THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
Bless the Lord, my soul. Let us, unified in Christ, proclaim this truth. O Lord my God, You are greatly exalted! Psalm 102:1. Where does Your majesty reside? You have clothed Yourself in splendor and majesty. Confess Him so that you may be adorned, and let Him cover you. Clothed in light as a garment, Psalm 103:2. You are robed in His Church, for it has become light through Him, having once been shrouded in darkness, as the Apostle states: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Ephesians 5:8. You spread the heavens as easily as one spreads a fabric, signifying the mortality encapsulated within the skin. All authority of the Holy Scriptures comes to us through mortal men, whose glory continues to shine even after their death.
Who covers the high places with water? Psalm 102:3. What are these high places? Heaven. What is Heaven? We refer to it metaphorically: the Divine Scriptures. What constitutes the heights of the Divine Scriptures? The commandment of love, which is unmatched. Mark 12:31. Why is love likened to water? Because God's love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit given to us. Romans 5:5. From where does the Spirit Himself flow, like water? Jesus proclaimed: ‘Whoever believes in Me, rivers of living water will flow from his innermost being.’ John 7:37-38. How do we know this was spoken of the Spirit? The Evangelist clarifies, saying, ‘But this He spoke of the Spirit, which those who believed in Him were to receive.’ Who traverses above the wings of the winds? This signifies the virtues of the soul. What is the soul's virtue? Self-love. But how does He conquer it? Because God's love for us surpasses our love for Him.
He makes His angels spirits, and His ministers a blazing fire. Psalm 102:4. Those who are already spirits, who are spiritual rather than carnal, He sends forth as His angels to proclaim His gospel. The blazing fire serves Him, for if the preacher does not burn with zeal, he fails to ignite passion in his audience.
He established the earth on its firm foundation. Psalm 103:5. He set the Church securely upon its foundation. What is the Church's foundation? As the Apostle states: No man can lay any other foundation than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 3:11. What therefore shall stand upon such a foundation? It shall not be moved forever. He founded the Church upon Christ’s solid foundation. The Church may tremble if its foundation shakes; but when will Christ, by whom all things were created, and through whom nothing exists, John 1:3, who sustains all by His majesty, Hebrews 1:3, and us by His goodness, ever be shaken? Because Christ remains steadfast, the Church will endure eternally. Where are those who claim the Church has vanished from the world when it can’t even be worshipped?
The abyss, like a garment, is its covering. Psalm 102:6. Whose covering? Might it belong to God? Yet He has already claimed: ‘Clothed with light as a garment.’ When I hear of God arrayed in light, that light becomes us if we desire it. What occurs if we desire Him? We are no longer in darkness. Now, if God is robed in light, whose garment is the abyss? The vast waters are named the abyss. All water, all moist essence, flowing through the seas, rivers, and hidden caverns is collectively termed the Abyss. Thus we comprehend the earth of which He spoke: ‘He founded the earth.’ He refers to the abyss as its garment, illustrating that water surrounds and envelops the earth.
The waters may reach over the mountains, meaning the earth's covering, the abyss, has risen to such an extent that the waters rise above the mountains. We read of this during the time of the flood. The prophet, intending to predict the future rather than recount the past, proclaimed this to signify that the Church will endure through the flood of persecution. In those days, streams of persecutors covered God’s earth, the Church, to the point that even the mighty mountains appeared submerged. When scattered all about, how did they fail to appear? These very waters might cry out, ‘Save me, O God, for the waters have reached even to my soul.’ Especially those waters that render the sea turbulent and desolate. For any land overtaken by sea will neither be made fruitful nor thrive. Mountains existed beneath the waters, as they were engulfed completely.
Why did the apostles flee? Because the waters flooded the mountains. The strength of those waters was significant, but for how long? Hear what follows. From Thy rebuke, they shall scatter. Psalm 102:7. Indeed, it has happened, dear friends; by God’s rebuke, the waters receded, having ceased their advance upon the mountains. Now, those mountains, Peter and Paul: how they have been elevated! Those who were once oppressed by their persecutors are now honored as sovereigns. The waters departed from God's rebuke; since the heart of kings is in the hand of God, He directs it as He wishes; Proverbs 21:1. He has commanded peace for Christians; thus, the authority of the Apostles has grown mightily. The waters fled from God’s admonition. At the sound of Thy thunder, they shall tremble. Who would not fear God’s voice through the apostles, through the Scriptures, through His storms? The sea calmed; the waters were afraid; the mountains were made bare—who issued the command if not God? It was through God’s will that it was commanded, and it came to pass. So let no one claim such authority for themselves.
