Our Lord has instructed me, dear brethren, and through Him the Sovereign of all, to share this psalm for your insight, as far as God grants me. May He enrich your prayers so that I can communicate what is fitting, and you may receive God's word, which is valuable for us all. Indeed, it is not beneficial to everyone, for not all possess faith. 1 Thessalonians 3:2.
The essence of this psalm is likely clear to you since you have sung it; in it, the church of Christ voices her lament amid the ungodly, expressing her groans and prayers to God. In each prophecy, her voice reflects that of one who is needy and unfulfilled, yearning for righteousness (Matthew 5:6), to whom a promised fullness awaits at the end.
At the conclusion of the psalm is directed to David himself. There is no other destination for your expectation than that which the Apostle outlines. For Christ is the culmination. Romans 10:4. He descended from the line of David, not by virtue of His divinity, through which He created David, but in His humanity; hence He chose to be prophesied as David. Attend to this conclusion, for the psalm is sung to David himself, to embrace the voice of His Body and to be united in His Body. Let the voice you hear become your own, and offer the following prayer.
"Deliver me, O Lord, from the wicked man," Psalm 139:1. This is not a plea directed at just one, but rather a whole category; not just from some vessels, but from their very ruler, the devil. Why mention man if referring to the devil? Because he too is figuratively known as man. Matthew 13:24-28. Thus, enlightened not in ourselves, but in the Lord, Ephesians 5:8, let us pray not only against darkness, which represents sinners still ensnared by the devil, but also against their leader, the devil himself, who operates through the rebellious. "Deliver me from the unjust man." The same as from the wicked man. He is labeled wicked because he is unjust, to prevent the assumption that any unrighteous person could be deemed good. Many unjust individuals may seem benign; they are not fierce or savage, nor do they persecute or oppress, yet they are unrighteous due to their indulgences, whether through excess, drunkenness, or satisfying base desires. Therefore, every unjust person, regardless of demeanor, poses a threat. Those caught in their trap will discover how dangerous what once seemed harmless truly is. For, brethren, thorns do not hurt with their roots. Remove the thorns, touch their roots, and you'll feel no pain. Yet the pain you feel arises from that root. Thus, those who appear gentle and kind but are tied to carnal pleasures and corrupt lusts should not deceive you. While they may still display gentleness, they represent a root of thorns.
Therefore, my brethren, Body of Christ, members of Christ, as you groan amid such wicked individuals—whoever you see hastening towards evil desires and deadly pleasures—rebuke them immediately, discipline them without delay, and burn away their roots. If you do not, be assured they will turn into your adversaries. They may feign silence and conceal their hostility, but their love for you is impossible. And since they cannot genuinely love you, and as those who despise you must seek your detriment, let neither your speech nor your heart hesitate to declare to God: "Deliver me, O Lord, from the unjust man."
"He who devises unrighteousness in his heart," Psalm 139:2. Deliver me from such, and may Your mighty hand be my strongest rescue. It is simple to avoid open enmity and to distance oneself from a manifest enemy. However, iniquity resides in both their words and their hearts; this unpleasant hidden adversary, whose pleasant exterior masks malicious intent, is challenging to evade. All day long they wage war. What is war? They tire me with their relentless fighting. From hearts such as these springs all that a Christian must resist, whether it be rebellion, division, heresy, or violent opposition; all emerge from concealed malevolence. They may speak sweetly, but their minds are engaged in unceasing conflict. The phrase "all day long" implies a continuous struggle. "They have sharpened their tongues like serpents," Psalm 139:3. If you're still attempting to identify this person, consider the serpent, which possesses unmatched cunning and skill for harm. It slithers silently, with no feet to announce its presence. Its movement appears smooth but is far from straight. Thus, they advance stealthily to inflict damage, hiding their poison beneath gentle touches. The venom of serpents dwells beneath their lips. Let us be aware that what is concealed under their words is often at odds with the intent behind them.
"Preserve me, O Lord, from the hand of the sinner; from the unjust, deliver me," Psalm 139:4. Here their true nature becomes evident; we do not need to discern, but to act: we are to pray, not to inquire about their identities. And he further elucidates how one should pray against such individuals. Many approach their prayers against evil men with little understanding. Who dares lead me astray? Yet this may be misinterpreted. Everyone has adversaries who strive to undermine them in business dealings, seeking financial gain through deceit; every individual faces a neighbor plotting harm against them. Clearly, such schemes employ trickery and deception. Yet, this should not be the extent of your concerns. Rather, consider that they may seek to entice you away from the Body of Christ and separate you from your faith. Just as Christ is the head of the good, so too does the devil assume the headship of the wicked.
What does it mean to "confound my steps"? It is not merely an illusion in business matters; rather, it indicates a hindrance to your spiritual journey. Should you be misled in your devotion to God—should your righteous path be obstructed or you wander away—those who have caused you to stray have led you into deception. Pray fervently against such snares that you may not forfeit your heavenly legacy or lose Christ, your co-heir, since you are destined to dwell forever with the One who has made you an heir. For your inheritance is not secured through the death of another, but through eternal life with Him.
