"Lord, I have cried unto Thee, hear me," (Psalm 140:1). This is a proclamation we can all share. It is not merely an individual expression; rather, it is the voice of Christ reflecting through us. This utterance is made on behalf of the Body of Christ. Even during His time on earth, when He took on our human nature, He prayed; and His agony was so profound that blood oozed from His entire Body. As the Gospel recounts, "Jesus prayed earnestly, and His sweat was like great drops of blood" (Luke 22:44). The sweat, pouring forth from Him, symbolizes the anguish of the martyrs throughout the Church. "Hear the voice of my prayer as I cry out to You." You may have thought that the time for sorrow had ended when you declared, "I have cried unto Thee." You have mourned, but do not let complacency replace vigilance. If the tribulation were concluded, lamentation would indeed cease. Yet if trials persist for the Church—the Body of Christ—until the end of time, we must continue to call upon Him, affirming: "I have cried unto Thee," while also pleading: "Hear the voice of my prayer."
"Let my prayer be before Thy eyes as incense, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice" (Psalm 140:2). Every believer understands that this pertains fundamentally to Christ, our Head. When evening approached, the Lord, while on the Cross, willingly offered His life only to take it back again, as He Himself stated (John 10:17). Here we see ourselves represented as well. What hung on the tree was taken from us. How could the Father forsake His only Son, especially when They are united as one God? However, as the Apostle declares, when our weakness was nailed to the Cross, our old self was crucified with Him (Romans 6:6), and He cried out with the voice of that old self: "Why hast Thou forsaken Me?" This evening sacrifice embodies the Lord's Passion, the Lord's Cross, the offering that brings salvation, the pleasing burnt offering to God. Through His Resurrection, this evening sacrifice gives rise to the morning offering. A sincere prayer flows like incense from the altar of the heart—nothing pleases God more than the fragrant devotion of the believer.
"Put, O Lord, a guard before my mouth, and a door of restraint round about my lips" (Psalm 140:3). He spoke of a door of restraint rather than a barrier. A door opens and closes. Thus, it may be both; open for the confession of sin and closed against excuses for sin. This door serves as protection, not as destruction. What purpose does this door of restraint serve? What does Christ petition for on behalf of His Body? "May You not turn away my heart to evil words" (Psalm 140:4). What do we mean by "my heart"? It is the heart of the Church, the heart of the Body of Christ.
When your heart does not turn away from righteousness—dear member of Christ—when your heart remains steadfast against evil words and false justifications, then you will not associate with those whom they consider worthy. The next verse states, "I will not be united with their elect." Who are they? Those who see themselves as justified. And who are the chosen among them? They are those who rely on their own righteousness and look down upon others, as the Pharisee did in the temple: "Lord, I thank You that I am not like other men" (Luke 18:11). Who are their chosen ones? This man, if he were truly a prophet, would know who the woman is that touched His feet (Luke 7:39). When we hear this, we recognize the words of another Pharisee who invited our Lord into his home, and when the sinful woman approached, he condemned her.
Even she, if her heart had turned to evil words, would have been unable to defend her sins. Are there not women equally sinful yet without her humility, who daily justify their actions—prostitutes and adulterers who commit shameful acts? If they think they are not observed, they deny their wrongs; when caught, they defend themselves. Their arguments are readily available, cunning yet insidious. They may claim: "If God had not willed it, I would not have acted thus." This becomes the defense of the world’s elect. But let us, as the Body of Christ, speak and let Christ pray through us, "Turn not my heart to evil words," and thus I will not join with their elect.
What sort of evil? Let me highlight some of their open vices. They argue that it is better for a man to be a moneylender than a farmer. When questioned, they provide reasoning. They claim that the farmer inconveniences the members of Christ by plowing the land. Yet this person, rather than distributing bread to the needy, chooses to engage in usury—perpetrating real injustices while feigning righteousness. He hoards bread, fearing that the beggar might consume what they deem a member of God, the very essence of life, bonded to the flesh. How hypocritical! Yet they partake lavishly, claiming that their enlightenment through faith and prayer sanctifies their actions and stores them in heaven. Such are the elect who believe they are saved not by God but by their own means. Their mantra becomes that of a universal Christ, as they proclaim, "I have accepted Christ the Savior," yet remain untransformed. They are blasphemers of Christ, and thus are unable to attain true salvation. In their false mercy, they neglect the needs of the hungry and deny the membership of Christ in their suffering.
But who are their elect? "Turn not my heart to evil words," and I will not be united with them.
