Psalm 71 (70):20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

How immense are the afflictions You have shown me—so many and treacherous!" But this was formative correction; it was guidance rather than abandonment. Ultimately, having expressed gratitude, he declares, "And upon turning back, You have restored me, and from the depths of the earth You have drawn me up again." But when was this? What is this again? You have fallen from grace, O man, disobedient servant; O you who have taken pride in your Lord, you have stumbled. Let it be known to you, everyone who lifts themselves up will be brought low; let it be known to you, everyone who humbles themselves will be raised high. (Lk. 14:11) Come back from the depths. Return, I say, return, return; I confess; O God, who is like unto You? How profound the trials You have shown me, countless and wicked! And upon turning, You have restored me, and from the depths of the earth You have brought me up again. We see, I hear. You have redeemed us from the depths, lifted us from the abyss of sin. But why once more? Has it not already occurred? Let us advance, unless perhaps the latter parts of the psalm clarify what we do not yet understand, specifically why he mentions "once again." Let us listen then, "What great afflictions You have revealed to me—so many and wicked!" And upon turning, You have restored me, and from the depths of the earth You have brought me up again. So what follows? You have abundantly multiplied Your righteousness, and upon turning, You have comforted me, and from the depths of the earth You have restored me once more.

The scriptures, consistent with tradition, refer to death as profound affliction and life as liberation from such trials. From the depths of the earth, You have raised me up. In scripture, the abyss of the earth often symbolizes hell, the grave, and similar expressions representing the depths of temptation. Likewise, through the prophet Ezekiel, God spoke to the exiled Israelites: Behold, I will open your graves, and bring you up out of your graves, and lead you into the land of Israel. Gregory of Nyssa notes that the phrase "From the depths of the earth, You have raised me up" signifies the restoration from exile, and through the teachings of the Apostle Paul, we understand that he who is burdened by sin is lifted from degradation to elevation. He teaches, “Do not say, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ For just as death entered the world through man, it is through man that it has been banished. The first man opened the path to death; the second man has ushered in life, by which death is undone." Theodoret observes that one might interpret this as representative of humanity. From the depths of the earth, humanity was redeemed by Him who descended into the far reaches of the earth—God from God, who desired to assume human form. Theodoret also notes, You have transformed and rescued from death and distress, using a metaphor drawn from travelers who, after straying, return home in repentance.

Our inherent weakness in understanding means that the early stages of life do not clearly reveal its origin, but when God intervenes in our dire situations, we come to appreciate the significance of His assistance; our experiences then reflect His mercy. In this manner, David extols the goodness of God, illustrating that from the depths of sin, he was lifted by God’s hand into the light. He proclaims that by God’s grace, he was not only spared from ruin but also elevated to a higher standing. This transformation resembles a divine elevation, akin to being lifted from hell to heaven. His repeated call to "turn back" underscores the providential guidance of God, indicating that his hardships did not arise from random chance but from divine intent. The moment the light of His goodwill shone forth, the shadows of sorrow dissipated, and his circumstances improved significantly.

The followers of the father’s command, the sons of Jonadab, are honored in the title of this psalm, benefiting all who willingly obey God's commandments, while also serving as a warning to those who resist the Divine will. Within the psalm, the prophet implores God with a heart of obedience, asking that as He aided him in his youth, He may also be his Helper and Deliverer in old age, protecting him from both visible and invisible foes. This prophetic instruction captivates all minds towards obedience to Christ the Lord, nurturing the hope of liberation from sin. Through His death, He provides freedom from the bondage of sin for all who have been ensnared, leading them to eternal life (2 Cor. 10:5; Rom. 6:10).