Psalm 38 (37):17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Effects of Sin Occasionally, in the course of our existence, we find ourselves stumbling and falling into sin, prompting the malicious words of our adversaries to escalate. Their silence reveals their intentions, yet when they do speak, it is with harshness, celebrating our struggles as if they have discovered a reason for our suffering. In this state, I have proclaimed, ‘Let not my enemies exult over me.’ However, you, in your wisdom, have allowed them to speak extensively about me during my faltering moments.

I place my faith in You, O Lord. I declare, may my adversaries not find joy. Amidst a sea of troubles, he expresses, my only hope for deliverance lies in the assistance You will provide me. And when I begin to walk, they will speak ill of me. The transgression that caused my downfall offered them the chance to deride me.

David expressed a heartfelt desire for the Lord's attention, hoping that his adversaries would not succeed over him. In his commitment to God, David sought protection against the prideful and boastful words of his enemies, who aimed to ridicule him. Despite his emotional turmoil—after all, he is human—David was ready to endure punishment as an act of repentance for his sins. Even if divine discipline subsided, he would inflict self-discipline upon himself through his sorrow and righteous anger, preventing guilt from taking hold due to his sincere confession. He reflected, "And, while my feet wavered, they were great over me" (Psalms 37:17), signifying how swiftly they prepared to mock him during his moment of instability.

The Prophet stated that he persisted in displaying this endurance, placing his trust in You, having entrusted his fate to You, and praying that he would not become a target of mockery for his adversaries, nor that his downfall would provide them with a reason for pride.

As I lifted my prayers to God, I questioned within my heart, how can it be that my adversaries will not triumph over me? When I faltered, straying far from the path of His commandments, they brazenly declared their intent to bring me down.

The verses reveal the foundation of the repentant sinner's hope in God. This hope is anchored, first, in the certainty that God will not permit His adversaries to exult, as indicated in verse 17. Secondly, it rests on God’s willingness to endure all forms of suffering and trials, solely to remain in alignment with His will, as expressed in verse 18. In the silence of his heart, through fervent prayers to God, he wrestles against the flattering and empty taunts of his foes.

This serves as the second explanation for his silence and inability to hear. I declared, I will not allow my adversaries to find joy. In other words, I believed it was more prudent to exercise patience and trust in the Lord's deliverance rather than succumb to impatience and retaliate with evil. Otherwise, the Lord might abandon me, and my foes would take delight in my downfall. My concerns were not unfounded, as I feared they would find pleasure in my defeat; for when I was unsteady, on the verge of collapse and in jeopardy of losing my reign, my adversaries bore false witness against me, threatening me with imminent ruin.

This psalm dedicated to David is inspired by the Holy Spirit and reflects on the Sabbath, symbolizing the eternal rest destined for the righteous. The Sabbath is understood as a time of rest, prompting the prophet to invite all to seek this peace through repentance. This theme of repentance is echoed in another psalm. The fierce anger of God towards sinners at the Last Judgment is resolute. Earthly tribulation arises from sin, urging a holy fear of wrongdoing and the necessity for penance. Through sin, both body and soul become exhausted, and inner tranquility is forfeited. Engaging in repentance, diligent effort, prayer, fasting, and charitable deeds draws the divine grace of God.