Psalm 76 (75):13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Therefore, they rejoice with reverence before Him who strips away the pride of rulers, removing the arrogance of the haughty. He is indeed fearsome among the kings of the earth. Though earthly monarchs may be formidable, He surpasses them all in power. If you aspire to be a king of this world, know that God will strike fear into your heart. You may wonder how to reign over the earth; simply take charge of your domain, and you shall wear the crown. Hence, in your quest for dominion, do not set your sights on vast territories where you might expand your kingdom; instead, tend to the land that you hold. Listen to the apostle who governs the earth: “I do not fight in vain; rather, I discipline my body and make it my servant, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” (1 Cor. 9:26-27)

Indeed, consider how the spirit of God departed from the righteous Saul, resulting in an evil spirit tormenting him. Furthermore, it is noted that "the evil spirit of God smote him" (1 Sam. 16:14,15), indicating that it was allowed by God. Is the Spirit of God an evil spirit? Certainly not; rather, God first withdrew His presence, enabling the evil spirit to take hold. Thus, it is referred to as "the evil spirit of God." Even St. David, aware that God can remove the spirit from princes, pleads, "And Thy Holy Spirit, take not away from me" (Ps. 50:13).

This can be taken to mean that "the fearful one among the kings of the earth" is to be understood literally. Yet, God has assured us that we will be kings in this realm: "kings of the earth," meaning we are to reign over our own flesh. This is why the apostle states, "Let not sin reign in your mortal body" (Rom. 6:12). Additionally, it is written, "The heart of a king is in the hand of God" (Proverbs 21:1). Consider whether the hearts of Julian the apostate, Saul, Manasseh, or Ahab were truly in God's hand. Were the hearts of all the wicked kings of Judah under His control? It is evident that a literal interpretation is challenging. Thus, kings are likened to saints, and their hearts rest in God’s hand. We therefore beseech God to enable us to become kings and to govern our flesh, bringing it into subjection. This is reflected in the apostle's declaration: "Behold, I tame my body and bring it into subjection, lest, by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be cast away" (1 Cor. 9:27). Let our soul reign, let our body serve, and may Christ come to dwell within us. For did He not say in the Gospel? "I will come, and stand at the door, and knock: and if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him" (Rev. 3:20). Each day, Christ stands at the threshold of our hearts, longing to enter. Let us open the door; He will come in and be our Guest and Companion, dwelling among us and sharing in our lives.

In contrast, those deemed unworthy to surround the throne of the Lord, distanced from Him, cannot offer anything to the fearsome Judge. As Athanasius notes, though they may have once experienced the early workings of the Divine Spirit, their unworthy lives and wickedness will result in the Spirit being withdrawn from them. At the time of divine judgment, the Spirit imparted through baptism will be removed from all who sin, leading to their punishment. The Lord states: When the master of that wicked servant returns, he will cut him asunder and assign him to the same fate as the unbelievers. As St. Basil expresses, the Spirit is presently evident in those who are sealed once, hoping for salvation through repentance; however, those souls who have tainted His grace will be completely severed from Him. Consequently, in hell, there will be no witnesses, for the Spirit’s aid will be absent. Theodoret writes about how they will present their offerings, shaken by the miracles performed and recognizing through their deeds that He is the true God, who rules over life and death, striking down the powerful and those who presume to govern the earth. Didymus comments on Pharaoh’s demise, the downfall of Nebuchadnezzar as his mind was taken away, leading him to live among animals, and the withdrawal of the Spirit from Saul: The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit afflicted him. One cannot err in applying this understanding to the church’s leaders. For Paul warns the elders at Miletus to be vigilant over themselves and the flock entrusted to them by the Holy Spirit, and later he cautions that from among them will arise those speaking contrary to the divine Spirit, for the fearsome Judge will remove Him from them.

This fearsome nature applies not only to common folk, but also to the kings and princes of the earth, from whom He has the power to take life at His discretion. The true majesty of God lies in His ability to bring even the mightiest rulers to their end in an instant, as He chooses. Some interpret these words concerning the spirits of rulers—particularly the spirit of pride—to mean that He humbles the arrogance of those in power. Our understanding is supported by Psalm 103, which states: Take away their spirit, and they shall vanish, and return to their dust.

It is also significant to note how the Holy Spirit intertwines the truths found in Christian teachings with Jewish history, providing comfort to the Jew who perceives these words in their simplest form while simultaneously offering joy to the Christian who recognizes their deeper significance (Theodoret, Euthymius).