Psalm 73 (72):21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He expresses his inner struggle with temptation, stating that his heart was filled with joy, and that his desires were transformed. When earthly pleasures captivated me, my desires were altered. This can be interpreted as follows: because my heart found joy in God, my desires were transformed—in other words, my carnal inclinations shifted, and I became entirely pure. My desires were transformed.

Due to my profound jealousy for the Lord, as expressed in 3 Kings 19:10, my heart and inner being were consumed with passionate zeal. This fervor allowed me to gain understanding and discern the actions taken against Your servant and the representation of the unrighteous. Previously, I was like a silent beast, incapable of grasping the divine plans of Providence.

I contemplated the intense anguish ignited within me by their transgressions. The prophet revisits his earlier words, stating, "I was envious of the unrighteous," and here he refers to that envy as a stirring in his heart. My innermost being was transformed. As I have noted previously, the Prophet refers to the wombs as thoughts. He expresses that due to their arrogance, he was nearly diverted from a path of righteous contemplation.

My heart is ignited with passion. He declares, My heart was thoroughly consumed by the flames of wrath, specifically jealousy; for earlier in the Psalm, he stated, For I was envious of the unrighteous, observing the sinful in the world; a thought he reiterates here, as noted by Theodoret. And my innermost being was transformed. By referencing his innermost being, David symbolizes desires cloaked in sensuality, as we have previously observed, since the kidneys represent carnal desire and potential. Initially, David sought true and lasting blessings; therefore, he mentions a change, as he began to yearn for visible and temporal rewards, envying those who held them. Gregory the Theologian reminds us: May our very innermost being be transformed by righteous intentions, redirecting all desires toward God!

The prophet reiterates his earlier confession, revealing that he experienced a deep sense of jealousy and unjustly confronted God. He likens his zealous feelings to a fire that ignited his heart and a sharp sting that afflicted his being. As previously discussed, this intense zeal against the wicked originated within David. Those who reject God’s providence remain indifferent to whether the world is governed by divine order or mere chance; they simply mock the whims of fate. In contrast, the faithful, convinced that God is the ultimate Sovereign and Judge, find themselves more stirred when His actions do not align with their own desires.

The Psalm, inspired by the Holy Spirit and given to David, was entrusted to Asaph, the leader of the musicians, so that he could express it through his own voice for the encouragement of all the assembled congregation, helping them not to fear the wicked who thrive in this life, enjoying an abundance of comforts. Meanwhile, the faithful endure poverty and various hardships, emphasizing that both experiences are temporary: the wicked may enjoy their many blessings for a short while, while the faithful face trials (2 Pet. 2:13). Ultimately, the fate of the wicked is eternal destruction, while the fate of the righteous is everlasting joy (Theodoret, Athanasius, Chrysostom). As one’s feet move, let their mind tremble because of sin. If someone has stumbled into sin, let them seek to rise again through repentance, maintaining hope in the compassion of the One who restores the fallen (Theodoret, Chrysostom).