Изъяснение псалма 38-го.

Ps.39:1. To the head of the choir, Idiphum. Psalm of David. “At the end, Idithum, a song to David.” Other writers attributed this psalm to Idithum, and said that it was written by Idithum. But the inscription shows the opposite, namely, that the psalm of David was given for singing to Idithum, as the one in charge of the singing. It sends us to the end, because it mourns the insignificance of human nature and shows its end. And the great David spoke this psalm, being persecuted by Absalom and slandered by Shimei; and this one largely agrees with the previous psalm. Ps.39:2. I said, I will take heed to my ways, lest I sin with my tongue; I will bridle my mouth while the wicked is before me. Ps.38:3. I was dumb and voiceless, and was silent even about good things; and my grief increased. “Reh, I will keep my ways, so that I will not sin with my tongue: I have kept with my mouth, so that the sinner will never arise before me.” “I became dumb and humbled, and kept silent from good things, and my illness was renewed.” The great David, fleeing from the arbitrariness of his son's parricide, met Shimei on the way, threw blocks of earth at him, and slandered him, calling him lawless and a man of blood. But the divine David, according to his usual wisdom, not only did not take revenge himself, but also forbade one of the military leaders who was ready to strike Shimei, saying: “Leave him to curse, for the Lord told him to curse David and who says: Why did you do this? The Lord will look upon my humility, and will return me good, instead of his curse to this day” (2 Samuel 16:10, 12). Thus, the expressions of this psalm largely agree with the said legend. For the Prophet says that he was very careful with his tongue, knowing the great creepiness of this member, and always protected it, as if with some kind of wall, especially when Shimei, who had not been offended by him in any way, opposed David. For he is called a sinner as an unjust one. Immediately “I became numb and humbled, and kept silent from the blessings.” This is very similar to what David said in history: “Leave him cursed,” because the Lord commanded him to slander David, “The Lord will look upon my humility, and will deliver me on this day from the hand of my enemies.” He says the same thing here, namely, that he became like a deaf man who cannot hear anything, and humbled himself, expecting benefit from him. “And my illness is renewed.” Slandered by Shimei, says the Prophet, I brought to mind the sin that I had dared to commit, and it did not cease to hurt me when I reasoned that I was being slandered for him, suffering from filial lust for power; and expelled from the royal house, he was forced to flee. And this has many similarities with history. For what was said: the Lord commanded him to slander David, resembles sin, because punishment was suffered for sin. Ps.38:4. My heart was inflamed within me; a fire was kindled in my thoughts; I began to speak with my tongue. Ps.38:5. Tell me, Lord, my death and the number of my days, what it is, so that I may know what age I am. “My heart will warm within me, and a fire will burn in my teaching.” Symmachus translated this as follows: “my heart warmed within me, and as I thought about this I was kindled with fire,” i.e. Having brought sin to mind, he was enveloped in the fire of sorrow. “Tell me, Lord, my death, and the number of my days, which is, so that I understand that I am deprived.” Therefore, I did not answer anything to the slanderer, but I begged the Lord of all to make the end of my life obvious to me, extremely desiring my own death. Ps.38:6. Behold, You have given me days as inches, and my life as nothing before You. Truly, every living person is complete vanity. “Behold, Thou hast laid down my days, and my composition is as nothing before Thee.” And Symmachus again translated this as follows: “Behold, how You have given my days in inches, and my life is like nothing before You.” I wish for death, knowing that human existence is not durable, because our life in comparison with Your life seems like nothing. You are beginningless and endless; and our life is measured, as it were, in several spans and quarters. The Prophet depicted the short duration of human life. So in another place he says: “Like a thousand years are before Your eyes, O Lord, like yesterday is the day that passes by, and the watch of the night” (Ps. 89:5). And in another place, remembering heaven and earth, he says: “They will perish, but You remain: and all the garments they have worn, and all the garments I have worn, will be changed. You are the same, and Your years will not fail” (Ps. 102:27–28). “Besides, every living person is all vanity.” Therefore, the entire human race, both rich and poor, are likened to a vanishing vapor; in vain and in vain people build, plant, and gather wealth and property. Ps.38:7. Truly, man walks like a ghost; in vain he fusses, collects and does not know who will get it. “For a man walks like this, but is troubled in vain: he has treasures, and I don’t know who will collect them.” Living people are no different from those painted in the picture, because both of them are equally destroyed and disappear over time. But nevertheless, people are restless, competing, fighting, fighting and trading; all life is full of storms, ending with death. With great difficulty and sweat, collecting wealth, they do not know the future heir. Blessed David wrote this, motivated by what he experienced himself. For, having exalted and greatly glorified his kingdom, he did not know about the wicked and lawless intention of his son; and then, seeing that his son became the owner of the royal house and appropriated the wealth collected there for himself, he uttered this astonishing word: “both of them are in vain; Ps.38:8. And now what should I expect, Lord? my hope is in You. “And now who is my patience? Isn't it the Lord? And my composition is from You." Having said goodbye to everything, I expect help from You. Aquila translated the word “composition”: “impatiently waiting,” that is, impatiently looking out for You, waiting for Your favor. Then he shows the reason for the sorrows. Ps.39:9. Deliver me from all my iniquities, do not hand me over to the reproach of a madman. “Deliver me from all my iniquities.” And again Semey comes to mind. “Thou hast given me reproach to the fool.” And this is very consistent with what was said in history: “The Lord told him to curse David.” Yes, and the addition is in accordance with what was said above. Ps.38:10. I have become dumb, I do not open my mouth; because You did it. “I was dumb and did not open my mouth, as You have done.” For by Your permission, says the Prophet, Shimei scolded me, and he became like a scourge, and You punished me with it. That is why I silently accepted the wounds, paying attention not to him, but to You, who was punishing. Very opportunely, the Prophet added the following. Ps.39:11. Turn away Thy blows from me; I disappear from Thy smiting hand. “Leave Thy wounds from Me; I have perished from the strength of Thy hand.” Therefore, I ask and beseech You, Master, to finally stop the punishment, because I am exhausted by many wounds. Ps.38:12. If You punish a person for his crimes with reproofs, then his beauty will crumble like a moth. So, every man is vanity! “In reproof of iniquity you punished man, and you melted away his soul like a spider.” It was not in vain and not without purpose, says the Prophet, that You used punishment, but in order to expose wrongdoing, like a doctor cutting out something rotten and extracting the pus hidden inside. And although You exhaust with painful healing, yet with Your cuts You restore health. “Every person worries in vain.” Therefore, thinking about this with myself, I see that people are completely restless for the sake of temporary things. Ps.38:13. Hear, O Lord, my prayer and listen to my cry; do not be silent to my tears, for I am a stranger with You and a stranger, like all my fathers. Ps.38:14. Depart from me, that I may refresh myself before I go away and be no more. “Hear my prayer, O Lord, and inspire my prayer, do not silence my tears: for I am a stranger with you, and a stranger, like all my fathers.” “Loosen me up, let me rest, I won’t even leave before, and I won’t be with anyone.” I beg you, Master, says the Prophet, hear him who calls and begs with tears; I am not an inhabitant, but a sojourner on earth; like the fathers, having lived a short time, I will accept death. Therefore, give me a little weakness so that I can live for a few days without illness before I depart for the future life, because once I depart I will not return. He expressed this by saying: “I will not do it to anyone,” i.e. I will not return to this perishable life. It is worthy of surprise that the great David, on the royal throne, with wealth and power, calls himself a stranger and a stranger, and does not rely on a happy fate. These sayings are truly filled with wisdom, which knows the nature of existing things and therefore does not care about prosperity in the present. You might be interested in: