Psalm 68 (67):9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The wilderness represents the nations that do not know God; it was a land devoid of divine law, where no prophet had resided to announce the Lord's arrival. Thus, as You journeyed through the wilderness and Your message reached the nations, the earth trembled, and the hearts of mankind were ignited with faith. But what caused this disturbance? The heavens had retreated from the presence of God (Ex. 13:21), which signifies their departure due to the manna He poured out upon His people (Ex. 16:15), illustrating the same truth.

The earth trembled, signifying that His departure was revealed across all the land. The earth trembled because the heavens were torn asunder. The heavens sought out spiritual nourishment, which signifies manna. This was done in honor of the God of Sinai, the One who provided the law on Mount Sinai. This reflects the God of Israel, with Israel representing the intellect that perceives the divine.

The ground trembled, and the skies released rain at the presence of the God of Sinai (Psalm 67:9). The phrase "the heavens dripped" refers to the provision of manna. The term "Sinai" is interpreted as "temptation." Consequently, God resides within those who face temptation and emerge victorious, but He does not abide with those who find pleasure in it.

The ground trembled as the skies parted. Simmachus interprets it this way: "When You, O Lord, led Your people through the desolate land, the earth quaked, and the heavens descended." In other words, when You aimed to traverse this barren wilderness, still untouched by the light, the earth shook and trembled, while the dew of divine grace descended from above. This event occurred while You were on the cross; at that moment, the earth quaked and the rocks shattered. Following Your ascension into glory, the Spirit's grace fell upon the Apostles, resembling drops of dew.

O God, when You go forth before Your people and traverse the wilderness, the earth trembles, and even the heavens quake. When, O Christ, You declared to the Jews, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate" (Matt. 23:38), and the prophecy of Jeremiah, spoken in Your name, was fulfilled, "I have left my house, I have forsaken my inheritance" (Jer. 12:7), I proclaim that from the moment of Your departure from Judah, and Your journey past the church of the Gentiles—a place devoid of divine knowledge and the fruits of righteousness—the earth quaked during Your suffering and the rebellion of the people, as Theodoret notes. The heavens dispensed manna and, more importantly, bestowed the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles on Pentecost.

In this second part of David's exaltation, God's wonders are celebrated for liberating the Hebrews from Egypt and for imparting the law. The descriptions of these marvels draw upon the song of Devorah and Barak (see Judges 5:4, 5). The Hebrew text of this discourse is interrupted by the term םלה, meaning "of the villages," which various interpreters have translated and interpreted in distinct ways: (a) the Septuagint: διάψαλμα; in the book of Habakkuk, they also render it as εις τέλος (Habakkuk 3:9); (b) the Chaldean and Syriac translators: forever; (c) Aben-Ezra: akin to Amen; (d) modern Rava

The Hebrew text does not include the phrase “Let them be crushed from His presence,” but begins with the proclamation that “He is the Father of the sorrowful, and the Judge of the widow.” Here, the Prophet particularly highlights the benevolence of God towards the Jewish congregation, chosen to exemplify His paternal Providence. This emphasis serves to draw the children of Abraham closer to God and to demonstrate their identity as part of the elect. The deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt stands as a distinct and everlasting testament to God's love, reaffirming the covenant established long ago with Abraham. Consequently, the Prophet succinctly recounts this historical event, signifying God’s steadfast love for His church through this significant act of liberation.

This Psalm, composed by the Holy Spirit for David, reflects on the establishment of God's covenant in Jerusalem and the intentional overcoming of numerous foes. It proclaims the countless blessings bestowed by God as depicted in the Old Testament, encompassing His guidance of the Israelites from Egypt into the Promised Land, the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, and it prophetically honors the sacraments of the New Testament: the incarnation of Christ the Savior, His baptism, transfiguration, suffering, resurrection, ascension, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, along with other ineffable acts of the Divine.