Psalm 140 (139):6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Observe the extent of their craftiness and the meticulous nature of their schemes. They skillfully concealed and expanded their traps, laying them in the path to ensnare and capture those they targeted. They were masters of malice, casting their nets far and wide, regarding it as their sole purpose to bring destruction. Are you curious about how the adversary employs similar traps? Consider once more the plight of Job. What could be broader, longer, or more intimate than the snares he cast, ensnaring not only his neighbors, friends, and wife, but even his own body? Behold the intensity of their deception, and the careful design of their plots.

Our Lord has directed me, dear brethren, and through Him, the sovereign of all, to help you grasp the essence of this psalm to the extent that God permits. I pray that He guides your prayers so that I may express what is necessary, enabling you to listen well, so the Word of God may benefit us all. For not all may find it beneficial, as not everyone possesses faith. 1 Thessalonians 3:2

The message of this psalm is likely clear to you from the singing; it depicts the Church of Christ amidst the wicked, voicing her lamentations and supplications to God. Within every prophecy, her voice reflects one in distress, lacking fulfillment, yearning for righteousness (Matthew 5:6), with the promise of a certain satisfaction at the conclusion.

At the psalm's conclusion, we find a reference to David himself. Expect no other conclusion than that provided by the Apostle, for Christ is the culmination. Romans 10:4 He arose from the lineage of David, not in His divine nature as Creator of David, but in His human form. Thus, He has graciously accepted the appellation of David in prophecy; recognize this purpose, for the psalm is directed towards David himself, to hear the voice of His Body, to be one with His Body. Let the voice you have heard be your own, and pray as follows.

Rescue me, O Lord, from the wicked man Psalm 139:1. Not from merely one individual, but rather from a whole category; not just from a few vessels, but from their chief, who is the devil. Why mention man if referring to the devil? Because even he is metaphorically referred to as a man. Matthew 13:24-28 Therefore, enlightened not by our own wisdom but by the Lord’s, Ephesians 5:8 let us pray not only against the shadows of sin, namely sinners still under the devil’s influence, but also against their ruler, the devil himself, who stirs turmoil among the sons of disobedience. Rescue me from the ungodly man. This is synonymous with being delivered from the wicked. He is termed wicked due to his unrighteousness, to dissuade you from thinking that any ungodly man could be virtuous. Many unrighteous individuals appear innocuous; they are not fierce or brutal, do not persecute or oppress, yet they remain unrighteous, as they indulge in various vices, debauchery, and excesses. Thus, every ungodly individual is detrimental, regardless of their outward demeanor. Anyone ensnared by their ways will come to realize the harm in what they assumed was benign. Consider, dear brethren, how thorns do not hurt when merely handled. Remove the thorns and inspect their roots; you may not immediately feel discomfort. Yet, the pain originates from that very root. Hence, do not be deceived by those who appear gentle and kind but relish in worldly pleasures, or are driven by corrupt desires. Although they seem amiable, they are but a root of thorns.

Therefore, my brethren, Body of Christ, members of Christ, groaning amidst such wicked individuals, wherever you encounter those inclined towards lustful ambitions and deadly pleasures, admonish them, reprimand them, uproot them. If the root is burned, there shall be no space for thorns to sprout. Should you fail to act, they will surely become your adversaries. They might remain quiet, masking their contempt, yet they cannot harbor love for you. Since they cannot love you, and those who bear hatred will seek to cause you harm, let not your heart or tongue hesitate to cry out to God: Rescue me, O Lord, from the ungodly man.

