Psalm 38 (37):10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He who has promised to reveal Himself will do so. Let the soul extend its longing and strive to receive to its fullest what "the eye has not seen, the ear has not heard, and what has not entered the heart of man" (cf. 1 Cor. 2:9). This desire can be felt, it can be yearned for, it can be sighed for, but it cannot be fully grasped or articulated.

Although their conscience is clear and joyful, they are called to endure a painful battle. When the psalm mentions, “Before You all my longings” (Psalm 37:10), it suggests a reference to yearning rather than mere desire. The Greek term έπιθυμίαν encompasses both lust and longing, but ‘desire’ can convey both virtuous and sinful connotations: “I longed and my soul fled to the courts of the Lord” (Psalm 83:3) expresses a positive longing. In contrast, scripture advises caution regarding desire when the law states, “You shall not covet” (Rom. 7:7) in a negative context. The subsequent verses reveal that sin, seizing the opportunity from the commandment, incites all kinds of lust within human affections (Rom. 7:8). Nevertheless, we may interpret those words differently: “I reveal before You all my longings,” meaning I disclose what I wish to present; my desires will be recognized as supplications rather than a display of righteousness. Even the most virtuous should avoid boasting, while sincere prayer is commendable, even when offered by a sinner.

Addressing groaning, he notes that those who pray fervently often express intense groans from their innermost being, which God grants to alleviate their deep anguish. Similarly, the words of St. Basil indicate that when I sought after wrongdoing, my longing was not set before You; yet now, in every matter, as I humble myself and repent, yearning for You, O God and Savior, as my healer, my desire is before You. And Theodoret adds that although I once oriented my desires towards wickedness, I now consistently direct them toward Your commandments.

Though he does not specify what these intentions were, they surely aligned with his situation, specifically the wish to abandon sin, transform his life, and seek reform as swiftly as possible, alongside a longing for a pure, conscientious, and God-fearing existence—something he yearned for as if recovering a lost paradise.

However, such aspirations hold little significance as long as a person is left to grapple alone with their despair and withdrawn into their own sorrowful longings for a better existence. In this isolation, hope for achieving what is best struggles to gain strength, and thus desire for goodness cannot flourish. Both hope and desire draw strength when they are offered to God in the form of prayer and sacrifice. It is at this moment that divine blessings can refresh the stagnant heart.

This is precisely what the Saintly Poet expresses. O Lord, all my desires lie open before You. You possess all knowledge: there is no need for me to enumerate or calculate. You know my sins, passions, and failings far better than I do, as well as my deep desire to be freed from transgressions, healed from the wounds of my conscience, and to find peace for my troubled heart. He calls upon God as a witness to his distress, yearning to rid himself of his burdens, yet feeling powerless, akin to a prisoner yearning for liberation but unable to see a path to freedom. As my sighing will not be concealed from You, so all my desires and laments stand before You.

Everything is laid bare before You. You are fully aware of my affliction. I am not indifferent to my painful sinfulness, nor do I lose heart; rather, I am simply devoid of strength. He articulates to whom he sighs—the One who tests the heart and knows the intentions of the spirit. O Lord, You alone are aware of my desire, which is solely to be liberated from destructive passions and to dwell in serene virtue. This longing of mine, this inner yearning, is fully apparent to You.

Thus, he couples his sorrow with faith, presenting it to the Lord. This is a course of action for all to follow, as healing from above will flow only then. Through faith, the sorrowful sinner turns to the Lord, who embraces him with healing grace. Before You, all things are unveiled; hence, there is no attempt to hide from Your omniscience. Instead, he openly confesses what resides within him. Sincerity before the Lord nurtures a disposition of goodness and is the fruit of a renewed reverence for God. Deceit before God marks the beginning of a fall, often accompanying a diminishing of the fear of God. Conversely, when integrity flourishes both within ourselves and before God, it serves as a promise of imminent righteousness. As long as this integrity holds, righteousness cannot follow.

All desires stand before You, each one present and significant. Thus, these longings are such that it is fitting to present them to the Lord, all aimed toward rectifying life and gaining His favor. This mirrors Mary’s state as she knelt at the Savior's feet or the repentant sinner who washed His feet with tears and anointed them with precious ointment, receiving forgiveness in return. It is indeed a moment of great import before God to possess every desire deemed worthy of His gaze. While cravings that lead to unworthy actions are detestable to God, desires that strive for virtue find favor with Him.

St. Cyril of Zigaben expresses this well: "When I was consumed by evil, my desires remained hidden from You. But now, as I humble myself and repent, seeking Your healing, my desires are manifest before You." Everything falters when aspirations are not directed toward the Lord, as the sinner conceals himself in divine forgetfulness. Contrarily, all goodness flourishes when the sinner consciously presents themselves before God. When one actively maintains their awareness of God's presence, it stirs within them the dormant seeds of goodness, leading to noble desires and ultimately bearing the fruits of virtuous actions.

Any soul devoid of the heavenly salt of the Holy Spirit rots and becomes filled with the foulness of sin and misguided thoughts, allowing malevolent spirits to invade and torment her. The souls of the wicked appear as if afflicted by disease and decay, shrouded in the filth of spiritual corruption. From the decay of sinful wounds, a person becomes frail and distorted, plagued by guilt, shame, and internal conflict. However, upon initiating repentance and walking the path of virtue, the Lord provides aid in the battle against sinful inclinations. This teaching encourages us not to conceal our sins or bury them deep within, where they become corrupted, but rather to openly confess them without hesitation. The prophet expresses great anguish from the burden of his internal struggles, feeling deprived of the enlightening presence of the Holy Spirit due to his sins. Neighbors refer to both fellow humans and angels who distance themselves from individuals because of their transgressions, while demons seek out the souls of the unrighteous, launching stronger assaults. Throughout the day, they conspire against the faithful. It is a testament to the patience of Christ through His passion, echoing the cries of Adam and his descendants who await Christ's aid and deliverance from hell, striving to conquer sin, condemnation, and death.