Psalm 37 (36):13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Consider the following reflections: The unrighteous schemes against the upright and grits his teeth at him (Psalm 36:12). Yet the Lord will mock him (Psalm 36:13). Who is the subject of this mockery? It is undoubtedly the sinner who seethes with anger toward another. But why does the Lord scoff at him? It is because He knows that the time of reckoning is certain to arrive. Although this person appears filled with wrath, unaware of what the future holds, he justly threatens others. Meanwhile, the Lord perceives and anticipates His appointed time. What time is this? It is the moment when He will repay everyone according to their actions. For He is reserving His indignation for the day of fury and the manifestation of God's just judgment (Rom. 2:6, 5).

The Lord will find amusement in him. He scoffs at the malevolence of the wicked directed at the just, fully aware that a specific day is set when He will grant eternal life to the one and everlasting punishment to the other.

Heated and angry individuals often display their fury through gritted teeth, yet a malevolent heart also possesses teeth that grind and cause profound injuries without uttering a sound. Deceit, falsehoods, and cruelty serve as the weapons of the wicked. The wicked schemes against the upright out of envy, for the life of the righteous reveals the flaws of the sinner. With just a single glance, the upright subtly rebukes the sinful individual, condemning him more powerfully in silence than if he had shouted. However, the righteous have no need to be alarmed by the whispers of the wicked, whose shamelessness cannot endure forever. While the plots are fleeting, the foundation of righteousness is everlasting. The demise of the unrighteous nullifies all their strength and deceit.

The prophet offers solace to those who have been hurt. He reveals how the wicked become enraged and act out against those who seek a peaceful existence, yet the Just Judge mocks their efforts, for He knows the swift demise of the unrighteous.

The Lord declares that the sinner, along with the devil, will be brought low and deemed powerless, no different from the wicked. In His infinite wisdom, God foreknew the inevitable day of their downfall and eternal punishment. It is written that the wicked person cannot endure the virtue of the righteous, perceiving it as a rebuke to their own wrongdoing; thus, they conspire to undermine the just. Although the righteous may remain unaware of this scheming, the omniscient Lord ultimately scoffs at their futility. Should the sinner attempt to construct a case against one who chooses humility and poverty for God’s sake, that very accusation will ultimately be turned back against the accuser themselves.

The Demise of the Adversary Exercise caution, for the adversary seizes you each day and grinds his teeth against you—but the Lord will mock him, for He understands that his time is nearing.

The descent of the sinner presents us with a remarkable image of solace. Who would truly admire the grandeur of one whose downfall due to folly has been unveiled? In truth, if we are to avoid the sting of envy from others, we must align ourselves with the actions of the Lord. Therefore, let us mock the one whose collapse we can foresee; let us view as pitiful that which we witness decaying. Let us hold this belief all the more steadfastly, for it is assured by the promise of truth. The time will come when the sinner will vanish amidst scorn, he who once lifted himself up through transient joys.

The Holy Prophet encourages the just individual to not be overly concerned with the slanders of the wicked, for the Lord is always vigilant in His care for him. The sinner observes the righteous, closely scrutinizing their actions in hopes of finding a reason for their downfall. When unable to do so, he grits his teeth, much like a famished dog that desires not only to injure but also to completely annihilate. However, the Lord, who knows all and holds the universe in His grasp—where not even a leaf falls without His decree—will scoff at the wicked. Why is this so? Because he understands that the time for judgment is approaching. The sinner recognizes that his own destruction is imminent, and he shall be brought low before he can inflict harm upon the righteous.

The intensity of the demons and the hostility of the unrighteous, though feeble, do not prompt Christ the Lord to assign any value to them; He anticipates their ultimate demise on the Last Judgment as the All-Knowing One. When a person seeks His aid, the Lord Himself contends with the forces of darkness.