THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
Bless the Lord, my soul. Let each soul, united in Christ, express this proclamation. O Lord my God, You are greatly exalted! Where are You magnified? You have enveloped Yourself in beauty and grace. Acknowledge this so that you may be adorned, that He may cover you. Clad in light as if in a garment. Clothed within His church, which now shines brightly in Him, having once been in darkness, as the apostle states: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. You stretch out the heavens like a curtain, as easily as one could spread out a simple cloth, revealing the glory of the Scriptures over the world; for the skin signifies mortality, and all the authority of Divine Scripture has been conveyed to us through mortal beings whose glory exceeds their mortal end.
He covers the heights with water. What does He cover? The heavenly realms. What is Heaven? Figuratively speaking, we refer to it as Divine Scriptures. What constitutes the heights of the Divine Scriptures? The commandment of love, the highest of 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 resemble water? Jesus proclaimed, “Whoever believes in Me, out of his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.” This is affirmed by the evangelist who continues to say, “But this He spoke of the Spirit, which those believing in Him were to receive.” He goes above the wings of the winds, symbolizing the soul's virtues. What is the virtue of the soul? It is self-love. But how will He overcome this? Because God’s love for us surpasses our love for Him.
He appoints spirits as His angels and makes a fiery flame His ministers; these are spiritual beings who serve Him and convey His gospel. If the preacher does not ignite with passion, how will he inspire those who hear his words? He has established the earth firmly. He founded the Church upon the steadfastness of Christ. What is the firmness of the Church? It is the foundation laid by the Apostle: No one can lay any other foundation than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus. What assurance does this foundation provide? It shall not be moved forever. He has grounded the earth firmly; in other words, He has set the Church upon the foundation of Christ. The Church may tremble if its foundation shakes; yet when would Christ, whose incarnation was the foundation of all creation, who holds all things in His Majesty, be shaken? Since Christ stands firm, the Church will endure eternally. Where are those who claim the Church has vanished from the world when she remains unassailable?
The abyss envelops her like a garment. Whose garment is this? Could it be God’s? But we have already noted His raiment: clothed in light as in a garment. When we hear of God clad in light, we realize that that light pertains to us. What occurs when we desire it? We are no longer in darkness. Thus, if God is wrapped in light, what then is the abyss that is described as a covering? The great mass of waters is named the abyss, encompassing all moist nature and substance, flowing through seas, rivers, and hidden caverns. Therefore, we understand the earth from which He declared, “He founded the earth.” This is further explained by the assertion: “The abyss is its garment”—the waters serve as the earth’s covering.
The waters stood over the mountains; meaning that the abyss, the garment of the earth, increased to such an extent that it overtook even the mountains. We recall this happening at the time of the flood. The prophet, who sought to prophesy the future rather than recount the past, articulated this to convey that the Church would endure through the flood of persecution. There was a time when the flood of persecutors engulfed God’s Church, obscuring even the mightiest among them. Scattered far and wide, they seemed to disappear. Perhaps it is these very waters that lament, “Save me, O God, for the waters have reached my soul,” especially the turbulent waters that render the sea unfruitful. For wherever sea water inundates the land, it renders it barren. Even beneath the water, mountains lay submerged, as above them rose the tide.
Why did the apostles flee? Because the waters surpassed even the mountains. The might of the waters was overwhelming; but for how long? Hear what follows. From Your rebuke they shall scatter. Indeed, it came to pass; by God’s rebuke, the waters receded; they withdrew from the mountains. Now the mountains themselves, Peter and Paul, are exalted! Those who once suffered oppression are now honored like emperors. For the waters fled from God’s rebuke; the heart of kings lies in the hands of God, who directs it as He pleases. He commanded peace for Christians; the authority of the Apostles has flourished and been uplifted.
The waters fled at Your thunder. Who will not tremble at the sound of God through the apostles, the voice of Scripture, through His clouds? The sea calmed, the waters feared, the mountains were laid bare, and the emperor issued decrees. But who would command if God had not spoken? Because according to His will, their commands were executed. Therefore, no man should attribute anything to himself.
The mountains ascend, and the valleys descend to the place You have appointed for them. He continues to speak of the waters. Let us refrain from perceiving mountains merely as earthly; nor valleys merely as terrestrial. The waves of the sea at times swell as mountains which might cover those lofty peaks of the Apostles. But how long do mountains rise and valleys fall? They stormed, then quieted. When they raged, they were mountains; now pacified, they become valleys for He has established a place for them. There exists a channel, deep within where all pent-up sadness retreated.
They were mountains once, now made into valleys: yet, my brethren, even quietness belongs to the sea. Why do they not rage now? Why are they not wrathful? Why do they refrain from attempting to subdue our land, even to obscure it? Why indeed?
