Psalm 22 (21):3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus, it is not my folly that You disregard, but rather my understanding, guiding me to realize that I ought to plead not with words that stem from the desires of this fleeting world, but with words that turn towards You for everlasting life.

The prophet states, "By day, I will ask for the hour of death to pass me by, but you will not hear; similarly, I will plead at night, and the fact that you do not respond is not unreasonable to me; for I realize that you do not listen or deliver me from death, which is needed for the salvation of humanity, the reason for my incarnation." Some interpret the terms day and night as symbolizing the period of suffering, since from the sixth hour to the ninth hour darkness enveloped the land, making that day feel like night. When the Lord implored the Father to forgive those who were crucifying Him, He was not answered because they were beyond redemption. He understood this lack of response stemmed from their slander against His resurrection and their persecution of His apostles, which only served to intensify their sins. It is likely that the day referred to is when He expressed to the Father, “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour” (John 12:27).

The essence of the prophet's lament can be encapsulated in this: Lord, why have You turned away from me? Yet I do not complain against You; I understand that my numerous sins restrain Your mercy. I discern that Your intention is to discipline me lovingly, allowing my iniquities to be purified through patience. Despite feeling unworthy of assistance, he does not abandon hope: in the daytime, I will cry out, and you shall not hear; and in the night, I will not let my folly consume me. Yet, amidst the multitude of my wrongdoings, I will persistently seek You, praying day and night without ceasing: will You not hear me in the night? I will cry out in the daytime, will You leave me in confusion? Will You not reassure me that help is on the way? Elsewhere, the psalmist conveys a similar sentiment: in the morning, Thou shalt hear my voice; early will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and look up (Psalm 5:4). Here, the phrase 'Behold' carries significant weight; it is not simply known that God observes those who pray, but it signifies that He will favorably regard my prayer and instill hope in my heart that He will respond. There exists an unexplainable assurance, understandable only to the one who prays, that affirms their plea will not be ignored. And the Lord will say unto His chosen ones, Before they call, I will hear them: and I will speak unto them again, and will say unto them what is (Isaiah 65:24). There is an inner hearing of the spirit, heightened by prayer, through which the compassionate Lord responds. I will hear what the Lord God speaks to me, as the world speaks to its people...(Psalm 84:9). Within the depths of prayer, during the heartfelt ascent to the Lord, there exists a quiet assurance that the Lord is attentive to the plea and is prepared to fulfill it. I will speak to you again, He says, ‘Behold I have come’ (Isaiah 58:9). This illustrates that prayer, as the holy prophetess articulates, is a divine endowment to humanity. God, foreseeing our needs, imparts a prayer aligned with His will, empowering us with assurance that He intends to grant our requests. Consider the Blessed Virgin at the wedding in Cana: she implores the Lord, and though His reply appears contrary to her hope, she commands the servants, demonstrating unwavering faith. How did she know her prayer would be granted? It was revealed to her heart. This can be likened to a child seeking something from their parent; a parental denial may be felt, but a child discerns assurance from tone and demeanor that their wish will ultimately be fulfilled. Therefore, the profound meaning of the words 'not in folly to me' emerges. This sentiment gains even greater significance when viewed within the deeper meanings of the psalm; it holds an inexhaustible source of divine consolation and insight into God’s wisdom. The psalm portrays the sufferings endured by Jesus Christ, capturing the full breadth of His bodily and spiritual anguish. Many of the events surrounding the Cross, as narrated by the Evangelists, find prophetic resonance here. The prophet anticipates the taunting, the scornful gestures, and disdainful words of the Pharisees: "He trusted in the Lord." It also reflects the soldiers casting lots for the garments of the Savior. The God-Man, drinking deeply of suffering, cries out to His heavenly Father, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" The sins of humanity, across all ages, weighed heavily upon Him; thus, the immense wrath of God's righteousness, incited by these sins, bore down upon Him, echoing within His very soul. The Son of God experiences abandonment by the Father, even while acknowledging the multitude of transgressions He bears upon the Cross. He perceives how grievously these offenses have affected the Merciful God, and, embodying all of creation, He confesses that this abundance of sin strips humanity of the hope of salvation: far from salvation are the words of my sins (1 Jerome T.II, part 2, p.71. Theod, on this place. Aug. T.IV, p.95). Nonetheless, in this turbulent awareness, He draws strength from the hope of mercy and turns once more to the Lord, crying out, "Despite the multitude of sins that weigh upon me, I will continually call upon Thee; will You not hear me, O God who delights in nearness to men, whom our ancestors trusted and were not forsaken?" Would You leave me in uncertainty, failing to respond to my needs with swift assistance? Let us observe this profound moment of the only begotten Son of God addressing the Father. The God-Man laments, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" Yet, within this painful outcry, he finds reassurance, and the promise of the prophet manifests within Him: "And I am not in folly." The Father does not leave the Son in bewilderment regarding imminent assistance. For what follows this lament? Instead of remaining desolate, the God-Man, no longer in sorrow, proclaims in triumph: "It is finished; into Your hands I commend my Spirit!" What does this proclamation entail? It reveals that the Father acknowledged His cry of "Why hast Thou forsaken me," and no longer allowed Him to dwell in despair, but instead whispered a secret affirmation of love, confirming that His sacrifice was accepted, that humanity's redemption was secured, and that He was prepared to surrender His Spirit. Now, we may ask whether these words serve our spiritual edification. Absolutely; experience has shown that those who are well-practiced in prayer, when raising their souls to God, often sense the fulfillment of their petitions. Why do many fail to recognize this inner confirmation? Perhaps because what they seek is not aligned with God’s will, as is written: you ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives (James 4:3). Or perhaps they do not understand the nature of their request (Matthew 20:22). It may also be that while pleading, they still seek self-gain; yet the psalmist, from a place of profound humility, voices a prayer, fully aware that his multitude of sins distances him from salvation. This may stem from weakness in faith. Yet, even one who nearly despairs of salvation can still cling to hope, as evidenced by his assertion: I will cry out, and You will not hear—or will You not hear? He recognizes his seemingly hopeless plight due to his sins but still hopes in God’s mercy. Finally, consider the suffering Savior. He has descended into profound anguish; what could be more harrowing than feeling forsaken by His heavenly Father? Yet, from this abyss of torment, He transitions from the agony of the Cross to the glory of resurrection. He entrusts His Spirit into the hands of His Father, emerges victorious over death, and confronts hell itself as a conqueror. This experience mirrors our own spiritual journeys; at times, the Lord allows us to sink into despair, rendering us powerless, yet in those depths, His hand reaches out to us, ultimately drawing us back towards relief from suffering. Perhaps God seeks to test and fortify our faith and patience through challenges. Perhaps He desires to reveal the futility of placing trust in the transient and to showcase His glory through mercy, instilling within us a profound love for Him, the Source of all goodness, thus drawing us closer to fulfillment. Likewise, He might aim to render us worthy of the legacy of Abraham, the father of the faithful, who hoped against hope (Romans 4:18). Regardless of the reason, our responsibility remains to pray and to remain steadfast in our prayers, even when despair looms. Prayer, despite not manifesting in the manner we desire, is always fruitful, for it cultivates dependency on God, maintains communion with Him, and guides us in the path of righteousness, guarding us from provoking His ire. Indeed, God never turns away those who earnestly petition Him; when it seems our prayers are unmet, He often bestows even more than we request. For instance, St. Paul sought relief from the torment of a messenger of Satan. The Lord did not deliver him from this challenge, but enriched him with grace, empowering him to withstand all hardships. "My grace is sufficient for you: My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). Amen.