THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
Bless the Lord, my soul. Let all our spirits, united in Christ, proclaim this. O Lord my God, You are tremendously exalted! Psalm 102:1. In what manner are You magnified? You have donned confession and beauty. Acknowledge Him in order to be adorned, so that He might cloak you. Clothed in light as in a garment – Psalm 103:2, we find our attire in His Church, which has become radiant in Him, transforming from the darkness it once was, as the apostle reminds us: You were once darkness, but now are light in the Lord. Ephesians 5:8. You stretched the heavens out as a curtain, or as effortlessly as a curtain can be spread, akin to the authority of Holy Scripture, which encompasses the entire world, likened to a curtain; for mortality is symbolized by the skin, and the entirety of Divine authority has been imparted to us through mortal beings, whose glory now surpasses even death.
Who covers the heights with water – Psalm 102:3. The heights of what? The heavenly. What do we mean by Heaven? Symbolically, we refer here to the Divine Scriptures. What are the loftiest aspects of these Scriptures? The commandment of love, the highest of all. Mark 12:31. But why is love compared to water? Because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, which has been given to us. Romans 5:5. From where does this Spirit partake in water? For Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘Whoever believes in Me, rivers of living water shall flow from within him.’ John 7:37-38. How do we know this was concerning the Spirit? The evangelist clarifies, saying, ‘But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive.’ He who ascends above the wings of the winds signifies the virtues of the soul. What does it mean to possess virtue in the soul? It’s the love of self. But how will He conquer it? Because God’s love for us surpasses our love for God.
He makes spirits His angels, and His ministers a blazing fire – Psalm 102:4. This indicates those who are already spirits, spiritual rather than carnal, whom He sends forth as His angels to preach the Gospel. And the blazing fire serves Him; for if the minister lacks fervor, he cannot ignite passion in those to whom he preaches.
He established the earth on its solid foundation – Psalm 103:5. He established the Church on the firmness of its foundation. What is the firmness of the Church but that foundation of which the Apostle states: No one can lay another foundation except that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 3:11. Thus, what does it merit on such a foundation? It shall not be shaken forever. He founded the earth on its solidity, that is, He established the Church on Christ’s foundation. If the foundation were to be unsettled, the Church might falter; but when shall Christ, through whom all things were created before He came to us in flesh, be shaken? John 1:3. He upholds all things by His power, Hebrews 1:3, including us by His kindness. Since Christ does not waver, neither shall she be shaken eternally. Where are those who claim that the Church has vanished from the earth, when it cannot even be extinguished?
The abyss, like a garment, is its covering – Psalm 102:6. Whose covering is it? Could it be of God’s? Yet He has declared, ‘Clothed with light as a garment.’ When I contemplate God cloaked in light, and that light, if we desire it, is us, what follows if we seek it? That we no longer remain in darkness. If God is wrapped in light, then whose covering is the abyss? For the vast seas are referred to as the abyss. All waters, all moist entities, coursing through seas, rivers, and hidden caverns, are collectively known as the Abyss. Thus, we comprehend the earth of which He said: ‘He founded the earth.’ Regarding it, He said: ‘The abyss, like a garment, is its covering.’ The water, figuratively, serves as the garment surrounding and enveloping the earth.
The waters rise over the mountains, signifying the edge of the earth, now illuminated, signifies that the abyss has increased sufficiently for the waters to overflow even the mountains. We read of this in the flood narrative. The prophet, intending to foretell the future rather than recount the past, indicates that the Church must endure the flood of persecution. For there was a time when torrents of persecutors engulfed God’s earth, veiling even the great mountains. When they spread widely, how could they hide? Perhaps it is these very waters that call out, ‘Save me, O God, for the waters have reached my soul.’ Especially, the waters that agitate and render the sea barren; for wherever the sea covers land, it turns it barren rather than fertile. Indeed, mountains were submerged beneath water, as the water filaments even overtopped the mountains. Why did the apostles flee? Because the waters rose above the mountains. The might of the waters was tremendous, yet how long would it endure? Listen to what happens next.
At Your rebuke, they shall flee – Psalm 102:7. And it was accomplished; by God’s decree, the waters receded, thereby returning from their advance upon the mountains. Now the mountains themselves, Peter and Paul, how they are elevated! Those who were once oppressed by persecutors now honored as sovereigns. For the waters fled at God’s rebuke; since the hearts of kings are held in God’s hand, He turns them as He pleases; Proverbs 21:1, granting peace to the Christians; the apostles' authority has grown and risen. The waters fled before the voice of God; at the sound of Your thunder, they shall be terrified. Who will not tremble at God’s voice transmitted through the apostles, through the Scriptures, through His clouds? The sea calmed, the waters trembled, and the mountains were laid bare, while the emperor issued commands. But who could issue commands if God had not thundered? As God commanded, the decree was enacted, and it came to pass. Thus, let no man claim credit for himself.
The mountains ascend, and the valleys descend to the place which You have appointed for them – Psalm 102:8. He continues to speak of the waters. We should not interpret mountains merely as the terrestrial; nor valleys as earthly places, but rather as immense waves comparable to mountains. The sea surged once, with waves towering as mountains that might have eclipsed the apostles’ mountains. But how long do the mountains rise and the valleys sink? They raged, yet now they are calmed. When they raged, they were mountains; but now they have been pacified and transformed into valleys, for He has set a place for them. There exists a certain channel, akin to a profound depth where these tumultuous human hearts have retreated. They were once mountains, now they are valleys; yet, my dear ones, even a tranquil state is still part of the sea. Why are they not fierce now? Why are they no longer wrathful? Why do they not strive, even if they cannot subvert our land, to at least cover it? Why is this so?
Listen, You have set a boundary which they shall not surpass, nor return to cover the earth – Psalm 103:9. Now that the most turbulent waves have received their measure, we find ourselves free to proclaim such truths openly; for they have been allocated a limit, which they cannot transgress, nor return to engulf the earth. So what is happening in the earth itself now that the sea has left it exposed? Despite the gentle waves murmuring along its shores, although the Gentiles still murmur around it; I hear the rustle of the shores, yet I fear not the flood. What transpires within the earth? You send forth springs into the valleys – Psalm 102:10. You send, he states, springs into the valleys. You know what valleys are – those lower places amidst the hills and lands. Mountains and hills represent the high places of the earth, while valleys and low-lying areas denote the humble places of the earth. Do not scorn the lowly terrains; springs flow forth from them. You dispatch springs to the small valleys. Hear the mountain speak. The apostle asserts, I labored more than all. Some degree of greatness appears before us, but immediately he humbles himself to provide a space for the waters to flow from him: Yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10. There is no inconsistency in mountains also being valleys; for they are considered mountains due to their spiritual stature, and valleys for their humble spirits. Not I, he affirms, but the grace of God with me.
What is meant by, ‘In the midst of the mountains, the waters shall flow through’? We have been introduced to the mountains, those great proclaimers of the word, exalted Angels of God, who yet dwell in mortal flesh; raised not by their own strength but through His grace. They themselves are valleys, as in their humility they send forth springs. In the midst, as he remarks, of the mountains, the waters shall flow. It might be interpreted that, ‘In the midst of the Apostles, the preaching of the Word of Truth shall flow.’ What lies in the midst amongst the apostles? That which is understood as being among the common good. The common good, by which all thrive alike, resides in the center; it does not solely belong to me, nor to you, nor to me in isolation. For if it were not within the shared space, it would seem exclusive; the waters would not flow freely for public benefit, and my share would differ from yours, having no place for personal possession; but this is not the proclamation of peace. Therefore, dear brethren, may what we have shared serve your love by encouraging springs to flow from you, being valleys in communion with all that you have from God. Let the waters flow in the common space, harbor no envy, drink deeply, be filled, and let the bounty of God's waters be glorified everywhere, as opposed to the solitary fables of men.
Thus, all the beasts of the field shall drink – Psalm 103:11. We readily observe this in visible creation, as the forest creatures quench their thirst from the springs and streams winding between the mountains. Yet now, as it has pleased God to enshroud his wisdom within these images, He does not conceal it from earnest seekers, but rather keeps it hidden from the indifferent, while revealing it to those persistent in their pursuit; it has pleased the Lord God to encourage you through us, that beyond all these outward manifestations of tangible creation, we might seek something spiritually concealed that, upon discovery, will bring us joy. By the beasts of the field, we understand the Gentiles, as affirmed by Scriptures in many places.
These creatures partake fleetingly from these waters, momentarily rather than permanently; for all the teachings that have been dispensed in this time are transient. Do not let your love assume that in that city where it is commanded, ‘Praise the Lord, Jerusalem, praise your God, Zion; for He has strengthened the bars of your gates,’ where the gates are fortified and the city remains sealed, so that no friend shall exit nor foe intrude; there we shall possess a book to read or a speech explained as it is addressed to you now. Hence, this is why it is now articulately delineated, to be held there; it is why it is now parsed into syllables for comprehensive contemplation. There will be no lack of the Word of God there; neither letters, nor sounds, nor books, nor readers, nor interpreters. How does this relate? As it is written, In the beginning was the Word, etc. John 1:1, for He has not come into our midst to be severed from there; for He was in the world, and the world was created by Him. This is the Word upon which we should reflect. For the God of gods will reveal Himself in Zion. But when will this be? After our pilgrimage, upon completion of our journey. Unless, however, post-journey we find ourselves appearing before the Judge, that the Judge might consign us to confinement. But if, when our journey concludes, as we hope and strive, we reach our homeland, there we shall behold what we shall ever exalt; those who have and we who partake shall find no dissatisfaction; neither shall he who consumes feel sated nor he who is satisfied be filled by what he receives. This contemplation will be extraordinary and wondrous.