Psalm 6:10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The prophet exemplifies this virtuous behavior by not only avoiding such associations but actively eliminating them from his life. This reflects the genuine essence of repentance and the transformative power of sorrow. A wounded spirit is liberated from all sinful passions. We too must adopt this approach. Even if a person causing us harm is adorned in royal garments, we should not place value on that friendship, for there is nothing more detrimental than an individual engulfed in vice, regardless of their power; conversely, there is nothing more admirable than one who possesses virtue, even if they are imprisoned. “For the Lord has heard the voice of my cry.” Notice he does not merely state, “For the Lord heard my voice,” but rather, “the voice of my crying.” This underscores the depth of his experience—not simply the sound of distress but the true condition of his soul. His lamentation signifies not only the physical shedding of tears but also the heartfelt mourning of the spirit. One who repents and finds favor in God's sight can easily achieve the grace to shun companionship with the wicked.

Cease, feel shame, and let go. “The Lord has heard” my plea in my old age, “the Lord has accepted my prayer.”

This illustrates the process of spiritual ascent. The fourth Psalm distinguishes between spiritual and physical well-being; the fifth seeks such goodness as an inheritance, while the sixth, mentioning “osmium,” refers to the fear of judgment. This indicates that the prudent are encouraged to approach the daunting judgment with a spirit of repentance. Consequently, genuine repentance offered to God reveals to us the benefits of this act, proclaiming, “The Lord has heard the voice” of those who turn to Him with tears.

To ensure that this goodness remains steady within us in the days to come, the Prophet prays that the experience of shame will help eradicate hostile thoughts. Such adverse and unlawful thoughts cannot be silenced unless they are met with the transformative power of shame, which, as a consequence of life’s wrongs, establishes a significant divide between individuals and their sins. Thus, I assert, “Let all my enemies be ashamed and put to shame,” referring, of course, to those “enemies of man,” particularly those within his own household, which stem from the heart and defile a person. If they are swiftly confronted with shame, they may bring forth hope of glory for us, ultimately leading us away from shame, by the grace of the Lord. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Now, when is our mindset more humble—during youth or old age? It is clear this humility is found more in old age, as youth is often marked by arrogance. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted (Matthew 5:4). Consider this: who weeps more readily—the young or the elderly? Obviously, the older individual. "Blessed are the meek" (Matthew 5:5). It is a universally acknowledged truth that youth tends to be more fiery and quick to anger, while old age embodies greater meekness. Thus, if we contemplate further, we see that older age is more conducive to fulfilling God’s commandments compared to youth. In youth, desires burn fiercely, and the flames of lust for pleasure overwhelm us with a multitude of passions—vanity, greed, gluttony, and endless longing. Much akin to the struggle between two wrestlers, when one becomes weaker, the other grows stronger. We must apply this reasoning to the dynamics of soul and body— as physical desires and strength decline with age, the soul, if it Heeds, can gain strength and resolve to keep the commandments of God, especially through heartfelt contrition and tears.

Tears shed for God are what I refer to. There are natural tears shed for the deceased and also tears borne of vanity, driven by demonic desires. Some may shed tears out of drunkenness or indulgence in various luxuries. Yet there are also purifying tears that spring from reverence for God and the contemplation of death and judgment. If we nurture these tears, we will eventually reach a point of spiritual tears, which are devoid of fear and filled instead with a fervent longing for God, producing comfort, illumination, and joy, the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Such tears were born from a divine desire for God expressed by the one who exclaimed, "My soul clings to You" (Psalms 62:9), and in another instance, "My heart is stirred" (Psalms 72:21). "God of my heart and my portion forever" (Psalms 72:26), for "My soul longs and faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God" (Psalms 83:3). The psalmist harbored such a longing and tears for God that "My soul thirsts for You, O God" (Psalms 41:2). Perhaps these sentiments resonate with many of us. Yet what relevance does this hold? We are not discussing treasures hidden beyond reach or rare visions seen only in desolate regions; rather, we speak of the treasure granted to us within our hearts by Christ, who said, "The kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21)—the Holy Spirit, who births within us contrition and tears leading to the forgiveness of sins, rebirth, and redemption.

