Psalm 86 (85):12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

No greater gift can God grant to humanity than the establishment of His Word, through which all creation came into existence, thereby connecting all things to Himself as parts of His body, so that the Son of God could equally be the Son of Man. He stands as one with the Father and one with humanity, allowing us to approach God in prayer for mercy without severing the connection to the Son; likewise, when the Body of the Son intercedes, the Head remains united with it. Our only Saviour is our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who intercedes for us, prays within us, and on our behalf. As our High Priest, He prays for us; as our Head, He prays within us; we, in turn, pray to Him as our God. Let us therefore recognize our speech in Him and His in us. When we consider our Lord Jesus Christ, especially in prophetic references that imply a state of humiliation contrary to God's majesty, let us freely attribute those to Him who voluntarily embraced our likeness. We beseech Him, the one who prays in the divine form and the form of a servant. The Creator encompasses all creation, coming into the created existence so that the unchangeable could endure change, thus merging us into one body with Himself as the Head. Therefore, we pray to Him, through Him, and in Him; we may speak to Him, and He speaks to us. In Him, we utter the prayer of the psalm, which is known as 'The Prayer of David.' Our Lord, according to the flesh, is a descendant of David; yet, according to His divine essence, He remains the Lord of David, the Creator of all. Consequently, let no one assert that Christ remains silent, nor declare themselves mute; for if one acknowledges their place within the Body of Christ, they should affirm, ‘Christ speaks, and I speak.’ You must not desire to express anything without Him, nor should He communicate anything without you.

"Incline Thy ear, O Lord, and hear me" (Psalm 85:1). He addresses us in the servant's form: speak, O servant, in the likeness of your Lord: incline Thy ear, O Lord. He inclines His ear if you do not lift the weight of your burdens; to the humble, He draws near, while distancing Himself from the proud, save for those whom He has elevated from humility. It is then that God bends down to listen to us. For He is exalted, and we are lowly; He is in the heavens, and we find ourselves in humble circumstances, yet not forsaken. For Christ died for us while we were still sinners. Few would dare to die for a righteous man; perhaps for a good man, someone might even take the risk (Romans 5:8). Yet our Lord sacrificed Himself for the ungodly. There was no merit prompting the Son of God to do so; rather, it is His immense mercy that is magnified in our unworthiness. How steadfast is the promise He speaks—preserving the righteous in their lives, while delivering the wicked into death! I find myself impoverished and wretched. However, the wealthy may not find Him inclining His ear toward them, but He does listen to the needy and destitute, those who are humble and confess their sins, those who seek mercy—not to those who are self-sufficient and boastful, like the Pharisee, who displayed his merits, while the poor publican acknowledged his faults (Luke 18:11-13).

Let not this be misconstrued, dear brethren, to imply that God turns a deaf ear to those possessing wealth, a home, or estates; let them simply heed the Apostle's words: “Charge the rich in this present age not to be haughty” (1 Timothy 6:17). The unrighteous may appear wealthy here, but in the eyes of God, they remain impoverished, while the humble, needy, and contrite find His attention turned toward them. They understand that their hope is not in worldly riches, but rather in that which lasts beyond the temporal. If they are not ruined by wealth, they cannot find true good in it. What is truly beneficial is charity, whether done by a poor person or a wealthy one—the rich offering both willingness and action, while the poor can contribute with their intentions alone. Therefore, anyone who dismisses all that elevates the self is among God's poor; He listens, knowing that their heart is humble.

Was it only because of his poverty that the rich man was taken to Abraham's bosom, or was it his pride that resulted in his punishment? The poor man signifies the honor of humility, while the rich man denotes the fate reserved for arrogance. I shall briefly illustrate that it was not his riches, but rather his pride, that brought him to torment. Certainly, the poor man was taken to Abraham's side; concerning Abraham, Scripture recounts that he was exceedingly wealthy in gold and silver (Genesis 13:2). If all wealthy individuals are destined for suffering, how did Abraham precede the poor man there? Yet, despite his wealth, Abraham exemplified genuine humility, faithfully obeying God's will.

