Psalm 38 (37):21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This death of ours, stemming from sin, He assumed and bore upon the Tree. To prevent anyone from believing (as some heretics do) that our Lord Jesus Christ possessed only a simulated body of flesh and that the death He endured on the Cross was merely apparent, the Prophet makes clear, stating, “Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” It affirms that the Son of God experienced a genuine death, a death bound to mortal flesh; thus, if He had not been cursed, one might think He did not truly die. However, this death was not a mere illusion; it arose from that original curse, as declared: “Thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:17). Since true death indeed encompassed Him, it enabled true life to be granted to us, bringing the curse of death upon Him so that the blessing of life might flow to us. And they treated Me, Your Beloved, as though I were a dead man in abomination.

Athanasius remarks: "Although I am not indifferent toward sin and am, in fact, deeply troubled by it, I perceive that my foes are mightier than I." His plea to the Lord is to not abandon him but instead to come to his aid. This reflects the ultimate earnestness of the penitent's prayer, where fear of adversaries and trust in God are in constant conflict. Although he depends on the Lord, he cannot place his faith in his own strength. The foes can easily disrupt his virtuous thoughts and intentions, rendering his reliance, which should be his fortitude, fragile. In his despair, he cries out about the multitude of deceitful enemies, pleading for help as his salvation rests solely in God. "But my enemies live and are stronger than I, and those who hate me unjustly have increased." They intend to repay his goodness with malice, for he is persecuted for his righteousness. Historically, St. David's situation reflects real circumstances. His adversaries, including those loyal to the house of Saul and other malcontents, are very much alive and resilient. They may not appear stronger than he at present, yet they could be if allowed to execute their ambitions. St. David could articulate this even now, reflecting on his enemies’ perceptions at that moment, as they likely considered themselves dominant. The number of those who unjustly detest him has swelled, motivated solely by envy and a desire for his downfall. While they have not yet acted on their intentions, they are prepared to unleash a multitude of hardships upon David. God elevated St. David through divine choice when he was young, and the house of Saul fell out of favor with God due to Saul's transgressions. Those who opposed David often misinterpreted divine justice as mere ambition and human cunning. They mistakenly viewed his graciousness as weakness, feeling emboldened to malign and conspire against him. In terms of repentance, the enemies orchestrating such schemes represent the malevolent spirits in the spiritual realm. The repentant anticipates the mounting aggression of these dark forces, acknowledging, "My adversaries are alive, becoming more potent and numerous." Their wickedness intensifies; they gather to ambush him at every turn, laying snares both internally and externally through thoughts, feelings, relationships, worldly interactions, and more. As long as the penitent is not firmly rooted in goodness, temptations grow stronger. The adversaries are aware of this and escalate their assaults. Their animosity knows no bounds, resembling lions roaring at those who turn away from them. They act not only directly but also through individuals who are under their influence, often achieving more impact through these proxies. They plant malevolent thoughts among those surrounding the penitent, suggesting he is insincere or has ulterior motives contrary to the salvation of his soul. This can lead to significant harm if the penitent is not vigilant against such disturbances. Moreover, they conspire to repay good deeds with evil. When the repentant endeavors to do good for others, enemies twist those acts into something vile. Those on the receiving end may be poisoned with false perceptions, prompting them to repay their benefactor with malice whenever possible. Such machinations can be destructive, particularly for someone newly committed to repentance. This treachery often confronts the penitent almost immediately. How can one withstand such trials? Witnessing the myriad schemes of adversaries, the St. Prophet himself prays and encourages others to do likewise.

Likewise, Ahithophel was honored greatly by David, serving as the king's chief adviser, but in his ingratitude, he abandoned David for Absalom, offering wicked counsel against the king (2 Sam. 16 and 17). The subsequent assertions—that David was persecuted for his righteousness—demonstrate that he suffered due to his sincere and benevolent actions towards everyone. Consequently, his opposition to the unlawful schemes of his enemies intensified his suffering.

Any soul lacking the heavenly salt of the Holy Spirit is decaying, filled with the foulness of evil and empty thoughts. This leads to the intrusion of vile spirits that invade and torment such a soul. The souls of the unrepentant resemble beasts, covered with suffering and decay. The resulting degradation leaves an individual weak and distorted, burdened by guilt, shame, and despair. However, should one embark on the path of repentance and virtue, the Lord will provide aid in overcoming passions. This teaching urges us not to conceal our sins or bury them deep within our souls as corruption, but rather to confess them openly. The prophet deeply laments the heaviness of his inner turmoil, stemming from the withdrawal of the Holy Spirit's illuminating presence due to his sins. This alienation also includes angels who distance themselves from sinners. The seeking spirits—evil entities—mount a stronger assault in such cases. Those engaged in plotting against the righteous scheme daily. The patience of Christ during His Passion resonates with the cries of Adam and his descendants, longing for salvation through Christ and liberation from hell, striving to conquer sin, condemnation, and death.