Psalm 77 (76):18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Consequently, the depths—the armies of the unbelievers—were thrown into confusion and rose up against the church. The clouds, commanded not to rain upon the former vines—Israel—echoed the voices of the Savior’s disciples, whose proclamation spread the heavenly blessings throughout the world. Lastly, the life-giving and chosen arrows that impacted the hearts of the redeemed, specifically the Apostles, or rather, the divine words and the workings of the Spirit, permeated every place. The clouds give forth their voice, as Thy arrows pass by. The sound of the clouds resembles thunder; historic accounts reveal that a strong south wind caused the Red Sea to part. Therefore, amidst such a powerful tempest, it is certain that thunder and lightning emerged from the clouds to instill fear and defeat the Egyptians. Thus, we can interpret the arrows as the divine lightnings that struck the Egyptians. In a similar vein, Solomon referred to the lightnings as swift arrows (Proverbs 5:21). The use of “go” instead of “went” reflects the interchangeable nature of verb tenses. The conjunction “for” can be considered redundant here, much like in Psalm 64, where it is stated that "they shall call and (for) they shall sing," as previously noted. Bezymenny asserts that the clouds represent the disciples of our Savior—the Apostles and Evangelists—who raised their voices, which were disseminated across the earth. His arrows are redemptive and chosen, piercing the souls of the saved, echoing the words of the bride, the Church: “I am wounded with love.” The Savior Himself is referred to as an arrow by the prophet, who stated, “He made me a polished arrow; in His quiver He hid me” (Isaiah 49:2). The Father’s arrow represents the Son—our Savior, while the disciples act as arrows, and His teachings serve as such as well; thus, it is declared in the beloved’s psalm, “Thy arrows, strong and effective, shall fall beneath Thee.”

This notion is reinforced in the subsequent verse, where the Prophet mentions the sound of thunder echoing in the sphere of the heavens, illuminating the world with flashes of lightning and causing the earth to tremble. The essence of this narrative highlights that the might of God during the Israelites' exodus from Egypt was undeniably evident to all, as the heavens roared, the air blazed with lightning, and the earth quaked in awe.

Amid these wondrous manifestations, he observes God’s glorious march through the sea, declaring, "Thy ways are in the sea, and Thy paths in the waters of many.” Overjoyed by the vision of God’s abundant mercy, the prophet transitions from the tangible to the intangible, from the historical to the prophetic, and from earthly Israel to spiritual Israel. God journeyed upon the waters; the sea made a path for Israel as they escaped the shackles of Egypt, leading to Pharaoh's downfall and the weakening of Egypt’s power. The Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, walks on the waters of the Jordan, revealing once more the pathways of God in the many waters: oceans, rivers, and lakes smooth the way for the new Israel’s liberation from the bondage of sin. Through the grace of Baptism, evil is vanquished, and the strongholds of hell and death are undone. A powerful image in nature inspires the prophet with a profound understanding. Imagine a vessel gliding across the sea, cutting through the waves, yet after a short time, the traces of its journey fade, leaving no evidence of its passage. The prophet reflects on this natural phenomenon concerning God's ways and states, “And Thy footsteps are not known.” Some of God's pathways are made evident to humanity: He speaks to Moses, saying, “He shall teach the meek His ways,” as voiced by the prophet. Yet, there are pathways rightfully deemed inscrutable and unfathomable. Such is the journey of the Son of God from the unfathomable heights of Heaven into the womb of the Virgin Mary, and the continual movement of the Holy Spirit to the Holy Altar where the Sacrament is celebrated. The prophet speaks of this: “the way in His Holy One.” Ultimately, there is the way to the heart of man and how He governs human affairs. St. Basil connects the prophet's words: "Laying up treasures in the abysses.” It would align more with the general notion to express it as storing treasures in the abysses, suggesting the keeping of riches in secrecy. However, it is articulated as if the abysses are precious vessels fit for divine treasures. Hence, it is not the decrees of God's judgment that are termed abysses—which defy human comprehension—because the laws according to which He manages all matters are bestowed solely upon Him. We observe that the judgment of God on each individual is described as an abyss in another Psalm, stating, “Thy destinies are many abysses” (Psalm 35:7). This is St. Basil’s reflection. You may wonder why these ways are not clear and remain concealed to humanity. It is because God, in His essence, is beyond comprehension and His actions flow from the infinitely wise Spirit, rendering His methods unlike those of man. Humans are confined by the flesh and also clouded by sinful thoughts, making it difficult to perceive the traces of God’s paths. Furthermore, it is possible that, in His mercy, the Lord has chosen to obscure some aspects of His pathways from our view. If revealed, such revelations would overwhelm us, and we would struggle to endure the signs marking the ways of the unseen God. For we would witness angels surrounding us, wielding flaming swords against the wicked, enlightening the ignorant, and comforting the innocent in prison. Should we observe them distributing riches to one while bringing scarcity to another, blessing one land while sending misfortune to another, they would flash before us like lightning. But if even distant lightning causes fear, how could we withstand the immediate brilliance of heavenly hosts? Let us not dwell on why the footprints of God’s paths are concealed from us, but rather derive inspiration from this hiddenness for our hearts. St. Basil counsels us: “Therefore, if you ponder why the unholy prosper, and the days of the righteous seem few; why does a child depart from this life prematurely? What are wars or natural calamities for? Why does harm exist in creation? What accounts for one being enslaved and another free? There is a marked contrast between the sinful and those excelling in virtue; the latter is raised in righteousness while the former is trapped in sin; why then are the favored treated with grace while the condemned suffer? What will be the recompense of the Judge to each? When such thoughts arise, consider that the destinies of God are an abyss, hidden within divine treasures that are incomprehensible to all.” Let us also reflect on the words of the Holy Father. Do you witness extraordinary occurrences that astonish or unsettle you? Do not hastily judge them through human lenses but declare: this is the Lord’s way, even if it is invisible, the path God takes to decree His will upon nations, kingdoms, possibly even the entire cosmos. If you notice a neighbor, who has lived a life of vice, exhibiting righteousness, do not hastily label him a hypocrite, assuming he dons a facade of piety for selfish reasons—who has perceived the footprints of God in the heart of any person? The Spirit blows where He wills; you may hear His voice but not discern His origin or purpose (John 3:8). If a poor individual suddenly gains wealth, or an uneducated person ascends to prominence, avoid jumping to the conclusion that their success results from deceit; instead, acknowledge that this too is part of God’s way, which remains unseen; for it is said: God impoverishes and enriches, humbles and exalts. If you too are beset with trials, adversities, and even tragedies, why do you attribute this? Do not concoct myriad human explanations, but listen to the Church, which reveals the true purpose: “Unto me you go,” it sings in one of its hymns, “looking for me who has gone astray.” This means that within your distressing situations, the pathway of God, who is merciful, lies hidden, and through their shadows, He approaches you to cleanse your heart and soul, preparing you for eternal joy. Amen. “Thy voice of thunder in the wheels.” According to Theod., through thunderous blows, the Lord bound the wheels of the chariots of the Egyptians in the Red Sea, as Moses recounts.