"Hear the voice of my prayer as I cry out to You." When you proclaimed, "I have cried unto Thee," you may have believed your weeping was finished. Yet, if tribulation continues, lamentation persists; if the Church, the Body of Christ, endures suffering to the end, we must both proclaim: "I have cried unto Thee," and implore, "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 this may reflect the Head of the Church Himself. For as twilight approached, the Lord, crucified, surrendered His life only to reclaim it, as affirmed in "I lay down my life, that I may take it again" (John 10:17). Therefore, we too find our place in this sacrifice. On the Cross, Jesus bore our shared burden as He cried out in agony, "Why hast Thou forsaken Me?" This moment of evening sacrifice embodies His Passion, His Cross—a sacrificial offering pleasing to God. The evening sacrifice led to the morning offering in His Resurrection. A prayer rising from a sincere heart ascends like incense from the holy altar, and the fragrance of the Lord is the most delightful aroma that any believer may possess.
"Put, O Lord, a guard before my mouth, and a door of restraint round about my lips" (Psalm 140:3). He did not say a barrier of restraint but a door, which opens and closes. Hence, let it be both; open for confessing sin and closed against justifying it. Thus, it serves as a restraint, not for destruction. What purpose does this restraint fulfill? What does Christ request on behalf of His Body? "May You not turn away My heart to evil words" (Psalm 140:4). What is "My heart"? It represents the heart of His Church, the heart of His Body.
When your heart refuses to stray, you, a member of Christ, avoiding the trap of malice or justifications for sin, will no longer align with those who excuse themselves. The continuation states: "And I will not be united with their elect." Who are their elect? Those who defend themselves. Their chosen ones are those who regard themselves as righteous while holding contempt for others, reminiscent of the Pharisee who proclaimed, "Lord, I thank You that I am not like other men" (Luke 18:11). The text also reflects the critical view of those who fail to recognize Christ's true compassion, such as the Pharisee who questioned regarding the sinful woman at Jesus’ feet (Luke 7:39).
Even this woman, should her heart divert toward wicked words, would lack the means to justify her sins. Indeed, women comparable in guilt but not in confession often defend their wrongdoings daily. They deny their deeds if unobserved, yet if caught in sin, they defend their actions. How common is their defense—deceptive yet audacious! They may claim, "If God had not willed it, I could not have done it." This is the defense spoken by the world’s elect. But let the members of Christ proclaim, "Do not let my heart be turned to evil words," reiterating, "I will not be united with their elect."
With those who practice wickedness, we can name some of their sinful acts. For instance, they assert that being a usurer is preferable to being a farmer, citing reasons that serve their interests. The provider of sustenance becomes a nuisance to them. They choose to commit real injustices under the guise of avoiding figments of wrongdoing while neglecting to care for the hungry. What greater unrighteousness could be found in this twisted righteousness? We see the unwillingness to share bread with the needy stems from a misguided desire to keep their possessions, which are attributed to God.
These "chosen" believe they are not in need of charity, for their devotion to self-proclaimed enlightenment leads them to claim that their purity is achieved through faith, psalms, and prayers—their so-called salvation through themselves rather than through the Savior. Such derision toward the marginalized leads to the morbid tragedy of someone suffering hunger while supposed mercy is exercised for the sake of a single crumb.
"The righteous shall correct me with mercy, and reprove me" (Psalm 140:5). This verse captures the heart of a repentant sinner who seeks correction tempered with compassion, not deceitful accolades. One who reproaches in lovingkindness is valued, for "rebuke a wise man, and he will love you" (Proverbs 9:8). The righteous man reproves in mercy, judging in compassion, ensuring that flattery does not corrupt the head.
You may express your frustration: "What am I to do?" Flattery surrounds me, and they incessantly praise what I do not value while disparaging what I hold dear. This is typical of the manipulators to whom we must remain alert. He may be deemed great in learning, wisdom, or reputation, but that does not justify his Christianity. Like those who praise what is despicable while condemning what is truly virtuous, these servants of iniquity seek to enthrone their values over genuine faith.
When trials arise, many may waver, as evidenced by Peter, who once fervently declared loyalty to Christ but faltered when faced with persecution. This echoes the predicament of believers who may feel isolated, yet in our tribulations, we can affirm hope. "For unto Thee, O Lord, are my eyes; in Thee have I hoped, Thou wilt not take away my life" (Psalm 140:8).
In the face of persecution, many endured suffering, some failing under pressure. As such, the voice of a prayerful heart remains pervasive, focused more on God’s assurances than earthly threats. "Keep me from the trap they set for me" (Psalm 140:9). The traps symbolize temptations to abandon the path of faith for the fleeting pleasures of this life. Yet if one steers clear of ensnaring words, they can avoid destruction.
"Sinners shall fall into his net" (Psalm 140:10). Not all sinners will succumb, but those who prioritize the temporal over the eternal will ensnare themselves. Remember, even Christ's closest disciples faltered during His crucifixion, feeling abandoned. Yet victory arises through steadfastness and the promise of support given by Him to those who endure to the end.
"I am alone until I pass over." This signifies not just solitary suffering but a hope that follows the sacrificial depth of obedience unto death. The grain must fall to yield life; thus, Christ, in dying, paves the way for many to follow Him in eternal life.
THEOSIS