For he hath said in his heart: God hath forgotten, he hath turned away his face not to see to the end.
אָמַ֣ר בְּ֭לִבּוֹ שָׁ֣כַֽח אֵ֑ל הִסְתִּ֥יר פָּ֝נָ֗יו בַּל־רָאָ֥ה לָנֶֽצַח׃
7 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 8 commentaries
Observe the depths of destruction he plunges into and the judgments he pronounces; too emboldened by their audacity to reveal them openly, he confines them within himself, opposes the truth, and obscures that which shines brighter than the sun, all due to the darkness of his spirit.
The human spirit, in its depravity, appears to thrive in its wrongdoing, believing it will be granted forgiveness, all the while remaining blind and bound to its ultimate and just judgment. Those who think God is indifferent to human affairs and earthly matters fail to recognize that He "sees to the end." The earth serves, in a sense, as the boundary of existence, the final realm where humanity toils within a divinely ordained order. Yet, they are unable to comprehend the true nature of their labor, which is the profound enigma of the Son.
How will he continue to stumble? For he has declared within himself, God has forgotten; He has turned His face away, not seeing the outcome. Consequently, the most miserable do indeed fall, while the human mind, as if triumphant in its wrongdoings, believes it has been overlooked; yet it remains blind, awaiting severe and appointed retribution. As the psalmist proclaims, Arise, O Lord God, let your hand be raised, (Psalms 9:33)
The adversary does not express this out of truthfulness, but rather seeks to mislead us into believing that God is indifferent to the concerns of humanity.
Evil speech and irreverent thoughts will bring no assistance; however, he will be aware that the Sovereign of all observes human deeds. Deeply distressed by these sinful words, the Prophet transforms his lament into a prayer, proclaiming: "Arise, O Lord my God, lift up Thy hand, forget not Thy oppressed ones to the end."
One who enjoys the fulfillment of his every desire may develop peculiar beliefs, reflecting on the notion that God has neglected His divine plan for creation and has averted His compassionate gaze, choosing not to witness the actions that unfold within it. The phrase ‘to the end’ can signify “forever,” as well as “completely” or “entirely,” and those who delve into its meaning acknowledge both interpretations. It is important to recognize that the aforementioned words can be seen as a prophecy initially directed toward the people of Judea, but also applicable to Jesus Christ Himself.
The people of Judea, along with their leaders, plotted against the innocent Christ, who took on the poverty of our salvation; they pursued Him with malice and engaged in the other malevolent actions previously mentioned. Ultimately, after condemning this righteous figure, they went on to persecute His followers—the apostles—and ultimately, the Roman forces brought destruction upon that nation.
He explains the rationale behind the previously mentioned intensity, noting that the ungodly harass the just because they believe that God is indifferent to human matters and fails to perceive the events unfolding on earth. However, observe the depths of ruin to which the dishonorable plummets and the thoughts he cultivates within: for what he does not openly express, he contemplates inwardly, opposing the truth, and obscuring within himself that which is more radiant than the sun, due to the blindness of his mind.
The adversary believes that Christ, whom he despises, has overlooked him, and that the All-Knowing does not perceive his deception. He assumes that he will proceed to crucifixion alongside the nefarious Jewish leaders. However, having subdued the dark forces, the demon is delivered to judgment to face trial and suffering, as noted in 2 Peter 2:4.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS