THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
Bless the Lord, O my soul. Let all of our souls, united in Christ, proclaim this. O Lord my God, You are greatly exalted! Psalm 102:1. Where are You magnified? You have put on confession and beauty. Confess so that you may be adorned by Him and clothed. Clothed in light as though it were a garment Psalm 103:2. Clothed in His church, which has become light in Him, once darkness in itself, as the Apostle states, "You were once darkness, but now are light in the Lord." Ephesians 5:8 You stretch the heavens like a canopy, or as easily as one would spread a skin, since this spreading is done with such authority in Holy Scripture, which covers the entire world. The skin symbolizes mortality, and the authority of Divine Scriptures has been granted to us through mortal men, whose glory extends beyond death itself.
He covers the upper parts of the earth with water Psalm 102:3. What are these upper parts? The heavens. What is heaven? Here we refer figuratively to the Divine Scriptures. What constitutes the upper parts of the Divine Scriptures? The commandment of love, which is the greatest commandment. Mark 12:31 Why is love likened to water? Because the love of God is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is given to us. Romans 5:5 From where does the Spirit originate—water? Jesus declared, "Whoever believes in Me, out of his innermost being will flow rivers of living water." John 7:37-38 How do we ascertain that this refers to the Spirit? The Evangelist himself clarifies, saying, "But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive." Who rises above the wings of the winds, meaning above the virtues of the soul? What is the virtue of the soul? The love of self. How will He conquer it? Because God's love for us surpasses our love for God.
Who makes spirits His angels, and a flaming fire His ministers Psalm 102:4? He transforms those who are already spiritual, who are not of the flesh, into His angels, sending them forth to proclaim His Gospel. The fiery presence serves Him; if the minister preaching is not filled with fervor, he does not ignite those to whom he speaks.
He founded the earth upon its stability Psalm 103:5. He established the Church on the strength of Christ. What is the strength of the Church but its foundation? And what is the Church's foundation? The Apostle tells us: "No one can lay any other foundation than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus." 1 Corinthians 3:11 What, then, can it withstand on such a foundation? It shall not be moved forever. He has laid the earth upon its integrity, meaning He has built the Church upon the foundation that is Christ. The Church will tremble if the foundation trembles; but when will Christ be shaken? Before whom all things were created, through whom all things exist; John 1:3 who sustains everything by His majesty, Hebrews 1:3, and us by His goodness? Because Christ remains unyielding, she shall not be moved forever. Where are those who declare the Church has vanished, when she cannot even be outlawed?
The abyss, as a garment, is her covering Psalm 102:6. Whose? Could it be God's? But He has already been described as "Clothed with light as a garment." I hear that God wears light, and that light belongs to us, should we desire it. What if we wish for it? If we cease to be darkness. Now, if God is clothed in light, whose garment is the abyss? The term abyss refers to the vast waters. All water, all moist nature and substance, flowing throughout the seas, rivers, and hidden caverns, is collectively called the Abyss. Thus we understand the earth of which He said, "He founded the earth." Hence, He stated, "The abyss, like a garment, is its covering." For water surrounds and envelops the earth as its garment.
The waters stand above the mountains, meaning the earth's covering, which is the abyss, has risen so high that the waters even surpass the mountains. We read of this in the account of the flood. The prophet, intending to foretell the future, expressed this to demonstrate that the Church must endure the flood of persecutions. There was a time when torrents of persecutors engulfed God's earth, overshadowing even those great mountains. How did those mountains not remain visible amidst the scattering? Perhaps these waters cry out, "Save me, O God, for the waters have risen even to my soul." Especially those tumultuous waters that make the sea rough and desolate. For any land covered by seawater becomes barren; it suffers the burden both of submerged mountains and of flooding waters. Why did the apostles flee? Because the waters towered over the mountains. The force of the waters was considerable, but for how long? Listen to what follows.
At Your rebuke, they shall flee. Psalm 102:7. And it came to pass, brethren; by God’s rebuke, the waters receded; they no longer advanced upon the mountains. Now the mountains themselves, Peter and Paul: how they have been lifted up! Those who were once oppressed by persecutors are now honored like emperors. The waters fled from God's rebuke; for the heart of kings is in God's hands, He directs it as He wills; Proverbs 21:1 He commands peace to the Christians; the apostles' authority has grown and flourished. The waters fled from God's rebuke. At the sound of Your thunder, they shall tremble. Who will not fear the voice of God echoed through the apostles, resounding through the Scriptures, through His clouds? The sea calmed down, the waters quaked, the mountains were laid bare, and the emperor gave the command. But who would have issued the command had God not thundered? Because His will prevailed, they decreed, and it was fulfilled. Thus, let no man claim anything for himself.
The mountains ascend, and the valleys descend to the place which You have established for them. Psalm 102:8 Here, He continues referring to the waters. We should not interpret mountains merely as terrestrial elevations, nor valleys as lowlands; rather, they represent waves that tower like mountains. The sea once erupted, its waves rivaling mountains, capable of submerging the apostles. Yet how long do the mountains rise and the valleys collapse? They raged and have now settled. In their fury, they resembled mountains; now, calmed, they have become plain, for He has assigned them a designated area—a channel where these turbulent hearts of men retreat. They were once formidable like mountains but now lie flat. Even still, calm is part of the sea. Why are they not ferocious now? Why do they not rage? Why do they not attempt to cover our land? Why do they refrain?
Pay attention. You have set a boundary that they shall not surpass, nor shall they return to cover the earth. Psalm 103:9. What then, seeing that even the fiercest waves have been given a measure, allows us to speak freely? They have an appointed limit and cannot breach it, nor return to engulf the earth. What is happening in the earth itself? What activity is occurring now that the sea has left it bare? Although the gentle waves whisper upon its shores, despite the Gentiles murmuring around, I hear the sounds of the shores while I do not fear the deluge. But what takes place on this earth? Who sends forth springs in the valleys Psalm 102:10? You send springs to the low places of the land. You are familiar with the valleys, those lower regions. The hills and mountains rise high, and valleys and hollows dip low. Do not disparage these low places; springs flow from them. You send springs to the small valleys. Hear the mountain. The Apostle declares, "I labored more than all," suggesting a certain greatness. Yet he humbly referred to himself as a valley, for the waters might flow. "But not I," he proclaimed, "but the grace of God with me." 1 Corinthians 15:10
There is no contradiction; mountains can also serve as valleys: regarded as mountains for their spiritual stature, and as valleys for their humility. "Not I," he states, "but the grace of God with me." What does it mean, "In the midst of the mountains, the waters shall pass through"? We have heard who these mountains represent—great proclaimers of the Word, exalted angels of God, albeit still in mortal flesh; rising not by their own strength, but through His grace. In their humility, they pour forth springs. In the midst means among the mountains, waters will flow. This indicates that "In the midst of the apostles shall flow the preaching of the Word of Truth." What exists in the midst among the apostles? That which is common belongs to all equally; it is available for everyone, without personal claim from you or me. If it were not communal, one would privately possess it; it would belong only to one and not to another.
Let, therefore, what we have conveyed serve this purpose in the spirit of communion: let your springs flow from you, be humble valleys, and share all you possess of God. Let the waters flow among us; harbor no envy, partake freely, and let the blessings of God circulate throughout, not the private gossip of men. Thus, all the beasts of the forest shall drink Psalm 103:11. We observe in the visible creation how the beasts of the forest drink from the life-giving springs flowing between the mountains. God delights to conceal His wisdom in such images, keeping them from the indifferent, yet revealing them to the diligent. He has desired that in observing the corporeal and visible creation, we look for something spiritually profound, which, when discovered, may bring us joy. The beasts of the forest symbolize the Gentiles, which the Scriptures affirm in numerous instances.
These creatures partake of these waters, but fleetingly; passing but not remaining, as the teachings disseminated during this time are transient. Should you expect in that city, to which it is declared, "Praise the Lord, Jerusalem, praise your God, Zion," and where it is said He has fortified the gates, that there we will find a book or discourse to be explained as here? This is why we treat these matters now; so that, once settled there, we are able to contemplate them in their entirety. There, there will be no end of the Word of God, no lack of letters, sounds, books, readers, or interpreters. How then? As, "In the beginning was the Word," etc. John 1:1 For He did not come among us to depart from there; He was in the world, and the world was created through Him. Such is the Word upon which we should meditate. The God of gods will reveal Himself in Zion. But when will this occur? After our earthly journey concludes, unless, however, we are brought before the Judge to be consigned to prison. Yet if, having completed our quest, as we aspire and labor, we reach our destination, there we shall behold what we will eternally praise; those who have and us who join in the joy shall never find fulfillment, nor shall he who partakes be sated with what he consumes. Great and marvelous will be this divine contemplation.
The onagras will be quenched with their thirst. This denotes mighty creatures, the wild asses as they are known. Hence, it refers to great unrestrained individuals. The Gentiles, unyoked by the Law, lived according to their own customs, priding themselves as in the wilderness. All beasts act similarly, yet wild asses denote a larger species. They will quench their thirst, for the waters flow for them. The hare drinks here, the wild ass there: one is small and timid, the other large and fierce; both drink, yet each according to their thirst. This flow is gentle enough to quench the wild donkey without disturbing the timid hare. Therefore, when we hear the voices of famous orators reading great texts, some may listen attentively, while the weaker ones and uneducated tremble at the depth. The sound of water flows so quietly, perhaps muddy, but it flows with such compulsion that even a timid creature might be hesitant to drink. "Is this too demanding for me?" Thus, the psalm reverberates, holding hidden mysteries, yet presenting in a way that even children listen with delight, and the unlearned are filled, bursting forth in song.