Chapter Sixty-Four

The psalm is unanimously attributed to David in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin Bibles according to its superscription. When it was written and for what reason, the psalm does not give definite indications. In its content it represents a hymn to God for His mercies to the Hebrew people; it depicts His almightiness over all the earth, manifested especially in granting the earth extraordinary fruitfulness. One may think that it was written toward the end of David’s reign, when there was peace on his land and when the Lord granted the Hebrew people a bountiful harvest.

Praise belongs to You, O Lord, for all the mercies You show Your chosen people (2–5). Hear us, O God, the hope of all the universe, almighty Master of the earth and seas (6–9). You pour rain upon the earth, moisten it and cover it with rich vegetation (10–14).

Psalm 64:2. Praise awaits You, O God, in Zion, and to You a vow will be paid [in Jerusalem]. “Praise awaits You, O God, in Zion.” On Zion, as the place of God’s immediate and constant presence, songs of praise are offered to the Lord. An introduction pointing to the general thanksgiving and laudatory content of the psalm.

Psalm 64:4. Deeds of iniquity overwhelm me; You will cleanse our transgressions. David does not pray for any particular sin of his before God, but appears as the spokesman of the penitent disposition of the whole people, which is why later he merges his own person with theirs when he says: “You will cleanse our transgressions.”

Psalm 64:5. Blessed is the one whom You have chosen and brought near, to dwell in Your courts. May we be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, the holiness of Your temple. The chosen one of God is the Hebrew people. “May we be satisfied with the goodness of Your house.” All the benefits received by the Hebrews were figuratively thought of as flowing from the temple (more precisely—the tabernacle), that is, from God.

Psalm 64:6. Awesome in righteousness, hear us, O God, our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest sea, “The hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest sea.” The Lord is the only and true bulwark of everyone, wherever in the world he may be. Since the earth belongs to the Lord, there can be no external boundaries to His influence and power: everywhere the true worshiper of His will find in Him protection.

Psalm 64:7. You who establish the mountains by Your strength, girded with might, Psalm 64:8. who still the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves and the tumult of the peoples! Manifestations of Divine almightiness: mountains are established by Him, the seas by His will grow calm, and the peoples are pacified in their rebellions and tumults.

Psalm 64:9. And those who dwell at the ends of the earth fear Your signs. Morning and evening You cause [them] to sing of Your glory. “Morning and evening You cause [them] to sing of Your glory”—Your deeds of almightiness and Your governance of the world are so constant and numerous that they inspire the praise of You every day.

Psalm 64:10. You visit the earth and water it; You greatly enrich it: the river of God is full of water; You prepare the grain, for thus You have established it; “The river of God is full of water”—one understands a heavy rain, which even now the Arabs call the river of God.

Psalm 64:12. You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance, “You crown the year with Your goodness.” The manifestations of this goodness are enumerated further: abundance of pasture, and hence good feed for the livestock, making it fat and rich in wool.