Listen; You have set a boundary that they shall not cross or return to cover the earth. What, then, since the fiercest waves have received their measure, should we not preach these truths boldly? Because they have a prescribed limit; they cannot breach the assurance granted neither should they return to overwhelm the earth. What’s happening in the earth itself? What work is emerging now that the sea has withdrawn? The gentle waves caress the shores; though the Gentiles still murmur around, I hear the sounds of the surf but fear not the flood. What is occurring on the ground? Who sends forth springs in the valleys? You send forth springs into low places—those valleys. Understand this, for hills and mountains stand high while valleys represent the low. Do not diminish the lowly; from there springs flow. You send forth springs into the humble valleys.
Witness the mountains; the apostle labored more than any. A sense of greatness rises, but immediately, for the waters to flow, he humbles himself: But not I, the grace of God working with me. There is no contradiction in mountains also being valleys; they are exalted by their spiritual stature and humble by their spirit. Not I, but the grace of God with me.
What is signified that “in the midst of the mountains the waters shall flow through”? The mountains symbolize the great preachers of the Word, esteemed angels of God in the flesh. They are elevated not by their own strength but by grace; yet they possess a humble essence that drives them to pour forth springs of living water. It is expressed that ‘in the midst of the apostles the proclamation of truth flows.’ What exists within the apostles? It is the common heritage shared, a life-giving source that belongs to all equally, and is not limited to just one or another.
If they are not in the midst, they become private property, flowing only for personal gain. But this is not the Gospel of peace. Therefore, beloved, let what has been conveyed serve this purpose because of the springs: may they flow from you as humble valleys, engaging in communion with all that God has gifted you. Let the waters of God flow abundantly in the open space, without envy, be filled, and flow out in fullness. Let the common waters from God be glorified everywhere, rather than the selfish fables of men.
Therefore, all the beasts of the field shall drink. We witness this in creation, where the wild creatures partake of the streams flowing between the mountains. However, since it has pleased God to conceal wisdom beneath the images of nature, not to withdraw it from the diligent seeker but to close it off from the indifferent, and to reveal it to those who earnestly seek, it pleased God Himself to exhort all through us. Thus, in all the material and visible creation, let us seek the spiritually hidden truths that, once discovered, bring joy. The beasts of the field symbolize the Gentiles, which the Scriptures attest in numerous passages.
These creatures quench their thirst fleetingly; they do not remain; they pass through—much like all teaching that has circulated during this time. Unless your love considers that in the city addressing to you, “Praise the Lord, Jerusalem; praise your God, Zion,” for He has strengthened the bars of your gates; now fortified, the city is secure, where no friend departs nor enemy enters, there we shall read from the sacred Word, or the speech that is declared as relevant, as it is presented now. This teaching is presented now so it may stand firm there; now divided in syllables, so it may be contemplated completely. There will be no absence of the Word of God there, nor of letters, sounds, books, or interpreters. How so? As, “In the beginning was the Word,” for He did not come to abandon us; for He was present in the world, and by Him all things were made. Such is the Word we ought to ponder.
For the God of gods shall be seen in Zion. Yet, when? After our pilgrimage, once the journey concludes; unless after our journey we stand before the Judge, who may send us to imprisonment. However, if upon completion of the journey—this we hope, desire, and pursue—we reach our homeland, then we will witness that which we shall eternally praise, and the one who possesses, along with us who partake, shall never be satisfied; nor shall the one who consumes be filled by what they partake. The contemplation shall be sublime and wondrous.
The wild asses shall quench their thirst. The wild asses represent large untamed creatures. Who does not know that wild asses are referred to as onagras? Thus, they symbolize vast untrained individuals. The Gentiles were without the yoke of the Law; many nations lived by their own customs, walking in arrogance, like untamed beasts of the wilderness. And as every beast, so do the wild asses signify a larger group. Each shall be satisfied by their thirst; the waters flow for them. The small hare drinks nearby; the wild ass quenches its thirst from another source: the hare represents the small and timid, whereas the wild ass the bold and fierce; they each partake, yet according to their need.
This stream flows gently, enough that it quenches the wild ass swiftly, and does not intimidate the timid hare. Whether it be the voice of Cicero or another, some reader’s sounds provoke reflection. The less educated may ponder within themselves; who dares aspire to such? It is the sound of flowing water that perhaps appears muddled, yet flows with force enough that a timid creature avoids it. To whom does the Psalm address, asking, “Is it too much for me?” Indeed, the Psalm presents hidden mysteries, resonating so that even children find joy and the unlettered feel drawn to partake and, becoming filled, break into song.