Psalm 86 (85):16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Whenever we hear speak of Jesus Christ, particularly in prophecies conveying humility that seems beneath divine dignity, let us willingly recognize Him, for He did not shy away from uniting with us in our human condition. To Him we pray, for He delights in the form of God as well as that of a servant; the Creator, who took on the created, transforming the mutable into the immutable, making us one with Him as Head and Body. Thus, we pray to Him, through Him, and in Him; we converse with Him, and He speaks through us. Together, we utter the prayer of this psalm, which is identified as "The Prayer of David." For, according to the flesh, our Lord is a descendant of David, yet in His divine essence, He is David's Lord and Creator. Consequently, let no one, upon hearing these words, assert, "Christ does not speak," nor should anyone claim, "I do not speak." Moreover, if we understand ourselves to be part of the Body of Christ, we should affirm both: "Christ speaks, and I speak." Do not desire to utter anything apart from Him; He likewise shall not speak apart from you.

"Turn Your ear to me, O Lord, and answer me" (Psalm 85:1). He speaks in the form of a servant: Speak, O servant, as your Lord commands: incline Your ear, O Lord. He bends His ear toward the humble, drawing near while remaining distant from the proud, except for those whom He has lifted up from their lowly state. Once we are humble, God inclines His ear to us. For He is in the heavens, and we are below; He is exalted, while we are in lowliness, yet not forsaken. For Christ died for us even when we were sinners. Rarely does anyone die for a righteous person; although for someone noble, one might dare to die, but "God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). For there was no virtue in us that warranted the death of the Son of God; thus, His mercy is profound because of our lack of merit. The promise is genuine, for He preserves the life of the righteous while giving death to the wicked. For I am poor and in need. Yet He does not bend His ear toward the affluent but rather to the poor and troubled, that is, to the humble, to the one who acknowledges their need for mercy, not to those who are complacent or boastful, claiming, "I thank You that I am not like this tax collector." The rich Pharisee boasted of his merits, while the humble tax collector confessed his sins (Luke 18:11-13).

However, do not misconstrue my words, dear brethren, as suggesting that God does not heed the wealthy, those born into prosperity or possessing worldly titles. Yet they must consider the Apostle's warning: "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant" (1 Timothy 6:17). For the ungodly are impoverished before God, while He turns His ear toward the needy—the humble and the penitent, those who seek His mercy—not those who are filled with pride and self-sufficiency. The rich Pharisee boasted of his accomplishments, while the poor tax collector humbly confessed his shortcomings.

Nevertheless, let us not view those with wealth as excluded from God’s attention. Every gift He bestows upon sinners, from creation to earthly abundance, demonstrates His grace. If God generously provides even to the wicked, what then could He withhold from the faithful? Certainly, He reserves more than earthly possessions for His servants—He preserves for them the very essence of heaven itself, not merely beauty, but the Creator of all beauty. Thus, God’s goodness surpasses earthly gains. May we prepare our hearts for His presence and await our final unity with Him.

"Place my prayer before You, O Lord" (Psalm 85:6). This reflects the earnestness of the one who prays. The request implies that our prayers must remain in God's ears; we must strengthen our hearts in His presence. But how can we bring our prayers to Him? Firstly, we must heed His guidance, recognizing that in our trials, He hears us.

"In the day of my trouble I called to You, for You answered me" (Psalm 85:7). The Psalmist expresses a continual condition; let no believer claim a day devoid of difficulty. We often experience various forms of trouble, even in states of health. This struggle exists because, while we dwell in our earthly bodies, we are distant from the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6). It is the bittersweet nature of our earthly journey; our deepest longing is for the joy found only in our heavenly homeland, where "Your right hand is pleasure forevermore." In our patience, we wait for salvation, recognizing the refining nature of suffering, as God leads us toward healing.

As the psalmist implores, "Cheer the soul of Your servant, for I have lifted up my soul to You" (Psalm 85:4). We must lift our souls unto the Lord, who alone can grant joy amid adversity. Our hearts must rise above earthly desires, shedding the bitterness of our surroundings. Attain joy through His grace, lifting our hearts, for only by lifting them toward God can we find true fulfillment.

