THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
Now, the Man Himself, the Flesh Himself, the Son of God, reveals through His life and connection with the Father how He was rescued, sent from heaven, and raised up. It is important to recognize that the Lord also resurrected Himself; both aspects are affirmed in Scripture, indicating that the Father raised Him and that He raised Himself. The Apostle states how the Father exalted Him after His obedience to death, even the death of the cross, which is why God has highly exalted Him and bestowed upon Him a name that is above all names (Philippians 2:8-9). You have heard of the Father’s raising and exalting of the Son; now listen to how He also resurrected His own flesh. Speaking to the Jews, He said, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days" (John 2:19).
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The Evangelist clarifies that He spoke of the temple of His Body.
In the person of the praying man, in the essence of humanity, He claims, "He has saved Me." He has rescued those who persecuted Me. Those who did not recognize Him, who insulted Him, and those who crucified Him were given over to scorn. Look at the evidence of this: what we do not believe lies ahead, yet what has already come to pass we acknowledge. The Jews raged against Christ and were haughty, particularly in Jerusalem, where they reigned and imposed their burdens. Following the Passion of the Lord, they were uprooted and lost the kingdom because they did not acknowledge Christ as King. You see how they suffered: they were scattered among the nations, without a place to dwell or seek refuge.
For this reason, they remain Jews; their presence serves to validate our scriptural evidence. Whenever we wish to illustrate the prophecy of Christ, we offer these writings to the Gentiles. To avoid the claim that we Christians invented these texts, fabricating a prophet to assert that our message was foretold, we demonstrate that all the writings foretelling Christ exist among the Jews. We utilize documentation from our adversaries to confound others. What a reproach for the Jews, holding evidence that affirms our faith. They have become our custodians of truth, similar to how servants manage records for their masters; some are burdened while others are enlightened by them. This disgrace was directed towards the Jews, for what was prophesied long ago has now been fulfilled, as they endured the reproach of those who spoke against me.
Consider the irony, dear friends, that they read this verse while remaining blind to their own reflection. Just as a blind man sees his likeness in a mirror, others perceive the Jews in the Scriptures they bear, while they themselves do not. Perhaps you wonder about the phrase, "He sent from heaven and rescued me." What was sent from heaven? Who was sent from heaven? Did He dispatch an angel to save Christ, employing a servant for aid? All angels serve Christ; they may have been dispatched in obedience or service, but not for assistance, as it is written, "Angels ministered to Him" (Matthew 4:11), not as men showing mercy to a beggar, but as faithful subjects of the Almighty.
What did He send from heaven to rescue me? Another verse reveals that He sent His mercy and His truth from heaven. For what reason? "And took my soul out of the midst of the lions." He sent from heaven His mercy and His truth; and Christ declares, "I am the Truth." So Truth was sent to draw my soul from the ferocious lions. Christ embodies both mercy and truth, suffering with us through mercy while rewarding us through truth. Who are the lion cubs? They represent the lesser people, led astray into wrongdoing by the Jewish leaders, symbolizing lions or lion cubs. They all roared, and all perished. The account of these very people is further detailed in the subsequent verses of this Psalm.