The Concluding Prayer of the Penitent (Vv. 20–23)

The work of repentance and the sinner’s turning to God is accomplished; the vow is uttered.

There remains to begin to live henceforth by God’s will. But how many times has this already been done, and falls have been repeated. Why? Because he himself is weak, and enemies are strong and cunning. So he hastens to guard himself for the future by help from above. I will no longer offend You; only drive away my enemies. They are strong and treacherous, and know how to deal with me. As soon as I am left alone, they will at once hurl me again into the abyss of sin. Do not abandon me. Thus St Athanasius: «although I am not insensible to sin, but rather constantly care about it; yet I cannot help but see that my enemies are stronger than me. Therefore I entreat You, O Lord, do not depart from me, but rather hasten to my aid».

Such is the final prayer of the penitent. Fear of enemies struggles within him with trust in God. He relies completely on God, but cannot rely on himself. Enemies may shatter his good thoughts and intentions, and weaken and shake the very hope by which alone he is strong. So he cries out: so many and such cunning enemies! Do not abandon me, hear and help me. For in You alone is all my salvation.

Ps. 37:20. My enemies, they live, and are strengthened beyond me, and they multiply—those who hate me without cause;

Ps. 37:21. Those who render me evil for good assail me, because I pursued goodness.

Concerning the outward circumstances of St David, there are here traits justified by history. His «enemies»—the faction of Saul’s house and others discontented—«live», are alive, have not left the scene. There is no sign that they were «stronger» than him, but they could become stronger than him if left to act as they planned. Yet St David could speak thus now too—accommodating himself to the thoughts and feelings of his enemies; in those times, perhaps they truly considered themselves mightier than him. «They multiply»… No wonder: the faction of ill-wishers grew, «hating him without cause»—unjustly, without reason on his part, from envy alone and desire for him all evil. «Those who render evil for good»—they have not yet rendered it, but in intention, surely, all was ready to cover David with every calamity. «Assail me»… St David was exalted by God Himself by His special election, when he was still young. Saul’s house fell because for Saul’s sins he was rejected by God. Those—the enemies—saw in all this mere machinations of ambition and successes of human cunning. «Because I pursued goodness,» I strove earnestly to show goodwill and render all mercy to my enemies, but they twisted this, and, taking my forbearance for weakness, did not fear to speak evil of me and plot against me.

Concerning repentance, enemies contriving and doing such things are the spirits of wickedness in the heavenlies. The sinner foresees how they, always malicious, now still more fierce, and in even greater numbers will rise against him. My enemies, he says, live, have been strengthened, have multiplied. And indeed, now they become yet more evil than before, gather all their hosts around the penitent, lie in wait on all his paths to snare him, lay for him every net both without and within, in thoughts, feelings, encounters, in the affairs of life and outward relations. While the penitent has not yet been strengthened in good, temptations work more powerfully. The enemies know this and intensify their attacks. Their hatred knows no measure. They all, like lions, roar against him who has rejected them. They do not act merely directly, but chiefly through people obedient to them. Against all who surround the penitent, they whisper evil thoughts about him—as if he is a hypocrite, has other designs, not the salvation of his soul, and so on. And it happens that through this they succeed in inflicting troubles, which, through negligence, can cause no small harm, if not completely ruin. Here too they arrange

the rendering of evil for good. The penitent begins, as he is able, to do all good to his neighbor. Enemies contrive to turn this good into evil for the doer. To those to whom it is done they suggest twisted ideas about him; and at every opportunity they themselves incite to cause troubles to their benefactors. This can act very destructively upon one beginning this. What, then, awaits the penitent in these early stages! How is he to stand?!

Therefore, having foreseen all such enemy machinations, the holy Prophet both himself prays and exhorts all to pray:

Ps. 37:22. Do not abandon me, O Lord my God, do not depart from me:

Ps. 37:23. Hear me for my help, O Lord of my salvation.

«Do not abandon me». My own have abandoned me, I myself am weak, and here are enemies. To whom shall I flee? Only Your, O Lord, protection will save. Do not cast me to the will of enemies and their wicked schemes. «Do not depart»—remain with me in favor, in help, in protection from enemies. «Hear me for my help,»—look attentively when any help is needed for me! Do not miss a moment; for I am so weak that I can fall in an instant. «Lord of my salvation»! You are my only Saviour, giver, source and cause of my salvation. Whenever the malicious enemies draw near and surround me, and are ready again to hurl me weak one into sin, stretch out Your hand and hold fast the falling one, and turn the enemies back and scatter them.

Thus at last the helpless penitent finds peace in the bosom of all-providential divine goodness, as a child takes refuge from strange eyes on the breast of his mother. Thus at last he goes forth to his work in the full armor of God’s help and heavenly protection, drawn forth by faith and appropriated by repentance. The strong one, strengthened by the Lord in battle, now says in his heart: I can do all things through the Lord who strengthens me—and already neither the difficulty of deeds and labors, nor the severity of outward circumstances frighten him or disturb his firm steps, on the chosen and promise-sealed path.