Praise together, O Jerusalem, thy God. Psalm 146:12. Although still in exile, they perceive the flock of its citizens surrounding the city, witnessing the joy of the assembly, now at rest after toil, fearing nothing and enduring no hardship. Even amid the labor, they send forth their joy and hope, joining their spirits with the angels and those who will share eternal joy. What will you do, Jerusalem? Surely toil and lamentation will cease. Will you sow, plant, travel, or engage in trade? Will you continue with the works you now undertake, however noble, arising out of compassion? Examine your community: see if anyone is hungry, to whom you can offer bread; observe if anyone thirsts, so you may give them a drink of cold water; identify any stranger to invite in; check if anyone is unwell, that you may minister to them; see if there is someone in conflict, so you can reconcile; observe if someone is dying, to ensure their burial. What will you do? Praise together, O Jerusalem, your God. This is your mission. As the sayings go, Use and be happy.
Be Jerusalem; remember whom it is said, Lord, in Thy city their image Thou wilt destroy. Among those rejoicing in such splendor, some did not attend today’s spectacle. To whom is this a boon? To whom is it a detriment? Why is it a gift? Why is it a loss? Not only those who display these spectacles suffer loss, but those who enjoy them may experience an even greater deprivation. The former lose their wealth while the latter suffer the loss of righteousness. Many who display such things may mourn the loss of their properties; how then should sinners mourn the loss of their souls? Was this not why the Lord called out on the Lord’s Day: "Watch, that men may watch today." I urge you, citizens of Jerusalem, by the peace of Jerusalem, by the Redeemer, the Builder, the Lord of Jerusalem, to lift your prayers to God on their behalf. Let them see and perceive the triviality of their distractions; even as they engage in their spectacles, may they ultimately find discontent upon self-reflection. For we rejoice that it is already accomplished: once, we too were caught up in folly, and how many still believe they sit there, who shall soon be not just Christians, but bishops! From what has transpired, we anticipate what is to come; from what is finished, we proclaim in advance what God will do. Let your prayers be vigilant; your groans are not in vain. Surely those already saved intercede for those still in peril, for they too were once endangered and heard; and God will surely liberate His people from the bonds of Babylon; He will redeem and rescue them, and the number of saints fashioned in the image of God will increase.
Praise in unity, for you are many: praise because you have become one. We, being many, says the apostle, are one in Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:17. Since we are many, we praise in unity; though we are one, we give praise. Many and one are the same, because He in whom they are united is always One. Why, then, says this Jerusalem, do I glorify the Lord with one voice, and like Zion do I exalt my God? Jerusalem is synonymous with Zion. Each name holds its own significance. Jerusalem signifies visions of peace; Zion signifies contemplation. Consider how these terms resonate with spectacles; lest the Gentiles perceive they have spectacles that we do not. After the dissolution of the theatre or amphitheater, the throngs of the deceived begin to disperse from that place, often still cherishing the images of their vain amusements, feeding their memories with what is not only useless but even harmful, finding joy in them as if they were sweet, while in reality, they are deadly. They may observe the servants of God pass by, recognizing them by their garments or appearance, and remark to one another or within themselves, "Poor souls, how much they are missing!" Brothers, let us respond to their goodwill (for they mean well) with prayers to the Lord. They wish us well; yet, one who loves injustice despises his own soul. If one despises his own soul, how can he love mine? But with misguided and empty intentions, they grieve for what we forsake. Let us pray that they do not lose what we cherish.
See what Jerusalem ought to be, as it is called to praise, or rather anticipates that it will give praise. The praises of this city, when we witness, love, and exalt it, will require no prompting from prophetic voice; but the prophets presently voice it to help us partake, as far as we can, in the future joys of the blessed and to bring these truths to our ears, awakening within us a love for that city. Let us fervently long for it and not grow weary in spirit. Praise your God, Zion.
He says, "He has fortified the bolts of your gates." Psalm 146:13. The bolts are not reinforced for open gates but for closed ones; hence, most manuscripts state, "He has strengthened the bolts of your gates." Notice this, beloved. He commands Jerusalem, even when it is closed, to extol the Lord. Praise now in unity; praise now; yet it is in the midst of offenses. Many enter where we do not wish to go; many, despite our desire, depart: thus, offenses abound. And because of the increase of iniquity, as Truth states, love grows cold in many: Matthew 24:12, as people come in whom we cannot discern and leave whom we cannot retain. Why is this? Because there is no perfection yet; bliss is not yet realized. Why? Because it remains a threshing floor, not yet a barn. What, then, will transpire but fear that such occurrences may follow? He stated not simply, "He has established," but, "He has bolstered the shutters of your gates." Let no man exit, let no man enter. Let no one exit—we rejoice; let none enter—we fear. Yet, do not fear this: when you shall come in, it will be declared to you, "Only you shall be amongst the virgins who brought oil with them."
