My brothers, the commands given by our Lord, who is sovereign over all, urge me to convey the meaning of this psalm to you, as far as God permits. May He guide your prayers so that I might express what is necessary for your understanding and that His word may be beneficial for all of us. However, not everyone finds it beneficial, as not all possess faith.
The message encapsulated in this psalm, I believe, you grasped while singing it. Here, the Church of Christ, situated among the wicked, groans, sighs, and earnestly prays to God. In every prophecy like this, her voice represents one who is in need, yearning for fulfillment, hungry and thirsty for righteousness, as promised in Matthew 5:6.
At the conclusion of the psalm, we acknowledge it is directed to David himself. The ultimate conclusion we anticipate is that provided by the Apostle: Christ is the culmination, as stated in Romans 10:4. He is a descendant of David, not by His divine nature as Creator, but in the flesh. Hence, He is fittingly called David in prophecy; it is to David that the psalm is addressed, reflecting the voice of His Body. Let the words you have heard resonate in you as you pray in response.
"Rescue me, O Lord, from the wicked man," as articulated in Psalm 139:1. This plea is not merely against one individual but a collective injustice, seeking deliverance from their chief, the devil himself. Why address a man if referring to the devil? Because, symbolically, he is referred to as a man. Matthew 13:24-28 affirms this image. Thus, enlightened not by our own wisdom but by the Lord (Ephesians 5:8), let us pray against those engulfed in sin, who are possessed by the devil, and towards their leader, the devil, who leads the children of disobedience.
"Save me from the unrighteous man," which is synonymous with the wicked. He is labeled wicked due to his unrighteousness, so to avoid any misconception about the character of the unrighteous. Many unrighteous individuals may seem benign; they lack ferocity and persecution, yet their unrighteousness begets folly, drunkenness, indulgence in pleasures. Every unrighteous person, regardless of their demeanor, is harmful. Those who are ensnared by them will discover the danger hidden beneath what appears harmless.
Consider the thorns; their roots do not prick. If you were to extract the thorn plants and touch their roots, you'd feel no pain—the source of pain originates from what is above ground. Thus, do not be fooled by those who appear gentle and kind but indulge in fleshly desires, those led by corrupt passions. Although they may seem mild-mannered, they are thorns deeply rooted.
Therefore, dear brothers, members of the Body of Christ, as you encounter these wicked individuals rushing towards sinful desires and deadly pleasures, rebuke them immediately, respond firmly, eradicate them. Eliminate the root so that the thorn cannot sprout anew. If you fail to do so, they will undoubtedly become your adversaries. They may remain silent or conceal their hostility, but their hearts cannot harbor love for you. Thus, since they cannot love you and must seek to harm you, let neither your heart nor your tongue hesitate to implore God, "Deliver me, O Lord, from the unrighteous man."
"From the one who devises iniquity in his heart," as stated in Psalm 139:2. Deliver me from these foes; let Your mighty hand be the ultimate deliverer. It is simple to steer clear of overt hostility but far more challenging to evade hidden iniquity. This concealed adversary speaks well but harbors malice within his heart. All day they wage war against me; what constitutes this struggle? They engage in actions that compel me to fight continually. From such hearts springs every battle a Christian faces—rebellion, division, heresy, outright opposition—emerging from these hidden schemes, even while they utter agreeable words with their mouths. Their deceitfulness reveals a mind unrelenting in warfare.
"Sharp have they made their tongues like serpents," as noted in Psalm 139:3. If you seek to discern this deceiver, observe that the serpent, more cunning than any creature, exhibits deceptive skill in delivering harm. It moves silently, without feet, enabling it to approach undetected. With its sleek, winding motion, it hides its malice beneath even the slightest brush against you. The venom lurks beneath their lips; we notice a discrepancy between their spoken words and intentions.
"Preserve me, O Lord, from the hand of the sinner; from the unrighteous deliver me" (Psalm 139:4). This is where their true nature is revealed; here, we need not seek understanding but require prayer, without delay in questioning their identity. Many may pray ineffectively against the wicked. Who is it that dares to mislead me? This inquiry can be approached with worldly interpretation. Each person has adversaries seeking to deceive in business matters, to rob of wealth, and to conspire against families or properties through tricks and deceit. Yet it is not this context we must worry about; rather, we should pray to safeguard against those who would lead us away from Christ's Body.
As Christ is the head of the faithful, so the devil serves as the head of the wicked. What does it mean to mislead my steps? This does not imply simple deception in financial dealings but refers to being led away from God’s path, so that what is rightly directed falters or strays. Those who cause such harm to you have indeed misguided you. Pray earnestly that you do not forsake your heavenly inheritance, that you do not lose Christ, the heir alongside you, destined for eternal life with the Creator.
"The proud have hidden a snare for me," as expressed in Psalm 139:5. This remark encapsulates the devil's embodiment. Oftentimes, they label themselves righteous, despite their actual unrighteousness; thus, it grieves them deeply to confess their sins. Those who pose as righteous inevitably envy those who are truly righteous. No one harbors jealousy towards what they neither aspire to nor wish to embody. This originates from the devil's first desire, where he envied the standing man and sought his downfall.
