Psalm 37 (36):5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

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You express a deep yearning, a fervent request, a sincere wish. But will you be able to see it come to fruition? Alas, no. Who can? Turn your path toward the Lord; put your faith in Him, and He will bring it to fruition (Psalm 36:5). Confide in Him your struggles; share with Him your desires. What troubles you? The flesh battles against the spirit, and the spirit contends with the flesh (Galatians 5:17). What do you hope for? I am a miserable soul! Who will rescue me from this body of death? (Rom. 7:24) Since He will indeed make it happen when you surrender your paths to Him, listen closely: the grace of God is extended through Jesus Christ our Lord. What will He fulfill when it is proclaimed, ‘Turn your paths toward Him, and He shall bring it to pass?’ What will He accomplish?

Align your path with the Lord, placing your faith in Him, and He will fulfill His promises. The Lord declares, walk according to His precepts.

Prepare your path for the Lord and have faith in Him, for He will bring forth your truth as light and your justice as midday (Psalm 36:5-6). In this scripture, the prophet reveals who you must become. Who but the one who confesses to God, the witness of his innermost thoughts, can truly clear his path? It is apt to say “open,” meaning to lay bare your conscience so that it is no longer burdened by the shadows of this world or the flesh. Seeds left in darkness may fade, while those basking in sunlight thrive. But why reference seeds? Trees, too, will not grow tall if they remain overshadowed; as noted by Virgil, the forest’s shade can stifle their development.

The prophet proclaims that you should entrust yourself and your endeavors to the Lord, anticipating His assistance. As the Supreme Judge, He will deliver a just verdict, will declare you righteous, and will exalt you, causing you to shine like the midday sun for all to see.

Open your way to the Lord, your path. The divine figure of David here refers, as one might consider, to the manner of living or the conduct that every righteous person should embody, as commanded by God, deserving of His attention and care; for the Lord is aware of the way of the righteous, as noted in Psalms 1:6. Theodoret comments that one should present oneself and their deeds to God, anticipating His assistance, for He, as the Judge, will render a just decision and declare your righteousness to others, revealing you in glory, so that you may shine forth like the midday sun. Origen adds that God, who perceives the hidden truth, will bring it to light, discerning the thoughts of the heart; and He who brings judgment will display it as clearly as the brightness of noon.

The prophet, akin to a skilled healer, has provided us with a remedy for the inner afflictions of sorrow, longing, and similar ailments. Additionally, he presents a solution for the external trials of persecution and defamation. While we are not prohibited from defending ourselves, we are encouraged to employ a specific remedy: prayer to God and unwavering faith in Him. Susanna exemplified this wisdom; condemned to death through false accusations, she lifted her gaze towards heaven weeping, as recounted in Daniel, chapter 13, for her heart was anchored in the Lord. As David states, "open thy way unto the Lord, and trust in Him," which means to place your situation before God in prayer and to rely on Him completely for your fate, for He shall extend His mercy towards you.

A devoted individual should not entertain the notion that anything can remain hidden from God, who scrutinizes the innermost secrets of the heart. Even unfulfilled thoughts must be sincerely presented to the Lord, the One who knows the heart, in prayer, seeking His divine grace for salvation. Truth shines like light, and virtues exist in sincerity without pretense, as the Gospel truth states: Your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you openly at the Last Judgment (Matthew 6:4). There, the good deeds of the righteous will radiate like light in the presence of all the saints. The divine order of God, which a person has fully realized, will be revealed in its purity at the Last Judgment, shining as brightly as the midday sun, devoid of any flaw.