THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
Bless the Lord, my soul. May all our souls, united in Christ, proclaim this. O Lord my God, You are abundantly exalted! Psalm 102:1. Where do You manifest Your greatness? You have adorned Yourself with glory and truth. Confess in order to be beautified, that He may wrap you in His splendor. Clothed in light like a garment, Psalm 103:2. Dressed in His Church, which has become radiant through Him, once shrouded in darkness, as the Apostle teaches, You were once darkness, but now are light in the Lord. Ephesians 5:8. You stretch the heavens like a tent; or as effortlessly as if you were spreading a garment – if only you could grasp the meaning behind the sacred Scriptures, which blanket the world, akin to a garment; for mortality is symbolized in the skin, and all the authority of the Divine Word has been entrusted to us through mortal beings, whose glory continues to endure beyond their earthly existence.
Who covers the heavens with water, Psalm 102:3? What are the higher realms? We have only figuratively referenced Heaven: the Divine Scriptures represent those elevated truths. What constitutes these higher truths? The commandment of love, the foremost commandment, above all others. Mark 12:31. Why is love likened to water? Because God's love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:5. From where does the Spirit originate – namely, the water? For Jesus declared, ‘If anyone believes in Me, rivers of living water shall flow from his heart.’ John 7:37-38. What indicates that this was proclaimed by the Spirit? The evangelist elaborates, stating, ‘This He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive.’ He who rides upon the wings of the wind, representing the virtues of the soul. What is the primary virtue of the soul? Self-love. But how will He conquer it? Because God's love for us exceeds our love for God.
Who makes spirits His messengers, and a fervent fire His servants, Psalm 102:4? He transforms those who have become spiritual into angels, sending them forth to proclaim His gospel. The fire symbolizes His service. For if a preacher does not burn with passion, he does not ignite those to whom he preaches. He established the earth upon its foundational strength, Psalm 103:5. He set the Church upon the firmness that defines it. What is the foundation of the Church? As the Apostle states, No other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 3:11. Therefore, what ought to be proclaimed on such a foundation? It shall not be moved forever. He established the earth upon its strength; that is, He grounded the Church upon the foundation of Christ. The Church may tremble if the foundation is shaken; but when will Christ, who prior to His advent took on flesh, created everything through Him, and without Him nothing was made, John 1:3, who sustains all things by His majesty, Hebrews 1:3, and us by His mercy, ever be shaken? Because Christ remains steadfast, she will not be swayed forever. Where are those who claim the Church has vanished from the world when it cannot even be extinguished?
The abyss, like a garment, envelops her, Psalm 102:6. Whose garment? Could it be God's? But He has already stated, ‘Clothed with light as with a garment.’ I hear of God clothed in light, and that light, if we seek it, is meant for us. What transpires if we pursue it? If we are no longer in darkness. Now, if God is clothed in light, whose garment is the abyss? The vast depths of waters constitute the abyss. All water, all moist nature and substance that flows through seas, rivers, and hidden wells are collectively known as the Abyss. Hence we comprehend the earth of which He proclaimed: ‘He founded the earth.’ From this, I surmise He meant: ‘The Abyss is like a garment for it.’ For water is as though the garment of the earth, surrounding and enwrapping it.
The waters rise above the mountains, revealing that the earth’s garment, the abyss, has surged so high that the waters lift above the mountains. We are reminded of this from the time of the flood. The prophet foreshadowed the future rather than recounting the past; hence he spoke these words to signify that the Church must endure through a deluge of persecution. There have been times when torrents of persecutors engulfed God's earth, His Church, hiding it from view, even those mighty mountains appeared submerged. Yet how did they become invisible everywhere? And perhaps these very waters cry, ‘Save me, O God, for the waters have reached my very soul.’ Particularly, those waters that churn and devastate the sea. For wherever the seawater stretches, it will render that land barren rather than fertile. Even beneath the waves, mountains lay hidden, as the waters enveloped the peaks.
