Psalm 35 (34):26Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

May those who take pleasure in my transgression feel disgrace and confusion together, and may they be enveloped in shame and dishonor (Psalm 34:26); so that we may overcome them with embarrassment and bewilderment. For the one who slanders me, let them experience shame and be brought to dismay.

The one and only Word of God, who took on human form while remaining divine, inquires of the Father regarding the wrongs inflicted upon us by evil spirits, seeking to disperse the arrogance of the haughty. In that moment, some will feel shame, while others will celebrate, offering gratitude for their deliverance.

Those who deride their neighbors should rightly feel shame. The Prophet inquired that they feel this shame particularly towards those who are proud and verbose.

Let those who take pleasure in my troubles feel disgrace and share in humiliation. The phrases ‘let them be ashamed and put to shame’ convey the same message. My adversaries will experience shame when they return empty-handed, without results, failing to attain their desires concerning me. This reflects a collective joy in my hardships or perhaps in my suffering. Let those who proudly speak against me, claiming they have wronged me, face their own downfall. The words of the Divine One reveal that those who arrogantly malign Christ and lead others into the abyss of ruin are the very ones who boast against Him. It’s important to note that this is also expressed by Christ regarding the Jews, as indicated by Cyril. In addition, as Theodoret points out, there is a corresponding shame for those who deride their fellow beings. Thus, the prophet desired that they be brought low and humbled.

A person who feels disgrace over their actions will face judgment in a fitting way, and one who has cloaked themselves in shame will suffer the consequences of their own wrongdoing.

He clarifies his earlier statements, cautioning that they should not revel in his suffering, noting that if he continues to face judgment, their mockery will resume. They will use his afflictions as a basis for their amusement, celebrating his hardships as sources of their own gain. Yet, they should not claim within themselves, "Our soul is good," which implies a call for love and affection towards them. He reiterates this sentiment in the following manner: let them proclaim, "Let them say down below, let them consume him," meaning they should not take pride in their predatory nature, as if they were lions that devoured him. Instead, despite their supposed victory and glee, may all his adversaries be put to shame together—those who now take delight in his trials and count their triumphs. This shame should not be a light matter; rather, let them be enveloped in disgrace. Thus, all who rise against him, boasting of their strength and authority they wield for malice, should be covered in humiliation.

The Resurrection of Christ holds profound significance, as it offers life beyond death. Those present at His crucifixion mockingly asked, “He saved others; can He not save Himself?” (Matthew 27:42). When Christ triumphed over death, He confronted the darkness, providing hope for those who turn to Him for redemption (1 Cor. 15).