The reason those who inhabit Jerusalem will not be shaken eternally is because there exists another Jerusalem of which you have often heard. This is our spiritual mother for whom we yearn and mourn during our earthly journey, desiring to return to her. In this city, its inhabitants will stand firm forever. However, the residents of the earthly Jerusalem were moved, first in spirit and then through exile. When they faltered in spirit, they crucified the very King of the heavenly Jerusalem, already spiritually outside and barring their King from entry. They cast Him out of their city and crucified Him beyond its gates (John 19:17-18). In turn, He expelled them from His eternal city, the Jerusalem above, our Mother, which is in heaven.
What defines this celestial Jerusalem? The Psalm mentions that mountains surround it (Psalm 123:2). Is it a great blessing to find ourselves in a city encircled by mountains? We understand mountains to be earthly elevations, but distinct from those are the high peaks that preach truth, whether they be angels, apostles, or prophets. They encircle Jerusalem, forming a protective wall. Scripture often speaks of these glorious mountains. These are the heights of which we sing, "I lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where does my help come?"—indeed, in this life, our help flows from the Scriptures. And through these mountains, we receive peace; righteousness comes to the hills. The text does not claim they generate peace themselves but rather receive it; the Lord is the Source of their peace. Therefore, lift your eyes toward the mountains for your aid, as it comes from the Lord, who created heaven and earth.
The Holy Spirit further clarifies regarding these mountains: "Thou lightest them marvellously from Thy everlasting mountains." He does not say that the mountains illuminate them but that He illuminates them from His eternal mountains. It is through those everlasting mountains, proclaiming the Gospel, that He gives light, not the mountains themselves. Such are the mountains that encircle Jerusalem.
To further clarify what these mountains are, when Scripture speaks of good mountains, it almost always simultaneously acknowledges the Lord, ensuring our hope rests not in the mountains but in Him who gives them light. The Lord surrounds His people so that their hope may remain tethered to Him who brings illumination to the mountains. When He resides among the mountains, in the saints, He encircles His people and fortifies them spiritually, ensuring they cannot be shaken eternally. However, when Scripture refers to malevolent mountains, it never includes the Lord. Such mountains symbolize powerful yet wicked souls. Do not be misguided, beloved; heresies do not emerge from insignificant souls. Only great men have initiated heresies; their greatness parallels their wickedness. These mountains cannot receive peace, for they are filled with strife from their father, the devil. Thus, these mountains exist—be wary and steer clear of them. People may come to proclaim great leaders, such as Donatus or Maximian, even Photinus or Arius, who were also renowned figures. All mentioned are mountains, but mountains that lead to destruction.
Instead, cherish the mountains that embody the Lord. If you have not placed your hope in them, they will then love you. Observe, dear friends, what the mountains of God represent. Their righteousness is described as "like the mountains of God." It is not about their righteousness but your own. Hear this, O great mountain, Apostle: "That I may be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ" (Philippians 3:9). Those who have deemed themselves mountains because of their righteousness—like certain Jews or Pharisees—face rebuke for not grasping God’s righteousness and attempting to establish their own (Romans 10:3). Conversely, those who submit are exalted by their humility; they are mountains, yet they become valleys in their submission to God. Having the capacity for virtue, they receive abundant peace and bestow copious nourishment to the hills. Hence, take caution now against the mountains you admire. If you wish to be cherished by good mountains, refrain from placing trust even in the admirable ones.
How great a mountain was Paul! Where can one find someone like him? We're discussing the magnitude of a person; finding such grace is challenging. Yet he feared that the faithful might place their trust in him, asking rhetorically, "Was Paul crucified for you?" (1 Corinthians 1:13). Lift your eyes to the mountains from whence your help comes, for "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase" (1 Corinthians 3:6). The mountains stand surrounding Jerusalem. Just as the mountains are encircled around the city, the Lord closely surrounds His people now and always. If the mountains encompass Jerusalem, and the Lord encompasses His people, then the Lord unites His people in a bond of love and peace, so that those who hope in Him, like Mount Zion, shall remain unshakeable forever, from now until eternity.
