Psalm 38 (37):7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Water streamed from His wound (see Jn. 19:34) so that we might partake of salvation; all sinners on earth will partake (Ps. 74:9) to be freed from their iniquities.

Let us reflect on this: Christ suffered anguish to bring joy to those conceived in sorrow. No one would label a righteous man as miserable, as the prophet affirmed—no one will bring you misery (Isaiah 33:1). He stooped down so that we might stand tall; He mourned so that we might find joy, as it is written, If I grieve you, who will make me glad but he who is grieved by me (2 Cor. 2:2). Whoever is burdened by the Lord Jesus Christ shall find joy in Him, and in turn, shall rejoice. We recognize that we ought to harbor an abundance of joy! Let us humble ourselves to the utmost, offering Christ not only our faith but also our perseverance in trials, so that we might find joy in our afflictions, just as He found joy in His. He embraced suffering for the sake of His followers; we persevere in suffering for the Lord’s honor. This is the culmination that the apostle refers to—filling in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His Body, which is the Church, to which I have been appointed as a minister (Colossians 1:24-25). It becomes evident what we must bear when we accept the priestly role, as we are called not only to endure physical suffering for ourselves, but also for the Lord’s Church. David, however, included the afflictions of the soul in his suffering.

They lack the yearning for the Divine, chasing after the base instead, entirely disinterested in heavenly matters, continually encircled by worldly distractions. This provoked the Psalmist to lament the state of humankind, expressing their plight with the declaration: suffered and slumbered to the end. For a person who loses sight of celestial contemplation, focusing solely on bodily needs, they endure suffering and affliction, but without enduring to the fullest. Consequently, one who is drawn away from sublime thoughts, not merely by necessity but also through the most unjustifiable pleasures, experiences not only pain but suffering that reaches its utmost limit.

Consequently, even righteous thoughts are unable to penetrate this realm, which becomes entirely neglected, leading to a loss of capacity to act virtuously, with concepts of holiness fading from memory or becoming distorted. The individual becomes lethargic and bent, akin to a sick person whose illness has caused him to stoop and bow his head. This plight persists until all possible avenues are exhausted. Sinful inclinations have weighed me down, binding me to earthly pleasures, as someone who lowers their head to reach the ground. ‘What does it mean to be bent?’ asks Blessed Augustine, to which the reply is: lacking the strength to stand upright. This clearly stems from an attachment to worldly matters and enslavement to the flesh. ‘Such a person does not set his thoughts on the heavenly, but instead engages in trivialities. He finds no satisfaction, as it is written: You desire but do not have; so you kill (James 4:2); and therefore, he only inflicts torment upon himself.’ This person laments throughout the day. Every day, not just one, but continuously, he grieves in a state of despondency. He moves aimlessly, restless and unable to find solace. ‘Those ensnared by the sin of covetousness endure torment and are weighed down by a guilty conscience, dread of God, and shame, unable to lift their gaze to heaven. They cannot bear the gnawing anguish of their conscience, trudging through life in daily embarrassment and sorrow; what joy can there be for a man burdened by sin, when he begins to awaken to his wrongs?’ (Irineus of Pskov). In the throes of sinful indulgence, one may initially sin with a sense of merriment. Yet, eventually, all faculties become dulled, leading only to exhaustion from the relentless pursuit of sinful comforts. He wanders about, head bowed, unable to see anything pleasant. He may express his grievance but feels powerless to change his situation: the habits are deeply entrenched, leaving him neither strength nor joy to forsake them (Athanasius the Great). Blessed Theodoret summarizes this condition well: ‘The oppressive weight of sins has caused me to stoop; my unjust servitude to my passions fills me with sorrow. Thus, devoid of any joy, I am perpetually grieving, troubled, and experiencing no respite from my sorrowful state.’

Yet, it is possible to merge these interpretations and articulate it this way: I have endured and suffered greatly, whether by diverting my soul's gaze, which I ought to have focused on God, toward fleshly and base pleasures, or because shame prevents me from looking upward, forcing me instead to gaze upon the earth like an animal. Hence, I find myself daily troubled and sorrowful, unable to bear the weight of a conscience that pains and reproaches me, for what joy can a person experience when burdened by sin, if all he can feel is the weight of his transgressions?

Any soul lacking the heavenly seasoning of the Holy Spirit is prone to decay, overwhelmed by an array of evil and futile thoughts, infested by wicked and tormenting spirits. The souls of the unrepentant suffer greatly, akin to beasts plagued by wounds, immersed in corruption and decay. The festering wounds from sin render a person weak and distorted, consumed by the guilt of conscience and shame. Yet, should one embark on the path of repentance, the Lord will provide assistance in overcoming temptations. This teaching implores us to refrain from concealing our sins or harboring them deep within our souls, which leads to darkness and decay, and instead to confess them openly. The prophet expresses deep anguish from the burden of inner conflict, feeling the absence of the Holy Spirit’s light due to his sins. Neighbors, in this context, refer to angels who are distanced from humanity because of iniquity. Demons are constantly in pursuit of souls, launching relentless assaults. Evil schemes abound daily. The long-suffering of Christ during His Passion is echoed in the voice of Adam and his descendants, who yearn for salvation and liberation from hell, striving to conquer sin, condemnation, and death.