THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
Bless the Lord, O my soul. Let our collective souls, unified in Christ, declare this truth. O Lord my God, You are tremendously exalted! Where can we see Your greatness? You have dressed Yourself in confession and splendor. Speak in confession so that you may be adorned; let Him wrap you in His grace. Clothed in radiance as if in a robe. Clothed in His church, which, transformed by Him, radiates light where once was darkness; as the apostle declares, "You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord." You stretch the heavens like a tent, spreading the authority of Holy Scripture across the earth, signified by "skin," for mortality is represented there, and all the authority of the Divine Scriptures has been granted to us through mortal men, whose renown lives on even after death.
Who covers the upper parts of the earth with water? What are these upper parts? They represent the heavens. Heaven, in its essence, signifies the Divine Scriptures. What are the heights of the Divine Scriptures? It is the commandment of love, above which there is none. But why is love likened to water? Because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us. Where does the Spirit originate, if not from the waters? For Jesus proclaimed, "Whoever believes in Me, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." How do we know this was said about the Spirit? The evangelist clarifies, "But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, which those believing in Him would receive." He ascends above the wings of the winds, signifying superiority over the virtues of the soul. What is the virtue of the soul? Self-love. But how will He conquer it? Because God's love for us transcends our love for Him.
He makes spirits His angels, and His ministers, flames of fire: indicating those who are already spiritual and not of the flesh, He designates them as His angels, sending them forth to proclaim His Gospel. The blazing fire serves Him. If the preacher does not burn with zeal, he cannot ignite passion in those who hear him.
He founded the earth upon its strength; He established the Church upon the unwavering foundation. What is the firmness of the Church but its foundation? What is this foundation? It is described by the Apostle: "No man can lay any other foundation than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus." Therefore, what can be expected from such a foundation? It shall stand firm forever. He established the earth upon its strength; that is, He established the Church upon the rock of Christ. The Church will tremble if the foundation trembles, but when will Christ, through whom all things were created, be shaken? John states that "all things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made," and the author of Hebrews affirms that He sustains all things. Since Christ remains steadfast, the Church will not falter eternally. Where are those who proclaim that the Church has vanished from the earth, when it is still unable to be destroyed by worshippers?
The abyss is like a garment for her. Whose garment? Could it belong to God? Yet, He has already declared of His own garment, "Clothed in light as in a robe." If God is dressed in light, whose garment could the abyss be? The abyss, characterized by the great mass of waters, represents the entirety of moist nature and substance flowing through seas, rivers, and hidden caverns, known collectively as the Abyss. Thus, we comprehend the earth, which He has said: "He founded the earth." I interpret it as meaning, "The abyss, like a garment, is its covering." The waters symbolize a garment of the earth, encircling and covering it.
The waters will rise above the mountains; that is, the earth's garment, the abyss, has surged to such an extent that the waters stand even over the mountains. We recall that this happened during the time of the flood. The prophet, aiming to foresee the future and not recount the past, declared this to indicate that the Church must endure the flood of persecution. There was a time when torrents of persecutors inundated God's earth, burying the Church beneath them, obscuring even the mightiest among us. When they filled every corner, how could they not be visible? Perhaps these very waters cry out, "Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my very soul," especially those waves which make the sea rough and desolate. Wherever the sea's saltwaters touch, they may drain the land of fertility, rendering it barren. Indeed, there were mountains submerged beneath the waters, for water towered even above them.
Why did the apostles retreat? The waters loomed high, demonstrating great power, but for how long? Hear what follows: "At Your rebuke, they shall flee." And it has come to pass, siblings; by God's reprimand, the waters withdrew, having retreated from the mountains. Now the mountains themselves—Peter and Paul—have been elevated! Those once downtrodden by persecution are now honored like emperors. For the waters receded from the reprimand of God; for the heart of kings is in His hand; He directs it as He wills. He commanded peace for Christians; the authority of the apostles has flourished and risen. The waters fled at God's command. At the sound of Your thunder, they tremble. Who would not be in awe of God's voice spoken through the apostles, His voice heard through the Scriptures, through the manifestations of His glory? The sea became still, the waters shied away, and the mountains stood revealed; the emperor delivered the decree. But who could have enacted the decree if not for God’s thunder? For it was by His will that they commanded, and it came to pass. Therefore, let no one claim anything as his own.
The mountains rise, and the plains sink to the place You have established for them. Here, mountains do not just symbolize earth; the plains are not just terrestrial sites but represent turbulent waves resembling mountains. The sea roared; its waves soared like mountains, threatening to submerge the apostolic mountains. Yet how long do the mountains rise, and how quickly do the plains descend? They were in chaos and are now at peace. While they once raged, they have calmed down; as He has made a place for them, there exists a certain channel, a deep place where the tumultuous hearts of mortals have retreated.