"The righteous shall correct me with mercy and reprove me" (Psalm 140:5). Here, we see the heart of a repentant sinner wishing for correction that is tender rather than deceitful flattery. He looks for reproof in mercy, not for hate disguised as correction. He is grateful for it since "rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee" (Proverbs 9:8). The righteous one shall guide me, not in spite of my flaws but in mercy as he desires my growth.
"I will not be enriched by the oil of the sinner"—I will not fall for flattery. We often hear the phrase "I have anointed his head" among those who mock. It is better to desire to be judged by the Righteous One in mercy than to seek the hollow approval of sinners. True richness comes from within; do not let the flatterer’s oil alter your humble state.
You might ask, "What am I to do?" I am surrounded by those who flatter, who incessantly praise that which I do not hold dear, even criticizing what I cherish. For instance, they claim a man of great learning is a great Christian. But what a fallacy, for mere knowledge does not define faith. Their accolades do not reflect true worth; beware of their flattery.
Indeed, Christ will overcome with His words, even as those who accused Him will ultimately repent. In the early days of our faith, Christians faced accusations from every angle. Hold fast, for my words will one day bring enlightenment as they regret their judgments. The time shall come when those who scorn us shall seek forgiveness, saying, "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" (Matthew 6:12). Even now, many feel a sense of remorse. Let them voice their accusations; we must endure with faith.
Yet, among those who declare righteousness, where is their foundation? When one examines Scripture, they discern their humanity. All are sinners. What type is he whom I now speak of? I speak of the one who worships the One True God, who confesses Christ and knows the Holy Trinity as that singular God; he does not yield to immorality nor worship false gods. He remains a faithful husband, content within lawful bounds. However, even such a one grapples with the sins I mention. We all have our failings; therefore, let us humbly state our need for grace in the Lord's Prayer, asking, "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" (Matthew 6:12), with Jesus Christ, the Righteous Advocate, interceding for our transgressions (1 John 2:1-2).
Their judges were swallowed up at the Rock (Psalm 140:6). What is meant by this? The Rock refers to Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4), who overwhelms those who perceive themselves as wise or mighty. Let them be measured against the Rock, and they fade in comparison. Their knowledge, any wisdom they possess, is eclipsed by the truth of the Gospel. In light of Christ, their boasting falters. Whether they are great philosophers or influential leaders, all will one day answer to the truth revealed on the Cross.
The words of the Lord have triumphed over those of the wise; my message prevails. There is a difference between cleverness and truth. Those true to their faith do not fear persecution; they embrace the great risk of martyrdom. The death of witnesses for Christ is not in vain, as their sacrifice waters the earth with the truth of the Gospel. Their unwavering commitment leads many to hear and accept these transformative words. Thus, the blood of the martyrs does not disappoint; it lays the foundation for the rising of the Church. The martyrs' ultimate victory does not lie in their death but in the eternal life they heralded—a life they entered in light of the Resurrection.
"The fat of the earth is scattered over the earth, our bones scattered beside the ditch" (Psalm 140:7). Here, we reflect on the witnesses of Christ whose bodies were cast aside, seemingly defeated by those who opposed them. Yet their deaths serve a higher purpose; the world views what is worthless as trash, but God sees great worth in the faithfulness of His saints. As it is despicable to the world, it is precious in God’s eyes. It reminds us that God chooses what the world disregards to demonstrate His power (1 Corinthians 1:27-28).
Therefore, as we hold fast to our hope in Christ, let us declare our trust: "For unto Thee, O Lord, are my eyes; in Thee have I hoped, Thou wilt not take away my life" (Psalm 140:8). Despite the trials surrounding us, I turn my gaze upon Your promises.
"Keep me from the snare they set for me" (Psalm 140:9). What is the snare? It is the temptation to compromise for the sake of comfort. The enticements of this world seek to trap us. Yet a faithful heart recognizes the hidden dangers.
"Sinners shall fall into his net" (Psalm 140:10). Those caught in the trap are those who cling too tightly to worldly desires, prioritizing temporal satisfaction over eternal truth. There is a warning for them and a call to the disciples of Christ, who faced abandonment in times of trial. Remember, even among those who seemed closest to Him, many faltered. It was only after the call of the Resurrection that they stood firm.
While the psalmist expresses his feeling of isolation until the appointed time, it is this moment of transition he awaits. Christ too was alone until His death, yet His resurrection opened the way for many to follow Him. And so we look forward, for none who remain faithful shall stay alone. As He says, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains solitary, yet if it dies, it brings forth abundant life. In this, we see our hope and our resurrection in Christ.
THEOSIS