Psalm 37 (36):38Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"The righteous shall inherit the earth" (Psalm 36:29). There is a clear reason why the holy prophet refers to the faithful as peaceful. In Holy Scripture, the path of peace signifies the route of godliness: "Direct our feet to the way of peace," as St. Zacharias states (Luke 1:79). The way of peace is unknown to the wicked (Isaiah 59:8). The Psalmist declares, "I am at peace with those who hate the world" (Psalm 119:6), revealing his own state of being. The link between peace and genuine godliness is unmistakable. One who is truly godly is at harmony with God. The fervent desire of the messengers of peace is fulfilled in him: "We implore you, be reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:20). He also lives in harmony with his neighbors, with no cause to disturb the peace. Unrighteousness, malice, and oppression disrupt peace, all of which contradict true piety. Often, the pursuit of worldly matters undermines peace and breeds animosity, while the faithful desire nothing earthly, focusing solely on the Lord for their treasures in heaven: "What have I in heaven and what do I desire on earth? My portion is God forever" (Psalm 72:25-26). All earthly matters are of little value compared to the knowledge of Christ (Philippians 3:8). Sometimes, carelessness in speech, an obsession with arguments, and disputes drive peace away. What fuels such disagreements? Vanity and self-love. The righteous and the devout do not chase superficial glory. They understand that a hidden heart is precious to God (1 Peter 3:4), nurtured in the tranquility of a humble and quiet spirit. Is he concerned with slander, criticism, or judgment? He is consistently engaged in self-reflection, battling with his own thoughts and morals. For him, peace is invaluable: "Give us Your peace for You have rewarded us with all things" (Isaiah 26:12), for only a tranquil heart can truly love, and only in peace can one engage in theological contemplation of the Lord. “Pursue peace and holiness with all” (Hebrews 12:14), advises St. Paul, because without these, no one will see the Lord. Ultimately, because God is his treasure, as the Psalmist describes, “the Lord is my place” (Psalm 75:2). Hence, he is prepared to forsake everything to maintain peace within and around him. To this man of peace, there is rest on earth. What does this rest signify? In Old Testament times, the awaited blessed seed was seen as a remarkable gift from God, and the continuation of one's lineage is still perceived as a divine blessing. David offers consolation to the righteous, assuring them that they shall have a remnant on earth, living through their blessed offspring. Truly, the lineage of the righteous is blessed: "The sons of the sons" are compared to "new growths of olive trees" in their father's presence, serving as a testament to this blessing. Their descendants may extend deeply, though some will eventually stray into disbelief and worldly desires. Conversely, "the grandchildren of the wicked will not endure" (Proverbs 24:20), and their light will quickly extinguish; even if their line continues, it will fade from human view amidst shame and misfortune. It is apparent that untainted lineage flows from reputable parents to their children, granting them strength and longevity, as long as it remains untainted by indulgent and immoral living. As long as divine blessing persists, the offspring of the righteous will endure. Therefore, a remnant always exists for the faithful. This divine favor is prominently evident in the Orthodox families of our homeland, whose ancestral lines we trace. When we look back, we can see that their forebears were often righteous and holy individuals, sometimes even divinely acknowledged, or at the very least, their ancestors displayed extraordinary piety, integrity, selflessness, love for the church, and charity toward the less fortunate. Yet, the wicked continuously oppress the righteous: “The sinner observes the righteous and seeks to slay him” (Proverbs 2:20, 22). David observes that some faithful souls grow weary and begin to waver in their confidence. Comforting them, he reassures that there is indeed peace for man on earth; the Lord will safeguard them, assist them, distance them from sinners, and deliver them because they have placed their trust in Him (Psalm 36:39, 40). Regardless of the wicked efforts, they cannot extinguish the lineage of the righteous; they will fall and perish, yet God will provide a refuge for the faithful, hiding them in the shelter of His presence, enveloped in His mercy. The ungodly will remain upon the earth, and the pathways of the wicked will vanish from it; the ungodly shall be eradicated (Proverbs 2:20, 22). The remnants of the wicked shall fade, but the salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord, their defender in times of trouble, assisting them, delivering them, and saving them because they have faith in Him (Psalm 36:39, 40). The memory of a peaceful and pious individual lingers within their family line, for they are capable of doing much good, whether for the entire world or for their neighbors. "The memory of the righteous is with praise," asserts the wise man, unlike the fate of the wicked; their name quickly vanishes, as noted by the same wise man (Proverbs 10:7), and their memory soon diminishes. Jerome, Augustine, Theodoret, and Ambrosius of Mediola interpret the term remnant as eternal life and future rewards. Thus, the holy prophet intends to convey that the righteous, despite the visible oppression from the wicked, preserved by divine providence, will endure through their blessed descendants, in the gratitude of remembrance on this earth, and ultimately inherit eternal life in the new creation, in the dwelling place of the righteous. To fully grasp this statement, it is important to recognize that the holy prophet refers to the blessed seed, depicting the righteous as one unified family bound by the spiritual ties of faith, righteousness, and integrity. Through this understanding, he signifies that although the progeny of the serpent, representing the wicked generation, actively opposes and afflicts the righteous, the blessed lineage continues—there remains hope for the godly in the emergence of the victorious seed. Indeed, the prophet identifies it as the root of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1), suggesting that while the lineage of the godly was brought to an abject state, it was not devoid of life; the remnant of the blessed descendants held vitality, and ultimately from this root, a blessed blossom emerged through the Most Holy Virgin, radiating the essence of truth, faith, and salvation to all humanity—Jesus Christ, the Source of life and immortality, was born!