"The proud have laid a snare for my feet," Psalm 139:5. This captures the essence of the devil's influence—these "proud." They often pretend righteousness while harboring unrighteousness. Nothing distresses them more than the confession of sin, for those who are falsely proud cannot help but envy the truly righteous. One never envies another in what they neither yearn to be nor appear as. Thus, they tempt others and perpetuate delusions. This was the origin of the devil's fall: he envied humanity's standing.
"And those proud ones have ensnared me," they endeavored to lead me astray. What did they do? They extended cords like traps. What type of cords? This term is well established in Scripture; as Proverbs 5:22 states, “For all are ensnared by the cords of their sins." Similarly, Isaiah declares, "Woe to those who draw sin along with cords," Isaiah 5:18. Why is it termed a rope? Because every persistent sinner adds to their offense; when they finally recognize their misdeeds while seeking self-reform, they worsen their plight by multiplying sins instead of confessing them. Thus, they set traps for the righteous, urging them toward the evils they themselves commit. Hence he asserts, "They spread cords and snares," seeking to ensnare me.
Where do they lay these traps? Not on the paths but off them. Your ways represent God’s commandments. They aim to lay stumbling blocks in your path; you must not deviate or fall from their commands, nor cast yourself into temptations. For do not assume God will shield you from stumbling blocks; rather, He permits them to cultivate your vigilance in His ways.
What remains, then? What remedy lies amidst such adversities, temptations, and dangers? "I said unto the Lord, Thou art my God," Psalm 139:6. The fervor of prayer resonates triumphantly; it stirs assurance. He is the God of all; what is He lacking, the true God? Yet, He belongs solely to those who enjoy and serve Him willingly.
Hear, O Lord, with your ears the voice of my supplication. He does not say: "Hear my prayer," but rather conveys the essence of his heart—a heart animated with the spirit of prayer, resonating deeply with His life and soul, transcending mere words. Countless individuals may utter prayers devoid of any true understanding of God, generating only empty sounds rather than lifegiving words. The vital voice of prayer emanated from one who was spiritually alive, recognizing the nature of God as his protector and savior.
Having raised this plea to God, let him proclaim: "Lord, Lord," You possess lordship, the true Sovereign, unlike the lords of men who barter with riches; Yours was purchased with Your blood. "O Lord, Lord, You are the strength of my salvation," Psalm 139:7. You provide the fortitude I need. What does this mean? He lamented the stumbling blocks and nets that sinners laid, and the adversaries that encircled him. Yet he immediately finds solace in: "Whoever endures to the end will be saved." He observed this truth while feeling crushed under the weight of iniquity and turned towards hope. Indeed, I shall be saved if I endure; the endurance to attain salvation denotes strength—You are my strength for salvation, enabling my perseverance to attain it.
In laboring through this spiritual struggle, he reflects on the grace of God. As he began to feel fervent and parched, he discovered, in a sense, a shade to sustain him: "You have overshadowed my head in the day of battle," meaning, in times of strife and heat, lest I should be scorched and parched.
"Do not deliver me, O Lord, according to my desire for the sinner," Psalm 139:8. Behold, how great is Your overshadowing that protects me from suffering due to my longings. What harm could the sinner inflict upon me, regardless of their wrath? The wicked assaulted the martyrs, binding and imprisoning them, exposing them to brutality; yet God did not surrender them to the sinful because they were not given up through their own desires. Thus, pray with fervor that God may not deliver you through your desires into the hands of a sinner, for your longing can create space for the devil.
Note that the devil may present profit before you, enticing you into sin; one cannot seek gain apart from wrongdoing—profit is merely bait while wickedness functions as the net. Observe the bait closely and recognize the corresponding trap, as one cannot profit without engaging in sin, inviting a net upon oneself. Therefore, the overshadowing of the Lord serves to temper our desires, alleviating the intense heat of longing that could otherwise ensnare us. Proud ones have schemed against me; do not abandon me, lest they find triumph over me as such are the ways of the devil.
"The head of their schemes, the labor of their deceit shall cover them," Psalm 139:9. It is I who shall declare, the shelter of Your wings shall shield me, for You provided protection in the day of battle. Cover them instead with their pride. What do they do? They traverse a circle of their errors, perennially wandering. The one who moves in straight paths begins and concludes; he who continues in circles is endlessly lost. This is how the wicked operate, as expressed in another psalm: "The wicked go round and round." Their guiding principle is pride—pride, the root of all sin.
But from where does pride stem as the result of deceitful speech? Every arrogant person is deceptive; every deceitful individual embodies falsehood. People labor under the weight of lies. True labor derives from the realization of one’s spoken words. Those who aspire to truth do not toil, as truth speaks effortlessly.
THEOSIS