Psalm 70 (69):3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It is reported of current times in the Church, "The sinner shall see and be angry." And what action does he take? Does he ensnare, bind, or strike? No, he does not act in such a manner. Instead, he gnashes his teeth and withers away. The Martyr may appear to be angered by these individuals, yet simultaneously, he intercedes for them. Just as he desired the good for those about whom he spoke, "Let those who seek my soul be ashamed and afraid," he now calls out, "Let those who harbor ill thoughts against me turn back and feel shame." Why this desire? So they may not advance but rather follow behind. The critic of the Christian faith, seeking to live according to his own standards, attempts to position himself ahead of Christ, as if he truly wandered off course and found himself feeble and weak, either willing to suffer or on the cusp of suffering at the hands of the Jews. However, he fancies himself astute for evading such fate, resorting to cowardice by lying to avert death, sacrificing his soul to preserve his body, considering himself a person of remarkable wisdom and foresight. He outpaces Christ in certain critiques, yet he should believe in Christ and follow Him. For what was intended for those who persecute and harbor wicked thoughts is comparable to what the Lord said to Peter. In a specific moment, Peter wished to place himself before the Lord. Just moments earlier, he was praised: "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven." But then, the Lord said, "Get behind me, Satan" (Matthew 16:23). What does "Come back for me" signify? Align yourself with me. You may be tempted to lead and advise me, but it’s far better to heed my guidance: turn back and follow me. He silences the one who seeks to lead, urging him to walk in submission; thus, he refers to him as Satan because he desires the forefront instead of submission to the Lord. Moments ago, he was blessed; now he is called Satan. Why the shift from being blessed? Because, He says, "It was not flesh and blood that revealed these things to you, but my Father in heaven." And why is he now called Satan? Because "you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns." Therefore, as we prepare to appropriately honor the Nativity of the Martyrs, let us aspire to emulate their example; we must not presume to step ahead of the Martyrs, thinking ourselves wiser than they, for they embraced suffering for the sake of truth and faith, which we often shy away from. Consequently, those who harbor ill will and indulge their sinful hearts should retreat and be filled with shame. Let them heed the Apostle’s words: "But what fruit did you have at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed?"

From this, we can deduce that although these phrases are expressed in an imperative form, they lack a constructive intent. As Cyril points out, it is beneficial for a sinner to turn back through repentance and to strive to feel remorse as a means of returning to the goodness they have forsaken.

During the times of Blessed Theodoret and Blessed Basil the Great, these phrases were not universally present in all copies and may have been linked to the superscription derived from verse 2, intended for those among the faithful who found themselves compelled solely to prayer.

Commencing any beneficial endeavor necessitates divine support, without which one cannot begin or achieve anything worthwhile. "O God, cry out for my help, O Lord, help me" was a plea often articulated by the monks, who worked tirelessly. They also affirmed, "My hope is my Father, my refuge is my Son, my protection is the Holy Spirit," known as the prayer of Ioannikia and recited in the early centuries of Christianity. The Angel of the Lord instructed Monk Pachomius to offer 12 prayers each day and another 12 throughout the night. Yet, Monk Pachomius himself engaged in 60 prayers during the day and the same amount by night. His prayer regimen included: "By the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us," along with the Trisagion, "Our Father…," Psalm 50, "Have mercy on me, O God…," the declaration of faith, and 100 Jesus prayers concluding with, "Worthy is…," followed by the dismissal: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us." Consequently, the leader of the brethren recited 12,000 Jesus prayers. The Jesus Prayer became an institution within monasteries, to be perpetually repeated, urging practitioners to avoid distractions of worldly vanity and to maintain a posture of incessant prayer as noted in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. It is fitting for us, filled with reverence and humility, to approach God with tears and sincere longing, addressing Him with a gentle and humble tone, as advised by Abba Pamvo.