Let us therefore learn humility, whether we possess worldly goods or not. “Preserve my soul, for I am holy” (Psalm 84:2). Perhaps there is no one who can assert, 'I am holy,' save for the one who is without sin: He, by whom all iniquities are both forgiven and absolved. It is His voice we recognize when He proclaims, "Save my soul, for I am holy," certainly in the form of the servant He took upon Himself. In this flesh dwells the Soul; He is not merely Flesh and Word, but rather encompasses both. He is the only Son of God, the One Christ, our singular Saviour—equal to the Father in divine form, yet in the servant's form as the Head of the Church. Thus, when I hear the declaration, "For I am holy," I perceive His voice; but should I disregard my own? Indeed, in such utterances, He speaks inseparably from His Body. How then can I declare, "For I am holy?" If holy in the sanctified sense, not requiring sanctification, I am prideful and deceitful; but if holy as one who has been sanctified, as commanded, "Be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 19:2), then the Body of Christ can proclaim, and in unity, as one Man, cry out from the ends of the earth, saying, “For I am holy.” For we, through grace, receive holiness, through Baptism and the forgiveness of sins (1 Corinthians 6:11).

Say to your God: “I am holy because You have set me apart, because I have received, not because I possess; because You have given, not because I have earned.” To declare otherwise is to diminish the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. If all the faithful Christians who have been baptized into Him have clothed themselves in Him, as the Apostle states, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27), then if they, as members of His Body, deny their holiness, they do a disservice to their Head, whom they represent. Reflect upon your identity, and derive your dignity from your Head. You were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord (Ephesians 5:8). Were you once darkness? The Illuminator came not so you might remain in darkness, but that through Him you may become light.

Therefore, every Christian, in their own way, and consequently the entire Body of Christ, may express themselves, crying out amid tribulations, varied temptations, and offenses: "Save my soul, for I am holy: O my God, save Thy servant who trusts in Thee." This holy man lacks pride, for he places his trust in God. "Be merciful to me, O Lord, for all day long I have cried out to You” (Psalm 84:3). Not simply on one day: "all day" signifies continual pleas. From the moment the Body of Christ groans in its tribulations until the end of time, when trials cease, humanity cries out to God. We each, according to our measure, contribute to the outcry of this collective Body. You have mourned in your days, and others have come after you, mourning in their own time. Here, one man weeps; there, another; some resting in Him, some still in anguish, and when we cease from our cries, others will join the chorus. This is the entire Body of Christ, whose voice reaches Him, declaring, "To Thee have I cried all the day long." Our Head, seated at the Father's right hand, intercedes on our behalf: He heals some of His members, chastises others, refines some, comforts some, creates new life in others, remembers those in need, corrects the wayward, and restores the fallen.

"Cheer the soul of Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I have lifted up my soul" (Psalm 85:4). Rejoice in it, for I have lifted it to You. Having once dwelt in earth's bitterness, I elevate it to avoid withering in despair; may it rejoice in Your presence. True joy resides with You, whilst the world is filled with bitterness. There is good reason why He urges His members to elevate their hearts: let them hear and heed; let them lift to Him what is lowly on earth. The heart shall not decay if it is raised to God. Just as one would elevate grain in their home to prevent spoilage, elevate your heart toward the heavens. You might inquire how to achieve this: what ropes, machines, or ladders are necessary? Your affections serve as the steps; your will is the path. In love, you ascend; through negligence, you descend. If you love God, your earthly state becomes heavenly. The heart, through elevation, changes its will, while the body, through elevation, merely relocates.

“For You, O Lord, are good and merciful” (Psalm 85:5). Vain thoughts often hinder prayers, disrupting the heart's focus on God; it struggles to ground itself, unable to find a fitting frame to contain its wanderings and achieve stillness in joyful communion with its Maker. Such prayers are rare among many. Everyone may testify to this experience, yet to consider others devoid of it leaves little hope. Since there remains a glimmer of hope before God, whose mercy is boundless, let us affirm to Him, "To Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul.” How did I achieve this? Through divine strength, how could I reclaim my wandering heart?