He who harbors wrongful intentions in his heart Psalm 139:2. Deliver me from such individuals; let Your mighty hand effect deliverance. It is simple to avert outright hostility, easy to withdraw from an evident enemy, but iniquity is both verbal and concealed within the heart; this wicked enemy is elusive, making it challenging to evade one who presents kind words yet harbors malice within. All day long they wage war. What is this conflict? It manifests as a ceaseless battle I must face. For from hearts like these springs every conflict a Christian must resist: rebellion, discord, heresy, violent opposition, all originate from hidden malice, while they express benevolent words, they are engaged in warfare all day long. The phrase “all day long” signifies a perpetual condition, unending. Their tongues are sharpened like serpents. Psalm 139:3 If you’re still trying to identify such a person, consider this comparison. Among beasts, the serpent is incredibly cunning and skillful at causing harm; it slithers stealthily, lacking feet, to minimize sound as it approaches. Its movements may appear smooth yet are deceptive. This is indicative of their insidious ways, creeping about to inflict damage, hiding their venom even under the gentlest touch. The poison, indeed, lies beneath their lips. We discern one message beneath their words and another from what they utter.

Preserve me, O Lord, from the hand of the sinner; rescue me from the ungodly. Psalm 139:4 In this verse, their true nature is revealed, making it unnecessary for us to seek understanding or discernment; here we are called to action: we must pray, not question their identity. Many pray ineffectively against evildoers. Who dares to lead me astray? This could easily be interpreted through a secular lens. Each person possesses adversaries who aim to deceive them in business transactions, to unlawfully benefit from their labor; every individual faces a neighbor who plots to disturb their peace or undermine their welfare, often employing deceitful tactics. No one can deny this. However, we must guard against their ability to lure us away, to separate us from the Body of Christ, creating divisions. Just as Christ is the head of the righteous, so the devil is the head of the wicked. To confound my steps carries a deeper meaning; it represents being led astray in our spiritual journey. Anyone who hinders your path towards God leads you away from righteousness, causing you to stumble or divert from the divine way. Whoever has done this to you has deceived you and misled you.

In the face of such snares, pray that you do not lose your heavenly inheritance, nor the precious companionship of Christ, your co-heir, for you are destined for eternal life with the One who made you an heir. The proud have concealed a snare for me Psalm 139:5. Here, the prideful amalgamate the essence of the devil, as they often brand themselves as righteous while harboring true unrighteousness. Consequently, their greatest agony lies in confessing their sins. Those who falsely proclaim their own righteousness invariably envy those who are genuinely righteous. No one envies another in matters they do not wish to attain or exhibit. Thus stems all temptations and deceptions, as the devil first desired to ensnare mankind, falling in envy of the upright.

But these arrogant ones have set traps for me; they strive to lead me away from righteousness. How did they accomplish this? They spread cords like snares. What are these cords? The meaning is clear in Scripture, where we read, “For all are caught by the cords of their sins” Proverbs 5:22. Isaiah plainly states, “Woe to those who draw sin along with cords as thick as ropes” Isaiah 5:18. Why are they referred to as ropes? Because each sinner, persisting in their ways, accumulates sin upon sin. When they should be acknowledging their sins to seek repentance, they instead fortify their position with further transgressions. They spread these traps to entice the righteous into committing the same evils they practice, thereby confirming that they sought to undermine me with their sins.

Where do they lay their snares? They position stumbling blocks not along righteous paths, but rather outside of them. Your ways are the commandments of God. They throw down obstacles before you; do not stray from these paths or impede your steps. It’s vital to understand that it is not that God prevents them from laying stumbling blocks in your way; rather, God permits obstacles for the very reason of testing your faithfulness to the path He ordained.

What remains? What is our remedy amidst trials, temptations, and dangers? I have called upon the Lord, “You are my God.” Psalm 139:6. The cry of prayer is mighty, igniting confidence. Is He not also the God of others? What, then, is His true nature? Yet He belongs uniquely to those who serve Him with sincerity, who willingly obey His commands. Even the wicked, despite their reluctance, cannot escape His dominion. Listen to my plea with Your ears. While he could have simply said, “Hear my prayer,” he emphasizes the depth of his heart’s disposition, the essence of his prayer—the soul of his appeal lies not merely in verbal sound but in what breathes life into those words. For countless may utter prayers yet lack a genuine awareness of God; they may produce sounds of prayer but lack true voice and life in it. The voice of prayer thrives in the one who lives fully, recognizing that God is his God, acknowledging whom he has been saved and from what bondages he has been released.

