Psalm 37 (36):30Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Let us declare the Lord Jesus, who embodies Wisdom, the Word, and the essence of God’s Word. As it is stated, Open thy mouth to the word of God (Proverbs 31:8). The righteous person inhales Him when they recite His messages and contemplate His teachings. He is ever-present in our declarations. When we speak wisdom, we speak of Him; when we express righteousness, we refer to Him; when we articulate judgment, it is He; when we proclaim truth and salvation, we are speaking of Him.

When the psalmist offered guidance on righteousness to the upright individual—defining their character—he illustrated the splendor of true righteousness. David aimed to elevate the mind of the righteous to wisdom and reflection, as seen in the teachings of Didymus. He encourages deep meditation, urging the righteous to perceive heavenly and divine matters with a fervent heart and to contemplate divine truths within themselves, aligning their emotions with what delights God, as noted in Psalm 1:1. An awareness of every divine commandment and the recognition of God's workings in sacred rites are vital. The exaltation of the holy prophet is evident in his teachings: The mouth of the righteous will be filled with wisdom, and his tongue will speak justice. THE LAW OF HIS GOD IS IN HIS HEART... The Lord... WILL NOT CAST HIM AWAY AT THE TIME OF JUDGMENT. PUT YOUR TRUST IN THE LORD, and walk in His paths, and He will raise you up to inherit the earth; and you will witness the downfall of the wicked. I observed a wicked person, FINE AND TALL LIKE THE LEBANON CEDAR, but as I passed by, he vanished. I searched for him, and his place was no longer found (Psalm 36:30-31, 33-36). The previous verses focused on morality, while these highlight mental discipline. The mouth of the wise man, imparted wisdom, is reflective of the inner man. Within one being exists two—one internal and the other external. The inner self contemplates and articulates ideas relevant to thought, while the outer self addresses physical matters. Yet when the Lord appeared, He brought the two together, merging them into one, so they would not be at odds with conflicting desires, but would be unified in purpose. Thus, the mouth of the righteous is instructed in wisdom (Psalm 36:30). The external self of the righteous has already been united with the internal self and, having taken on His nature, fulfills its responsibilities, with the body meditating on matters of the inner spirit. Should this seem incredible to you, recall the words: The Lord Jesus has transformed our humbled bodies to be conformed to His glorious body (Philippians 3:21). Who can assert that sinless flesh—born from the Virgin, conceived by the descent of the Spirit of God into Mary, without deviation from divine wisdom—lacked the virtues of the inner self or could not serve Him? Christ transcended ordinary humanity, for He healed the afflicted by His mere touch, restored sight to the blind, and raised the dead. Therefore, it is written, The mouth of the righteous shall be instructed in wisdom, for a person in their entirety is a spiritual being and not one of this earth. As the earthly is earthly, so the heavenly is heavenly (1 Corinthians 15:48). Thus, the earthly fades away, leaving the heavenly. In speaking of the resurrection, the prophet declared, ‘shall meditate,’ though some manuscripts read ‘will meditate,’ without altering the meaning, as the prophetic spirit perceives the future as present. Others suggest that 'mouth' indicates 'mind.' Solomon beautifully illustrated this: The speech of the righteous is always filled with wisdom, while the words of the foolish change with every turn (Ecclesiasticus 27:11), akin to the moon’s light, which shifts in the dark without stable footing. May the reflections of wisdom be consistently in our hearts and on our lips, letting your tongue speak forth judgements, and may the law of your God dwell within your heart. Hence, the Scriptures instruct: You shall speak of them when sitting at home, walking along the way, when lying down, and when rising (Deuteronomy 6:7). Let us proclaim the Lord Jesus, for He embodies Wisdom, He is the Word, the Word of God. It is written, Open your mouth to the Word of God (Proverbs 31:8). Whoever rehearses His words and meditates upon His teachings breathes in His essence. Let us consistently speak of Him. When discussing Wisdom, He is the essence of Wisdom; when discussing Virtue, He is Virtue itself; when talking of Righteousness, He is Righteousness; when referring to Peace, He is Peace; and when addressing Truth, Life, and Redemption, He is those in their fullest sense (John 14:6). Open your mouth to the Word of God. You open, and He will speak. Thus, David professed: I will listen to what the Lord speaks within me (Psalm 84:9). The Son of God Himself invites: Open your mouth, and I will fill it (Psalm 80:11). Yet, not everyone, like Solomon or Daniel, grasps the fullness of wisdom. However, every believer is endowed to the best of their ability with the Spirit of wisdom. If you believe, you possess that Spirit. Hence, the wise proclaim: I have believed, and therefore I have spoken (Psalm 115:1). When you believe, you will be graced with words. The believer shall be redeemed, and so shall the one who prays, diligently seeking God in prayer. Pour forth your prayers, rising early in the morning, allowing the light of Christ to illuminate you before the dawn. The one who praises in song will be redeemed, and the repentant will find redemption. You shall continually dwell on divine matters, whether at home (Deuteronomy 6:7). The home may