He has blessed your children within you. WHO? He Who has established peace by your borders. How you all rejoice! Cultivate love for peace, my brethren. Rejoice abundantly when the love for peace radiates from your hearts. How glorious the joy it brings! I spoke not a word to explain: I merely read the verse, and you erupted in praise. What stirred you? A love of peace…children of the kingdom, citizens of Jerusalem, there is a vision of peace in Jerusalem: and all who cherish peace are blessed therein and shall enter when the doors are shut, and the bars are strong. This is that which, even when merely named, you cherish and esteem so greatly, this follows it, and this you long for: this love in your home, in your endeavors, in your spouses, in your children, in your servants, in your friends, and in your adversaries.
What you recently proclaimed at the very mention of peace, you cried out with yearning: your shout was for thirst, not for fulfillment, for there shall be perfect truth wherever there is perfect peace. Presently, we are hungry and thirsty for righteousness. They shall be filled. Matthew 5:6 How are they filled? When we come to peace. Hence, when he said, "He Who has established peace within your borders," for there is abundance there and no want, he immediately added, "And with the fat of wheat, He shall satisfy you." Psalm 146:14.
Who sends His Word upon the earth? Psalm 146:15. Behold, upon the earth, we labor, weary, weak, sluggish, cold: when we should ascend to the abundance of wheat that satisfies you, did He not send His Word to the earth, by which we were burdened, preventing our return? He sent His Word; He did not abandon us even in the wilderness; He bestowed manna from heaven. Who sends His Word to the earth; His Word came to the earth. In what manner, or how is His Word characterized? It runs swiftly. He did not simply say, "His Word is swift," but "His Word rushes even unto swiftness." Let us grasp this, brethren: He could not have chosen a more fitting word. He who is hot becomes heated from warmth, he who is cold grows colder from cold, he who is quick becomes quick from swiftness.
To what degree, then, does it move? Even unto swiftness. Amplify the swiftness of the Word as much as you will and declare, "It is as swift as this or that, as birds, as winds, as angels;" is any of these as magnificent as swiftness itself, even unto swiftness? What is swiftness itself, brethren, but everywhere? It is not partial; it belongs to the Word of God, not to be in part, but to be ever-present—the Word itself, through which He is the Power of God and the Wisdom of God, 1 Corinthians 1:24, prior to the incarnation. If we consider God in the Form of God, the Word equal to the Father, this is the Wisdom of God of which it is declared, "It stretches mightily from one end to the other." Wisdom 8:1 What incredible speed! It reaches mightily from one end to the other.
We are therefore burdened by the ailments of this cold body and the chains of this earthly and corrupt existence; do we lack hope of receiving the Word that approaches swiftness? Or has He abandoned us, even while the body weighs us down? Did He not predestine us even before our birth into this fragile and feeble form? He who Predestined us bestowed snow upon the earth and even upon ourselves. Let us examine these somewhat obscure verses of the Psalm and allow these confusions to begin to dissolve. Here, we are sluggish on this earth, somewhat frozen. Much like snowflakes that freeze at the top, then fall down; as love grows cold, so too does human nature plummet to this earth, entangled in a sluggish body, resembling snow. Yet, within this snow, the sons of God are predestined. For He gives snow as wool. Psalm 146:16. What is wool? It signifies that from this snow He has given, from those still slow of spirit and cold—whom He has predestined—something transformative is to emerge. Wool serves as fabric for clothing: when we see wool, we regard it as a kind of template for garments. Thus, since He has predestined those who are presently cold and creeping upon the earth, yet are not yet ablaze with the spirit of love (for He still speaks of predestination), God has given them as a sort of wool: He intends to fashion them into garments. Rightly so, Christ's garments radiated on the mountain like snow. Matthew 17:2 The garments of Christ shone like snow, as if a garment had already been made from that snow, that is, wool given by Him to clothe those predestined. But wait, observe what follows. Because He gave them as wool, clothing is crafted from them. Because the Church is referred to as the body of Christ, it is also called the garment of Christ: hence the apostle’s assertion, that He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, without spot or wrinkle. Ephesians 5:27 Let Him therefore present to Himself a glorious Church, free from blemish; let Him make Himself a garment from that wool which He predestined amidst the snow. While individuals remain unbelieving, cold, and lethargic, let Him create a garment from that wool. To cleanse from stains, let them be purified through faith; that no blemish may rest upon them, let them be humiliated on the cross.
THEOSIS