For evils without number have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I was not able to see. They are multiplied above the hairs of my head: and my heart hath forsaken me.
כִּ֤י אָפְפ֥וּ־עָלַ֨י ׀ רָע֡וֹת עַד־אֵ֬ין מִסְפָּ֗ר הִשִּׂיג֣וּנִי עֲ֭וֺנֹתַי וְלֹא־יָכֹ֣לְתִּי לִרְא֑וֹת עָצְמ֥וּ מִשַּֽׂעֲר֥וֹת רֹ֝אשִׁ֗י וְלִבִּ֥י עֲזָבָֽנִי׃
4 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Evil has surrounded me, and its multitude is beyond counting. This illustrates the misfortunes that came upon them due to their disbelief in Christ. My strength is overwhelmed beyond what I can bear, and my spirit is abandoned. It’s akin to saying, I am comparable to one who possesses neither wisdom nor heart. The Israelites had become a people lacking sense and discernment.
Let no one perceive this as contradictory to what has been previously explained. Even the three young men, who exemplified the pinnacle of virtue and wore the laurels of triumph, acknowledged their failings while praying in the furnace, declaring, ‘We have sinned, we have done iniquity, we have transgressed, we have violated Thy commandments, we have not kept Thy statutes’ (Dan. 3:29-30). The illustrious Daniel, the wise Jeremiah, the holy Isaiah, and the learned Paul all echoed this sentiment: as Paul states, Christ Jesus entered the world to redeem sinners, and I am the foremost among them (1 Tim. 1:15); and once more, I am unworthy to be called an apostle (1 Cor. 15:9).
Consequently, the Church of God, enduring the turmoil instigated by the wicked, remains humble in its struggles, attributing its trials to its sins and wrongdoings, while beseeching the Savior for assistance. Furthermore, the Church is not comprised solely of the righteous; it includes those who live recklessly, those who embrace a life of carelessness, and those who pursue the lure of glory. Since the body of the Church is unified, it is as though both groups are referenced within a single entity.
I recognize that I am engulfed by an overwhelming presence of evils and misfortunes that are countless. Thus, I seek your divine assistance, O Lord. Pay attention, fellow believer, for those who are righteous within the church humbly attribute all the trials and tribulations they face to their own transgressions. Likewise, the three young men in the furnace proclaimed, "We have sinned, we have committed iniquity," despite enduring their suffering for God's sake. David also expresses that his transgressions—the temptations arising from sin—obscure the soul's vision to such an extent that it struggles to recognize and discern the good; yet, the light of divine comfort dispels this gloom.
It has been said that sin acts like a dark cloud, veiling the mind's eye. Moreover, the recollection of past misdeeds often casts further shadows over our understanding. Although such reflections arise from the humility of the Christian community, it isn’t appropriate to assume that they represent the entirety of reality. According to Theodoret, within the congregation of the virtuous and upright, many are also sinners and negligent in their conduct; hence, the righteous acknowledge their own sins, embracing them as part of their shared love and faith with others.
It is important not to interpret this perspective as exaggerated; indeed, we often sin out of ignorance. Thus, a single offense can branch into multiple sins. For instance, the murder of Abel was counted as seven sins against Cain and seventy times seven against Lamech. As a result, when we stand before the Judge, our sins could surpass the very hairs on our heads. Cyril notes that this statement foreshadows the various trials that Christ’s church has historically faced. Origen teaches that our mental afflictions accumulate gradually, and when they reach a multitude, we may find ourselves bereft of clarity, leading our hearts into despair. It appears, as he notes, that Thy Church, O Lord, has lost its very center; for wearied by temptations, I lack the courage to act, as true boldness and fortitude spring from a steadfast heart.
He explains the reason for his plea, "Do not take Your mercy from me," as he finds himself encircled by numerous trials that surpass his strength. Nonetheless, he does not argue that his suffering is undeserved or that his punishment exceeds his transgressions; instead, he humbly acknowledges that he is receiving a fair penalty for his sins. In admitting the afflictions he endures as the outcomes of his wrongdoing, he confesses in private, illustrating how submissively and reverently he accepts God's just decisions. Despite being overwhelmed by great trials and numerous hardships, he elaborates on his sins rather than casting blame on God for undue harshness.
Observing David in such distress, we might reflect on our own burdens and learn to earnestly appeal to the just Judge for His mercy, seeking to avert His righteous indignation. Through the expression "My heart forsake me," he reveals his humanity; he admits to being not just fatigued but as if soul-weary, weighed down by his tribulations. Here, the fatigue or frailty of the heart should be interpreted as a reflection of physical suffering; yet his steadfastness in prayer reflects an unwavering faith in David. When he states, "My heart forsake me," he acknowledges the exhaustion of his physical strength and the extreme turmoil of his spirit.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS