Psalm 72 (71):6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It was here that He selected the Virgin Mary, through whom He would humbly take on the form of a servant to become manifest to humanity. He also directed the disciples with the command: ‘by the way of the nations go ye, go not away nor enter into the cities of the Samaritans: go ye first to the sheep that have gone astray out of the house of Israel’ (Matt 10:5-6). By stating ‘go first unto them,’ He indicated that later, when the rain would finally be poured out upon the ground, they would also reach out to the other sheep that were not part of the former people of Israel. He affirmed, ‘I have other sheep that are not of this fold, that I must bring them in also, that there may be one flock and one Shepherd’ (John 10:16). This is further affirmed by the Apostle, who states: ‘for I say, Christ was a minister of circumcision for the truth of God's sake, to confirm the promises of the fathers’ (Rom 15:8). The rain drenched the fleece while the ground remained dry. However, he continues: ‘But that the nations may glorify God for His mercy’ (Rom 15:9), indicating that there will come a time when the fulfillment of this prophecy will occur, as articulated through the prophet: ‘A nation whom I knew not, served me; as soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me.’ Here we see that by the grace of Christ, the Jewish nation has remained parched, while the whole world across all nations is refreshed with clouds full of divine grace. Furthermore, in another verse, he signifies this same outpouring, stating that the drops no longer cleanse the fleece but rather fall upon the earth. What is rain but distilled drops? The community referred to as fleece may be symbolically designated either because they were to lose their teaching authority, similar to a sheep being shorn, or because He concealed the very rain intended for them from being revealed to the uncircumcised nations.

However, when the descendants of Joseph turned away from God, provoking divine anger through their egregious transgressions, the entire earth was baptized in the dew of heavenly rain while the Jewish people withered under the burden of their betrayal. In contrast, the holy Church, formed from every corner of the earth, was nourished by the apostolic clouds and the life-giving rain of the apostles. This is not merely rain produced from earthly moisture or mountain mist, but a celestial deluge of the sacred Scriptures, flowing throughout the world as a source of salvation.

It was not suggested that a drop creates a sound upon reaching the earth; rather, the Virgin is likened to a fleece, symbolizing humanity which the Gospel parable describes as a sheep that strayed from among a hundred. The events fulfilled the request of Gideon, symbolizing the earth and fleece alternately, sometimes watered and sometimes dry. Eusebius notes that the first act of grace resembles rain upon the fleece; this message spread throughout the entire cosmos with significant force. The nakedness covering the earth is akin to those drops falling onto the soil. Moreover, the fleece can be seen as a representation of Israel, as Didymus elucidates, while the earth symbolizes the Gentiles. The Lord initially came to the lost sheep of Israel and subsequently to the Gentiles, so that the fruit of His blessings might bear spiritual harvest.

The King of Heaven resided among us, fulfilling His mission of salvation and subsequently ascended back to His heavenly throne in glory. His redemptive message was proclaimed by His holy apostles across the earth, and all who embrace this life-giving message are granted salvation. Thus, the prophets spoke of the Savior who was to come, while the apostles declared the good news of the Savior who had come and accomplished salvation. The faithful of the Old Testament trusted in the anticipated Christ and were redeemed. Likewise, the faithful of the New Covenant believe in the returning Christ and are saved. Therefore, we recognize one Christ, present in both the Old and New Testaments as the Savior of all believers. As Christians, our primary aim is to please our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Heavenly King, and to remain vigilant and expectant of His second coming to receive eternal salvation through His grace and works. We reflect on His first coming and await His return; the first was foretold by prophets declaring, “Christ is coming into the world.” His arrival was marked by humility and surprise: "He came like rain upon the fleece, and like a drop that drops to the earth" (Psalm 71:6). Concerning His second coming, Church leaders proclaim: "Christ will come into the world; He will appear again unexpectedly but with glory and great fear." Just as citizens eagerly anticipate their king’s arrival and ready themselves to meet him, we, as Christians, are called to await our Heavenly King's return and prepare for a worthy encounter with Him. Particularly since we do not know the day or hour of His coming—He will not return to teach or suffer, as that has already been accomplished—but to judge and grant rewards based on our actions. Let us strive to remain watchful and ready to greet our King, recalling His admonition: "Watch, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Matthew 25:13). May we be found standing at His right hand when He returns.

Regarding Him, it is stated, ‘God will give Him the throne of David His father, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end (Luke 1:32).’ This psalm anticipates the advent of Christ on earth and the summoning of the nations to offer gifts and worship the Savior as God. The Father has bestowed authority upon the Son for the purpose of judgment. The Lord Christ is the King and the Son of the King; as God, He was begotten by the Almighty, and as Man, He is a descendant of King David.

His kingdom embraces all the tribes of the earth, who have found their Savior in Him. The psalm’s declaration: “He shall descend like rain upon the fleece, and like a drop falling upon the earth,” when interpreted in relation to Christ, reveals that the Son of God will come into the womb of the Virgin Mary, being incarnated from her in a manner as miraculous as the abundant dew which fell from heaven onto Gideon's fleece, not touching the surrounding ground. He, born of the Blessed Virgin, will by His grace refresh humanity, parched by the heat of sin and idolatry, and will call them to a new spiritual rebirth, just as plentiful rain nourishes and revitalizes the thirsty earth.