Psalm 37 (36):35Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

However, the wicked man, appearing exalted, has positioned himself on a mountain from which it is proclaimed: "If you had faith like a mustard seed and spoke to this mountain, 'Be pulled up and cast into the sea'" (Luke 17:6). To whom is this addressed? This exhortation is given to the demon that possessed and tormented the unfortunate man, who, to your amazement, was healed (see Mt. 17:15-20). You will discover more love in Christ than power in the devil. You observe that while the cedar stands high upon a mountain, the wind may topple it, fire may consume it, and the passage of time may erase it. Likewise, the wealthy individual in this life shines with worldly splendor and beauty, much like Mount Lebanon. He depends on earthly power, buoyed by his riches and wealth. He may seem significant to you until you declare, "I will go and see" (Ex. 3:3). Just as Moses transcended earthly matters with his heart and mind to behold God, if you also rise above these earthly concerns, lifting the footsteps of your spirit towards God's grace, you will discover that the rich man is nothing, even though he appears formidable in this world. Thus, God speaks to your soul and mind with these words: "Come hither from Lebanon, O bride, come hither from Lebanon, come and pass over" (Song 4:8). By transcending earthly matters, you shall enter into heaven. He who transitions calls out: "Remember me, O Lord, when You come into your kingdom!" (Luke 23:42). And again, hear him who crosses over: "Verily, verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). What does it mean, "And behold, he is gone" (Ps. 36:36)? In the beginning, the Word was with God (John 1:1), and anyone who sees the Word and participates in it truly exists. The Word of God remains forever; His proclamation is neither 'yes' nor 'no,' but solely 'yes,' and it is present in the life of those who follow God. He who does not know the Word does not truly exist, as he is detached from Him who declared, "I am who I am" (Exodus 3:14). However, he who unites with the Lord is one spirit with Him (1 Cor. 6:17). Where the Spirit dwells, there is life. Scripture reveals that God brings the dead to life and calls forth the nonexistent as if they do exist (Rom. 4:17), meaning He incorporates the nations that were not His people because they were our ancestors, God's chosen ones. Furthermore, it is stated, "The Lord knows those who are His" (2 Tim. 2:19). The Lord does not acknowledge those who are nonexistent. Esther reflects, "You shall not grant the scepter of your kingdom to those who do not exist" (Cf: Esther 4:11). The righteous man accurately states: "And I passed by, and behold, he is gone" (Ps. 36:36). This means: I beheld him elevated in this world until I understood that this world holds no true substance; when I shifted my mind beyond the temporal, I realized there was no longer anyone who had been exalted here. If you are righteous, transcend the present as you move towards the future, and for you, the present shall fade. "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" (Matt. 24:35). For the righteous man, all things come to pass. The wicked man fades like a fleeting shadow; his days dissolve like vapidity (Ps. 143:4). And for the righteous, not only does the present recede, but even the future, once he rushes towards it, has already slipped away. Consider how for the righteous, the present has already faded. Undoubtedly, during David's time, there existed a synagogue without the Church of the Gentiles, yet he speaks to the future nations as if addressing the present: "Bless, ye nations, our God" (Psalms 65:8); prior to that, he proclaims, "God ascended with joyful acclamations" (Psalms 46:6). He traversed the forthcoming age of disbelief—not with human time, but through the clarity of faith—and in his anticipation, he glorified the future resurrection of the Lord, which was to occur many years later, singing, "Sing to our God, sing; sing to our King, sing" (Psalm 46:7). He dances and rejoices as though he were witnessing the marriage between Christ and the Church. David elucidated the source of his joy with these words: "God reigns over all the earth" (Psalm 46:9). As we navigate through our lives, the future often appears to have already happened: it resembles a sailing experience, where you move past land and witness it receding into the distance. Sailors, particularly in fierce storms, may avoid land, and while they steer clear of it, it may seem as though it is moving away from them (see Origen: sei. In ps. 36. 5. 5.). If you avoid this world, it will likewise evade you; if you forsake this land, it will retreat from you. You shall sail upon this sea, buoyed by its waves in this age; refrain from the rocky and harsh land, as it is written, "Take the rocks out of the way" (Isaiah 62:10). If you navigate through the aerial expanse towards the harbor of divine joy, you will discover that for you, everything has faded. Does it truly matter if all things have passed away in general, or only for you? There is another wicked individual who appears to be elevated even above the cedars of Lebanon. When you cross, he is gone, and even his place cannot be identified. Consider the Jewish scribe: he possesses the entire Old Testament memorized, yet he does not adhere to it. You hear him eloquently recite, and you are amazed by his learning. You inquire about his thoughts, and he responds according to the letter, referring only to history. You assume him to be exalted by his literal understanding. But I have grasped a higher spiritual comprehension, as the law is spiritual. Realizing its emptiness, you reflect, "I saw the wicked exalted... and I passed by, and there he was gone." I SOUGHT AFTER HIM, BUT HIS PLACE WAS NOT FOUND (Psalm 36:35-36). I sought him where he ought to have been, in the realm of life; but he eluded me, for he was not there where life exists, as he was truly dead. Thus, not even a trace of him could be found. What is the dwelling place of someone lifeless who never truly existed? There was never one who adhered strictly to the letter; the letter brings death, but the Spirit bestows life (2 Cor. 3:6). I attempted to find him, but he did not yield himself to me; I did not encounter him, meaning: I sought to convert him, but he refused to surrender, and thus I encountered him not. I wished to guide and transform him, yet he was unwilling to change, resisting all efforts. I enacted everything associated with a genuine seeker, but he disregarded all that is inherent to one who returns. The soul yearning for transformation seeks the Word, and upon finding it, declares, "I have grasped Him and will not let Him go" (Song 3:4), referring to the Son of God, the Word of God. I sought after the wicked man who did not desire healing, but I could not find him, and thus you should not emulate him.