The Lord will not permit the rod of the wicked to rest upon the inheritance of the righteous, lest they be tempted to reach out against wickedness (Psalm 123:3). Indeed, the righteous endure suffering now, while at times the unrighteous seem to dominate them. This occurs when the unrighteous receive worldly accolades, becoming judges or rulers; God allows this for the discipline of His people, conveying the necessity of their honor depending upon His will. God has purposely established His Church such that every authority on earth receives honor, even from those superior to those in power. An illustration follows by examining common relationships of authority between individuals. Most households contain this dynamic: there are masters and slaves—different titles, yet mankind remains fundamentally equal. The apostolic teaching states, "Servants, be obedient to your masters according to the flesh, for there is a Master in the spirit" (Ephesians 6:5). The true and eternal Master exists; the temporal ones are fleeting.
As believers navigating this life, Christ does not want you to feel prideful. Becoming a Christian does not give one license to disdain serving another. In serving man as commanded by Christ, you indeed serve Him. He instructs servants to work faithfully for their earthly masters, reaffirming: "Serve as I have served you." If the Lord of heaven and earth, through whom all was created, chose to serve the unworthy, imploring mercy for His fierce persecutors, how much more should one not shy away from serving an unjust master with complete loyalty and goodwill? The highest serves the lowest, if only for a time.
Understand my words regarding the master and servant dynamic, as well as the authorities and rulers currently in power. At times, they are righteous and reverent toward God; at others, they are not. Julian, as an infidel emperor, turned away from God; yet Christian soldiers obeyed his command when required for earthly matters, distinguishing between their eternal Master and temporal authority.
Will the wicked always govern the righteous? Certainly not. The rod of the wicked is felt by the righteous only for a time; it will not endure indefinitely. A day will come when Christ appears in His glory, gathering all nations before Him (Matthew 25:32-33). Here you will witness many servants among the sheep and many masters among the goats—and conversely, many masters among the sheep and many servants among the goats. Not every servant is good, and not every master is evil. There are compassionate masters who believe, along with wicked ones; good servants who have faith alongside unworthy ones. As good servants serve unjust masters, let them exhibit patient endurance for a season, for God will not allow the rod of the wicked to remain upon the righteous. This is done so they do not stretch out their hands against evil, enduring while preparing to claim their eternal inheritance.
Thus, the psalmist concludes, "Do good, O Lord, with a good and faithful heart" (Psalm 124:4). Those right in heart, who seek to fulfill God's will rather than their own, reflect on this. Those desiring to follow Him must let Him lead and follow His example, finding goodness in all circumstances—to be chastised or comforted, and in everything, to experience goodwill, as the apostle reminds us, "For we know that in all things God works for good for those who love Him" (Romans 8:28).
The psalmist further elaborates: "As for those who have turned away, the Lord will lead them to be cast out alongside those who do unrighteousness" (Psalm 124:5). This is a fate shared with those whose actions they have imitated, relishing fleeting pleasures while ignoring the judgment to come. What awaits the righteous in heart who resolve not to falter? Let us shift our focus to our inheritance, dear ones, for we are heirs. What will we inherit? What is our land called? It is peace. This is our greeting, our proclamation, and our understanding as we receive both majestic mountains and humble hills as righteousness. Peace is embodied in Christ, who has reconciled both divisions and dismantled the barriers that separated us (Ephesians 2:14). As heirs, peace is our inheritance. Those who do not cherish peace stand to lose their share. Peace belongs to the virtuous, to the heirs. And who are these heirs? They are the Sons.
Since Christ, the Son of God, embodies peace, He came to gather His own and separate them from the wicked—those who despise Jerusalem, who reject peace, who seek to dismantle unity, and who preach false peace to others while remaining void of it themselves. They mislead by uttering "Peace be unto you," yet this rings hollow as they tend to separate those from the true peace found in Christ. To whom do they offer peace? To those who muddy the tranquility of the world. And what of when they proclaim "And with your spirit?" Those who perpetuate strife and scorn harmony. Had they possessed peace in their hearts, they would promote unity instead of discord. Therefore, when they speak falsely, they are met with false responses. Let us commit to speaking truth and hearing truth. Let us embody Israel and embrace peace, for Jerusalem signifies peace, we are Israel, and peace reigns over Israel.
THEOSIS