How immense is the power of tears offered for God—what a significant impact they can yield! The Ninevites, Hezekiah, Nebuchadnezzar, and Manasseh all attest to this in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, Peter, who gained God’s favor through his tears, was healed from his denial; and the sinner, who attracted the loving God to receive forgiveness through tears. The depth and expansiveness of God's generosity are beyond articulation. If Manasseh found salvation through repentance, who among those genuinely penitent would not be saved? Why do you proclaim, "I have sinned in fornication, adultery, and murder; I am entrenched in iniquity, and therefore cannot be saved?" Why utter such statements? If God accepted Manasseh in his repentance, I confidently assert that He will receive even the devil if he turns back with true contrition. Has any one person sinned as grievously as Manasseh? For fifty-two years, the Israelites served and worshipped idols, leading thousands to destruction. For such transgressions, King Manasseh was destined for judgment. Yet this multitude of sins could not eclipse the mercy of the Lord. Ancient records tell us that Manasseh, the king who worshipped idols, was captured by the Chaldeans and taken to Babylon, where he was imprisoned by the Persian king in a bronze bull. In that desperate state, Manasseh prayed with tears, and by God's mercy, the brazen bull broke apart, allowing him to escape, with the angel of the Lord guiding him back to Jerusalem, where he ultimately repented and confessed his sins before God.

Observe how immeasurable is God's goodness and mercy toward those who humble themselves and seek His grace. Truly gratuitous! For what could Manasseh offer to justify the eternal condemnation of those countless souls led astray into perdition? Nothing at all. Yet he turned to God, relied on His grace, and for this, he found mercy. If you desire, I can share further accounts from history to inspire our repentance. Clement of Alexandria recounts a story about John the Theologian: while preaching in Asia, John encountered a young man of notable beauty and character. He became fond of him and guided him in true faith. When the young man accepted the faith, John entrusted him to the bishop of that city, proclaiming, “I commend this man to you, O bishop, having testified of him before God and the whole Church.” Afterward, John moved on to other places to spread the gospel. The bishop took the young man under his care, instructing and nurturing him in the faith, leading to his baptism as a Christian.

However, once free from supervision, the young man fell prey to destructive influences, leading him into a life of immorality and violence, eventually becoming the leader of a band of robbers. For years he embraced this life until John returned to Ephesus. He told the bishop, “Bring me what I entrusted you with.” The bishop, taken aback, believed he sought some material possession. John clarified, “Bring me the young man I entrusted to you.” The bishop was heartbroken as he replied, “He is lost.” When John asked how, the bishop mournfully explained that the young man was dead in spirit, having turned into a notorious criminal. To this, John replied, “Well have I done in entrusting a soul to your care.”

Then he requested a horse and a guide, determined to find the lost sheep. Without hesitation, John rode off to seek the young man. Upon reaching the robbers' hideout, he was barred entry, yet he boldly called out to the leader, demanding an audience. The leader, armed, fled in shame upon seeing John approach. Ignoring his own age, John pursued him, crying, “Child! Why are you fleeing from your father? Why do you wound me? Have mercy on me, an old, frail wanderer. Don’t fear; there is hope for your salvation. I will stand in for you; I am willing to give my life for yours, just as the Lord has done for us. Do not be afraid; halt and trust that Christ has sent me to offer you forgiveness. I will bear your burdens.” The young man stopped, dropped his weapon, and, trembling and weeping, ran to John, unable to voice a defense, only displaying his bloodied hand.

John embraced the young man and did not relent until he brought him back to the Church, exemplifying authentic repentance and exhibiting a sign of visible resurrection. This is verified by the robber who was crucified alongside Christ and saved through faith, as well as many others who turned back through repentance. In our own time, under the reign of Emperor Mauritius, a fearsome bandit terrorized Thrace, making travel perilous. When Emperor Mauritius learned of him, he sent a cross with a youth, saying, “Do not fear.” Moved by the emperor’s message and divinely inspired, the bandit abandoned his life of crime and, like a lamb, came forward to repent at the emperor’s feet. Shortly after, he fell gravely ill and was admitted to a hospital named after St. Sampson. There, after having some wine, he entered a deep sleep but later awakened, troubled by his condition, and cried out to God, begging for forgiveness.

