THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
This Psalm marks the beginning of those that include the word Alleluia, which translates to Praise the Lord. Accordingly, it opens with the exhortation to praise: Confess unto the Lord and call upon His Name (Psalm 103:1). This declaration of faith is inherently seen as a form of worship, akin to our Lord’s statement, I confess unto Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth (Matthew 11:25). Typically, after an expression of praise, there follows a supplication to God, which is reflected in the Lord's Prayer that starts with a succinct acknowledgment: Our Father, who is in heaven (Matthew 6:9). Following this, the act of worship encourages the faithful to Share what He has done (John 21:17), or as a more accurate translation may render it, Proclaim the gospel of His works among the nations. This call is directed toward evangelists in the prophetic tradition.
Praise Him with song and instruments (Psalm 104:2). We are to laud Him both through our words and actions; we vocalize our praise while using instruments with our hands. Let every dialogue be centered around His wondrous deeds. Hallowed be His holy Name (Psalm 104:3). These verses might seem to serve as an interpretation of the earlier call to worship; your conversations about His marvelous works encapsulate the command to Sing unto Him. The subsequent call to praise His holy Name relates to both our spoken word in worship and our musical offerings to Him; the former relates to the testimony of His greatness, while the latter signifies the good deeds expressed in cherished melodies, ensuring that no one seeks glory for their actions derived solely from their own abilities. He states, Be glorified, a declaration made by those who merit praise, adding, in His holy Name, to clarify that praise belongs solely to the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:31).
This is what it means to praise in His holy Name. Another Psalm notes: My soul shall glory in the Lord; let the meek hear and rejoice. This implies that the hearts of those seeking the Lord will find joy; a joyful heart is characteristic of the meek who do not harbor envy towards those they emulate in their good deeds. Seek the Lord and be strengthened (Psalm 103:4). This phrase translates literally from the Greek, although it may not seem Latin. Other versions render it as confirm. While the words, Come unto Him and be enlightened, pertain to vision, those in this text speak to action: Seek the Lord and be strengthened. What does it imply to Seek the Lord's face forever? I recognize that clinging to God is beneficial for me, yet if He is continuously sought, when will He be discovered? Might it be that eternal signifies our entire life here, directing us toward constant pursuit? Even when found, He remains a figure we seek after; faith discovers Him, but hope continues the pursuit. Love has both found Him through faith and seeks Him through vision, where He is ultimately found to fulfill our deepest longings, no longer necessitating our searching. Had faith not recognized Him in this life, the call to Seek the Lord would not exist. And if He, having been found by faith, no longer demands diligent seeking, it would not have been stated: For if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience (Romans 8:25).
Indeed, this captures the essence of seeking His face forever, denoting an unceasing quest fueled by love, where love's growth amplifies our search for the One we have found. Remember, he encourages us, His marvelous works which He has done, the wonders and the judgments of His mouth (Psalm 104:5). This passage resonates with divine declarations, such as: Say unto the children of Israel: I am He that sent Me unto you—an assertion too profound for the mind to grasp fully. Thus, identifying Himself through His covenant with the patriarchs: I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; this is My Name forever (Exodus 3:14-15). This disclosure was intended to convey that those whose God He professes is eternally theirs, articulated in a manner even children can grasp, revealing that those who, with great love, learned to seek His face forever would understand: I am what I am.
The text continues to address those designated: Ye seed of Abraham, His servant, the children of Jacob, His chosen ones (Psalm 104:6). He asserts: He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth (Psalm 103:7). Is He only the God of the Jews? (Romans 3:29) Certainly not; He is the Lord our God because His judgments are proclaimed throughout all nations. He has always remembered His covenant (Psalm 104:8). Various translations read forever, indicating a nuance of the Greek tongue. If we only consider this temporal world rather than eternity, then why specify the covenant He recalls as concerning “the word which He gave to a thousand generations”? This can be interpreted within limits, yet it refers to the covenant made with Abraham (Psalm 103:9) and the oath sworn to Isaac, establishing it as law to Jacob, and an everlasting covenant for Israel (Psalm 103:10).
If the Old Testament pertains here to the promised land of Canaan, what then do we make of it being eternal, seeing as this earthly promise cannot endure eternally? The term Old Testament signifies its conclusion with the New. Although a thousand generations may suggest a temporal limit, they surpass the transient realm. Regardless of how many years a generation may last—traditionally determined to be around fifteen—can we assert this world could endure for 15,000 years? Therefore, the Old Covenant must not be interpreted here as that which is prophesied to be fulfilled in the New when it states: Behold, the days are coming, saith the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-32). The emphasis lies on His everlasting covenant, that is, the covenant of justification and the eternal inheritance promised through faith. Furthermore, when it indicates the Word He commanded to a thousand generations, we must inquire: What does “commanded” imply?
