Psalm 40 (39):18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

There is nothing within me to praise. He has removed my struggles and adorned me in His righteousness, so it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me (Gal 2:20). If Christ resides within you, and the goodness you possess is His, and everything you have is His, then how do you perceive yourself? Yet I consider myself wretched and destitute.

Question 262. The Scriptures extol poverty and suffering, as seen in passages such as "blessed are the poor" (Matt. 5:3) and "the desire of the poor hast Thou heard, O Lord" (Ps. 9:38), along with "the poor and the wretched shall praise Thy name" (Ps. 73:21). What differentiates poverty from wretchedness? In what way is David justified in declaring, "But I am poor and wretched" (Ps. 39:18)? Response. Reflecting on the Apostle’s words, who stated, "He, being rich, became poor for your sakes" (2 Cor. 8:9), I suggest that a poor person is one who has fallen from wealth to indigence, while a miserable person is one who has experienced poverty from the outset and has endured such affliction in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord.

I find myself destitute and afflicted, yet the Lord will care for me. Israel, in its profound arrogance, recognizing its need for repentance, acknowledges its poor and wretched state, and fully trusts in the Lord as its hope. You are my supporter and my protector, O God, do not allow me to be hardened. To this end, he proclaims, the Church will arise, which previously endured great hardship and poverty in the world, but has now been enriched by Your might and honored by Your assistance. He implores God not to leave her unresponsive, for as it is written: ‘He who comes will come, and will not tarry’ (Heb. 2:3).

As he refers to sins, he identifies himself as a beggar, signifying his state of helplessness and his urgent need for divine support. This description especially resonates with the blessed David. It seems that David, with this prophetic insight and awareness of divine grace, viewed himself as impoverished and in need, seeking to partake in the providential care of God. He petitions that the promised salvation should not be deferred to a far-off future but rather be granted to humanity in the present moment.

I find myself in a state of poverty and despair. This sentiment resonates with every believer, as each one forgoes worldly possessions in pursuit of Christ. They are impoverished through their efforts to seek what is essential for their salvation; they are stripped of their material wealth and endure hardships in following Christ’s teachings and virtues. As articulated by St. Basil, a person is truly impoverished when they have relinquished their riches. This reflects the Lord’s own example, who, despite His wealth, chose to become poor for our sake. David recognizes his own humble state, perhaps echoing the plight of Christ, who was viewed as a beggar since He was not the son of an affluent man but of a carpenter.

We ought to frequently reflect on this scripture with sorrow and tears: ‘But I am poor and miserable, for my loins are full of inflammation, and there is no soundness in my flesh... from your wrath; there is no peace in my bones because of my sins’ (Psalm 39:18, 37:4, 8). It is truly at that moment that we will mourn, as after a prolonged period of bodily purity, we may mistakenly believe we have fully cast off carnal impurity. Yet we find that the desires of the flesh rise up against us, challenging our hearts, and we realize that even in our dreams there can be an outpouring of uncleanness.

In this conclusion, he includes a thanksgiving prayer that was likely written during a time of hardship. The initial phrases of the verse can be understood as follows: Despite my state of poverty and distress, the Lord is aware of my situation, or in my times of need and suffering, God provided for me, thereby magnifying His mercy through such circumstances. For when the Lord acts on our behalf promptly, without delay until we are overwhelmed by struggles, His mercy shines less brightly. This comparison highlights the glory of God, as demonstrated in David's rescue, illustrating how God graciously assisted a poor soul abandoned by all and devoid of hope. The prayer's central strength lies in this: Lord, You are my support and rescuer, and You will not hesitate to save me. It is inappropriate to approach the Lord with uncertainty and doubt; thus, he draws hope from past experiences and reassures himself of God’s assistance, by which he has been upheld until now.