Psalm 74 (73):12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Asaph grasped the significance inherent in the title of the psalm, revealing his insight. What does he declare? God, our Sovereign from eternity, has achieved redemption within the world (Psalm 73:12). On one hand, we lament that there are no longer prophets, and He seems distant from us; yet on the other hand, our Lord, our Sovereign, who exists beyond time (for He is in the beginning of the Word (John 1:1), through whom all creation came into being), has brought about salvation in the midst of the earth. Therefore, what has God, our Sovereign, accomplished, who has been our Sovereign since before time began? He has realized salvation in the center of the world, and still, I cry out as if abandoned! The nations are alert, while we remain sluggish, and in our state of slumber, we act as if God has forsaken us. He has indeed completed Salvation in the midst of the earth.

God has been our sovereign throughout eternity. Although you are hesitant to restore our blessings now, in ancient times our God, who willingly took on the title of our King, accomplished our redemption in a manner visible to all people. He established salvation in the heart of the world. This is why many have declared that Jerusalem is the center of the earth.

God has been our sovereign since the beginning of time. From ages past, we recognize You as our ruler, and as a ruler, we experience the blessings You bestow. You have indeed revealed salvation to all within the world. It is stated, "in the midst of the earth," signifying that this is visible to everyone.

God is our Sovereign from the ages past. The phrase "from the ages" should be understood not in a literal sense but rather as referring to the idea of origin; for how could God reign over our people before time as we know it, when living beings had yet to be brought forth? Alternatively, "the ages" could signify our current existence, implying that God has been the ruler of our lineage since the time of our forefathers. Here, David appears to invoke God’s mighty deeds performed for their ancestors. There might exist a rearrangement in the phrasing that could be clarified as follows: the eternal God is our Sovereign. In certain texts, it states: from the ages. He accomplished salvation in the midst of the earth.

He extended His arms upon the Cross to encompass the entire universe, for this Calvary stands at the center of the earth. These are not my words, but as the Prophet declared, 'Thou hast made salvation in the midst of the earth.'

The Lord, through His crucifixion and by means of the Cross, accomplished 'salvation in the midst of the earth.'

The garden of Eden, which did not require any cultivation or sowing by human effort, flourished with trees created by God. Similarly, You, without any human intervention or the seed of man, conceived the Lord Christ through the Holy Spirit, uniting both divine and human natures. From Him, as God, the ancient tree of life was established in the heart of Eden, also known as the paradise of delight. Later, the life-giving tree of the Cross was raised in the center of the earth, as it is proclaimed by the king-prophet: ‘salvation hast thou made in the midst of the earth.’

They fortify their devoted prayers through reflection, as often depicted by the Psalmist, to regain strength in faith and become more ardent in their supplications. In doing so, they recall the numerous instances of God's grace and might, through which He has demonstrated over the ages that He reigns as the Sovereign of His chosen people. The title of King, attributed to God by the Prophet, extends beyond the nation of Israel, indicating that from ancient times God has delighted in governing His people, arranging for their happiness.

Salvation was accomplished in the heart of the earth, specifically in Judah and Jerusalem, which the ancient Israelites recognized as the center of the world, as noted in Ezekiel 5:5 and Ezekiel 38:12. Blessed Theodoret remarks that being situated in the midst of the earth signifies visibility to all. Indeed, you have openly demonstrated your care for us. In earlier times, our God, who delighted in being called our king, achieved our salvation so that it was evident to everyone on earth. This led some to assert that Jerusalem serves as the eye of the earth. St. Athanasius, along with others, allude to the Savior's work of redemption for humanity in Jerusalem. Blessed Jerome and St. Hilary also reference this aspect.

Ultimately, in Christ, the Fulfiller of all that is good, who is celebrated in hymns of gratitude and exalted for eternity. This Psalm, inspired by the Holy Spirit, was conveyed to David and entrusted to Asaph, the leader of the singers, enabling him to deliver a prophecy of joy to the Israelites concerning the forthcoming triumph over Sennacherib, the king of Assyria (4 Sam. 19:35). This victory symbolizes the Holy Church's triumph over all its adversaries, a divine provision through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:57).

The territory where the Lord manifested His salvation to the Israelites and to all of humanity was situated centrally among the nations of the inhabited world during that era.