Psalm 37 (36):28Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When the Saints endure trials, do not assume that God is indifferent or lacks justice. Can He who instructs you to act justly engage in injustice Himself? He delights in justice and will not abandon His Saints. Reflect on how the lives of the Saints are concealed with Him; those currently experiencing hardships on earth resemble bare trees in winter, devoid of fruit or leaves. Yet He, like the sun emerging after its ascent, will reveal what resides deeply in their roots as flourishing fruit. Indeed, He cherishes justice and never forsakes His chosen. However, the unrighteous will face condemnation; the offspring of the wicked will come to ruin. As one lineage may thrive, so too will the lineage of the wicked be brought to destruction. The works of the wicked represent their seed.

The prophet articulates in these verses that we are under God's authority, and He witnesses our innermost thoughts and actions. The Lord evaluates each individual based on their merits and dispenses justice, differentiating between acts of righteousness and wickedness. Therefore, we are called to reject evil and embrace goodness. To learn to separate good from evil, one must first turn away from sin and then cultivate the fruits of purity, which lead to eternal life. It is a misconception to believe that God remains unaware of our sins; many are misled in this regard. He observes everything and exercises judgment, eradicating the root of the wicked—not in the physical lineage of humanity, but addressing the essence of the heart and the legacy of iniquity.

God takes note of various peoples and nations who hold misconceptions about the singular divine truth for good reason. In His mercy, He often safeguards entire generations for the sake of a single individual who embraces the truth. Consider the example of Job, who endured much suffering and was a descendant of Esau, whom God despised. Additionally, Abraham's earthly father, Faran, was a pagan. However, if a tribe or nation becomes so corrupt that no righteous person can emerge from them, then the offspring of the wicked shall ultimately face destruction.

In alignment with His just and sincere judgment, the Sovereign of the universe will bestow rewards that correspond to individual efforts, caring for those who cherish righteousness, while He will remove those who embrace wrongdoing. Therefore, after illustrating the outcomes of both paths, the Prophet instructs on how one can succeed in divine righteousness.

The Lord delights in justice and will not abandon His faithful ones. This means that the Lord serves as the judge. Justice pertains to the righteous individual whom the Lord cherishes. The Lord will not desert His faithful ones; justice demands that He remains true to those who remain steadfast to Him. Those who are faithful are referred to as the righteous or virtuous. The righteous and honorable shall be safeguarded in both this life and the age to come, while the unrighteous will be excluded from current and future blessings.

The annihilation of Wickedness Everything that drives humanity towards ruin is eradicated, and only that which supports existence in the realm of the Lord endures.

Samech. Turn away from wickedness and pursue goodness, so that you may dwell in the eternal realm. For the Lord delights in justice and will not abandon His faithful servants; they shall live forever. As stated, from youth to old age, he has never seen the righteous left in despair. Hence, he draws a moral lesson and urges: forsake evil, pursue good, the two fundamental commands of the law, and strive for righteousness, which leads to a fulfilling life in this present age. He further explains why the righteous will endure eternally. The Lord delights in justice, meaning He is inherently just and judges fairly; therefore, He will not abandon His faithful, His righteous servants, affirming that they will indeed live forever.

The Lord's judgment is that humanity may be rescued from malice and encouraged to pursue righteousness. Those who act justly will receive unchanging praise, and their honor shall endure forever. However, those who disregard God's commandments and do not place their faith in Christ, the true God, shall face the consequences of their sinful lineage, being cast into the realm of the dead, destined for everlasting torment.