Having laid this before God, let him declare, “Lord, Lord. You are the Lord God”; that is, the true Lord, not like human authority figures, not like lords who buy favor with their wealth, but the Lord who redeems through His sacrifice. O Lord, Lord, You are the strength of my health Psalm 139:7, meaning You fortify my well-being. The strength of my health pertains to His support amidst the trials posed by sinners, the wicked, and the crafty schemes of the proud who envy the virtuous. But he swiftly adds words of comfort: “Whoever endures to the end shall be saved.” In their tribulations, he remained hopeful; enduring brings salvation, which rests on strength. You are the source of my salvation; You empower me to endure and achieve that deliverance. Therefore, in this spiritual battle, he reflects upon Divine grace; when fatigue sets in, he discovers the shelter provided during his trials. “You have overshadowed my head in the day of battle,” referring to times of intense strife, so that I may not wither in the heat.

“Do not let me fall, O Lord, according to my desire for the sinner.” Psalm 139:8 Consider the good impact of Your shade, that I may not suffer from my own longings. What harm could this sinner inflict on me, regardless of their rage? For the wicked have persecuted the martyrs, dragging them away, binding them, imprisoning them, slaying them by sword, exposing them to wild beasts, burning them alive; yet God did not surrender them to sinners, as their desires were not aligned with treachery. Therefore, pray fervently that God may not expose you to a sinner according to your own inclinations. Your longings can provide the devil with leverage, as he sets before you temptations, beckoning you toward evil. You cannot gain without compromising your integrity; the allure is merely bait, while the wickedness itself is the trap. Observe the bait to foresee the net; for genuine gain cannot arise from sinful compromise. Should you engage in wrongdoing, you will be ensnared. Thus, your thoughts may become clouded amid challenges, but the Lord's overshadowing tempers your passions, keeping you from unrestrained desires, allowing you to escape the snares set before you. They plot against me; do not forsake me, for should I falter, they will be exalted. You are aware that those who persecute me will rejoice should I waver.

All these actions were taken to hinder the progress of God; they ensnared His steps with traps, aiming to bring down the one who was firmly rooted in the Lord.

In other words, after presenting the evidence found in Scripture, which initially appeared logical, they sought to mislead me.

The Prophet describes Saul as ‘arrogant’, and refers to ‘nets, traps’ and ‘temptations’ - representing diverse evils, schemes, and ambushes. However, he expressed this metaphorically, drawing on the imagery of fishermen who employ snares, traps, and nets.

The arrogant concealed traps for me, stretching them under my feet. They sought to lead me down a path of temptation. These malevolent and unjust individuals aimed to obstruct the righteous and proper course of my life and actions within society, where the use of the term του is superfluous in common Hebrew expressions. Their actions resemble those of people who place their foot beneath another’s steps to trip them and impede their progress. The proud embody lawlessness, as they disdain the law of God; it is noted in Scripture that the arrogant have completely breached the divine commandments (Psalm 118:51). Thus, they have hidden nets and snares for my feet, representing secret evils intended to ensnare me.

He incorporates supplication into his grievances, seeking God’s safeguarding and justice. However, he reiterates the same idea as before, altering some of the language. Instead of stating, "Take me out," he articulates, "Preserve me." Rather than referring to an evil man, he mentions the hand of the sinner. Instead of pondering wrongdoing in his heart, he expresses, "I have thought of the commands of my footsteps." What he previously described regarding deceit and accusations in straightforward terms, he now conveys in more nuanced phrases: his adversaries have cast their nets wide to ensnare him, unless the Lord intervenes.

Ultimately, this psalm was made known to David through the Holy Spirit at the culmination of the prophecies concerning Christ, wherein both the law and the prophets reached their fulfillment. In this psalm, the prophet earnestly seeks God's salvation from Saul and other brutal adversaries. However, it resonates profoundly with Christ our Lord, who offered a prayer to God the Father, which holds utmost significance in times of persecution; it reflects the prayers of all faithful individuals against both visible and invisible foes.