"For You, O Lord, are good and forgiving" (Psalm 85:5). Oftentimes, our prayers are impeded by distracting thoughts, causing our hearts to stray from God. It is rare to find a singular prayer offered in full concentration. David recognized this struggle, acknowledging the challenge of keeping his heart focused on God during prayer (2 Samuel 7:27). How can we gain assurance in our prayers while acknowledging our shortcomings? We must trust that the Lord hears us amidst our distractions. Therefore, as we petition Him, may we do so with a humble heart, remembering that His mercy is greater than our failings.

"Let all nations you made come and worship before You, O Lord" (Psalm 85:9). God, the creator of every nation, commands our reverence. The psalmist calls all peoples to worship Him, affirming His attributes. "Thou art great and doest wondrous things; Thou alone art God" (Psalm 84:10). Let no one claim greatness but God alone, for the true measure of greatness lies in His everlasting power and love.

"Teach me, O Lord, Your way; I will walk in Your truth" (Psalm 85:11). To walk in the truth of Christ is to align our hearts with His. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), and we seek to follow Him faithfully, allowing Him to guide us and keep us steadfast in our journey toward holiness.

"Let my heart rejoice and be glad that it may fear Your name" (Psalm 85:12). This joy coexists with a holy fear of God, reminding us that while we find happiness in Him, true joy is found in reverence for His presence. May we continually strive for a balance between our joy and our awe of the Lord, fearing not out of dread, but out of profound respect and love for His divine nature.

He takes pride in being called both a servant and the child of a servant, and as one who has inherited this position, he feels worthy of receiving authority from God, for such servants may be entrusted with the master's riches without trepidation. The identity of this young man becomes clearer in the subsequent passages.

It is possible that he also turned to God’s mercy to alleviate his overwhelming fear, understanding that the ungodly are instruments of divine punishment. Our only true source of consolation is that even though God corrects us, He does not abandon His mercy. This notion, as widely recognized, is drawn from Exodus 34:6, which presents a remarkable depiction of God’s nature. Initially, He is described as generous, leading to His inclination towards mercy and compassion for our helplessness. Next, His patience is emphasized, for He does not become quickly enraged but shows forgiveness in His mercy. Lastly, He is referred to as merciful and truthful, signifying His profound kindness and unwavering fidelity to His promises. While His justice is equally commendable as His mercy, it is portrayed as a response to our obstinacy, and His punishment seems compelled; thus, Scripture naturally identifies Him as good and merciful, yet describes His justice or severity as incidental. Truth is associated with mercy because we frequently evaluate God based on our emotions, failing to trust His promises. Therefore, Scripture asserts that God is unlike humans, for He is as generous in His promises as He is reliable in fulfilling them. To elucidate the current discussion on divine mercy and goodness, the Prophet implores: Look upon me. Given God's merciful nature, he places his salvation in His hands. He then expresses the plea, Have mercy on me, signifying grace bestowed timelessly, and referring to assistance received beyond the confines of time. In this, David openly acknowledges his inner turmoil and, as a beggar, seeks salvation solely through God’s grace. By identifying himself as a servant and the child of a servant woman, he does not take pride in his deeds but, reflecting on the beginnings and enduring continuance of God’s favor, he aspires to receive even greater favor, reminiscent of a slave bound to serve his master eternally.

We hear the lament of Adam, who, for his transgression, became destitute in God’s mercy; we also hear Christ’s voice to God the Father, who embraced poverty for Adam’s redemption, thus granting him true richness through His own lack. This is the voice of every faithful individual. God does not desire the death of the sinner but looks for his transformation through repentance. Prayer is our formidable weapon, a sanctuary, and a pathway to salvation. The day of Christ's sorrow during His Passion resounds as He declared, “My soul is sorrowful unto death,” and represents the day of distress when a person concerns themselves with their own salvation.