Psalm 37 (36):2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

You are dead (Col 3:3), as the apostle states, meaning you may appear lifeless, like trees in winter—dry and seemingly without life. So what can we hope for while we are dead? The root resides within; where our root is, there is our vitality: that is where our love dwells. And your life, the apostle declares, is concealed with Christ in God (Col 3:3). When drought prevails, who possesses such roots? When will our springtime arrive? And when is our summer? When shall we be adorned with foliage, and when shall we reap an abundant harvest of fruit? When will this come to pass? Heed the words of Paul: When Christ, your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory (Col 3:4).

Just as Joseph mitigated famine after a prolonged period of crop failure by stockpiling grain, or as Habakkuk, who while delivering provisions to the harvesters, was lifted by an angel, traversing the heavens and then returning to earth to host a splendid meal for the righteous prophet amid the roar of fierce lions.

We witness numerous changes in the construction of homes, the creation of garments, the preparation of meals, and the adornment of carriages and horses, all reflecting the vanity, beauty, and splendor of this world. Yet, despite all these changes, they seem to lead to deterioration. Devotion remains constant, unchanged since the beginning of time. Truth endures, steadfast and eternal; it was, is, and always will be. While vanity and excellence are transient and ever-altering, consider the nature of vanity itself! One person builds extravagant houses, dons lavish clothing, installs ostentatious decorations, travels in luxurious carriages, selects exquisite horses, partakes in sumptuous meals, and employs numerous servants amidst grand embellishments. Another observes and emulates this behavior. Everyone follows suit, leading to an overflow of luxury that multiplies with each passing hour. Alongside this opulence, various evils proliferate, consuming human souls like a fire that, once kindled in one dwelling, devastates an entire city or village. Similarly, a plague that spreads from one individual can infect and destroy many nearby souls. In our homeland, we see this all-consuming pestilence affecting not physical bodies, but the very souls of Christians. A glance at the affluence surrounding us reveals that even those of modest means, formerly living straightforward lives, now aspire to lives of extravagance. They choose to reside in magnificent homes, dine on lavish feast spread, savor costly wines, and adorn themselves in silks and luxurious furs—seeking to travel only in the finest carriages. Consequently, values such as vanity, pride, and extravagance have infiltrated the hearts of Christians, multiplying daily to such an extent that, should our forefathers rise from the grave, they would scarcely recognize their homeland. They might lament, “Our ancestors did not comprehend how to navigate this world; they were ignorant of how to appreciate the good things of life.” Reflect, dear friend: does this observation apply more to you or to your ancestors? Your forebears practiced simplicity and humility, thereby living in a manner consistent with Christian principles. In contrast, you embody pride and excess, distancing yourself from a genuine Christian existence. Your ancestors embraced modesty and devotion, resulting in fewer poor and suffering individuals, as they took less from others and gave more to those in need. With the rise of your luxuries has come a corresponding increase in the number of impoverished and wretched souls, shedding anguished tears over their plight. You have chosen to reside in lavish accommodations—while many have no place to rest their heads. You serve extravagant meals and enjoy exquisite wines, yet numerous individuals lack basic sustenance. You now parade in opulent garments while many walk in rags or are left half-clad. You aspire to ride in fine carriages and atop exceptional steeds, while countless others lament their inability to harrow the earth. Assess for yourselves: are you the more reasonable, or are your ancestors? Oh, Christians, it is not merely through wine but through the lusts of this world that you find yourselves ensnared! Is this the purpose for which Christ has summoned us to His holy faith? He does not offer us luxuries but rather crosses and trials in this life: “Enter in by the narrow gate... If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me... In the world, you will have tribulation” (Matt. 7:13, Matt. 16:24, Jn. 16:33).

You may respond, “Not everyone retreats to monasteries or deserts.” Oh, beloved! Monasteries did not exist when these words were spoken. This summons applies not solely to desert dwellers but to all Christians living in towns and villages, encompassing individuals of every social status and gender who yearn to belong to Christ and attain salvation. “They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the passions and lusts” (Galatians 5:24). Therefore, those who do not exemplify Christ have not subdued their flesh with its desires and cravings. Your response indicates a misunderstanding of the matter. But go on, indulge in your peace and revel in your opulence! Visit one another's homes, feast, celebrate, and dance! The Holy Gospel recounts that “a certain man was rich, dressed in porphyry and fine linen, and feasted splendidly every day.” However, we also learn that following his death, his fate was drastically altered. In his unrestrained luxury, he faced fiery torment, pleading for a mere drop of water, which was denied to him. He was reminded, “Child! Remember that you have already received your good things in your life” (Luke 16:19-26). Take heed, dear ones, lest you too find yourselves in a similar fate following your indulgences! The Lord does not judge by outward appearance. God has provided us with the goods of this world and permitted their use, intended for our needs rather than for extravagance. He commands us to cling solely to Him with all our hearts and to love Him above all. “What shall I have in heaven? And without Thee, what shall I desire on earth?” (Psalm 72:25). “Save me, O Lord, for there is no more righteous man, for there is little truth among the sons of men” (Ps. 11:2). Oh, pious soul, do not be led astray by this insidious drunkenness, maintaining a deceptive tranquility like Lot in Sodom! Stand firm; be rooted and steadfast. “Be not envious of the wicked, nor jealous of those who do iniquity; for they, like grass, shall soon wither, and like green herbs, shall quickly fade” (Psalm 36:1-2). Like Daniel in Babylon, who, even with open windows towards Jerusalem, knelt to pray (Dan. 6:10), may you also behold the true Jerusalem from this worldly standpoint, bowing humbly and lifting your gaze to the Lord. “To Thee have I lifted up my eyes, O Thou that dwellest in heaven” (Psalm 122:1).

Even within the confines of prison, Joseph possesses a tranquility that eludes his brothers in freedom—a tranquility born of a clear conscience, the solace of an upright heart, the uplifting breath of the heavenly spirit upon a clean soul, and the hopeful expectation of the bliss reserved for the righteous children of God, bestowed not only through their righteousness but also through the boundless grace of the Father in heaven.

As the grass quickly withers and the green herb fades, the Prophet, acting as a spiritual healer, encourages the faithful to resist the temptation to mimic the wicked or grumble against God as if He were unjust. The reason is clear: the success of the wicked is temporary and will soon vanish, making way for the revelation of God's truth and Providence. He does not permit the wicked to rejoice for long, as they will wither like grass and perish like the fleeting herbs. This metaphor aptly illustrates the fleeting nature of worldly success, for while grass and green herbs lack deep roots like those of cedars and date palms—into which the righteous are often compared, as noted in Psalm 91:13—the righteous thrive and endure; “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.” Though herbs and similar plants quickly fade away, cedars and fig trees endure through time.

Moreover, the Prophet emphasizes that it is not merely the prosperity of the wicked that will soon disappear, but the wicked themselves will perish, taking all their glory and success with them. While it may seem that the wicked enjoy many years of well-being, this span of years pales in comparison to the eternal life and prosperity of the righteous. As it is written, the righteous will endure forever, and their memory will be everlasting. What lacks permanence ultimately meets its end. For vivid imagery of the fleeting nature of all temporal things, one can refer to Wisdom 5, where Solomon illustrates that "all these things pass away like a shadow, and like a message that flows. Like a ship sailing through turbulent waters, its passage leaves no trace, nor does it mark the course of its journey through the waves; or like birds flying through the air, leaving no sign of their passage, and like a pestilence that disrupts the spirit and is snatched away by the tumultuous movement of the waves, leaving no trace of its path."

Thus, we are born into a world that is fleeting, and so forth.