Because they believed not in God: and trusted not in his salvation.
כִּ֤י לֹ֣א הֶ֭אֱמִינוּ בֵּאלֹהִ֑ים וְלֹ֥א בָ֝טְח֗וּ בִּֽישׁוּעָתֽוֹ׃
7 Church Fathers comment on this verse
When he explained the reason for the fire ignited in Jacob and the anger directed at Israel, namely due to their lack of faith in God and their failure to rely on His saving grace, he quickly included the clear blessings for which they showed ingratitude, stating, ‘And he commanded the clouds above, and opened the doors of heaven.’
Even though they were in that state, God provided sustenance without requiring them to till the soil. This is evidenced by the subsequent details.
They lacked faith in God, failing to recognize His might, despite witnessing remarkable signs. They did not place their trust in His deliverance, expressing doubts about His ability to rescue them, even after having experienced His past acts on their behalf.
What is the explanation for this? ‘For they have not believed God, nor trusted in his salvation.’ Indeed, God’s wrath is kindled when they reject belief in Him; for those who do not place their faith in God disregard judgment and insult His law. If one disregards the divine law, how much less will they honor human laws, resulting in the chaos of our lives? Truly, what might those who reject God and His provided salvation dare to express? Thus the prophet charges them not only with disbelief in the Father but also in the Son. He states, ‘they did not trust in His salvation,’ referencing Christ, whom many prophets referred to as salvation, most notably Simeon, when he received Him into his arms.
Israel sought trivial things, provoking the anger of God. He neglected to marvel at the awe-inspiring deeds of the Almighty and instead pursued the cravings of his flesh. Yet, “the wrath of God is still in their mouths, and the wrath of God is come upon them” (Psalm 77:30-31). Bring your supplications to God in accordance with His glory, so that your worth may be elevated in His sight, and He may delight in you. When someone requests something trivial from a king, they not only demean themselves through such a petty request, reflecting great foolishness, but they also insult the king. Similarly, those who seek earthly blessings in their prayers to God do the same. Consider the angels and archangels, these esteemed servants of the King, who observe you as you pray.
They watch in astonishment and joy when they see you, a mortal, transcending the concerns of the flesh to seek heavenly treasures; conversely, they experience sorrow when they witness someone turning away from divine matters to ask for something as insignificant as his own filth.
Listening to God equates to true understanding, reflecting the principles seen in earthly judges who refrain from condemning an accused individual without first hearing the full case. Just as God faithfully hears the prayers of His servants and extends His mercy to them, He also listens to the blasphemies of the wicked and holds them accountable before His judgment. The Israelites witnessed these truths firsthand. To prevent the misunderstanding that God's wrath is disproportionate, the Prophet further emphasizes the weight of sin by stating, "Because they believed not God, but trusted not in his salvation." Believing in God's salvation is synonymous with relying on His fatherly guidance and embracing the promises He has given us.
The Israelites failed to believe this and neglected to place their trust in the God who saves; as a result, fire was ignited against Jacob, and His anger fell upon Israel. Hence, we understand that unbelief is detestable to God, while faith is pleasing, yielding sweet results.
Why do the faithful approach God with humility? They are convinced that their salvation rests entirely in His hands and that His mercy will ensure they are never denied what is truly beneficial and essential for them. This trust encourages complete surrender to His will. Faith serves as the foundation of genuine piety, teaching us to seek everything from God alone, in contrast to unbelief, which brings forth complaints and disobedience to His commands. Additionally, the unity of the prophetic message suggests that those who do not rely on Him for salvation merely boast in futility about their faith. For where there is true trust in God, there is also the hope of salvation, attributing all that is good solely to Him.
This Psalm of David, rich in prophetic insight, was entrusted to Asaph, the leader of the singers, so that he could proclaim it for everyone's understanding. It addresses the countless blessings bestowed by God Almighty upon the ungrateful nation of the Jews, calling them out for their ingratitude and guiding others to express gratitude for God's profound immanence, particularly as shown through Christ the Lord, who believes in His name. In this psalm, David speaks as though he is representing Christ, urging Christian believers to pay attention to the message of the Gospel. The teachings of this psalm are initially resonant with the Jews, but they are now relevant to the faithful in Christ: the old law serves as a shadow of the new covenant.
The Saviour expects His people to listen closely, lest they suffer the same consequences as those ancient Israelites who disobeyed God. He calls for careful reflection on the Gospel's teachings and for sincere attentiveness to prophecy. Despite the strength of the Jews, they fell in the battle of Christ’s Passion due to their lack of faith. Particularly unfaithful was the tribe of Ephraim, which fell into the idolatry of the golden calf and led the other nine tribes into the same sin. For this betrayal, God stripped them of their courage: despite their skill in archery, they became fearful and retreated on the battlefield. They were subsequently taken into captivity and dispersed among the nations. Yet, out of His mercy, God did not annihilate all the Jews during their wanderings in the wilderness, for though they had fully surrendered to worldly wisdom and refused to repent, His great compassion led Him to spare them. Human flesh is prone to passions and corruption. The Spirit has departed from mankind and will not return until the second coming.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS