Psalm 86 (85):8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When discussing our Lord Jesus Christ, particularly in the context of humility and His divine nature, we must not shy away from attributing this humility to Him who willingly identified with us.

We address Him, acknowledging that in His divine form, He prays as a servant; in heaven, the Creator dwells, while on earth, He took on created flesh, transforming it while uniting us with Himself as one—Head and Body. Therefore, we pray to Him, through Him, and in Him, engaging in the prayer represented in this psalm, recognized as ‘The Prayer of David.’ Even though our Lord, in His humanity, is termed the son of David, His divine identity surpasses this, as He is the Lord who created David.

So let no one dismiss His voice when they hear it, asserting that 'Christ does not speak,' nor claim 'I do not speak;’ if one recognizes their identity within the Body of Christ, they ought to affirm both: Christ speaks and I speak. No one should attempt to express anything independently of Him; equally, He will not express anything apart from you.

Incline Your ear to me, O Lord, and hear me. He speaks in the form of a servant: Speak, O servant, in the form of your Lord; incline Your ear, O Lord. He bows His ear to us because He draws near to the humble but remains distanced from the proud, except for those He has lifted from their low estate. Thus, when we humble ourselves before Him, He listens. Though He exists in the heights of heaven, we dwell far beneath, not forsaken, for Christ died for our sins while we were still unworthy. Few may willingly lay their lives down for a righteous person; perhaps for a good one, someone might dare to act. But our Lord demonstrated unmatched love by dying for ungodly people. There was no merit on our part that warranted such a sacrifice; rather, where there was no worthiness, His grace abounded all the more. Surely, His promise is steadfast: He preserves life for the just and offered Himself in death for the wicked.

I find myself poor and needy. Yet He does not bend His ear to the affluent, but rather to the poor and downtrodden, to those who confess their need for His mercy. The proud, who boast of their self-sufficiency, cannot authentically call upon Him—comparing themselves to the tax collector, who humbly acknowledged his failings.

This isn't to imply, dear brethren, that God disregards those born into wealth or privilege; it's merely a reminder of the Apostle's words: "Charge the wealthy in this world not to be haughty." For the truly poor in spirit cry out to God, knowing their hope is not in worldly possessions but in the promises of the One who created all. Riches, in themselves, cannot benefit; rather, good deeds of charity, whether coming from the wealthy or from those with little, manifest true virtue.

Thus, when the humble turn away from pride, they become among God’s poor; He hears their cries, for He knows the condition of their hearts. Was the poor man elevated by angels merely for his lack of wealth, or did the rich man suffer due to his pride? The poor man's circumstances illustrate the honor accorded to humility, while the rich man's fate serves as a warning against arrogance. It is not their wealth that determined their fate but their hearts.

Consider Abraham: rich in silver and gold, yet a man of genuine humility, so much so that he was willing to sacrifice his son at God's command—showing us that true richness is found in faith and obedience rather than in earthly treasures.

O Lord, keep my soul, for I am holy. Who among us can declare absolute holiness apart from Christ, who was without sin? His voice calls out, "Save my soul, for I am holy," in the humble form He accepted. It is indeed within this flesh and soul that the singular Christ encompasses all—fully God, fully human, uniting us as members of His Body.

Recognizing His holiness within us, we can also proclaim, "For I am holy." Not from our own merits, but through His sanctification. When we humble ourselves and accept the grace bestowed upon us through baptism and forgiveness, we participate in His righteousness.

Thus, when we approach God, we should express, "I am holy," acknowledging that this sanctification is a gift received, not something we earned. To deny our holiness would be to misrepresent our relationship with Christ, our Head, to whom we are united. We were once lost in darkness, but now we are light in the Lord.

"Save my soul, for I am holy," is the plea that resonates with every believer, recognizing both our need for grace and confidence in God's goodness.

Be merciful unto me, O Lord, for I cry to You every day. Not for a single day, but continually, we plead on behalf of the Body of Christ in its varied struggles. Each member adds its voice to this collective cry. One may weep here, while another may mourn elsewhere, yet together, we form the voice of Christ, groaning and longing for His presence.

"Cheer the soul of Your servant," expresses a longing for joy in God's sight. Bringing our hearts to Him, we lift our desires away from earthly bitterness to experience the sweetness of His grace. With perseverance, let us lift our earthly worries up toward heaven, knowing that our affections are the pathway to rise toward Him.

Your goodness and mercy, O Lord, endure forever. Even our prayers are often hindered by distractions, yet we know You remain patient with us, awaiting the moment our hearts are truly turned toward You. While wandering thoughts may interrupt, we must come before You with sincerest hearts, longing and trusting in Your great mercy, even when our prayers feel weak or fragmented.

Reflect on the abundant blessings given to those who have turned away from You. It becomes evident that, if You shower blessings upon those who scorn Your name, how much more will You reserve for those who faithfully remain Yours? Your abundant grace manifests most clearly among those who humble themselves, recognizing the true treasure lies within their relationship with You.

As the psalmist professes, "Put my prayer into Your ears, O Lord." This expresses an earnest plea that emphasizes the profound need to be heard; may our prayers not only resonate but find strength in His attentive listening.

"In the day of my trouble, I cried unto You." For within this life, trouble is a commonality among all Christians. Despite any afflictions, where earthly struggles may seem overwhelming, know that our true home lies beyond this existence.

As we grapple with these difficulties, let us be assured that the promises of joy await us in our heavenly abode. There will come a time when our labors dissolve into praises, where true rejoicing takes place without end. Until we reach that place of eternal bliss, let us cry out.

"There is no God like You, O Lord." This declaration reminds us that while others may create false deities, we remain steadfast in worship to the One true God who transcends all earthly comparisons.

Let all nations acknowledge their Creator, for He has made every soul and nourished them, guiding them toward worship and adoration. In recognizing Your greatness, O Lord, let us humble ourselves, for You alone are deserving of glory.

Lead me, O Lord, in Your way, guiding me in Your truth. Your path is illuminated in Christ, and as followers, we commit ourselves to walking in His ways. Let us rely on Your direction, acknowledging that we are led by Your hand in every step we take.

Let my heart rejoice in the holy fear of Your name, understanding that true joy and reverence coexist in our walk with You. This joy aligns with a profound respect for Your majesty; may we rejoice in You and guard our hearts with a holy trembling before You.

Thus, recognizing that every challenge encountered in our faith journey is a call to dependency on Your strength, may we approach Your presence with a spirit of humility and seek always to walk in Your truth.

The Prophet rightly reaffirmed the uniqueness of Your name and deeds by stating, "There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord, and no one comparable to Your works." Those idols lack life and cannot protect themselves; however, Your glory transcends all human expression.

Moreover, if we regard gods as those who possess authority and power, such as earthly rulers or judges, or as those embodying wisdom and justice, like righteous individuals, or even those that encapsulate both roles, such as angels, the phrase There is none like Thee in gods, O Lord, must be interpreted as recognizing an imperfect semblance. Perfect resemblance in strength, wisdom, and righteousness would imply equality among them. It is clear, however, that God transcends all angels and humans in strength, wisdom, and righteousness. Consequently, among those beings that exist through shared being, none can truly resemble God, except in an imperfect and profoundly unequal way.

Furthermore, no imagined deity can match the Lord God, not only in essence but also in actions. For God fashioned both the heavens and the earth and all that inhabits them out of nothing; other gods create nothing of this nature. Any creation they might claim is merely from the substance that God has already provided. Thus, there is no fictitious god that can rival the Lord God in His acts. Acknowledging the limits of human understanding in grasping His majesty, David, content with the testimony of God’s works, abandons all other gods and relies solely on the one true God.

It signifies the voice of Adam, who diminished in God’s mercy due to his transgression, as well as Christ’s voice directed to God the Father, suffering for Adam's sake to bestow richness upon him through His own lowliness, and it resonates with the voices of all the faithful. God desires not the demise of the sinner but anticipates their return to repentance. Prayer stands as our weapon, sanctuary, and gateway to salvation. This also echoes the sorrowful day of Christ’s Passion when He proclaimed, My soul is sorrowful unto death, alongside the day of sorrow when a person contemplates his own salvation.