and “her own hands,” a distinction which can also be rendered in Latin.

Do not serve the insignificant idols that you might find on earth, nor the powers of the heavens. Rather, worship God, who traverses the heights of heaven, who abides above all that is seen or understood by creation, dwelling in the heights of ages past (קדם, see Psalm 42:2), or, without comparison, exalted beyond the ancient heavens, moving in the celestial realms of the eternal, uncreated sun, manifested by the presence of this everlasting light.” “Behold, He shall roar with a voice of power. When He speaks, it will be with great authority. You can hear this mighty voice in the claps of thunder in nature, but it shall also resound in the seven mysterious voices and thunders of His judgments (see: Rev. 10:3; Ps. 23).” “Ascribe strength to God; let even the most uninformed acknowledge this Almighty Being, observe His sign: upon Israel, witness His exaltation, the clearest evidence of His wondrous majesty; yet His true power is higher than the clouds.” “You are formidable, O God, from Your sanctuaries, which are Sinai and Zion.” “And this same God, who reveals Himself so wondrously to Israel, is the singular source of strength and refuge for every nation.” “But can we capture an image of this God? He can only be recognized, loved, and adored. Blessed be God!”

This underscores the universal call to all nations, as not only David but also Moses and all the Prophets invite them to present offerings of thanksgiving to God. He provides a rationale for this, indicating that God has sovereignly ruled over heaven and earth eternally. He urges, "Sing unto the Lord, who hath ascended into the heaven of heavens from everlasting." This emphasizes that God, as stated earlier in the psalm, reigns supreme over all creation, exercising His omnipotent governance. While this declaration pertains generally to the world's creation, it is essential to focus on the specific context at hand: when the Prophet mentions the kingdoms of the earth—that is, the rulers and their nations which were still outside the Church—he extends God’s sovereign authority to them as His rightful creation. The phrase "from everlasting" further reminds us that all humanity has been under His dominion since the dawn of creation. Thus, the majesty and glory of God are undeniably evident, as the heavens, with their vastness and diverse movements, maintain a harmonious order, reflecting God’s wondrous creation through ages past with their enduring beauty. After discussing the creation of the world, he quickly turns to the creation of thunder, which symbolizes divine power and conveys the message: behold, He shall give strength to His voice. In this declaration, he illustrates that God, through His mighty command, produces thunder, which reverberates throughout heaven and earth. It is not without purpose that he depicts God thundering in the heavens; for nothing impresses fear and reverence in human hearts like a powerful thunderclap. To better engage our attention or to correct our distraction, he uses the definite article "this," as if placing the moment before our eyes.

God is represented as the East, symbolizing the inaccessible Light and the eternal Godhead, while the path toward the West signifies our solidarity with human suffering, resembling the dark of night in contrast to the radiant mountain light, indicating that God is omnipresent. Therefore, regardless of whether you are seated, walking, engaged in various tasks, eating, or addressing any bodily needs, whether facing east or west, do not hesitate to pray; for we are commanded to pray persistently and in all places. When your head is covered, continue in prayer without neglect, ensuring that your heart remains attentive.