In my weakness, I falter: heal me, and I shall recover; strengthen me, and I shall stand firm. Yet until you do so, bear with me; for You, O Lord, are good, gracious, and abundant in mercy. It is not merely mercy but greatly so: for as our sins increase, so does Your mercy toward all who call upon You. Yet why does Scripture also state, “They will call, and I will not hear them” (Proverbs 1:28)? While You are gracious to all who genuinely call upon You, some may call yet not seek You truthfully. People call upon what they desire; they invoke all they love, all they wish to attain. Thus if one prays for wealth, inheritance, or status, they seek not Your needs but rather wish for You to become a mere facilitator of their desires. Is God good if He grants what one craves? If seeking evil, would He not be nobler in denying such requests? Therefore, if He refrains from granting, it may appear that God holds no value to you. You might lament, "I have prayed repeatedly without being heard.” But consider, what did you ask for? Perhaps you wished harm upon your adversary, while he could be praying against you. Both were fashioned by God's hand; neither holds precedence. For God is the ultimate Judge who listens to both yet may grant neither plea. You lament your lack of an answer to your fervent wish for his demise; instead, celebrate that his prayer on your behalf went unanswered.

But you protest, "I sought not for his death but for my child's life; wherein lies my fault?” You supplicated not for wickedness, as you believe. What if his life was, indeed, a path to further corruption? You sought life for someone you believed could change. Suppose God, knowing their heart's intent, deemed it better that they depart from this world? If you truly call upon God as God, trust that He will listen; you have a role in the verse: “And great mercy to all who call upon You.”

Let us sincerely confess to You, O Lord my God, with all that is within me. He swiftly transforms his plea into a declaration of being 'rescued from the abyss' (Psalm 85:13), providing an explanation for his transgressions—namely, the schemes of numerous adversaries and the influence of 'the authorities' (Psalm 85:14), interpreted as the unseen forces that do not honor You. Yet, You, O Lord, have granted me a kindness that they could not foresee, in accordance with Your steadfast love, having redeemed my soul from the abyss. Christ proclaims this as 'the kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together against Him' (Psalm 2:2).

The Prophet expresses confidence that you will grant the request, alleviate the sufferings, and enable me to sing a hymn of gratitude for the mercy extended towards me.

I will wholeheartedly acknowledge You, O Lord my God. I will express my gratitude, and I will exalt Your name for eternity.

The prophet does not suggest that one should praise God prior to acknowledging their transgressions; rather, he desires for God to be honored through a pure heart, which is achieved when an individual completely turns away from sin. Genuine confession involves a total renunciation of sin, and once that sin is forsaken, one must decisively choose not to return to it.

I am full of sorrow and contrition for having offended You, O benevolent and loving God, my Creator, my Savior, my greatest Benefactor, the One whom the sacred angels reverently honor, sing to, and worship with awe and humility. It is I, the lowest of the low, who have foolishly sinned against You countless times. Each time I have erred, You have witnessed my transgressions; and every time I have faltered, You have patiently endured me with Your abundant kindness. For every instance of Your endurance, You have also shown me mercy. Were it not for Your profound righteousness, my soul would have already faced condemnation; yet through Your goodness, compassion, and patience, You have preserved me and prevented me, a wretched sinner, from perishing.

Alongside prayer, he incorporates the commitments of gratitude, as there is nothing more beneficial when seeking new blessings than to recall and give thanks for previous ones. Just as he previously petitioned for his heart to be united with God and to revere His name, he now vows to proclaim His glory not just verbally, but with his entire being, perpetually. He then provides the rationale for these commitments, noting that God has granted him a remarkable and unforgettable manifestation of His mercy through his rescue. To further illustrate the magnitude of God's compassion, he describes the affliction from which he was saved as akin to hell, for he was not merely near death but had plunged into the darkest depths, a state from which only God's miraculous intervention could rescue him.

This Psalm, written by David under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is recognized as a prayer because it solely communicates the deep anguish of the prophet's heart amid intense persecution. This prayer is particularly emblematic of the Lord Christ's plea to God the Father during the severe trials inflicted by the Jews. No one can truly claim the title of Monk in the presence of God except Christ the Lord, the only one who embodies the monastic life through all His deeds. This humble individual also cried out during the suffering, and the Lord answered him. This impoverished man, who possesses great riches for the sake of the impoverished, enables all to find abundance through His lack (Rev. 5:2; Ps. 144:10; 2 Cor. 8:9).