THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
All the promises of God find their affirmation in Him, as written in 2 Corinthians 1:20, meaning that in Him, everything foretold for our redemption has come to fruition. The authors of the Sacred Scriptures can be likened to mountain summits, as they served as vessels for divine revelation, yet it is He Himself who is the heavens, for all that has been inscribed by God is attributed to Him. He chose to reveal these truths on earth, for they were inscribed for the benefit of humanity. Thus, He Himself descended to our world to confirm that these promises were realized. He states, “it was necessary that all things written about Me in the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44), reiterating that they were to be proclaimed from the highest peaks.
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In the latter times, the visible mountain of the Lord shall ascend, prepared upon the mountain heights (Isaiah 2:2). His harvest will be exalted above Lebanon, which we perceive as representative of worldly honor, for Lebanon is a mountain of tall trees, and its name denotes brightness. It’s no surprise that the fruits of Christ, whose followers have forsaken all earthly accolades, rise above every lofty achievement of this world. If we interpret Lebanon positively as symbolic of the cedars He planted, what greater bounty could be envisioned that surpasses Lebanon other than that which the Apostle refers to when he declares, “I will show you a more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31)? This is echoed in the foremost gifts of God, where it is affirmed, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love” (Galatians 5:22), from which the remaining virtues naturally follow.
These will flourish in the city like grass in the fields. The term ‘city’ here may carry multiple meanings, but it does not reference either Christ or God explicitly; it was not specified as “His hail” or “God’s hail,” but simply as the city. In a positive light, it suggests that from God’s presence, that is, from the Church, they will thrive like fruitful grass and wheat, as both are referred to as grass in Scripture. In the Book of Genesis, the earth was commanded to yield every tree and herb, without mention of wheat alone, implying that the term ‘grass’ encompasses more than just surface-level vegetation, a concept supported throughout many other Scriptural instances.
However, should we interpret this to mean thriving like the grass of the earth—echoing Isaiah 40:6’s assertion that “All flesh is grass, and the glory of man like the flower of grass”—then we must consider that the city referenced pertains to worldly society, as illustrated by Cain’s role in establishing the first city (Genesis 4:17). Since the fruits of Christ are elevated above Lebanon, symbolizing all that is eternal and uncorrupted, it becomes evident that human glory, reliant on temporal status, is likened to mere grass. Those who embrace faith and yearn for eternal life regard transient pleasures with disdain, fulfilling the passage, “All flesh is grass, and all the glory of man is like the flower of grass: the grass withers, and the flower fades, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” Look to His fruits exalted above Lebanon. For flesh has always been grass, and the splendor of flesh like the flower of grass; yet the true bliss is often obscured, leading many to mistakenly prioritize the fleeting beauty of the grass. Thus, it has been declared that His fruits shall be exalted above Lebanon and shall thrive beyond the city as the grass of the earth, confirming that all eternal promises will be glorified, contrasting sharply with what the world might consider significant.