Because I was silent my bones grew old; whilst I cried out all the day long.
כִּֽי־הֶ֭חֱרַשְׁתִּי בָּל֣וּ עֲצָמָ֑י בְּ֝שַׁאֲגָתִ֗י כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃
8 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Due to my silence, my bones grew frail, for I failed to express my faith unto salvation, as stated in Romans 10:10, and all my stubbornness was transformed into frailty. Throughout my days of sorrow (Psalms 31:3), I acted as a wicked and irreverent individual, lamenting against God, attempting to justify my transgressions.
The term 'how' should be linked with 'vows' to form the following expression: how my bones have sworn to me through their constant calling throughout the day, yet I remain mute and unable to speak. What was he lamenting if not his quest for absolution from his transgressions?
David, after falling into sin, did not promptly seek the healing of repentance; it was only after Nathan confronted him that he began to lament his condition. Thus, he exclaims, ‘Because I failed to reveal my affliction to the healer at the moment of my injury, instead remaining silent in an attempt to conceal it, I became weary, lamenting and condemning my transgressions.’
He states that those previously mentioned are blessed because they were purified from their transgressions through baptism with ease and continued to live in that purity, having committed no sins thereafter. Why do I hold them in high regard? He explains that the burden of repentance after falling into sin left him exhausted and unable to articulate his feelings. David hints at this weariness through his silence, which reflects the helplessness that comes from genuine repentance. This silence arises from the multitude of pleas he raises to God for forgiveness, rendering him speechless. David personifies his physical strength through his bones, as they provide stability and support to the body.
The term "weathered" is used in place of "weary," indicating that what ages becomes frail and ineffective: indeed, he admits to having diminished my strength, and this daily acknowledgment signifies permanence. For every time sorrow and temptation beset David, he would reminisce about his wrongdoings and shed tears, believing that these trials were a consequence of his sins. According to the ancient laws of God, the penalty for adultery and murder was death; thus, David, having repented, escaped this fate after confessing his sins to the prophet Nathan, who reassured him, "Thou shalt not die" (2 Sam. 12:13). However, he was warned that strife and hardship would arise in his household as a result of his actions. Reminiscing about these transgressions, David felt deep sorrow and anguish. Theodoret observes that David had remained nearly a whole year without confessing and did not immediately reveal his affliction to the healer, attempting to hide his sin of adultery and murder until Nathan confronted him. Hence, David expressed, "I grew old from crying out and accusing myself of sin."
There is no escaping God's presence. One should not believe that what is quietly held in the heart will go unnoticed by the Lord.
In expressing the blessedness of the righteous, he also grieves over his own wretchedness, as if to declare, “They are indeed blessed, while I am in remorse; not only did I fail to maintain my purity, but I hesitated for an extended period to admit my wrongdoing and seek mercy. Like a patient who ignores a wound, I kept my affliction hidden from the healer, suffering the consequences of my silence. Consequently, I endured the penalty for my actions, feeling as though my very bones were crumbling, and all my vigor had faded. Certainly, David remained silent for a significant time about his sin of adultery, attempting to mask it with various tactics.
Initially, he sought to persuade Uriah to return home to be with his wife, hoping to present the child conceived in sin as Uriah’s legitimate offspring. When Uriah refused to go to his house, David resorted to committing a grave sin by arranging for Uriah’s death, aiming to obscure the disgrace of his actions and to claim the child as his own after nine months. Nevertheless, David did not promptly acknowledge his sin, delaying until the child was born, and even then he may not have repented were it not for the intervention of the prophet Nathan. Thus, for a year, or perhaps even longer, David remained mired in his transgression, postponing confession. For this reason, he expressed, “For as long as I remain forgetful, my bones are in agony, from your persistent call throughout the day.”
Adam failed to confess his transgression before God, not expressing, “I have sinned” as David did. Instead, he endured the agony of sin for many years, even as he cried out to Christ, the Savior, throughout his time in the depths of hell, yearning for liberation from sin and eternal condemnation. Unconfessed sins result in profound moral suffering, as one’s own conscience cannot be misled or comforted. The accusations from within and the innate sense of shame afflict the soul, providing no respite. Thus, it is essential to continually call out: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner,” both day and night until one’s end. Saint Pachomius dedicated himself to offering 60 prayers each night and 60 during the day—amounting to 12,000 prayers to Jesus. Others devoted an entire day to reading the holy Psalter, often with tears.
I remain silent, for my bones are consecrated. I am quiet, as my bones have grown dull from constantly crying out to You, which is how Athan relates. This means he ceased his prayers because he was fatigued from invoking Your name throughout the entire day.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS