Psalm 7:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He states, "Every night I wash my bed; I soak my couch with tears" and expresses, "I am weary with my groaning" and calls out, "Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity," declaring, "My eye has grown dim with grief" (Psalms 6:6-9). All of these actions—crying, shedding tears, sighing, distancing oneself from the wicked, and holding a deep awareness of God’s judgment—are adequate for being heard by God.

In another instance, the prophet declares, "Hear me, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress" (Psalm 4:2). To gain God’s attention, certain conditions must be met: first, we must be worthy of receiving our requests; second, our prayers should conform to divine principles; third, our prayers ought to be continuous; fourth, we should refrain from asking for material gain; fifth, our requests should be for beneficial things; and sixth, we must do our part in accordance with His will. Many have been heard: Cornelius was acknowledged for his virtuous life (Acts 10:4), the Syrophoenician woman for her persistence in prayer (Mark 7:26), and Solomon for his selfless request (3 Kings 3:11). The tax collector gained God's favor because of his humility (Luke 18:14), while others were acknowledged for different reasons.

Conversely, being unheard is often the result of the opposite conditions even for the righteous. Who was more righteous than Paul? Yet, when he asked for things that were not beneficial, he did not receive a response: "I pleaded with the Lord three times about this, but He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you'" (2 Cor. 12:8, 9). Moses, who was also righteous, found his prayer unanswered when he requested to enter the promised land, and the Lord told him, "Do not speak to Me again about this matter" (Deut. 3:26). Furthermore, our prayers may go unheard if we do not abandon our sins. God pointed out this truth to Jeremiah regarding the Jews: "Do not pray for this people or lift up a cry for them, for I will not hear you" (Jeremiah 7:16, 17). They continued in their wickedness, and yet Jeremiah was asked not to intercede. Additionally, if we pray against our enemies, we risk not only being unheard but also incurring God’s displeasure.

Prayer is akin to medicine, and if we do not understand how to apply this remedy correctly, it will not be effective. The prophet illustrates the approach to prayer by stating, "O Lord my God, if I have done this"—what does he mean by "this"? He suffers, yet he questions whether he has acted rebelliously against his father or committed grave wrongs. He hesitates to call out the lawless man outright, feeling sorrow over his son’s actions. Much like a nobleman who can’t bring himself to name his wife’s infidelity, he states, "If I have done anything." He wonders why he even raises this matter, asserting that it is not virtuous to avoid patricide, a deed even the most feral creatures would shy away from. "If there is injustice in my hands," he says, noting that he is not referring to wrongful acts but affirming that no wrongdoing will be found in him. He does not assert this out of arrogance but rather feels compelled to highlight his good deeds. Yet, the most significant insights lie in what follows next. What is that?

In this light, when Scripture seeks a recompense rather than a mere request, it conveys a sentiment akin to the natural obligations parents have towards their children. Just as a father has an inherent duty to care for his children’s well-being, the same consideration applies to me. A parent’s natural love compels them to ensure their children’s lives are nurtured. The Scriptures affirm that parents must ‘seek the possessions of their children’ (cf. 2 Cor. 12:14) to provide for their sustenance in both life and means.

Furthermore, ‘giving’ or ‘recompense’ often pertains to original actions in Scripture. The Prophet confidently declares, 'I will not repay them that repay me evil,’ indicating a refusal to respond in kind. 'If I do these things... if I repay those who treat me with malice, I will sever my ties with my foes.’ To fall away from one's enemies, as it were, signifies the loss of grace endowed from the abundant presence of Christ. It is said: ‘For thou shalt let my soul be consumed by the enemy, and let him overtake and consume my belly into the ground.’

The soul of a righteous individual, having renounced its association with the flesh, possesses a life that is ‘hidden with Christ in God’ (cf. Col. 3:3), enabling it to declare alongside the Apostle, ‘I live not because of this, but Christ lives in me.’ Additionally, ‘But now I live in the flesh, I live by faith’ (Gal. 2:20). In stark contrast, the soul of the sinner, who indulges in physical pleasures, becomes mired in earthly desires like one trapped in mud. The enemy seeks to defile and ultimately bury this soul, pressing down on the fallen individual, dragging them deeper into the mire of corporeal existence.

‘And my glory shall dwell in the feathers.’ The saints, who reside in heaven and store treasures in eternal vaults, possess glory that rests in the heavens. Conversely, those who live according to the flesh find their glory diminished, as it is said that their honor ‘shall be put into a feather.’ One who boasts in worldly wealth, yearns for fleeting recognition from others, and places their hope in physical gain may enjoy a sense of glory, yet this glory fails to ascend to heaven, remaining anchored in the earthly realm.

If, he claims, I have engaged in such actions as the accusers assert—if I have insulted the king or seized the kingdom through deceit or force; if there is any wickedness in my hands, Lord, if I have committed this injustice by returning evil for good: or for the immense honor that Saul conferred upon me by making me his son-in-law and appointing me as a commander over a thousand men; or for all these blessings, shall I repay you with deceit and pretense, as they allege? Furthermore, if I were to repay those who have wronged me with harm, or if I were to retaliate against my king Saul, or my adversary Semei, who have inflicted numerous evils upon me despite my good deeds, I would deserve to meet the same fate. Let me be estranged from my enemies, Lord, if their accusations bear truth rather than falsehood, and let me be severed from the grip of my enemies, O Lord, stripped of Thy assistance. Allow them to pursue me, to ensnare me as a wild animal is caught in a trap. Let them crush me into the earth, take my life, trample my body underfoot, and finally cause my legacy to fade into obscurity, so that even the remembrance of my name would vanish.