Nonetheless, "the proud have laid traps for me," striving to mislead me. They spread out cords as snares. What kind of cords? Scripture defines these cords clearly: "For every person is bound by the chains of their sin," (Proverbs 5:22). Isaiah bluntly remarks, "Woe to those who draw sin like a long rope" (Isaiah 5:18). Why is it referred to as a rope? Every sinner accumulating sin becomes ensnared. Subsequently, instead of confessing and reforming, they entwine themselves deeper into sin. These are their pitfalls, as they encourage the righteous towards the same evil actions they pursue.
Thus, they have spread cords and snares, seeking to entrap me in their wrongdoing. They set stumbling blocks not on the paths of faith but outside them. God's commandments depict our ways. They erect these hindrances, yet God allows them to do so not to abandon us but to test our faithfulness.
What remains in such trials, temptations, and risks? "I said unto the Lord, Thou art my God" (Psalm 139:6). The voice of prayer is powerful; it cultivates trust. Is He not the sovereign God to others? What can He not be, who is the One True God? He belongs to those who cherish, serve, and willingly obey Him. Even the wicked, though begrudgingly, submit to Him.
"Listen with Your ears to the voice of my prayer." He did not say simply to hear my prayer, but to hear the voice of my prayer—the essence, the spirit of my plea. All lifeless sounds may be considered mere noise, but genuine words arise from the heart. However, many may pray without true understanding or perception of God; they may utter prayers but lack a voice filled with spiritual vitality. This is the cry of one alive—recognizing that God is his God, knowing whom he has been delivered from and for what purpose.
In conveying this to God, he might exclaim: "Lord, Lord. You are my God," which signifies the genuine Sovereign, not like human lords who barter with wealth but the Lord who redeems with His blood. "O Lord, You are the strength of my health" (Psalm 139:7); this implies He is my source of strength. What does this mean? He points to the stumbling blocks and snares set by sinners, the devil's agents surrounding him, filled with envy towards the righteous. Yet immediately solace is found in the assurance that "Whoever endures to the end shall be saved." Recognizing the weighty iniquities, he turns to hope—"Indeed, I shall find salvation if I endure; my strength equips me to attain it."
In struggling through this battle, he recalls God's grace. As trials heat up around him, he perceives a shadow under which he can find refuge. "You have overshadowed my head in the day of battle," providing shelter from the heat that threatens to wear him down.
"Do not deliver me, O Lord, according to my longing for the sinner" (Psalm 139:8). Consider how beneficent Your shade is, protecting me from dire situations. What might a sinner inflict upon me, however furious he might be? The wicked rage against martyrs, dragging them and imprisoning them, even resorting to execution by sword, exposure to wild beasts, or destruction by fire. Yet God does not deliver them into the hands of sinners, for they do not desire the wickedness that could lead to their downfall. Therefore, pray fervently that God does not permit your cravings to create an opening for the devil.
Note that the devil presents a delusive gain, enticing you towards wrongdoing, where profit becomes the bait and sin the trap. Be discerning; pursue not just what appears to be gain without recognizing the trap involved. They have plotted to suppress me; do not let them succeed, lest they celebrate my downfall.
"The head of their deceit shall consume them" (Psalm 139:9). Let them not prevail over me, as they seek to boast in prideful actions. Their pride directs them in a cyclical path, as they wander without direction. They labor in deceit; indeed, every deceitful individual is a liar, seeking only to speak but with no truth in their words.
"Coals of fire will fall upon them" (Psalm 139:10). This signifies punishment to come while they are still alive. What then are these coals? They have significance—punitive for some, purifying for others. We recall that the fire can represent both condemnation and salvation. The metaphorical coals suggest either punitive judgments or fortifying revelations, akin to how heat can portray both afflictions and elevations.
"A man full of words will not have a straight path on earth" (Psalm 139:11). Those who indulge in empty chatter lack direction. What joy do they find in mere speech? There’s no reason to divert attention or be misled. The servant of God, kindled with these coals of faith and has become a vessel of salvation, must yearn to listen rather than speak, as urged in James 1:19—to be swift to hear and slow to respond.
Let him speak as needed when the occasion requires, particularly to instruct those needing guidance. Yet, if one feels pleasure exclusively in instructing, he should rather seek lessons himself from the unlearned. Malevolence seeks the unrighteous, drawing them towards ruin.
Many righteous have faced struggles, yet, though they were pursued and afflicted, they were not destroyed. The spirit emerged victorious, while the flesh faced suffering. Thus, the flesh may be tormented yet remains connected to its Creator, who formed it anew from nothing, enhancing and glorifying what has endured suffering.
"I know that the Lord will maintain the right of the needy" (Psalm 139:12). This needy one, though speechless, stands not among the filled ones but among those desiring righteousness and seeking fulfillment. Those who are mentioned, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6), voice their plight in the face of adversity. The Lord does not overlook their work; though they encounter hardship now, their glory will be manifested when their Head returns.
THEOSIS