Once they were mountains, now they are plains; but, dear ones, even the calm sea remains a sea. Why do they not rage now? Why do they not harbor anger? Why do they not attempt, if not to overthrow our land, at least to cover it? Why are they silent?
Hear this: You have ordained a boundary they shall not cross, nor return to cover the earth. What does this mean? Now that the most bitter waves have been limited, we are permitted to proclaim such truths with liberty; for they have their boundary that they cannot surpass, nor will they return to engulf the earth. What occurs upon the earth now that the sea has left it bare? What work is being done when the tides retreat? You send forth springs in the valleys. You establish, it is said, springs in the low places. Recognize the valleys—those lowly terrains amid the highest points. For it is often in lowly conditions that springs arise. Springs flow for the valleys. Consider the mountains. The apostle, referring to his diligence, proclaimed, “I labored more than all,” but he acknowledged a truth: "But not I, but the grace of God with me."
There is no contradiction between mountains and valleys; for they are mountains due to their spiritual elevation and valleys owing to the humility of their spirits. “Not I,” he declares, “but the grace of God with me.”
What does it imply that “the waters shall pass in the midst of the mountains”? We already understand who these mountains are—great proclaimers of the word, exalted angels of God in mortal flesh; elevated, not by their own strength, but by His grace; and in their humility, they release springs of teaching. Between the mountains flows the living water of truth. This imagery evokes the idea that the Holy Spirit is present among the apostles as they spread the Gospel.
With this in mind, let us reflect on the blessed waters, that they may flow through you, beloved, as valleys, sharing with all that is God’s. Let the water of divine grace be glorified everywhere, not the petty fabrications of men. Consequently, all the creatures of the forest will drink. We indeed observe this in creation: the wild creatures partake of the streams flowing between the mountains. However, as it pleases God to conceal His wisdom within the images of creation, He does so to keep it from the indifferent and reveal it to those who seek by knocking.
This encourages us to search not just for visible truths but to discover the spiritual meanings hidden in the midst of creation. By creatures of the forest, we signify the Gentiles; numerous scriptures affirm this.
These beings drink from these waters but only fleetingly, not indelibly; for all the instruction spread throughout this time is transient. If your love believes that in that city, it is said “Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion,” when it stands fortified with its gates locked—where no friends exit nor enemies arrive—you must understand that there, your reading will not lack due diligence, nor will there be scarcity of sacred text or interpretation.
How will we engage with the Word in that eternal context? The Word will not be distant from us; as it is said, “In the beginning was the Word.” For He came to us to remain present, for He was in the world, and the world was made through Him. We must meditate on this Word, for the God of gods shall manifest in Zion—when? After our earthly pilgrimage, upon reaching home. Unless, however, after completion of our journey, we are brought before the Judge, who might cast us into darkness.
But if we persevere in the hope, desire, and effort to reach our true home, we will witness that which incites perpetual praise; and he who possesses and we who partake shall never be filled; for neither he who eats shall be satisfied nor he who drinks of what nourishes.
Great and marvelous will be this vision. The onagras shall drink to their heart’s content. He equates onagras to certain great beasts, known as wild asses. The Gentiles, lacking the yoke of the Law, lived according to their own customs, wandering as if in a wilderness. Even so, they are akin to various creatures; yet wild asses symbolize a larger class. They, too, will quench their thirst. The timid hare drinks here; the wild ass, there—each fulfilling their need.
Such resourcefulness flows forth as a stream that quenches the wild ass's thirst while causing no alarm to the hare. Consider the overwhelming sound of eloquence, whether it be Cicero or others, each addressing the understanding of the unlearned. But who has the courage to aspire linguistically? It is a voice resembling water that, though perhaps murky, flows with great force—enough that a timid creature might hesitate to approach.
To whom does the Psalm resonate and proclaim, "Is it too complex for me?" Indeed, while these verses veil profound mysteries, they resonate in such a way that even children find delight and the uneducated come and are filled—as they partake, they break forth in joyous song.
The Psalm then extends its message: “The birds of the heavens will dwell among them.” The birds signify spiritual hearts that rejoice in their liberty. They find nourishment in the heights among the mountains. We recognize that birds reside upon the mountains, as well as the plains, valleys, groves, and gardens, but not all dwell solely on the peaks. Some species are inhabitants of the loftiest regions. These birds symbolize the spiritual souls who breathe the pure air amidst the brilliance of the heavens. They delight in clarity; they find sustenance in the mountains, places of divine elevation.