Psalm 68 (67):34Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

4:10). What remains after heaven itself? We refer to it as the heaven of heavens, just as He named the expanse sky (Gen. 1:8). This sky, similar to the heaven discussed where it states, And let the waters that are above, Heaven praise the name of the Lord. He must return from that place (Acts 1:11) to judge the living and the dead. Pay attention: behold, He will raise His voice, the voice of authority. He who was like a lamb, silent before His shearers (Isaiah 53:7), will raise His voice—not a voice of frailty, suggestive of judgment, but a voice of might, indicative of impending justice. God will not remain concealed as before, nor will He speak softly in the judgment of humanity; rather, our God will manifest, and He will not remain silent. Why do you lose hope, you who do not believe? Why do you mock? What does the deceitful servant declare? My Lord delays His coming (Luke 12:45). Behold, He will raise His voice, the voice of authority.

The first heaven denotes the firmament above, while the firmament itself represents our human heaven. Eusebius remarks that the term “to the east” serves as a metaphor; just as the sun sets in the west and then rises in the east, so the Lord, as if emerging from the depths of hell, ascended to the highest heaven. Aquila translated “in the east” as “in the beginning,” and Symmachus as “first,” which aligns with the words: Father, glorify me with the glory I had with you before the world began. St. Gregory the Theologian draws a parallel between the sun rising from the west to the east and the Lord ascending from the depths of hell to the heavenly realms, radiant in His own glory and brilliance. Behold, He will bestow forth His mighty voice. The apostles serve as the proclamation of Christ, uttering His words. At Pentecost, Christ granted them the Holy Spirit, referred to by David as the voice of power, as the evangelist Luke records that suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty rushing wind (Acts 2:2). This sound, characterized as a heavenly noise, represents a voice, as mentioned later: so when there came such a sound (Acts 2:6), and is also termed a power, because the Lord called the Spirit a power, stating, “But stay in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). Alternatively, Eusebius suggests that these words may be understood differently. The voice of God represents John the Baptist, the one who cried out in the wilderness (Isaiah 40:3), while the voice of power embodies Christ, as His spoken words were accompanied by divine and miraculous power; for whenever the Lord spoke, miracles unfolded at His command. According to Eusebius, this understanding implies that after fulfilling the prophecies concerning Him, the Lord endowed them with a voice of authority; for predictions that seemed weak due to the obscurity of the event would gain strength when realized.

Do not serve the trivial idols you may find on earth, nor the heavenly powers. Rather, worship God, who traverses the highest heavens, dwelling above all created worlds, residing in the most exalted realms. He exists above the ancient heavens (see Psalm 42:2) and far beyond those heavens, as He moves through the eternal skies, illuminated by the presence of the uncreated Sun."

"Behold, when He speaks, His voice resounds with power. If He chooses to declare something, it shall be with great strength. You may hear this potent voice in the natural thunders, yet know that it will also echo in the seven profound voices and thunders of His judgments (see Rev. 10:3; Ps. 23)." "Render glory to God! Let even those who are unaware of this Almighty One come to know Him; behold His sign: upon Israel you shall witness the evidence of His exaltation, the clearest reflections of His wondrous majesty, while His true power remains above the clouds." "You are to be feared, O God, from your holy dwelling places, which are Sinai and Zion." "And this same God, who displays such splendor to Israel, is the sole universal Source of strength and refuge for all nations." "But can we adequately depict this God? He can only be acknowledged, cherished, and praised. Blessed be God!"

To reinforce this, he provides a rationale, illustrating that God has sovereignly governed both heaven and earth from eternity. He exclaims, “Sing unto the Lord, who has ascended into the heaven of heavens from everlasting.” Here, he emphasizes that God reigns supreme over all creation with unparalleled authority. While this declaration broadly pertains to the entirety of creation, the specific context of this passage should not be overlooked; the prophet expands God’s dominion to the kingdoms of the earth, namely the kings and their peoples who were not yet part of the church, asserting God's authority over them by virtue of creation. The inclusion of the phrase "from everlasting" highlights that all humanity has been under His sovereign hand since the very inception of creation. Thus, God’s grandeur and majesty are vividly displayed, for the heavens, with their vastness, intricate movements, and varying complexities, consistently maintain perfect order and beauty, reflecting the awe-inspiring creation of God throughout the ages. Following his discourse on creation, the prophet immediately shifts focus to the might of thunder, symbolizing God’s command: behold, He will emit a powerful voice. With this assertion, he illustrates that God, through His omnipotent decree, generates thunder, which resounds and reverberates throughout heaven and earth. It is intentional that he portrays God as thundering in the heavens, for nothing instills greater fear and reverence in the hearts of humanity than a profound thunderclap. Moreover, to sharpen our attention or correct our inattentiveness, he uses the demonstrative word “this,” as if placing the spectacle before our very eyes.

God embodies the East, as He is the unapproachable Light and the eternal Godhead, while the ascent to the West signifies communion with human suffering—an area shadowed in comparison to the radiant mountain of light. This illustrates the omnipresence of God. Thus, whether you are seated, walking, engaged in tasks, eating, or fulfilling any other physical needs, regardless of facing east or west, do not hesitate to pray; for we are commanded to do so continually and in every place. Even with your head covered, maintain your prayer, ensuring you do so with intention and diligence.