“Lord God of all! I ask for no remarkable demand; let Your mercy cover me as it did for the robber before me. Accept my lament on my deathbed, and forgive me. As those who came at the eleventh hour are given grace, so let my tears count as baptism. Let my soul’s plea before death be sufficient. I am not worthy of demand; my sins have overwhelmed me. Yet as You accepted the bitter remorse of Peter, do accept me, O Lover of mankind. I shed these tears for my transgressions; may Your mercy wipe away my guilt." The robber fervently confessed for hours, and as he finished, he succumbed to death, according to those nearby.

In slumber, the attending physician dreamt of a multitude of spirits bearing records of the robber’s sins. Two radiant angels appeared, bearing scales, and as the spirits deposited the robber's sins onto one side, it weighed heavily. One angel remarked, “Shall we find anything good?” and the other responded, “What can we expect? He barely ceased his misdeeds.” They searched in vain for any merit. Discovering only the handkerchief the robber had used to dry his tears, one angel proposed, “Let us place this with the mercy of God upon the scales.”

Once they did, the handkerchief weighed down the scale, scattering the records of sins. The angels exclaimed in unison, “The love of the Lord for mankind prevails” and took the robber’s soul to Heaven. The spirits departed in disgrace. The physician awoke, clad himself, and hurried to the place where the robber lay. Finding the body still warm yet the soul gone, he noticed the handkerchief upon the robber’s eyes. After learning of the robber’s repentance, he took the handkerchief to Emperor Mauritius, recounting his dream and what he had witnessed. “Let us give thanks to God, most pious sovereign! We have witnessed a robber saved by his confession at the foot of the heavenly King; now we see one redeemed through confession under your reign.”

Having heard this, let us accept this testimony as true. Yet, it is wise to prepare ourselves for death through sincere repentance beforehand. Consider how many are taken from this life suddenly, unable to express a thought, shed a tear, or fulfill a wish. Who can guarantee that when your hour comes, you will possess tears to offer to God as this robber did? Therefore, let us not postpone the confession of our sins to God until the moment of death; instead, let us "make His face our confession" (Psalm 94:2).

I pen this not to lull your souls into complacency, but to urge you toward repentance. My intention is not to foster carelessness but to cultivate diligence, that through unwavering labor in fasting, we may earn the remission of our sins and the kingdom of heaven through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

A more fitting depiction of the psalmist’s condition is that David faced long-standing persecution from Saul and his followers (v. 9), enduring significant anguish due to his adversaries (v. 9). With no immediate hope for triumph over them, he begins to grapple with the notion that God may be displeased with him, feeling abandoned and thinking that his suffering stems not from divine love but from animosity. This realization intensifies the psalmist's pain, causing both his heart and body to suffer dramatically. Afflicted in both mind and spirit (vv. 3-4), he beseeches God not to cast him away nor punish him with wrath, but instead to show compassion to the afflicted one (vv. 3-4). The psalmist emphasizes that should he perish, he would no longer be able to offer fervent praise to God; in sheol (the realm of the dead), there is no memory of the Almighty and thus no opportunity for worship (Ps. 87:13, 113:17; Is. 38:18). He continues to express his tribulations (vv. 7-8), burdened by a feeling of abandonment from God and weeping throughout the night; his eyes grow dim from sorrow (as translated from the Hebrew term for withering), and he appears aged due to the relentless oppression from his foes. Yet he addresses these wicked individuals (v. 9) with inner reassurance in his supplication, fully expecting the Lord to listen. He proclaims that the wicked will retreat in disgrace because God has heard his cries; he perceives the future as already realized through faith: may it be so! (v. 11).