Why did the apostles flee? Because the waters towered above the mountains. The might of the waters was formidable, but for how long? Hear what follows. At Your rebuke they shall scatter. Psalm 102:7. And this was realized, brethren; by God's rebuke the waters receded, which is to say, they retreated from claiming the mountains. Now the mountains themselves, Peter and Paul, how they have been elevated! Those formerly oppressed by persecutors are now honored as sovereigns. The waters have receded at God's rebuke; since the hearts of kings are in the hand of the Lord, He directs them as He wishes; Proverbs 21:1 He has decreed peace for Christians; the authority of the Apostles has flourished and risen. The waters withdrew at the rebuke of God. At the sound of Your thunder they will tremble. Who would not fear God's voice through the Apostles, through His Scriptures, through His clouds? The sea calmed, the waters trembled, the mountains were revealed, and the emperor issued commands. Yet who would issue commands if God had not thundered forth? As it was God's will, they commanded and it came to pass. Therefore, let no man claim anything as his own.
The mountains ascend while the valleys descend to the location You have established for them. Psalm 102:8. The discourse continues regarding the waters. We should not interpret mountains here purely as earthly land; nor valleys exclusively as terrestrial plains, but as waves so immense they could be likened to mountains. The sea once surged, with waves like mountains that might have overshadowed the Apostolic peaks. But how long do the mountains rise and valleys sink? They raged, yet are now at peace. When they roared, they were mountains; now calmed, they are valleys, for He has designated a specific place for them. There exists a channel, as it were, a deep space where all these once tumultuous hearts of mortals have withdrawn. They were mountains, now they are plains; yet, my brethren, even in calmness, the sea endures. Why are they not fierce now? Why are they not wrathful? Why do they attempt not to cover our land, if they cannot overthrow it? Why do they not persist?
Listen. You have set a boundary that they shall not cross, nor will they return to cover the earth. Psalm 103:9. Thus, since the most bitter waves have received their measure, we are permitted to preach such things in freedom; for they have been assigned a limit, they cannot surpass the boundary established, nor will they return to envelop the earth. So then, what is unfolding on the earth itself? What activity is occurring now that the sea has left it exposed? Though the gentle waves lap at the shores, albeit the Gentiles still murmur around, the sounds of the shores reach me, yet I do not fear the flood. What, then, is transpiring on the earth? Who sends forth springs into the valleys? Psalm 102:10. You send forth, he notes, springs into the valleys. You are aware of what valleys are: low lying areas amid the lands. For hills and mountains stand in opposition to valleys and small dells. The heights of the earth are hills and mountains, while valleys and small dells are the low regions. Do not despise the low places; springs flow from them. You send forth springs to the smaller valleys. Behold the mountain. The Apostle states, I labored more than all. Some grandeur may present itself, yet instantly, in order that the waters might flow, he made a valley for himself. But not I, rather the grace of God with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10. There is no contradiction; mountains are also valleys. For they are named mountains due to their spiritual grandeur, yet valleys because of their humble spirit. Not I, proclaims he, but the grace of God with me.
What is meant by ‘In the midst of the mountains the waters shall flow’? We have identified who the mountains are, the great Proclaimers of the word, exalted Messengers of God, even while still in human form; elevated, not by their own strength but by His grace; yet in themselves, they exemplify valleys, pouring out springs in their humility. He indicates that, in the midst, that is, among the Apostles, the proclamation of the Truth shall flow. What exists in the center, shared among the apostles? That which is described as ‘in the midst’ pertains to common property. The shared provisions, from which all derive sustenance alike, reside in the center—not belonging to me, nor to you, nor anyone in particular. For if they are not communal, they tend to be personal, and one possesses what he claims for himself while the other has his own; yet the preaching of peace does not operate in this manner. Consequently, brethren, allow what has been spoken to your Love to serve a purpose concerning the springs: that they may flow from you, being valleys, and share your God-given abundance with all. Let the waters flow among you, harbor no envy, drink deeply, be filled, and flow forth once you are filled. Let the common grace of God be exalted everywhere, rather than the private deceits of men.
Thus, all the beasts of the forest shall quench their thirst. Psalm 103:11. We observe this evident truth in creation; the forest creatures drink from the springs and streams that flow between the mountains. Yet, as God chose to cloak His wisdom within such images, concealing it from indifferent seekers while revealing it to the diligent who earnestly inquire; it pleases the Lord God Himself that we, through you, probe deep into these matters – which seem to refer to the physical and visible creation – looking for the spiritually hidden truths, that when unveiled, we may rejoice. By the beasts of the forest, we refer to the Gentiles, a theme affirmed by the Scriptures in many passages.