“O Lord, my God, in thee have I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me. Lest at any time he seize upon my soul like a lion, while there is no one to redeem me, nor to save. O Lord, my God, if I have done this thing, if there be iniquity in my hands: if I have rendered to them that repaid me evils, let me deservedly fall empty before my enemies. Let the enemy pursue my soul, and take it, and tread down my life, on the earth, and bring down my glory to the dust.”
This Psalm is not one for being lifted from the depths of sin: “Save me, O God: for the waters are come in even unto my soul” (Psalm 68:2), but assumes a state of grace and a place of love, for in God you have placed your trust. The perspective then turns to the villains of your love story, specifically the devil and his wiles, and asks to be protected, for the craftiness of fallen angels far surpasses the human intellect. Therefore, do not try to fight your ancient enemy on your own terms, but turn to the Beloved who is greater than all angels: “Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they” (Hebrews 1:4); “Therefore because the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner hath been partaker of the same: that, through death, he might destroy him who had the empire of death, that is to say, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14). Now, “your adversary the devil, as a roarting lion, goesth about seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8), but “God shall break in pieces their teeth in their mouth: the Lord shall break the grinders of the lions” (Psalm 57:7). Teeth are representative of words in Sacred Scripture, for both are contained in the mouth, and the enemy works primarily through thoughts and beliefs that draw you away from God: “And the serpent said to the woman: ‘No, you shall not die the death. For God doth know that in what day soever you shall eat thereof, your eyes shall be opened: and you shall be as Gods, knowing good and evil’” (Genesis 3:4-5). Therefore, God cracking the teeth is Him giving you the grace to realize the falsity of the devil’s lies, and instead cling to truth: “In all things taking the shield of faith, wherewith you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one” (Ephesians 6:16). The ancient serpent is greatly repelled by community that fights together: “And if a man prevail against one, two shall withstand him: a threefold cord is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12), so you can pray that in moments when you are alone, you may not be overwhelmed by the devil’s tactics, but may cling to the God that never leaves you: “Behold the hour cometh, and it is now come, that you shall be scattered every man to his own, and shall leave me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me” (John 16:32). Or, this can mean that all are powerless to fight against fallen angels, and God alone can redeem and save, and therefore you trust in His infinite merciful love to do so: “He brought me forth into a large place: he saved me, because he was well pleased with me” (Psalm 17:20). What follows is a protestation of innocence that assumes a following of the gospel commandment of love: “But I say to you, love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you” (Matthew 5:44), not only not repaying evil for good, but not even evil for evil, instead always seeking to love, even looking to overwhelm evil with love: “They surrounded me like bees, and they burned like fire among thorns: and in the name of the Lord I was revenged on them” (Psalm 117:12) with love and compassion. Without this love, the Psalmist then asks to fall empty and be brought low, because in standing high and haughty without love, a lesson of humility becomes necessary: “Every mountain and hill shall be made low” (Isaias 40:4). The truly wonderful way is one of weakness but being constantly upheld, to be a child in the arms of Abba, relying solely on the love of God: “Who is this that cometh up from the desert, flowing with delights, leaning upon her beloved? “(Song 8:5). The self-imprecation that follows is a look at the one who leaves the loving protection of the Most Holy Trinity by way of acts contrary to love, because straying away from the love of God is akin to a child leaving their parents’ house to live on the street: “Return, O ye revolting children, saith the Lord: for I am your husband” (Jeremias 3:14). A life lived without the love of God, which is manifested by sin: “By their fruits you shall know them” (Matthew 7:20) is one with no defense against the enemy, open to all types of invasion: “The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and the gates thereof are burnt with fire,” which is a cause for great pity: “And when I heard these words, I sat down, and wept, and mourned for many days” (2 Esdras 1:3-4). The Father, not desiring to see anyone like this, hears your prayer when you pray this, and will come to your aid: “Now will I rise up, saith the Lord: now will I be exalted, now will I lift up myself” (Isaias 33:10). Because you trust in His mighty love, He will act with a mighty love, not letting you fall before your enemy, but keeping you in His arms.