Psalm 73 (72):22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It is appropriate to also say: they did not understand; for many, including priests and leaders, fail to recognize that their degradation results from their sins, being misled by the illusions surrounding them. Like cattle have I become before You. Therefore, I, he states, have become senseless before You, O Lord, resolved to cease testing Your decrees and Your governance, but rather, as Theodoret suggests, I will adhere to Your will without question; for I have truly learned that You conduct all Your works with judgment and wisdom. Such a state of humility before God is commendable; conversely, to appear before the adversary and succumb to passions, which David remarked upon, is contemptible: the man became like unthinking cattle and resembled them (Ps. 48:13).

Is the disparity between the potter and the clay not less than that between God and humans, those humble beings like mere worms? Who would dare to question God, saying, “Why do you, O Lord, act in this manner?”

St. Dorotheus recounts a story where a ship docked at the city’s wharf carrying captives for sale. Many prospective buyers, seeking both male and female captives, gathered there. Among them was a wealthy, virtuous maid who was eagerly anticipating the opportunity to acquire a servant whom she aspired to train in noble virtues and proper feminine skills. She approached the vendor, who presented her with two youthful girls, and she purchased one, compensating the seller as per their agreement. Shortly after her departure, a debased woman, the proprietor of a place of ill-repute, approached the same vendor, paid a meager price, and took the other girl to exploit her in a life of degradation.

Here lies the starkly different fates of these two innocent girls. Who can fathom the depths of God’s plans in such circumstances? Both had lived untainted lives as children, both were bought and sold, and neither had any understanding of the lives they were to lead or their destinies. Had they been nurtured properly, they might have enjoyed the sweet fruits of good upbringing throughout their lives. Yet one was entrusted to a teacher of virtue and Christian values, and under her guidance, she became a true follower of Christ, akin to an angel. The other, however, fell into the abyss of vice, led astray by her mentor into a life of licentiousness, becoming but an instrument of evil, despite the potential for a brighter existence had she encountered a better upbringing. Truly, O God, Your plans are manifold!

A parallel situation was observed by Gregory the Great among his own relatives. This esteemed saint had three aunts, Emeliana, Tarsina, and Gordiana, who devoted themselves to Christ by joining a community of virgins. Two of these women upheld their vows with integrity and lived honorably in their virginity until the end of their days. In contrast, Gordiana disregarded wise counsel and defied the authority of her monastic leaders, abandoning her community for the secular world, drawn away by her futile desires. How vast are Your judgments, O God!

“God is exalted in His power; who is there like Him to instruct Him? Who can show Him His way, or declare, ‘You have done wrong’?” (Job 36:22-23). The royal psalmist wisely acknowledged his own limitations, saying, “I was ignorant and lacked understanding; I was like a beast before You” (Psalm 72:22). In essence, he expressed that he does not grasp Your judgments, O God; he is as nothing before You, akin to other creatures. His role is to heed Your voice and obey his Lord, not to pry into Your designs and intentions.

It is noteworthy that David, who tended sheep from a young age and lacked formal education in lofty disciplines, exhibited such humility in recognizing his position, judging himself solely through the goodness of his heart and God’s guidance. Even the Seraphim, the highest order of angels, render service before God. When the Lord proclaimed the rejection of the Jews, the Seraphim, each possessing six wings, covered their faces with two wings, their feet with two wings, and flew with the remaining two. This act demonstrates their acknowledgment that human comprehension fails to grasp the heights of divine wonders, as no created intellect can fathom the judgments of their Almighty Creator. They find contentment in knowing that the Triune God is holy and affirming one another of His ineffable perfections, calling out: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of hosts; the whole earth is filled with His glory” (Isaiah 6).

God's holiness is threefold: Holy in Himself, Holy in His judgments, and Holy in His works! If heavenly beings humbly submit and acknowledge the unfathomable nature of Divine Mysteries, how much more should we, the fragile inhabitants of earth, despite having been granted the gift of life and reason, profess our dependence on God, proclaiming: “The Lord is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds” (Psalm 144:17). Blessed Augustine gave us great hope with the affirmation that “God can save some without their good works because He Himself is good; He cannot condemn anyone because He Himself is righteous.”

Acknowledging his fault, David chastens himself, first recognizing his madness, then admitting his ignorance, and ultimately comparing himself to livestock. He succinctly demonstrates that the zeal he speaks of arises from a misguided perception, as the root cause of this delusion lies within himself—he has ignored reason, descending into a state akin to instinctual creatures. Just as humanity can never fully comprehend the workings of God, endlessly seeking understanding that eludes them, David openly admits his limitations, stating that in comparison to God, he is like mere cattle. Hence, the phrase "with Thee" carries a comparative meaning, implying that, "Lord, while I thought I had some superiority over speechless animals in understanding, in Your judgment and wisdom, I am nothing more than livestock."