symbolize the Church or even the inner sanctum within us, where we ponder in silence. While the leaders sit in judgment, the assembly convenes, and the records are opened (Psalm 121:5; Daniel 7:10; Revelation 20:4,12). The prophet advises: Act with discernment in all you undertake (Proverbs 31:4). Judging wisely, partake in joy but also in caution. Speak thoughtfully to avoid sin and refrain from excessive chatter (Proverbs 10:19). While resting at home, converse with yourself as an impartial judge. While on the journey, keep your spirit alive by speaking truth. If you converse in Christ, you walk the authentic path, for Christ is the Way (John 14:6). On the road, converse with yourself, converse with Christ! Hear how to engage with Him: I desire that in every place, people should pray, lifting holy hands without wrath or doubt (1 Timothy 2:8). As you prepare for rest, do not let the sleep of death catch you unawares. In the stillness before slumber, let your words be: If I close my eyes in sleep, may I find a resting place for the Lord, the dwelling of the God of Jacob (Psalm 131:4-5). Through diligence, conquer your nature and resist the sleep of the body! Although we cannot alter our nature, we can pursue diligent practices. David, though human, allowed himself sleep at night but made it a point to saturate his bed with tears (Psalm 6:7). He always remembered the Lord in his sleep, reflecting on Him till the break of day (Psalm 118:148), that Christ might illuminate his darkness saying, Arise, you who sleep (Ephesians 5:14). This divine grace is not bestowed on all, yet diligence can be pursued by many. Don’t wait for Christ to awaken you; rather, seek to awaken Christ in you. He who remembers Him in their dreams stirs Him from slumber. When you awaken Christ, He dispels your sleep and raises you from death, commanding you: Rise from the dead (Ephesians 5:14). Upon your resurrection, call upon Christ to fulfill your divine purpose. Hear how He calls you forth: The voice of my Brother is knocking at the door (Song of Songs 5:2). And He says: Open unto me, my sister, my bride (Song of Songs 5:2). Witness how you rouse Christ. Your soul entreats: I implore you, O daughters of Jerusalem, do not awaken love until it pleases (Song of Songs 3:5). For Christ is love (1 John 4:8, 16). Note, in your slumber, that you may say: I sleep, but my heart is awake (Song of Songs 5:2). This is a common interpretation; nevertheless, elevate your thoughts further. Speak of yourself as you sit in your earthly dwelling (Deuteronomy 6:7), which is fading away, thereby distancing us from God. Though we exist in this body, heavily groaning, we wish more for the heavenly dwelling than to shed the earthly (2 Corinthians 5:1-6). Sitting here, confess your shortcomings openly; do not stand idly by, but declare: Our feet stood within the courts of Jerusalem (Psalm 121:2). Speak forth clearly, revealing your sins. Stand up from your seated position, whoever has partaken in sorrow (Psalm 126:2). Speak while traveling along life’s journey (Deuteronomy 6:7), ensuring you maintain momentum. This is crucial, lest you grow indifferent, as one who received word about Christ yet remained silent until their voice returned (Luke 1:20, 64). Speak while you’re in slumber and rest, buried with Christ (Romans 6:4) to rise with Him in renewed life. Proclaim from the depths, as the souls of the saints did, beseeching the Creator: How long, O Holy and True Lord, until You judge and avenge our blood? (Revelation 6:10). Speak anew upon your resurrection, as the prophet instructs: I slept yet rose again, for the Lord sustains me (Psalm 3:6). In that other realm, the mouth of the righteous will receive instruction in wisdom (Psalm 36:30) upon encountering the mysteries of the heavenly temple, filled with divine joy and heavenly rejoicing. As the Scriptures impart through David's words: I recalled this and poured out my soul to myself, for I will arrive at the wondrous place, entering the house of God with the voice of joy and praise, amidst jubilant celebrations (Psalms 41:5). Thus, we converse while at home in this corporeal dwelling, and when we exit and walk the path toward Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16), where we aspire to be drawn to heaven if deemed worthy, even in our repose. Contemplate the third mystical understanding where the soul of the righteous is uplifted. Acknowledge the spiritual slumber Solomon mentions: When you sit, you shall sit in peace; when you sleep, your sleep will be serene. You shall fear neither unexpected terror nor the assaults of the wicked (Proverbs 3:24-25). Your repose shall be soothing, as you will not fear the enemy’s sudden advance, provided your lips convey God’s judgments and you keep them ever in view, so that sin finds no foothold, knowing the wages of sin is repentance. In Psalm 90, David clarifies: You need not fear the terrors of the night, nor the arrows that fly by day, nor the calamities that lurk in darkness, nor the devastation of midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but they shall not reach you: you will only observe with your eyes and witness the recompense of the wicked (Psalm 90:5-8). The righteous, in proclaiming God's judgments or expressing genuine wisdom, do so without anger, sorrow, bitterness, or passion; they convey truth calmly, weighing their words carefully and discerning when to speak and when to remain silent. Of them it is said: The lips of the wise are governed by reason (Proverbs 15:7), for their words resonate with common sense, derived from prudence, knowing what is appropriate to convey and what should be withheld.