The mountains ascend, and the plains descend to the spot You have established for them. Psalm 102:8. He continues to discuss the waters. We ought not to interpret mountains simply as earth or plains as surface lands, but rather as profound waves likened to mountains. The sea surged once, its waves towering like mountains, potentially engulfing the mountains of the Apostles. But how long do the mountains rise and the plains sink? They once roared, yet now they are calmed. In their fury, they were mountains; having become tranquil, they have transformed into plains, for He has designated a space for them. There exists a channel, a deep place where the newly furious hearts of mortals have retreated.
Once mountains, now plains; yet even the calmness is the sea. Why are they gentle now? Why do they not rage? Why do they not strive, if they cannot overthrow our land, at least to cover it? Why not?
Listen. You have set a boundary which they shall not surpass, nor shall they return to cover the earth. Psalm 103:9. Thus, since now the bitter waters have received a limit, we are free to preach such truths openly; because they have their appointed boundaries, and cannot surpass their limits, nor return to blanket the earth, what then transpires upon the earth? What work occurs now that the sea has left it bare? Though gentle waves lapping at the shore murmur, and the Gentiles still stir around it; I hear the noise of the shores, but I do not fear the oncoming flood. What then unfolds on the earth? Who sends springs into the valleys? Psalm 102:10. You send springs, He says, to the low-lying areas. You know what little valleys are—depressions in the land. For hills and mountains are distinguished from valleys in form. Hills and mountains represent the elevated, while valleys signify the low. Do not scorn the lowlands; springs flow from them. You dispatch springs to the small valleys. Listen to the mountain—for the Apostle says, I labored more than any. Some grandeur appears before us; immediately, so the waters may flow, he makes a valley for himself: But not I, but the grace of God with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10. The notion that mountains can also be valleys is not contradictory; as they are called mountains due to spiritual greatness, they are known as valleys due to the humility of their spirit. Not I, he asserts, but the grace of God with me.
What does it signify, ‘In the midst of the mountains, the waters shall pass’? We have heard who the mountains are—the great heralds of the word, exalted angels of God, though still in mortal flesh; exalted not by their own strength, but by His grace; yet, in their humility, they yield forth streams. Between the mountains, he states, shall flow the waters. Suppose it expresses: ‘In the midst of the Apostles shall the preaching of the Word of Truth pass.’ What exists in the midst of the apostles? That which is considered common is in the middle and belongs not to one, but serves all equally. If they are not in the midst of the community, their gifts turn private, flowing only for personal gain, depriving collective benefit, but this should not be the preaching of peace.
Thus, brothers, let what has been conveyed serve this purpose because of the springs: that they may flow from you, being valleys, and commune openly with all that you receive from God. Let the waters flow among us, harboring no envy; drink, be filled, and let the communion of God’s waters be exalted universally—not the private whims of mortals.
Hence, all the beasts of the forest shall drink. Psalm 103:11. We observe this in creation, where forest beasts drink from the springs and streams that flow among the mountains; yet now, as it has pleased God to conceal His wisdom behind the imagery of these things, it is meant not to be hidden from earnest seekers, but to be concealed from the careless and revealed to those who diligently inquire. It is God's desire to encourage you through us, so that in all these instances—which seem merely corporeal and tangible—we may seek something spiritually profound that, once found, brings us joy. By beasts of the forest, we comprehend the Gentiles, and this is testified in numerous Scriptures.
These animals sip briefly from these waters; they neither linger nor abide, for all the teachings articulated over time are transient. Furthermore, do not presume that in that city, to which it is said, Praise the Lord, Jerusalem, praise your God, Zion; for He has fortified the bars of your gates, where no friend will exit, nor enemy will enter; we shall discover writings to read, or speeches as we now interpret. Thus, this is presented, that it may be retained there; consequently, it is dissected for deeper comprehension. No lack of God’s Word shall exist there, nor shall there be scarcity of letters, sounds, books, readers, or interpreters. How then? As begins the Word. For He did not arrive among us to detach from there; for He was in the world, and through Him, the world was created. Such is the Word that we should meditate upon. For the God of gods will appear in Zion. When will this be? After our pilgrimage, once the journey is complete; unless, once our journey is at an end, we stand before the Judge, that the Judge may consign us to confinement. However, if, once our journey is concluded— as we hope and strive—we reach our destination, there we shall behold that which we shall eternally praise; and he who has, and we who enjoy, shall never find satisfaction; nor will he who eats become satiated by what he consumes. This contemplation shall be grand and marvelous.
The onagras will be quenched with thirst. Onagras here refers to large beasts. Who does not know that wild donkeys are termed onagras? Hence, He refers to large, untamed individuals. The Gentiles bore no yoke of the Law; various nations lived by their own customs, pridefully wandering as in a wilderness. Such was the state of all beasts; yet wild donkeys signify a larger species. They shall drink to quench their thirst because the waters also flow for them. The hare drinks here, the wild donkey drinks there: the hare is small, while the donkey is sizeable; the hare is timid, whereas the wild donkey is fierce: each quenches thirst here, though each in their way.