Psalm 41 (40):6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The significance of Christ's Passion and Resurrection is vividly expressed in Psalm 40. Here, in accordance with tradition, the prophecy related to the Mediator is recounted as though it has already occurred; this reflects the certainty of God's predestined plan. The Psalm states, "My enemies," it continues, "speak evil of me, saying, ‘When shall he die, and his name perish?’ And if anyone comes to see me, he speaks a lie; his heart conceals falsehood, and he departs while spreading slander. Those who despise me conspire against me, devising harm, saying: ‘The word of the great one has come upon him; he has gone down; he shall rise no more’" (Psalm 40:6-9).

The adversaries have treated Me with great injustice. This statement introduces the very person of Christ, illustrating how the Jewish people treated Him. However, prior to this passage, one should recognize that the prophet was addressing the entire universal Church, as this applies more aptly to every fervent believer than to the Servant of the Lord Himself. The Psalmist's words are not solely referring to Him, as some have suggested; otherwise, he would have phrased it, 'Blessed is he that understandeth (ὁ συνειων) the poor and the needy,' indicating a specific individual. Instead, the absence of the article implies a broader understanding. Thus, the focus shifts from the other members of the Church to the Lord Himself, Christ, who declares, ‘My enemies,’ and so forth. When will His name cease to exist and fade away? It is difficult even for us to behold Him.

The Saviour progressively unveils the mystery of His suffering, aligning perfectly with the Gospel. The Jewish leaders condemned Him and sought His execution; they conspired against Him, harassing Him, and were unable to tolerate the growing fame of His miraculous works. This is evident in the prophecy highlighted in the scriptures: ‘My enemies have said evil things about me: when shall he die, and his name perish? (Psalm 40:6). Those deluded individuals thought that the Author of life could meet death!' However, the Church thwarted their desires, holding fast to the belief that He would indeed glorify His name even in death. Thus, she proclaimed, ‘I will remember Thy name to generation and generation (Psalm 44:18) - and echoed, Peace is poured out upon Thy name (Song 1:3).

He refers to the Jews as jealous and deliberately pursuing death foes. The holy Gospel narrative reflects this truth, stating: ‘And they made counsels how they would destroy Him’ (Matthew 12:14). Following this, the Prophet starts to prophesy concerning Judas.

My adversaries utter calumnies against me. They refer to their enemies, particularly the Jews, who, as the esteemed Cyril, Theodoret, and Athanasius have noted, were driven by envy to speak ill of me. The final expression should be interpreted in light of external context. Here, 'evil' is used in place of 'malicious' or 'offensive.' The subsequent text reveals the nature of their words. They ask, "When will his name cease and be forgotten?" They express that he is burdensome to them, suggesting he has a troublesome presence. They wonder when he will die, or when his name will no longer be remembered.

The term "decisive" here indicates the malice exhibited by adversaries, and by mentioning them, the author seeks to invoke God’s compassion, aware that the Lord is more inclined to support the vulnerable when their foes treat them with extreme wickedness and cruelty. This serves as an encouragement to us, highlighting that the greater the injustice inflicted by our enemies, the more we should appeal for God’s mercy. The severity of the animosity directed towards David is evidenced by the very words of his accusers: they could only be quelled through their complete destruction, and the most disgraceful means imaginable, for they sought to ensure that his memory was entirely obliterated. When will he be forgotten?