It suggests that the righteous should live by faith (Romans 1:17), with the promise of an everlasting inheritance preceding this faith. Therefore, the thousand generations denote a perfect number for all—commanding us to live by faith until every lineage has passed. This is a truth upheld by the people of God, heirs of promise perpetuated through birth and transitions, culminating in the symbolic representation of a thousand, illustrating that the solid square of ten, multiplied by itself, yields the thousand. Moreover, He speaks of the covenant with Abraham, the oath to Isaac, and the same institution of law to Jacob, admirable patriarchs, whom the Lord identifies distinctly, also in the New Testament, asserting: Many shall come from the east and west and shall recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 8:11). Such is the promise of eternal inheritance.
Continuing with the familiar narrative grounded in Scripture: When they were few, very few, and were strangers in the land (Psalm 104:12), referring to Canaan. Here, some translations indicate “very few and foreign,” wherein the translator may have too strictly adhered to the Greek. The full essence would indicate that they were not only “very few and estranged,” but the Greek configuration emphasizes being strangers rather than mere inhabitants. Their transition from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another (Psalm 103:13) reiterates this point. No one was permitted to harm them, and even kings were reproached for their sake (Psalm 103:14). God’s command to touch not My anointed nor do harm to My prophets (Psalm 104:15) serves as a clear testament to His protection over the holy forebears while their numbers remained scant.
Although such specific words may not appear in the historical accounts, they illustrate God's hidden communication in hearts through true visions or angelic proclamation. The kings of Gerar and Egypt were both forewarned from heaven not to violate Abraham and Isaac, respectively (Genesis 26:8-11), extending further warnings to Jacob. Yet, recognizing how a tiny band of sojourners could subsist in a foreign land raises questions. The narrative clarifies that He did not allow anyone to harm them. However, it is alarming to contemplate how these patriarchs were labeled anointed prior to any formal anointing, a title typically reserved for kings. Notably, Abraham is acknowledged as a prophet, and by extension, so were those in his lineage. Might they be termed anointed in the sense that they were, albeit subtly, followers of Christ? The bloodline of Christ can be traced to them, yet Christ exists prior to them: Before Abraham was, I am (John 8:58).
But how could they not recognize Him or place faith in Him? These patriarchs, labeled prophets for their foresight, still anticipated Christ. As our Lord stated, Thy father Abraham rejoiced to see My day; he saw it and was glad (John 8:56). No individual reconciles with God outside the faith that centers on Christ Jesus, both before and following His incarnation, affirmatively noted by the Apostle: For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5).
Continuing, the narrative reveals the circumstances under which they transitioned from nation to nation. A famine struck the land, and the bread supply dwindled, prompting their migration (Psalm 103:16). Do not overlook the eloquence of the Scriptures. He summoned forth a famine in the earth, as if it were a being or spirit under His command. Similarly, in ancient Rome, deities personifying hunger were venerated. Another interpretation would be that He foretold famine, illustrating that calling upon implies commanding, as the Apostle indicates God calls forth non-existent to be (Romans 4:17) because God views all future events as certain.
Indeed, the proclamation of a famine indicates the fulfillment of the divine design. He elaborates on how He summoned the famine: He shattered all the sources of nourishment. He sent a man ahead of them (Psalm 104:17). Which man is He referring to? It is evidently Joseph. His dispatch unfolded upon being sold into slavery—a consequence of his brothers’ transgressions—yet God orchestrated Joseph's relocation to Egypt. This crucial detail invites contemplation on how God reappropriates the malevolent acts of individuals while they misunderstand His benevolent designs.
The retelling continues to narrate Joseph's affliction, from the depths of humiliation to exaltation. His feet were hurt in the stocks; iron entered his soul until the word of the Lord came (Psalm 103:18). While there is no explicit mention of shackles, we can confidently understand his plight during this period. The iron entering his soul signifies profound sorrow, resonating with the Gospel's depiction where Simeon tells Mary, Your soul shall be pierced with a sword (Luke 2:35). The Passion of the Lord, which serves as a stumbling block for many, laid bare the concealed sentiments manifesting in the hearts of those around Him, profoundly affecting His Mother with grief over earthly loss.
Joseph endured this pain until divine revelation illuminated his path, enabling him to accurately interpret dreams, positioning him to advise the king (Genesis 41). The phrase, Until his words were heard, invites us to discern the divine intention rather than misattributing such a monumental occurrence solely to human means. Hence, it reads: The word of the Lord ignited him (Psalm 104:19), affirming that divine inspiration leads to glorification, as echoed in the exhortation to receive praise in His holy Name.