THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
The one who escaped from Saul and took refuge in the cave proclaims, "Arise, my glory," for Jesus is destined to be exalted following His sufferings. He beckons, "Awake, psaltery and harps." What is being called forth to rise? I perceive two instruments, yet I recognize one body of Christ—one flesh resurrected, and two instruments raised. Here, the psalter represents one instrument, while the harp constitutes the other. The term "organ" is employed for all musical instruments. It is not just the grand, fur-lined ones that are considered organs; anything that is crafted for performance and played upon is referred to as an organ. However, these instruments are distinct from one another.
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What do these two instruments signify? Our Lord Jesus, who awakens His psaltery, addresses us, declaring, "At dawn I will arise." Observe how the Lord is seen rising. It is written in the Gospel (Mark 16:2); behold the moment of His Resurrection. For how long had Christ been sought through the darkness? He shines, let Him be acknowledged; at daybreak, He rose again. But what constitutes the psalter? What is the meaning of a harp? Through His incarnate form, the Lord exhibited two types of works: miracles that were heavenly and sufferings that were earthly. The divine miracles came through His Body, and it was through His flesh that they were accomplished. Thus, the flesh that performs divine acts serves as the psalter, whereas the flesh that endures human experiences acts as the psaltery.
Let the psalter resound; may the blind gain sight, the deaf hear, the paralyzed find strength, and the lame walk once more. Let the sick be healed and the dead rise; this is the sound of the psalter. Similarly, let the harp produce its music as He experiences hunger, thirst, rest, suffering, ridicule, crucifixion, and burial. Therefore, in that Flesh, we observe sounds arising from both above and below; one body has been raised, allowing us to identify both the psalter and the psaltery within that single Flesh. These two types of completed deeds have fulfilled the Gospel, which has been proclaimed among the nations, for both the miracles and the sufferings of the Lord are heralded.
You might be inclined to argue that not everyone is as frail as I am, believing that many individuals continue in their wrongdoing and malice. Such individuals, unafraid, will ultimately be consumed like molten wax. They will not stand against you; they will not resist. Instead, they will perish in the fires of their desires. Here, a concealed form of punishment exists, which the Psalm will now address. It speaks of future retribution—hell's fire, eternal flames. This future punishment has two aspects: one refers to the lower depths, specifically the fate of the rich man who longed for a drop of water to relieve his torment from the flame (Lk. 16:24).
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The second aspect, which they will come to hear, is the command to those on the left: "Depart into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matt. 25:41). These punishments will reveal themselves either at our departure from this earthly life or during the final resurrection at the end of the world. Thus, is there truly no reckoning for sins, and does God allow transgressions to go unpunished even now? There is indeed a form of hidden chastisement, the same one alluded to earlier.
Nevertheless, we observe that sometimes the righteous endure such trials, while the wicked appear untouched by them. This contradiction led to a crisis in the mind of one who later joyously proclaims, "How good is the God of Israel to those with pure hearts!" But my feet nearly stumbled as I envied the transgressors, witnessing their apparent tranquility. He perceived the prosperity of the wicked and erroneously concluded that their way was blessed as they flourished in worldly delights, while he, still a youth, yearned for the Lord, and his steps faltered until he comprehended what lay ahead—hope or fear. He reflects in the same psalm: "This was a struggle for me until I entered the sanctuary of God and understood their end."
Ultimately, it is not the torments of the lower realms nor the eternal fire promised after resurrection that capture our attention, nor even the trials faced in this life that can sometimes be harsher for the righteous than the wicked. Instead, the Spirit of God draws our focus to this particular punishment in the present. Pay attention as I speak of familiar truths; it is even more delightful when they are conveyed through a psalm that was once obscure. Behold, I reveal what you have known; however, since these truths are presented from a new perspective, they may delight you anew.
Hear the fate of the wicked: "like wax, they shall melt away." I assert that their downfall comes through their unchecked desires. Undesirable passions are akin to fire, consuming all in their path. As fire destroys clothing, so too does the lust of immorality consume the soul. Regarding lustful desire, Scripture states: "Can a man take fire to his bosom and not be burned?" (Proverbs 6:27). You bear burning coals against your chest; your garments are scorched. Are you plotting infidelity and expecting your soul to remain intact? Such scourges are perceived by only a few, and therefore, the Spirit of God strongly advises us to recognize them. Listen as the apostle notes, "God gave them over to the lusts of their hearts" (Rom. 1:24). Behold how they melt away like wax in the presence of this fire. They are delivered to their desires, and thus those who yield to their lusts are described as unrestrained and consumed.
What does this melting signify? From where does this yielding arise? It stems from the blaze of their passions. God has handed them over to the lusts of their hearts, leading them into wrongdoing, filled with all manner of wickedness. They are engulfed by various torments—pride's fire, the smoke of anger, and the consuming flames of desire. How intense is this fire! Those upon whom it falls will not behold the sun. Thus, it is advised, "Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry" (Eph. 4:26). Therefore, dear friends, be wary of the flames of evil, lest you too melt like wax and vanish from the presence of God. For that inferno will descend upon you, and you shall not see the sun. What sun, you ask? Not the one that beams upon both creatures great and small, the righteous and the unrighteous, for He causes His sun to shine on all (Matt. 5:45). Rather, there is another sun, of which these individuals must speak: and that sun has not risen upon them, as they have traversed all that resembles shadow.
Thus, we have strayed from the path of truth, and the light of righteousness has not illuminated us, nor has the sun arisen for us.